START ROMANS 01-16 PART 01 OF 44 START OF ROMANS-SALV-0101-0511-pt1of3 line 411, 646 646 (601) - 3795 ROMANS OVERVIEW AND CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FIVE In the epistle to the Romans, Paul talks about the major revealed doctrines, to a wide variety of people. We will be looking at those doctrines and how Paul introduces, explains, and summarizes them. Lets look at some introductory things in the book of Romans. Then, before we really get into the bulk of the epistle, we will look at some of the concluding things that Paul says. That will give us a view of what Paul talked about in the main part of the epistle. Then, we will start looking at the main body of the epistle to the Romans. Turn to Romans 1, verses 9, through 11. Have you ever heard people coaching others about how to give a speech ? They say that, “first, you tell them what you are going to say. Then, you say what you have prepared to tell them. And then afterward, you tell them what it is that you told them , reemphasizing it to them . That prepares their mind for an orderly reception of what you have to say. Then, after you have gone into detail, you review for them , what you said. Well, that is kind of what Paul did in Romans. May we look in Romans 1, verse 9, For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers ; This is introduction. Paul wrote to the Romans in his epistle to the Romans , and he said in Romans 1, verse 10, Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. Romans 1, verse 11, For I long to see you , that I may and here is why he was writing to them, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift , to the end ye may be established ; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Transcript
START ROMANS 01-16 PART 01 OF 44 START OF ROMANS-SALV-0101-0511-pt1of3
line 411, 646 646 (601) - 3795 ROMANS OVERVIEW AND CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FIVE
In the epistle to the Romans, Paul talks about the major revealed doctrines, to a wide variety of people. We will be looking at those doctrines and how Paul introduces, explains, and summarizes them.
Lets look at some introductory things in the book of Romans. Then, before we really get into the bulk of the epistle, we will look at some of the concluding things that Paul says. That will give us a view of what Paul talked about in the main part of the epistle. Then, we will start looking at the main body of the epistle to the Romans.
Turn to Romans 1, verses 9, through 11.
Have you ever heard people coaching others about how to give a speech? They say that, “first, you tell them what you are going to say. Then, you say what you have prepared to tell them. And then afterward, you tell them what it is that you told them, reemphasizing it to them. That prepares their mind for an orderly reception of what you have to say. Then, after you have gone into detail, you review for them, what you said.
Well, that is kind of what Paul did in Romans. May we look in
Romans 1, verse 9, For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
This is introduction. Paul wrote to the Romans in his epistle to the Romans, and he said in
Romans 1, verse 10, Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Romans 1, verse 11, For I long to see you, that I may
and here is why he was writing to them,
that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established ;
Paul wanted them to be established by this gift he was imparting to them, and we know from John 6, verse 63 that the words of scripture are spiritual things. Paul says
that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established ;
We will come back to that, but now, we are continuing on to keep in the context,
Romans 1, verse 12,That is, that I may be comforted together with you BY the mutual faith both of you and me .
That is Paul’s desire, that their faith would become mutual, theirs like his. That was in
line with the commission with which Christ charged Paul, in First Corinthians 9, verses 17 and 18. Let's read on further in Romans.
Romans 1, Verse 13,Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,)
or, restrained hitherto. It did not mean that God "let" Paul to go to them. "Let", as used here, has an older definition of the word, which is still in use. The word, “let”, does not mean allowed , but it means restrained, as you would "let" a bucket down a well, with resistance. You restrain it. You keep it from falling all at once, which would muddy the water.
He was let hitherto. He was kept from coming to them.
that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
So here, Paul was talking at least to Gentiles, because he said that he has fruit among other Gentiles, which would mean that at least some of them in Rome were Gentiles too.
We find out later in chapter 2, verse 17, that some of them were Gentiles that had come to God on the basis of
Genesis 12, verse 3, 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.
They wanted to be blessed by God, and God said that He would bless those who bless Abram and His seed. So, they were resting in the law, trusting that God would bring them a blessing, if they blessed Israel.
Paul wrote to these Gentiles, in
Romans 2:17, Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Lets go back to
Romans 1, verses 10, and 11,Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some SPIRITUAL GIFT, to the end ye may be established;
Well, that's not religion's thought of what is a spiritual gift. He went on to tell what would be the result of the gift, "to the end ye may be established". What he was giving them would establish them. So the spiritual gift that he was talking about, is this letter . That is what Paul was giving them. He was sending them this epistle and that's the spiritual gift that will establish them.
Romans 1:12, That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Now this mutual faith that he talked about in verse 12, that he desired of them, WAS THAT he may be comforted together BY their mutual faith. They had a faith. But the faith they had was not a mutual faith in the gospel that he was teaching, and was about to teach them. He was introducing them, and calling them to be SAVED, as we will soon see.
Look in Romans chapter 1, verse 7. We see that he said,
“To all that be in Rome”
So, he was writing to all. Not that it would get to all that be in Rome, but Paul was teaching doctrine that applied to all that be in Rome. So then, there was going to be a variety of lessons in his epistle to Rome. As Paul went through his epistle, he addressed the various segments of people in Rome
Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Also, in Romans 4:1, Paul referred to the Jews to whom he wrote. Speaking for himself, and those in his Roman audience, Paul called Abraham “OUR FATHER”. So, those to whom Paul was then speaking, had descended from Abraham, like Paul did. In other words, THAT SEGMENT were Jews.
So, some lessons were for Jews, sanctified to God, but who were in the Jewish faith at that time. Some lessons were for Gentiles that were Greeks, and had proselyted to Judaism, and call themselves Jews, and rested in the law. Some lessons were for people that read the epistle, and believed the gospel of Christ to be saved. So then, some lessons were for saved people. Some of them had heard, that the Messiah had come. And, some of them probably had not yet heard that news, authoritatively. Some lessons were for people that would get saved, by reading, and BELIEVING Paul's gospel later in this epistle.
And,
1:7,“To all that be in Rome”
would include unbelievers too , needing to be saved. And by saying,
1:7, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, CALLED TO BE SAINTS:”
Jesus Christ was calling them to be Saints, set apart to the body of Christ, by the gospel of Christ written in Paul's epistle to them. Paul wanted them to GET SAVED!
Romans 1:5-7 was written in Acts 20. Since, in the temple vision, in Acts 18, Paul had already received his apostleship to all nations, then, “all that be in Rome” were also among those being called of Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:5-7, By whom we HAVE RECEIVED grace and APOSTLESHIP , for obedience to the faith AMONG ALL NATIONS, for his name:
Romans 1:1:6, Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:Romans 1:1:7, To ALL that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7, said Paul wrote “to all that be in Rome”, and described all of them as being “called to be saints”. They were not saints yet, but Christ was calling them to be set apart as saints, by believing the gospel in Paul’s epistle to the Romans.
And that fits with other doctrine to us, from Christ, through Paul, where Paul said that by Christ’s faith, God’s own righteousness is available unto ALL, but that God’s righteousness is only UPON all that believe. So, on that basis, Jesus Christ was calling all that be in Rome to be saints. Look at the verses:
Romans 3:21-22,3:21, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;3:22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
And he goes on in Romans 1, verse 8 to say
1:8, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
So, Paul praised them for having a faith in something, A faith in what they had heard so far, whether they had only heard the ancient Jewish faith, or whether some had heard that Messiah had come, died and resurrected, And that He was Jesus, of Nazareth.
So, some of them that Paul was talking to were Jews. And there were others, that you could call “Jew blessers,” or “Jewish associates,” or Greeks.
The Greeks were Gentiles that came to God by blessing Israel. They came into the synagogues to learn the wisdom and knowledge of God in the law of Moses, and to come to God by blessing Israel in that way, at least until they had heard Paul's gospel.
So, Paul wrote to them. Romans 1, verse 12, confirms that understanding of
Romans 1:7, “called to be saints”
that he was calling them to be saints, because he wanted their faith to be mutual with his faith, which would COMFORT him.
Romans 1:12, That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
In Romans 1, verse 12, he was writing this in order to stablish them. That he may be comforted by their mutual faith. He wanted to be comforted that they would come into a mutual faith. Because they didn't yet have a mutual faith. They were unaware of what Paul was writing to them, thus the need for the epistle.
That sums up the “tell them what you are going to say” part. NOW, let's go to the end of the epistle, and lets look at how Paul “tells them what he told th em .” In Romans 16, verses 25, and 26. We will start with verse 25.
Romans 16:25, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you“
Paul was closing out the epistle, and he is praying, and he says,
Romans 16:25, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to”
and he went on to list for them THE THREE THINGS that will stablish them.
“My gospel”
is the first STABLISHER. Those were things that he had talked about, as he talked about “my gospel” in Romans chapter 1, through chapter 5 .
Next, we see the first connective word (conjunction)
“and”
Then the second thing, in the series of three things that stablish you, is,
Romans 16:25 ...“the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Romans 16:26, But now is made manifest”
So, that's the mystery. And, it was given unto Paul to reveal that mystery, and to preach Jesus Christ, not according to prophecy in Matthew Mark Luke and John, not according to Israel's gospel, not according to the first coming of Jesus Christ, or the way in which He was sent.
When Jesus Christ came the first time, he was sent as a minister of the circumcision, as it says in Romans 15, verse eight.
Romans 15:8, Now I say that Jesus Christ WAS a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:”
But now, Paul has been sent to preach Jesus Christ, according to this secret , this mystery, which was not made known when Jesus was still on Earth. It was not made known until after his ascension. But it has been made known now at the beginning of Romans 16, verse 26,
Romans 16, verses 25, and 26.Romans 16:25, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,Romans 16:26, But now is made manifest”
followed by the third thing which stablishes those Romans, and us too is
“by the Scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”
That third means of stablishing us, is the same as what Paul said in Second Timothy 3, verses 14, through 16. Talking about Timothy learning the scriptures before Paul was saved, In Second Timothy 3, verse 15, Paul says that
Second Timothy 3:15, “from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Its “through faith” though, and the “through faith” part, was what he was teaching, that what counts is, what their faith was in. Faith is to be in Christ, that he died for our sins .
What do the Scriptures of the prophets tell us? See Romans 1:1-2.
Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the GOSPEL OF GOD,
Romans 1:2, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
So, the Scriptures of the prophets tell us about the facts of the “GOSPEL OF GOD”. The Scriptures of the prophets, are a means of stablishing someone.
From Acts 9 through Acts 19, Paul started with the Gospel of God, from the scriptures of the prophets, when introducing Jews and Greeks to the gospel of their salvation.
So, when we sum this up we see that in Romans 16, verses 25, and 26, he says the three things that establish a person, that bring you to establishment would be, firstly,
Romans 16:25, “my gospel”,
“AND”
secondly,
“the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
But now is made manifest“
“AND”
Thirdly, “
“by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
By applying the outline in Romans 16, verses 25, through 26, we see that “My gospel” is taught by Paul in Romans chapters 1, through 5, verse 11. So, starting in chapter 5, verse 12, you see Paul teaching
“the preaching of Jesus Christ”, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest.”
You see Paul teaching about the power of God in us, and the new creature. Although, Paul does not use the word “mortify,” like he does in Colossians 3, verses 5, through 7, you can read that he tells us we are dead to sin, and dead to the law, and that because of that, we SHOULD RECKON ourselves to be so, instead of falling back into that same pattern of sin. Because we ARE dead to sin, we CAN and SHOULD RECKON ourselves TO BE dead to sin.
He tells us that we are not under the law. All of these are things that are involved with the mystery. I don’t think that he uses the term, mystery, in explaining it in chapters 6, 7, and 8, but those are the chapters that handle the new creature.
Then, we will go on to the second,
“and”
in Romans 16, verse 25, and 26. We will start after the first five words in verse 26.
“and”
(we are stablished)
“by the scriptures of the prophetsaccording to the commandment of the everlasting God….”
The prophets had prophesied for Israel, and Israel's future. Here, Paul is handling those prophecies, and why we can't be saved by believing what Israel was told to believe, and what happened to Israel in chapters 9, and 10, and 11. He says that these three things stablish you. So Paul was prepairing these people.
Then in the rest of the epistle, chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, he taught them what this established life is, and what it produces, in other words, the way to live as an established believer.
So he starts off in Romans 12, verse 1, and he says
“I beseech you therefore.”
In other words, by all of this that has preceded, by these three ways that God stablishes you,
“present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
God has done the work in you, now here is how to live. Then, he goes on with several chapters of exhortations to Godly living.
START ROMANS 01-16 PART 02 OF 44 START OF ROMANS-SALV-0101-0511-pt2of3.
As we look back in Romans, we see this introduction, Then Paul went ahead and told them the gospel. So, we can look again in Romans 1, verse 13, through 18, and hit some high points , as we go through this first gospel portion, the gospel of Christ that Paul preached then. He says:
Romans 1:13, “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other GentilesRomans 1:14, I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise Romans 1:15, So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also
Look back to Romans 1, verses13, and 14. Comparing what Paul said in First Corinthians 9, verses 17, and 18, with Romans 1:16, the gospel of Christ had been charged to him. It was committed to him to preach to Jews and Greeks.
1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the power of God unto salvation TO every one that BELIEVETH; TO the JEW FIRST, and also to the Greek.
Notice that the Bible did NOT YET say that Paul was sent to "ALL THE GENTILES" at that time. Paul went to whom he was sent. The Gentiles that Paul went to according to the record in acts were the Greeks, those Jew blessers in the synagogues.
The Greeks were the ones that were claiming God's covenant of promise in Genesis 12:3 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.
The Greeks placed themselves in that covenant of promise. The Greeks were NOT "ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS from the covenant of promise". On the contrary, the Greeks were in that covenant of promise. God had promised Israel, "I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE ".
Paul went from synagogue, to synagogue, to synagogue. At least 10 times in Acts 9, through 19, he went to synagogues. At least one time, he went, and he found where the Jews met. The Bible didn't say they had a synagogue in that town of Philippi. But Acts 16, verse 12 informs us that Philippi was a chief city in that part of Macedonia.
Acts 16:12 And from thence to Philippi, which is THE CHIEF CITY of that part of Macedonia, and a colony:
So, Philippi most likely had a synagogue, but according to John 9:22, gospel of God believing Jews were expelled from synagogues.
John 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he (Jesus) was Christ, HE SHOULD BE PUT OUT of the synagogue.
Paul found where they met, went there, and found Lydia, and others.
Eventually, Paul got put in jail there, and then released by an earthquake in Acts 16. But, the point is that Paul went to whom he was sent, at that time. And, HE WROTE TO whom he was sent, at that time. And, at his first sending, the Acts record shows that Paul went to the Jews and Greeks, mainly in the synagogues.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation
(to whom was the gospel of Christ SENT, at that time)TO every one that believeth; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.
Paul said in Romans 1:16, that, he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation TO every one that believeth; TO the Jew first, and also to the Greek, the Jew-blessers in the synagogues.
And, that is who he went to, trying to get the Jews and Greeks, that were not part of the little flock, to come into the body of Christ by believing this gospel of Christ, gospel of Messiah that he was preaching.
But we see an apparent conflict here, and I want to help us to remember the meanings of the words in the text, which clarify it. Look back in Romans 1:14. Paul said
I am debtor BOTH to the GREEKS, and to the BARBARIANS, (those barbarians were the non-Greek, alien Gentiles who did not fear God, or bless Israel.)
both to the wise, and to the unwise.The "Greeks" were the "wise". The "Barbarians" were the "unwise".
Up until that time, Paul had been SENT to the Jews and Greeks, having been separated unto the gospel of God, and then, the gospel of Christ having been committed to him. Paul had been SENT to those in the covenants of promise, the Jews and Greeks. But, he had NOT yet been SENT to the ALIEN BARBARIANS, and Scythians who WERE STRANGERS from the covenants of promise.
The apparent conflict is that, since Paul was NOT YET SENT to "ALL THE GENTILES" until Acts 20, verse 6, and he wrote Romans in Acts 20, verse 3, why does Paul say in Romans, that he is "debtor BOTH to the GREEKS, and to the BARBARIANS" while he was still NOT YET SENT to the alien Barbarians and Scythians?
By that time of Paul's writing to all that be at Rome, we can find no record of the words of Christ SENDING Paul to the alien Barbarians and Scythians, but only to the Jews and Greeks. Yet, he says I am debtor also to the Barbarians.
Romans 1:14, I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians;
both to the wise, and to the unwise.He said, "both to the wise", those seekers of the wisdom and knowledge of God, "and to the unwise", those who ignored the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Well I don't know how many of you own a house with a mortgage. but if you have a mortgage, you’re a debtor. If you pay it off, then you are not a debtor anymore, right? At least not, in that mortgage. But when you buy a house with a mortgage, you become a debtor, and you owe that money, and THAT ALL MUST BE PAID OFF IN THE FUTURE.
(IN THE FUTURE). That's what "I am debtor" is talking about. Paul wrote to the Romans in Acts 20:3. By then, he had already received that Temple vision in which Christ told him that, in the future, he would send him to all men including Barbarians, the wise, and the unwise.
He hadn't yet received THAT SECOND SENDING. But, he would receive it a few verses later after writing this epistle "to all that be in Rome". He knew that a dispensing of the gospel to the Jews and Greeks had been committed to him. He did it willingly. That was a goal in his life. It was his course, and he also had to finish his course.
However, it was not until later that Paul tells of "the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" to all men. That ministry to all men, including the Barbarians, was not revealed until Acts 20:24, twenty one verses after this epistle was written.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I HAVE RECEIVED of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
So, he was A DEBTOR to, IN THE FUTURE , dispense the gospel to ALL men. Then he went on to say, in Romans 1:15:
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul was talking to CERTAIN Gentiles, as he said in verse 13, talking to Gentiles that "rested in the law", according to Romans 2:17. Those who rested in the law were the PROSELYTES, Jews that had been Gentiles. So, he was still talking to the Jews, and Greeks.
But, Paul's epistle was sent to a variety of people in Rome, as we saw in Romans 1:7. it was sent,
to all that be in Rome So, he addressed them all, but separately , in different areas of the epistle .
We also find a nugget here that we don't want to miss. At that time, the gospel that saved people, was called the gospel of Christ. But, in chapter 1, verse 1, he was talking about a gospel that was titled, the gospel of God. Paul goes on to describe it in verses 3, and 4. It is that Jesus is the prophesied, resurrected Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Believing that, arms you . It enables you to understand, and believe the gospel of Christ that when he died and rose from the dead, IT WAS FOR YOUR SINS. That's part of the mystery, that when Jesus died on the cross, it was for your sins, and that by believing that, you are saved from god’s wrath.
So that nugget is in there. It's not fully explained in Romans 1:16, but it's named: the gospel of Christ. And, it's called: the power of God onto salvation to every one that believes. The ones that believe are saved.
Then he goes into it in more detail, later in that section, chapters 1, through 5. Lets get to Romans 1:17. It's in the same section
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
And that's what God is interested in, isn’t it. He cannot have unrighteousness around him. He can't have in his presence, people that are not as righteous as God . So therefore, in saving and justifying believers, he imputes to us his own righteousness . Therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith. FROM CHRIST’S FAITH, that God would RESURRECT Him, and forgive us of all those sins. From Christ’s faith, TO MY FAITH in believing that He did it for me, which forgave all my sins, and that there will never be sins on my account to ask to be forgiven.
Let us kind of shift gears here in Romans 1:18. Paul discusses the wrath of God being revealed. Then, he goes into two chapters, and part of the third chapter about, the Gentiles, and then the Jews.
Paul starts with the Gentiles, and how they didn't have God, and how the Gentiles could find God from the invisible things from the creation of the world
Romans 1:20, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
There were things by which they could know that there was a God, and that God was a blessing God, and was bountiful, and that they could put their trust in him, and in God’s grace, without first actually knowing the name of Jesus Christ, or having even seen a Bible.
In Romans 1, Paul goes through how the Gentiles went their own way, and God “gave them up”, ”gave them up”, and “gave them over” to a reprobate mind, being filled with all unrighteousness. And that they went deeper and deeper into sin.
And as we know, by the seventh, eighth, or ninth generation after Adam, God had to destroy the world by the flood, Then, a few generations after that, he had to stop construction of the tower of Babel, by scattering the people, confusing their speaking into languages.
Man naturally goes from bad to worse. We are NOT good people. We are NOT born with a good streak through us. When unsaved people try to do good stuff, it's usually to prop up their name in front of people, or to try to appease God, thinking that their works can help them in relation to God, or for some other reason. But, the prophet Isaiah describes all that effort as filthy rags, and elsewhere, its described as dead works. works that don't count.
Then Paul goes on in chapter 2 talking about Jews that some of the Gentiles in Rome are blessing, the Jews that have the law that those particular Gentiles are "resting in". Again Paul wrote, as we saw in
Romans 1, 7, To all that be in RomeThat included a variety of people that were at Rome. He was talking to them, and calling them to be saints, set apart ones.
As we go on through Romans chapter 2, and in verses 23 through 29, Paul went through some arguments, and said to these Jews, and proselytes that it's not just a Jew being physically circumcised that made them a true Jew, but it's the Jews faith in their heart that made them true Jews.
Paul is not saying that all people, like us alien Gentiles with a circumcised heart, then somehow become a descendant of Jacob. Romans 2:17 show that Paul is only talking about Jews in this part of the second chapter, the Jews and proselytes that be in Rome. saying that those Jews needed the faith in the heart, as well as the circumcision in the flesh, to be true Jews.
That is crucial to understand. If you don't see that yet, please read through Romans 2, verses 25, through 29 again, and let the word of God say it. If you miss this, you will misunderstand the entire epistle to the Galatians.
When we get to Romans, chapter 3, we see that Paul concludes all people to be under sin, both Gentiles and also the Jews.
Romans 3:10, through 12.10, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11, There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.12, They are all gone out of the way
Paul is summing up both Jew and Gentile here, everybody! they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.13, Their throat is an open sepulchre;
so far, he hasn't left any room for any standing of anybody's argument: such as: (“you know, God, actually I’m pretty good").
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:14, Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
IF he hasn't already condemned everybody, he goes on to make sure,
15, Their feet are swift to shed blood:16, Destruction and misery are in their ways:17, And the way of peace have they not known:18, There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Some people balk at that one. “There is no fear of God before their eyes,” and they talk about that heavy feeling, that some people have, conviction, or depression, or whatever,
But in an unsaved person, that's a fear of hell. That's a fear of retribution. That’s a fear of what is going to happen to me. Its self-preservation. According to Romans 3, verse 18, that is not a fear of God. It's a fear of what is going to happen to them.
That is the way things had been. But, we could briefly preview the now of the present time. Look at what we get into, in verse 21,
“BUT NOW.”
But, you can't just jump over this next part to get there. This is a 2 verse SUMMARY of man’s position in sin, before Christ. Its so crucial in understanding God’s salvation.
Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: THAT every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
In other words, the Gentiles mouths were already stopped. Since Romans 1, verse 28, the Gentiles didn't have any standing before God anyway. But the Jews thought that they did. The Jews had the law. It was written to the Jews, so that every mouth, including you Jews, your mouth may be stopped TOO, and ALL the world may become guilty before God.
What was the purpose of the law? To shut every mouth. Nobody has any valid argument s before God. Nobody has a foot to stand on.
Romans 3, verse 20, THEREFORE THEREFORE.
“Therefore”, in other words, God set it up that way! So that,by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But, this is one of those places, in verse 21, that we get into where God steps in to make a change in our predicament.
“BUT NOW.” That was the way things had been, but let's head into what God changed.
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The law gives everyone, the knowledge that they come short of the glory of God. That is the bad side. But, here is the good side that Paul goes on to say In Romans 3, verse 21,
(that total purity and holiness of God) “BUT NOW the righteousness of Godwithout the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"
(but not being manifested by the people.) That was the trouble.
Romans 3, verse 22,Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ....
The “faith of Jesus Christ” Is Jesus Christ's faith. unto all and upon all....
So that righteousness is onto all, it does reach all. It is available to all. But it's only UPON all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Think of a CARWASH: You pull your car into the CARWASH, When your car is in position to be washed OR waxed, at that time, the wax is in the sprayer, all the way, unto where your car is positioned.
Nothing yet has come out of the sprayers. Nothing yet has affected your car. Then, depending on what you had chosen, Either you get WAX with your wash, or you get NO WAX with your wash.
Here is the point. The wax in those sprayers, comes UNTO every car. But, the wax is only UPON those who had chosen it.
Romans 3:22, says that “the righteousness of God”
Is “UNTO ALL”“and”“UPON ALL them that believe”
Do you see the qualifier that God placed there? it's only UPON “ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE . “
So, it applies to you, if ye believe. If you don't believe, if you don't trust Christ as your Savior, by trusting that he died for your sins, then, it doesn't apply to you. It comes UNTO YOU, but its NOT UPON YOU, unless you believe. It's upon all them that believe. We have to identify the pronoun "THEM" as "all them that believe" what Paul is presenting here.
Romans 3, verse 23, and 24,23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
That “all” applies there too, doesn't it, in verse 24?
" ALL have sinned" and ALL are
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
but, as we saw in verse 22, it only applies to "all them that believe " .
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
In the past, before that, sins of old, had to be remitted. They could not be forgiven, UNTIL Christ had actually made peace through the blood of his cross, FOR their orgiveness.
So, Paul says:for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26, To declare, I say, at this time
that is the but now
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier OF HIM WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS .
There is that belief needed again. The ones that are justified, are the ones that believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior, and that He saved them by his blood.
He does that in a way that He remains just . He doesn't bend the rules.
Romans 3:27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
The working of faith, in other words, the operation of faith.
28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT the deeds of the law.
Isn’t that a precious verse?
Let's go on. He hits us again, with his gospel in chapter 4. Paul says:
Romans 4:1, What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Paul says that “pertaining to the flesh” Abraham is his, and their, forefather. (He says that Abraham is “our father.”) So while Paul addresses this epistle “To all that be in Rome,” He identifies the group to which he now turns his attention as being the descendants of Abraham, specifically, the Jews.
For IF Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.3, For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and IT (the belief) was counted unto him for righteousness.4, Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
So, you get hired. You make an agreement with your employer. You go to work, and do the work, and he pays you. He is not being gracious to you , is he?
If he says, “well I don't feel gracious today, I’ll give you half as much.” You would say, “No, we have an agreement. You agreed to pay me such and such an hour.” And he would have to pay you. He owes it to you. It is his debt, until he pays you.
That's what its talking about there, 4, Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the UNGODLY , his faith is counted for righteousness.
There is that imputation of righteousness to the believer.
Paul summarizes here.
We see in Romans 4, verse 20, He (Abraham) staggered not at THE PROMISE of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
and next, Paul describes Abraham's faith
Romans 4, verse 21, And being fully persuaded that , what he had promised , he was able also to perform .22, And therefore (because of that verse 20 faith, described in verse 21) it was imputed to him for righteousness .
According to Genesis 12, verses 1, through 3, Abraham had been promised something else other than what we have been promised. Wasn’t he?
But he believed what he had been promised by God. It was his faith that was counted as righteousness. And we are to have faith in what God gave us to believe in the Bible.
We are to believe that gospel which Paul just gave in the chapter before, which is the gospel that Paul is going to present again, during the next few verses, and it is the same gospel that Paul preached in First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4.
22, And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.23, now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him 24, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead
And next, we have the same thing as in first Corinthians 15 verse three, 25, Who was delivered FOR OUR offences, and was raised again FOR OUR justification.
It was our offenses, the PAYING FOR THE DEBT OF OUR OFFENSES, our sins, that put Jesus Christ on the cross.
and he was raised again FOR OUR justification Therefore, we know that we believers are justified, BY his resurrection, when he rose from the dead.
END ROMANS 4 -- START ROMANS 5
Paul summarizes in chapter 5, verses 1, through 11. “Therefore,”
In other words, because of what we just went through, from Romans chapters 1, through 4, about how bad man is, all men, and that Christ imputes his righteousness to us, by faith
Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
And it doesn't say, “therefore being justified by faith, we have PROBATION with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have peace ! And how much of it did we do? NONE OF IT! We didn't do any of it, did we?
It was the faith of Christ in going to the cross , knowing that God would raise him from the dead, having forgiven all of our sins Jesus Christ believed that all our sins would be forgiven by his death, and therefore, he went to the cross. That is “the faith of Jesus Christ”
By our believing that, we come into the benefit of that. We are not only forgiven of all sins, but we are imputed God’s own righteousness.
So, Paul goes on through, and now lets look down in verse 6. This is the result of what he's already written, and has told us about before
Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly .
When the time was right, he went to the cross. Before Paul, it was only known that "my righteous servant" would die for the iniquities of many, some, God's people. But now we learn that:
yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8, But God.
But God. It's not “but I tried hard,” or “I pleased God.” It's “but God.” God did it. That is GOD'S GRACE! God did it!!!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
not repentant, not baptized, not going to church
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9, Much more then, being NOW justified by his blood , we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(We believers shall be saved from God’s wrath).10, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11, And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED the atonement.
Its our’s. The atonement is our’s.
12, Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
So, he's making this very clear. It's one of the most detailed discussions of our condition, and what God did about it to save us, and how we can be saved
That pretty well summarizes the overview of Romans. In Romans 1, verses 11, and 12, Paul wrote to show all that be in Rome how to be established.
And in Romans 16, verses 25, and 26, Paul wrote that these are the three things that bring us to an established life:
my gospel, and,preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, and, the inspired of God, Old Testament Scriptures.
Don't let anybody tell you, that there are MORE than 66 books in the Bible, Or, LESS than 66 books in the Bible. Stay away from where you hear that. If you hear that, RUN!
We have God’s Bible, brought down through the ages for us. God promised. God did promise that every word of God is pure! That's Proverbs 30, verse 5,
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God IS pure : he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
And, in Psalms 12, verses 6, and 7, God has also promised, to PRESERVE
those words for us , to bring them to us, to reveal His will to you through His word.
Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.Psalms 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
also:
1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
So, don't let somebody tell you that the Scripture is false, or that, the Scripture has been changed, or that, the Scripture doesn't apply today, or that, “Well all translations have mistakes”
God does NOT MAKE MISTAKES. God’s word is errorless. God’s word was preserved for ever, IF God is not a liar.
Those parts that are written to us today, do apply to us today. And those parts that were written to Israel, applied during Israel's rise, while Israel was not yet cast away, and they will apply when the Israel of God is regathered by God into THE LAND, according to the promise of God. He does bring to pass all that He promised, TO WHOM He promised it.
We have looked at the overview, and we've looked at the first section of Romans, chapters 1, through 5, about my gospel, Paul's gospel, given to Paul by Christ, according to Galatians 1 verses 11 and 12,
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Godly LivingRomans 5, verse 12, through Romans 8, verse 4
Baptized into Christ's death Circumcised with Christ Righteousness of God Dead to sin Free from sin Dead to the Law Free from the Law
We are going to continue on, with the study in Romans, starting with the summary that Paul gives in Romans 16, verses 25 and 26,
which we will use as an outline of the epistle. "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to",
and he tells them (and us) what is going to establish them.
What he ends with is their establishment, telling what life is like as an established believer in the gospel of Christ.
But what leads to that starts off with "my gospel",
and secondly is, "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since since the world began, 26. but now is made manifest,"
So, it was kept secret, but now, he is making it manifest, making it known.
Then, the third thing in the outline would be, the third thing that establishes us,
"by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."
Earlier, we had gone through the "my gospel" part that Paul starts off with,
from Romans 1, verse 1 through Romans 5, verse 11. Now we are picking up today at Romans 5, verse 12.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:13. "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
So, that's a crucial verse there. Sin is not imputed when there is no law.
As we look down further, we are going to see, as it says in Romans Six, verse 14, we are not under the law.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
And those verses do go together.
So, if we look down at the Romans Five, verse 15, "But NOT as the offence, so also is the free gift."
Now that is kind of a strange way of talking. Its a strange comparison.
But, if you leave out the “not”, it is saying the negative of this, it is not saying,
“but as the offense, so also is the free gift”. You can see it that way,
and when you add back that not, he is saying, “but not as the offense so is the free gift".
In other words, they are different. The free gift is not the same as the offense.
“For if through the offense of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace which is by one man, Jesus Christ,
And then, going on to Romans 5, verse 16, “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”
So there is the difference that its declaring.
Lets look in Romans 5, verse 17, “For IF by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more THEY WHICH RECEIVE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ”
You are receiving the gift of righteousness, when you believe the gospel.
“receive abundance of grace and of THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
We are NOT receiving a GIFT OF LASCIVIOUSNESS , or GIFT OF COVETOUSNESS , of HATRED.
Now these seem strange to even mention. But, that's what some people are saying, when
they talk like we claim that we have license to sin.
In effect, they are claiming that we are saying that we have received the gift OF LASCIVIOUSNESS, or OF ENVY, or OF JEALOUSY,
as if we are proclaiming we receive that from God.
But no, it says we are receiving THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. And it's a gift,
and we receive it. So we have been given "his imputed righteousness." It's not our perfection in our actions, and daily walk. It is his gift of imputing his own righteousness, to our account. And, that's verified.
Lets go look back to Romans 3, verses 19, through 22. It says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
In other words, no man can PLEASE GOD by his deeds. 20,
“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.”
And they are all related. And so is this, that we receive God's own righteousness. It is a mystery that was never mentioned in the Bible BEFORE PAUL,
that separately from blessing Israel, the righteousness of God would be imputed to all people that believe,
being made "ACCEPTABLE by the gospel of God" apart from Israel, according to Romans 15, verse 16.
So that then, all people could hear and believe the gospel of the grace of God, to be saved.
*See notes about David's imputed righteousness statement, at the bottom.
The law was designed to show, that every mouth would be stopped, and nobody is righteous before God.
The only way to have righteousness that God will accept, is to accept God's righteousness, which is being given to us who believe the gospel of salvation.
At the cross, God earned the right to stay JUST, in justifying believers.
Now, Psalm 32, verses 1, to 2, David found forgiveness from God for having committed adultery and then murder.
David also PROPHESIED about a future time when Israel will be forgiven for its apostasy, as David was forgiven for his transgression.
David says how, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
David found forgiveness for his adultery and murder, though, it cost him the life of his son (Second Samuel 12, verses14, to 19, especially verse 18).
2 Samuel 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
How would you like that kind of forgiveness?
Also, look briefly at Israel's parallel New Testament verse, First John 1, verse 9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There will come a time when Israel will acknowledge its sins,
as David did.in Psalms 32, verse 5,"I acknowledged my sin unto thee,"
And there will come a time, when Israel will stop hiding the iniquity of its sin, as David did in Psalms 32, verse 5,
" mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
In the same way,there will come a time when Israel will confess its transgressions unto the LORD, and the LORD will forgive the iniquity of Israel's sin.
But David goes on in Psalms 32, verse 6, prophesying that" For this shall every one that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:"
David prophesies about Israel, not about the body of Christ.
Israel, as a nation, after centuries of going astray, like sheep, lost their ability to
"pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:"Israel became "not God's people," LoammiHosea 1: 9
Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Acts 28: 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Acts 28: 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Acts 28: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Acts 28: 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
From studying Paul's epistles, we know that those in the body of Christ now have God's own righteousness imputed to them.
But what about Israel?When will they be declared righteousness enough for God?
We know from a secret revealed to Paul that Israel's blindness will end after
"the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" to what God is building today.Romans 11:25
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."
But, in Romans 11:26, the secret is further revealed that afterward"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
And so after that, the fulfillment of Israel's prophesies resumes.
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And so, Israel's prophet Ezekiel foretells that Israel's day will come.Ezekiel 36:21
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 ¶Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
Psalms 32: 6 For this shall EVERY ONE THAT IS GODLY PRAY UNTO THEE IN A TIME WHEN THOU MAYEST BE FOUND: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
But Israel's good intentions of being righteous, didn't work out.They found out that their pledge to keep every one of God's laws,
was impossible to do, as God designed it to show them.
So, one day, Israel will have God's righteousness.As Romans 11, verse 25 says, After
"the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" to what God is building now,Israel's blindness will be lifted, and Romans 11, verse 26 tells us that
"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.Hosea 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Zechariah 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him,
as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.Zechariah 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
That's a different thing. That's not the same as us being given God’s righteousness,
and not ever having any sins on our account, on that basis. You see one is by believing Paul's gospel,
and the other is by keeping the covenant that Israel had made with God, or rather, God had made with Israel, that they must not sin.
Israel had agreed to the covenants and law in Deuteronomy 6:25, “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.”
So, they had high hopes of living a perfect life. But they found out that because of sin in mankind, the law works wrath.
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 3:19-22Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.Romans 3:20 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.Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
After God is finished building the church which is His body,.He will catch us up to be with Him.Then, He will also enable Israel, to receive God's spirit and imputed righteousness.
For us, the gift of righteousness is as it said in Romans 5, verse 17.
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
So, we have been given righteousness, God’s righteousness.
We have been given a reigning life here. That is this life, here. It's not talking about after the resurrection. Its talking about having a life here that
is characterized by this righteousness of God IN US.
Now, that is not all there is to it. We believers have God's righteousness, and we are dead to sin, but were told in Colossians 3, verse 5,
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” And he gives a list of things, the sins or fleshly deeds,
works that do not come from the spirit of God within us, or from the gift of righteousness that is within us, by faith.
What we started out with here, was that this gift of righteousness is part of the formerly hidden mystery that we are involved in, and that Christ has announced through Paul.
So, we will go on to the next verse in this section. Romans 5, verse 18, says,
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life..”
And as we read in Romans 3, verses 21, and 22, it is available to all.
And, that justification of life, is by faith. See Romans 5, verse 1,
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
So, faith is required, It required the Christ's faith, to go to the cross.
But, it requires our trusting in the gospel of Christ, believing and receiving to ourselves that Christ died for our sins, that Christ made full payment, for your sins, for my sins.
By believing that, we are saved, and are justified.
In Romans 5, verse 18, it says justified. “The free gift came upon all men unto justification of life,”
which is seen to be by faith, trusting, in Ephesians 1, verse 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
There is one principle here that we need to remember. The Bible doesn't explain everything every time it mentions a topic. We can see in Ephesians 1, verse 13, that
(1) "the word of truth", is the same as:
(2) "the gospel of your salvation"
In the same way, we know something from First Corinthians 15, verse 1, and 2,
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you”
so he says I declare it to you. I am telling it to you. Here it is, “which also ye have RECEIVED.”
So, in First Corinthians 15, verses 1,the believer receives "the gospel"
It similar to what it says in Ephesians 1, verse 13, “after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”
It's equating them. The gospel of your salvation IS the word of truth. It's a restatement of the same thing. It's not a series of things. It's a statement that the gospel of your salvation IS the word of truth.
Well, its the same thing here in First Corinthians 15, verse 1, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have RECEIVED, and wherein ye stand;
First Corinthians 15, verse 2,by which also ye are saved”
He goes on at the end of First Corinthians 15, verse verse 2, to say “unless ye have BELIEVED in vain”
In other words, take Paul's whole gospel, whole doctrine, whole teaching and see that, throughout his teaching. he teaches salvation by God's grace, through faith that Christ died for your sins.
He doesn't vary from that. But Paul specifies to believe what he preached unto them,
as opposed to what Peter, James, or John preached.
So, Paul is saying that there is an important difference between his, and their gospels.
Paul is defining the division there,the DIVISION that needs to be DIVIDED RIGHTLY.
He says in First Corinthians 15, verse verse 2," keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have BELIEVED in vain."
Its vain and futile to believe any other gospel than Paul's.
But, what we need to see is here, at the end of verse 2, Paul uses a slightly different word to refer back
to what he called "RECEIVED" in verse 1.
Its as if you were coaching your son, how to hit a baseball.
"When they pitch the ball to you,hit the ball, really smash it."
Well, the word "smash" is not defined just like the word "hit".But, both words are referring to the same event.They both mean to
swing the bat so as to make contact with the incoming ball, bouncing it off the bat, in a severe manner, causing the ball to rapidly leave the area.
Only, maybe not as wordy.
So, Paul is giving additional information as to what is that SHIFT OF TRUST that must occur FROM the person managing their own results of God's judgment against him, TO the person fully depending on Christ to manage the results of God's judgment that had been against him.
So,"unless you believed in vain,"
it takes belief, and that is what Paul is saying. Verse two's " BELIEF ," IS EQUATED WITH " RECEIVING " in verse one. He goes on to say in First Corinthians 15, verses 3, and 4, here are the facts of the gospel to be believed, in order to, be saved.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
So, when you BELIEVE that, WHEN Christ died on the cross,He was dying for your sins, in your place,so that you won't die that way.
When you believe that, it is the same as saying, you have received that good news to yourself.
So, you see that, believing that Christ died for your sins,
is more than just mentally knowing a fact.It is receiving it to yourself, Christ's offer to trade places with you, according toSecond Corinthians 5, verses 21,
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
And it is fully knowing that Christ actually will trade places with you and that He will completely accomplish your salvation forever,in spite of you.
Lets continue with First Corinthians 15, verse 3,“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received”
There is that word “received” again, which is what Paul did when he believed the gospel on the road to Damascus,
received, and believed. “how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; First Corinthians 15, verse 4,
and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:”
So that's a complete presentation that Paul makes of the gospel of salvation, the gospel of Christ,
. which later becomes the gospel of the grace of God.
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But we find in Acts 16, verse 31, it says. “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
It doesn't give the whole thing.. but that's what he is talking about.
He preached unto them the gospel of Christ, the gospel of salvation. If you look in the next verse,
he did preach unto them the gospel, in their house. Acts 16, verse 32,
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and TO ALL THAT WERE IN HIS HOUSE.
Acts 16, verse 34, And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with ALL his house.
But here, in Acts 16, verse 31, it is just a summary.
There are other places, for instance, in First Timothy 1, verse 16, he does the same thing. First Timothy 1, verse 16,
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
It's more or less a summary. Now we know from First Corinthians 15:1-4,
that the blood of Christ is a necessity. It's part of the gospel, that he died on the cross.
Whether it is talking about the preaching of THE CROSS, or that he DIED for our sins,
there are two or three phrases that are talking about that same event, which are a necessary part of the gospel.
But here we see in First Timothy 1, verse16, “Howbeit for this cause”,
for what cause? Howbeit, for the cause that First Timothy 1, verse 15, tells us,
“Christ Jesus came into the world TO SAVE SINNERS… 16,
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."
Well, there is nothing in there about the blood, or the cross, or the death of Christ.
But, it's a summary of the gospel. Paul is not giving the whole gospel EVERY TIME he mentions it.
The whole gospel of salvation for us today, must say three things:(The 3 parts of the whole gospel are:
first, what God did to enable you to be saved, second, what you must do or believe
to appropriate to yourself, what God did to save you,third, what God promises the result will be.
So, the whole gospel of your salvation today is:(1) the substitutionary cross, death, or blood;(2) that you receive it, believe it, trusted it, by faith;(3) results in you being
justified, righteous, quickened, or saved from God's wrath.
But that doesn't mean that just because you reed or hear a verse like this, it doesn't mean that's all that is involved with the gospel.
You need to study to be approved of God, to understand the whole meaning.
And that is what we are doing here. We have presented First Corinthians 15:1-4 as being
a complete giving of the gospel.
We need to look at Romans 5, verse 18. Let me just read it.
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation;
even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
We are NO LONGER condemned FOR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. What WE ARE CONDEMNED for, is NOT RECEIVING God's righteousness.
It's the fact that, he is offering us righteousness, which is what His demand is, which is what we lack.
God cannot tolerate unrighteousness, in his presence.
So its there, its available to all. It's not that people can't attain it. It's that they refuse to receive his gift.
People want to do it their own way. They don't trust that, God's way will work out, in the end. They want to supplement it with their own good works,
thinking that they can make up the difference,And that means that they aren't fully trusting Christ
to give them His righteousness to save them. and so, people don't meet God's requirement.
The problem is that, some people won't receive this free gift of the righteousness of God in their lives.
The gospel was the first section of this epistle. It goes from Romans 1, verse 1, through Romans 5:12,
and we had done that earlier. So now, we get to chapter 6.
Lets go on Romans 6, verses 1, and 2. We see, Paul is saying, 2,
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Well, the question was asked 1,
“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” And this is what we talked about earlier,
that we have been given the gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS. We have NOT been given the gift of COVETOUSNESS, or of MURDER. Those are NOT what we are given. We are given a gift,
its an accounting, but to you it's a part of our life now.
That's part of our being.
So, this is the new creature that we are, A person that hasn't received Christ as their Savior,
has not received His forgiveness, this gift of righteousness that comes by believing that Christ died for our sins,
they look at how simple God has made it to become a saved person, and they say, “well, that's a license to sin”.
they figure that if they were in that situation, ` they could get away with a lot of sin.They just don't don't understand. When they haven't taken that step of faith,
they don't have any way of understanding God's righteousness that becomes part of our being.
They still don't have any way of understanding that according to Romans 6, verse 14,
being under the Law, gives sin dominion over you.
But, according to Titus 2, verses 11, and 12, being under God's grace, teaches you to deny ungodliness, and worldly lust,we should live soberly, righteously, and godly.
If we can compare Romans 6, verse 2, with Romans 5, verse 17, we see in Romans 5, verse 17,
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ”.
We are not defeated by the sins that, he goes on to talk about in Romans 6, verse 2.
You just can't understand it, if haven’t trusted and received that gift of righteousness.
Romans 6, verse 1, ¶What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6, verse 2,God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein?
Some people complain about the translation into the words"God forbid"
They say that the word "God" is not actually thereBut you couldn't accurately translate it without the word "God."That is what the verses are saying,
that it is God in you, that enables you to NOT have the Romans 6, verse 1 attitude, which says,
" Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
If you look at Romans 6, verses 3, and 4, that compares with Romans 5, verse 17 also when you look at a Romans 6, verse 3,
First, look at:1 Corinthians 12, verse 13,
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
and 1 Corinthians 12, verse 27, Now ye are THE BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular.
and Galatians 3, verse 27, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Now, include this inspired information:Romans 6, verse 3,
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
So what we were, our goals, our ambitions, our motivations, self-preservation, and self aggrandizement, putting ourselves forward,
Paul tells us that now, there is only one baptism.Ephesians 4, verse 4,
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4, verse 5, One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
We are buried with him by baptism, the baptism by the Holy Spirit, into the body of Christ, and it's also into Christ, as it says in verse 3, baptized into Jesus Christ, and here it says baptism into death.
That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6, verse 4, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism INTO death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so WE ALSO SHOULD WALK in newness of life.
“Therefore we are buried with him BY baptism into death”.
That is not accomplished by, “you should do this," or, "Quit doing that.”
It is not to be another LAW to keep. In a sense, it is a way of operation,
a way of doing things, the way that God DOES THINGS in our lives.
Paul talks about that a little bit later in Romans 8, verse 2. But, it is NOT a condition to be kept, in order to be saved,
like the Mosaic law used to be, it's not that.
It's more like the law of GRAVITY. It’s the way God operates. You don't have to try and keep the law of GRAVITY. It is just the way God does things.
In Romans 6, verse 4, Paul is saying that, “as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father”,
Now that’s power. That’s resurrection power. And Paul goes on that, by that same POWER,
"Even so, we also should walk in newness of life."
And the only walk, that a believer can walk, is in newness of life, its positional.
It’s the position which God gives to each believer in Paul's gospel of salvation
But it does affect our lives, too. NOT in the sense that we have sinless perfection. But, we are credited with the THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD,
which is without flaw. But also, our daily life is more or less governed by it,
even though, we still make the choice.
That's why Paul says to MORTIFY, KILL those old impulses, and LIVE BY that RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD that is within you.
You choose to do it. It is a choice.
In Colossians 3, verse 2, Paul says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
Why does he tell you to “set your affection," IF you can't do that. It's a choice you make,
and yes, you can SE T your affection. If you don't, then you won't be reigning in this life,
as we are studying about, in Romans 6. So, it's something you probably won't know about if you don't study, but HERE WE ARE studying it, and we are finding out.
So, Colossians 3, verse 3,
“SET your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. And, as he says in Colossians 3, verse 5,
“MORTIFY therefore your members which are upon the earth”.
And you CAN’T do that by yourself. You can only do that, (mortify or kill those desires),
you can only do that because you ARE DEAD in Christ. As a believer in Paul's gospel of salvation,
you have died with Christ, in 33 A.D. You have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless you live. Its Christ that lives in you,
We are to mortify our members. We are to live by reigning in life, by that resurrection power of Christ that is within us, by God's gift. Look in Romans 6, verse 6,
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
And again, the term, "should not" means, how God operates in our life. It's something God does in us. Just like the rest of the mystery, it’s all of God. Its all by what God has done through Christ. He does it in us.
Colossians 2, verse 9, through 14, shows how Christ does it in us.As we read this, WATCH how God accounts us as RIGHTEOUS.Colossians 2, verse 9,
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete IN HIM, which is THE HEAD of all principality and power:
Colossians 2, verse 11,In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off THE BODY of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the circumcision of Christ:
Contrast Christ's body, containing all the fullness of the Godhead.Colossians 2, verse 9,
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.Contrast that with, the way that we have the "body of the sins of the flesh PUT OFF, in Colossians 2, verse 11,
In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off THE BODY of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the circumcision of Christ:
Christ did NOT put away our sins when He was physically circumcised on the eighth day.
The circumcision, or cutting away, that put away our sins,WAS ON THE CROSS, when Jesus Christ was,
Isaiah 53, verse 8, He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was CUT OFF OUT OF the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Colossians 2, verse 11,In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off THE BODY of the SINS OF THE FLESH by the circumcision of Christ:
So, for believers in Paul's gospel of salvation, we are in Christ, andin Him, the body of the sins of the flesh, ARE CUT OFF.
So, we should LIVE, as God views our WALK,in Romans 8, verse 1,… who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Now, lets continue in the Colossians reading atColossians 2, verse 12,
BURIED with him in baptism, wherein also ye are RISEN with him through the faith of the operation of GOD, who hath RAISED HIM from the dead.
13,And YOU, BEING DEAD in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14.BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ordinances that WAS AGAINST US, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
IN CHRIST, It was CUT AWAY from us.
Now, lets jump back again in Colossians 2, verse 6, it's reemphasized,
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord”, that's when you received Him, or believed him to be your Savior,
“so walk ye in him:” He does it for you. Just like He did salvation for you,
he does your daily reigning in life for you. Walk in him. "so walk ye in him"
START ROMANS 01-16 PART 07 OF 44START ROMANS-LIFE-0512-0623-pt4of4
Romans 6, verse 7, is a landmark verse. Lets compare Romans 6, verse 7, with Romans 6, verse 14.First, here is Romans 6, verse 7,
“For he that is dead is freed from sin” Now, here is Romans 6, verse 14,
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
As you compare those two verses, you can see that death has no dominion over you, and that sin does not have dominion over you.
You are freed from sin, in verse 7, and in verse 14, ye are not under the law.
So therefore, sin is the transgression of the law from which you are freed.
There was sin before there was the law, the Mosaic law. Romans 5, verse 14, characterizes that whole period of time,
from Adam to Moses is as a time of death. So, Romans 6, verses 7, and 14, are related.
Lets go on to,Romans 6, verses 8, through 10:
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”
Christ died unto sin, ONCE. It is not something that we have to ask him to do, over and over. When he died it was for all sins. It wasn't just for sins of the past. It was for ALL SINS, otherwise,
those salvation verses would not work, IF he didn't die for our sins. He died for our sins, and believing that, we are saved. So, he did it once, you believe once, and
you are given the GIFT of THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD .
we must change our mind about the sin we did, and we know that it was wrong, and that's another way of saying to repent,to change your mind about what you did.
But it's not a matter of repenting, TO BE SAVED. Its a matter of CHANGING YOUR MIND about your sinning,
and living the life that God has put in you, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
Of course, you will be sorry. You will be sorry that you have hurt the One who died for you,
and Who lives in you. But then you go on. You've got the gift of God's own righteousness, and you can be thankful. Just like the verse in Colossians 2, verse 6,
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
And that goes for when you do have a sin that you realize you've done, or that you fall into, you treat it the same way, you treat it that God has already taken care of it, by his grace on the cross.
You stop sinning, and continue to live Christ's life IN YOU.
Lets look at Romans 6, verse 3, in relation to Romans 6, verse 10, that Christ died unto sin once, and we see in Romans 6, verse 3,
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
We were baptized into that death of Christ. Romans 6, verse 10,
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
The death was for those sins. He died once, and
when we sin, we have already died in Christ. That sin has already been paid for by Christ,
and we stand WITH HIM, and IN HIM. In Christ, we have already died for that sin, on Christ's cross.
Lets look at Romans 6, verse 2. Why does that matter? We are dead to sin.
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, LIVE any longer therein?“
And he goes on to show us why we are dead to sin, because we were baptized into Jesus Christ’s death. WE ARE, DEAD to sin. That's the FACT upon which we can look into Romans 6, verse 11,
and because we actually are dead to sin, we can therefore RECKON ourselves to be dead unto sin.
Romans 6, verse 11,Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
It is NOT this new age thing of thinking something into being, In other word, its NOT that if someone merely
considers themself to be dead to sin, then they can not sin. That's NOT it.
The truth of the matter is in verses two, three, seven, and eleven, that we are “dead to sin”, because we have been “baptized into his death”.
So therefore, in other words, SINCE YOU ARE DEAD to sin, “RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.”
Don’t just let it be a fact, but reckon it to be so in your life. Put it into action in your daily life.
“but ALIVE UNTO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So that's some of the things to go through when temptation hits, and there are many wiles of the devil.
Know that, according to Second Timothy 3, verse 12, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
And temptation too, according to First Corinthians 10, verse 13,“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
That's part of the Christian life.
Let's look at Romans 6, verse 13. It is going on in the same thought. And this whole passage here is all talking about
the righteousness of God IN YOU.
It's all part of that mystery that wasn't revealed in the Old Testament. It's all part of that mystery that wasn't revealed in
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It’s all part of the mystery, being the preaching of Jesus Christ
according to the revelation of the mystery. That is that second part of the outline
in Romans 16, verses 25, and 26.
Romans 6, verse 13, Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Well, that says a lot, doesn’t it. Those verses give us instructions about how to live,
and what to do when you're tempted. None of us are sinless. Our body is not yet redeemed. That comes at the "catching up." We still have to deal with our members,
So, when you sin, God doesn't throw you away. You are not useless, from then on. Whether it's a white lie, or
whether it's a murder, or adultery, or breaking a promise, or some other sin,
God doesn't THROW YOU AWAY.
Look at Acts 13, verse 39,And by him all that believe ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
The Bible says that you are JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS.You do have the forgiveness of sins, inEphesians 1, verse 7,
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of HIS GRACE;
and God has already given you that gift of His own righteousness, to help you live.
And don't forget, we are ambassadors. We represent God and his righteousness to the world,
NOT as a priest does, NOT as Israel does, but in a different sense. We are to display the manifold wisdom of God
to the world around us (Second Corinthians 5, verses 18, through 20; Ephesians 3, verse 10), as well as to angels, that are watching (First Corinthians 4, verse 9; First Corinthians 11, verse 10; Ephesians 3, verse 10; First Timothy 5, verse 21).
We are going on to Romans 6, verse 14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law , but under grace.”
IF you were under the law, sin would have dominion over those that were under the law.
Every person that was under the law, sinned, and fell short of the glory of God.
But we are not under the law. Therefore, we can yield ourselves as instruments of righteousness unto God, as in verse 13.
So, we will go on to Romans 6, verse 15, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”
In fact, that's what he has been saying here. God within you, the righteousness of God within you,
prevents you from doing that, forbids you from doing that. You could step out on your own, let your pride take over, and do a sin,
but that's not your nature anymore, that's not the righteousness that God has placed in you, that's not what is pleasing to God, and it's not the RECKONING yourselves to be DEAD UNTO SIN.
We ARE DEAD unto sin, and we need to reckon ourselves so.
Now, lets read Romans 6, verse 16, and 17, Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
The main thing that I'm trying to get across today, is that, this whole thing is about the mystery that was unrevealed before.
But Paul is letting us know that the Christian life, choosing to to be a servant of God instead of a servant of sin, yielding your members servants of righteousness rather than of unrighteousness, this whole thing IS BY GOD.
It's not by our doing. ITS BY GOD within us. It is by that RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, that we get.
I believe the first time that is introduced, is in Romans 3, verses 21, and 22, that we went through earlier.
Its also mentioned briefly in the summary or an introduction form in Romans 1, verses 16, and 17,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17,For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:...”
Jesus Christ had FAITH that God the Father would forgive those sins of our's that God had made Him to be, and that, He was dying for, and raise Him from the dead, as proof that we are justified.
And, we have FAITH that WHAT CHRIST DID, DOES FORGIVE OUR SINS, and SAVE US .
So, its “FROM faith TO faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
So, this gospel of Christ that Paul is talking about in Romans 1, verse 16, IS the righteousness of God, REVEALED. That's what we live by. That is what we have within us, and is a free gift, justified freely. How can we be justified? God requires total righteousness,
his own righteousness, and that's what he gives us, that's how we are justified, as it says in Romans 3, verse 24.
We will read about serving two masters in Romans 6, verses 18, and 22, he kind of summarizes.
In Romans 6, verse 18, Paul says, “Being then MADE free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Romans 6, verse 22, “But now being MADE free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
The outcome of your life is holiness. So we have everlasting life, and we have holiness. But as he said, it's a matter
of yielding, of reckoning, of choosing it.
We are still free agents in this body, and that's our life.
We have a tremendous resource though, that we are dead to sin, Romans 6, verse 2, and that as we reckon ourselves dead to sin, this righteousness of God acts out in our life.
As it says there in Romans 6, verse 22, holiness is the result of that imputed righteousness of God within us.
Holy living is our walk.
Now don't get afraid of the word holiness, because there are holiness churches.
That is kind of the opposite of what Paul talks about here. They believe you are only saved if you live a holy life. It is the opposite here. God gives us his own righteousness,
and that produces a holy walk within us, as we MORTIFY our members, and then the RECKON ourselves dead to sin, and YIELD ourselves instruments of righteousness.
Remember the emphasis is God and what he does. It's him, placing his righteousness within us,
and it's us receiving it, living by it, and realizing that when we trusted him to save us from our sins, we died with him.
We were crucified with Christ. That was when? 33 A.D? So, we CAN live a different life because of it.
The summary of this teaching is in Romans 6, verse 23,
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are going to see Paul as the chief of sinners, chief meaning, “head” or a “prototype”. Its NOT that he's the worst sinner, but, he is the showman, the poster boy, so to speak, for sin, as he said in First Timothy 1, verse 15.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world TO save SINNERS; of whom I am chief.
This is just a preview kind of thing, but,then Paul turns around in the next verse, First Timothy 1, verse 16, and he is the prototype, the first:
Howbeit for this cause (the faithful saying just mentioned) I obtained mercy, that IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM to life everlasting.
He says that “IN ME FIRST” Christ showed all long-suffering in saving sinners BY THIS PATTERN that Christ introduced through Paul, and that we, and everyone after him that believes, follows that pattern by believing on him to life everlasting.
That's another summary verse. I mean, it doesn't have all of the elements of salvation in it: the cross, et cetera, but it does remind us of it, and we can go find what God says in the end of Romans 4, or in the beginning of First Corinthians 15, WHAT HE MEANS BY SALVATION.
START ROMANS 01-16 PART 08 OF 44START ROMANS-LIFE-0701-0720-pt1of2
ROMANS 7 VERSES 1 THROUGH 20
Lets start in Romans seven, verse 1. This starts off with an analogy, and
gives us clues as to who is being addressed , who is being spoken to in is part of Paul's epistle.
But, starting with Romans 7, verse 1, Paul is talking to them which know the law.
"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth."So, Paul is starting into this analogy.
but he gives us a clue as to whom he is speaking here. "I speak to them that know the law,"
So, at this point, he is not talking to all men, only to those who know the law. So, who is Paul talking to that know the law,
to Jews, to proselytes to Judaism, and to Greek Gentiles that blessed Israel, and feared the God of Abraham.
In other places we also see that. Lets look at the Romans 2, verse 17.We see that Paul says,
"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God"
Here, it sounds like he's talking to Jews, but he is not. Look at Romans 11, verse 13. At least at this point, in Romans 11, Paul is saying,
"for I speak to you Gentiles "
Why do there seem to be differences there? When you go back to a Romans 1, verse 16,
he mentions that he's going to the Jew first and also to the Greek. he says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"
The Greeks were the Gentiles that had come to the synagogues to find the God of Abraham.
They had blessed Israel, knowing that Israel was God's means of working with people, as it says in John 4, verse 22. "Salvation is of the Jews"
That was true, AT THAT TIME. But, according to the Bible, things did change.
We now have salvation offered directly to us, but by A DIFFERENT OFFER from God.
God interrupted His earthly, prophecy program, and set up a pattern FOR ALL OF US, starting with Paul, with Paul being the first person offered that pattern. as the Bible says in First Timothy 1, verse 16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Lets look in Romans 1, verse 7. Paul says,"to all that be in Rome"
So, as he is writing, he says it's from "Paul,"
and says it's "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints"
That's the reason why he wrote to them. He wrote to them, calling them to be Saints. He is telling them how to be saved, and laying out God's plan before them. In the past, we went through how he had an outline. Paul was going to cover what he called
"my gospel," and then
"the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery"
and that second of THREE PARTS is what we are going through here, basically from Romans 5, verse 12,
through the end of Romans 8, verse 39. So, Paul writes,
"to all that be in Rome." And, as we goes through his epistle,
you find different places, like little landmark verses in which he notes who he is actually talking to, at that time in the epistle.
Whether he is talking to Gentiles in Romans 11, verse 13, or Romans 1, verse 13, where he also mentions that he is speaking to Gentiles.
Or, if you look in Romans 4, verse 1, he talks about Abraham being "our father."
So, at that point, Paul is talking to Jews. Abraham was not my father,
but every Jew, every Israelite has Abraham as a father. so at that point he's talking to Israel. So, Paul identifies who he is talking to, as he goes through here.
As we begin this study, in Romans 7, verse 1, Paul speaks, "to them that know the law."
So, at this point, Paul is speaking to the Commonwealth of Israel, those Jews, Jewish proselytes, and Greeks, that met in the synagogues, on the Sabbath Day, or heard the scriptures in the synagogue.
Actually, in this case, being in Rome, Paul hadn't yet physically been there, to preach to them by the time he wrote this epistle.
So this epistle was to the Commonwealth of Israel in Rome, being the Jews, proselytes to Judaism (Gentiles circumcised and called Jews), and Greeks (which are Gentiles that bless Israel).
In Romans 7, verse 4, Paul says, "ye also are become dead to the law"
and he explains with this analogy in Romans 7, verse 2, to show how we are become dead to the law.For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, SHE IS FREE FROM THAT LAW; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.4 Wherefore, my brethren, YE ALSO ARE become DEAD to the law BY the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, THAT we should bring forth fruit unto God.
So, this analogy is about what he spoke of in Romans 7, verse 1, that"I speak to them that know the law,"
and that is to whom this analogy is directed, the Jews, proselytes, and Greeks,
that existed back then, at that time, in Rome. It is NOT FOR US to apply to ourselves, in our different situation..
So, we see that Paul is not saying that to us. He is speaking to those Jews, proselytes, and Greeks
in Rome at that time, NOT TO ALL MEN. Paul is not even saying that they were married to Christ. In this analogy, Paul is saying that,
AS IT IS when a man dies, that his wife is free to marry another, well he goes on to say in Romans 7, verse 4, that, "YE ALSO are become dead to the law BY the body of Christ"
Well, we weren't under the law ; but those Jews were under the law BACK THEN.
So, Paul is beginning to explain the transition, and he says it's
"by the body of Christ" Well, what about the body of Christ,
look in Romans 6, verses 2, through 7, in sequence here, and get the picture of what he is referring to
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ?4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that LIKE AS Christ was raised up from the dead BY the glory of the Father, EVEN SO we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection :6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin .
That is what Paul is talking about here, when he is referring to them, being dead by the body of Christ. If you look back one verse, in Romans 6, verse 6, it says,
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
So, they are not only dead to sin, but also dead to THE LAW,BY the body of Christ, BY Him being crucified, and them being crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.
Next, come back to Romans 7, verse 5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law,
did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.In a sense, Paul is speaking as the chief of sinners which he calls himself in First Timothy 1, verse 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus CAME into the world TO SAVE SINNERS ; of whom I AM CHIEF.
Then in Romans 7, verse 6, in a sense, Paul is speaking as the CHIEF, or FIRST pattern follower. Christ set up a pattern by which to be saved,
which we now know as the gospel of salvation, called the gospel of Christ.
It was called the gospel of Christ, while there were Jews and the Greeks to be won from Israel's remnant according to the election of grace.
But it was called the gospel of the grace of God, when it was actively preached to all men,no longer only to the Jew first and also to the Greek..
But we see that we are delivered from the law. Only the Commonwealth of Israel had the law to be delivered from. Lets read Romans 7, verses 5, and 6. "For when we WERE in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
You can see the transition, the difference between the old and the new, between what people were,
before Christ, and then after salvation.
Let's take a look at Romans 7, the last half of verse 25, right here. It summarizes the last few verses. Let's take a look to help us, to get an understanding of these verses. "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Paul is going to be telling how these two can fit together, without us being offensive to God, and at the same time, without God compromising His justice.
As it says in Romans 3, verse 26, God justifies us while remaining just , "that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
God has to remain just. How can this happen? How can these fit together? That is pretty much what he is covering here.
After we first look at Romans 7, verse 25, regarding Paul's statement, we will then look at First Corinthians 2, verse 16.
"So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God"
"Who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ ."
so a believer has the mind of Christ, and does not need to try and figure things out by human wisdom or philosophy or other means.
We have the mind of Christ. That helps us understand the God-inspired scriptures.That makes a difference in our daily living, too.
"I myself serve the law of God, with the flesh the law of sin."
So, when we look at the difference, Our death with Christ, and God's imputed righteousness, frees us from the law. If you look back at the Romans 7, verse 4, we see, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ" So, the body of Christ, dying on the cross
was God's means of our becoming dead to the law.Those who believe that he died for them, are imputed God's righteousness.In our account, we have Christ's own righteousness, not our righteousness. It's not looked at, whether we live a sinless life,
or whether we are a mass murderer. That's not looked at
if we are a true believer in Christ having died for all of our sins , because we have been imputed the righteousness of God.
Don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that it gives us license to sin. It certainly does NOT! (((REVIEW)))God gives us many instructions about Godly living. If we look at Romans 6, verses 7, and 18, we see that God's imputed righteousness also frees us from sin. "he that is dead is freed from sin"
"being then made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness."
That is all part of God's transaction, God's way of saving us. As we have looked before, we have seen that when you trust in Christ to save you, by becoming a believer in Paul's gospel,you're baptized into the body of Christ, you're baptized into Christ, you're baptized into his death, you're sealed by the Holy Spirit, you're accounted with the righteousness of God, You are given the position of being raised up together with Christ,
You are given the position of being made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Jim Brackin's 3 minute reading called "Who Are You-In Christ" lists about 77 benefits to the believer, in Christ.
All of those are part of that transaction, when we believe in Christ. They are all part of that pattern , that God set up. That list of benefits is all part of the mystery
it was not available before God initiated that pattern, with Paul, the prototype, being the first to believe, and to be saved by that gospel.
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Let's look at Romans 5, verse 17. By receiving God's imputed righteousness, we became servants of righteousness." For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace AND of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) " So, this "reigning in life" is to us who received the abundance of grace that God has given us, AND the gift of righteousness . They go together. So, that imputed righteousness, is what Paul calls
in Romans 3, verses 21, and 22, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
Let's look at Romans 6, verses 19, and 22, verses that also reemphasize this fact, the connection between what we believe, and what we do.
The imputed righteousness that we receive from God, when we believe, can make a difference in what we do.
"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh : for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."
" But now BEING MADE FREE from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."So God guarantees us everlasting life, and he enables a change in our behavior, in our actions.
This is not to say that the flesh doesn't still exist, and that's what this choice is that he's heading into here, and in Romans 7, and 8.
I am trying to bring this all together, so that we can see the relationship between the imputed righteousness of God in our lives, and in our daily living.
So, let's jump ahead to Romans 8, verse 23. That gives some light in this area, " And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
So this struggle GOES ON in our life, until our bodies are redeemed, whether it be by the catching up, or we die and are resurrected in the catching up.
We were in Adam, now we are in Christ, and there is a struggle that goes on, awaiting the redemption of the body.
We can see various parts of the mystery, that were unrevealed before Paul,
in this area of the imputed righteousness
I have a list of verses here that show what had been unrevealed . So can we just go through these, and touch on them. Can we just post them in rapid succession. I just want to make a brief comment on each, without reading the verses.
Let's start with Romans 3, verses 21, and 22. These verses say,
"but now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested" "Without the law," did you get that? It's NOT righteousness by keeping the law. The law is taken out of the picture. It's NOT a measuring stick anymore. Now, it's that THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is manifested,
and it appears " unto all," and it is "upon all them that believe"
Ok, let's go to the next verses, First Corinthians 2, verses 7, and 8, "we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom"
Paul is talking about this unrevealed body of information of the good things that come to us..
Look at First Corinthians 2, verse 16. "we have the mind of Christ"
They weren't told that in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ, when he walked the earth,
did NOT make that part of his teaching, to Israel. Its new! It's to us, to all men actually,
all people are now included in Paul's gospel.
What about Colossians 1, verse 27? "Christ in you"
Then we have Colossians 3, verse 1. "risen with Christ seek those things which are above"
Israel was seeking the Land . They were seeking to enter the Land,
to reign from Jerusalem, to reign in the world.
Their promises were about the land, and about the Earth.
We are told that we are "risen with Christ." We died with Christ, and we are risen with Christ. Christ resurrected over 1900 years ago, so that's an accomplished fact. "Seek those things which are above," Our goals, and our destiny is above.
Please look at Colossians 3, verses 2, and 3. " ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
That's new, too. That's not a position that Israel had been given. That was unrevealed, before. It was hidden.
Colossians 3, verse 4. " ye also appear with him in glory,"
our heavenly future, in the heavens, not on Earth, not to have everlasting life on the Land, as Israel was covenanted.
Colossians 3, verse 8. "but now ye also put off all these"
Why would God tell us to do that, IF we could not do it? We can do that now . The body of Christ enables us.We are crucified with Christ.Now, we can put off those evil deeds. Colossians 3, verse 9.
" ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" That's past tense, isn't it?
Colossians 3, verse 10. You "have put on the new man"
So, there is a change that takes place, and there was no preaching of that happening, before the Acts 9, conversion of Paul.
They are not told of in the Old Testament, or the "four gospels." These things are all new to us , in the body of Christ.
Now,we get to Ephesians 1, verse 3. We are "blessed with all spiritual blessings,"
not earthly blessings like Israel was promised in Genesis 12, verses 2, and 3. in verse 2
"I will bless them that bless thee"" in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed"
But look at what is ours in Ephesians 2, verse 6. " and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
God has given us a heavenly position in Christ. What Christ has, we have, we are joint-heirs.
Look at the Ephesians 4, verse 16. "The whole body fitly joined together maketh increase of the body"
There was no body of Christ preached, before Christ revealed it to Paul . That is all new also.
Finally, let's look at Ephesians 5, verses 31, 28, 29, 30, and 32. Paul makes 2 points from this comparison.Let's look at the first point first, in Ephesians 5, verse 31.
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall BE JOINED unto his wife, and they two shall BE ONE FLESH"
So, Paul's first point from these verses (that we will read),is that a man and his wife are to be joined,
as if they are one flesh, one body.Let's see how Paul arrives at that point,
and also, lets see the second point, by reading the verses now.
Ephesians 5, verse 28, through 30, and 32:" So ought men to love their wives AS THEIR OWN BODIES. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29.For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, EVEN AS the Lord the church: 30.For we ARE members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 32.This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST AND THE CHURCH." joined together as one.
So in this often misunderstood passage, Paul is speaking of us being members of Christ's body, That we are ONE JOINED BODY.
A person loves, and takes care of his own body.Paul is applying that one body principle, to
marriage relationship among believers, but he is NOT saying that the church is like a marriage relationship .
It is the other way around.Paul is saying that the marriage relationship should be
as close as a person is to his own body, with Christ being the head, and us being the one body of Christ.
The marriage relationship is to be that close and intimate.
First Timothy 1, verse 9. "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers."
First of all, the Law was given to Israel , but it does serve a purpose in showing us also as being sinners , and being in need of salvation, and needing God's grace.
The Law shuts everybody's mouth. We don't have one argument to present to God, that we were good enough to get into his heaven
Let's go to Romans 7, verses 7, through 13. The law does it's work exposing my sin. Now I'm hoping as we read this,
with the background of what we have talked about, and exposed, that we will understand these words, and how they fit into what Paul is saying in the overall picture, that in these verses, the law is doing its work, showing my sin to me.
Then, we will read in Romans 7, verses 14, through 20, Paul is even more explicit that sin is in me . But, remember also that the Bible said that we are dead to sin. Also, remember all these things we've talked about before,
we have righteousness of God, imputed within us. Paul has talked about getting a person saved
in Romans 1, through the beginning of Romans 5. So he is talking to saved people here in Romans 6, 7, and 8.
So, here in Romans 7, verses 7, through 13, Paul says, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."8. "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead."9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.12 Wherefore the law is holy , and the commandment holy, and just, and good.13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin,
working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.In other words, it's the same as, what we said before,
the law exposes our sin . It shines a light on our lives,
and makes us realize that WE ARE SINNERS.
Look in Romans 7, verses 14, through 20. This is more personal isn't it? It's more individual. It's more pointed at the reader. So lets all read it. "For we know that the law is spiritual : but I am carnal , sold under sin."15 "For that which I do, I allow not"
In other words, the things that he does, he does not allow. He doesn't say they are good. He says,
"For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not"
in other words, what I know I should do, what I want to do, what I would do, I don't end up doing .
"but what I hate, that do I"16."If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good"17."Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me"
Let's believe our Bible.Let's not belittle Paul's statement here.Sin dwells in Paul as he is speaking this. Sin dwells in us , in me, in you!
18."For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will, is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I FIND NOT." 19."For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do"20."Now if I do, that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me "
This is all to show that we have the imputed RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. BUT, UNTIL we are in heaven,
we still have these bodies made of flesh , and, as it says in Romans 8, verse 23,
"we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for...the redemption of our body"
In the meantime, there is this STRUGGLE going on in our lives . the struggle between sin,
and the imputed righteousness that is in our account right now . We have His righteousness, and
by means of God's righteousness in our account, WE ARE SAVED IMMEDIATELY, at the moment we believe Paul's gospel.
We don't have to wait to be saved, as Israel did in Matthew 24, verse 13. They had to "endure unto the end" to "be saved."
So, we have this utter righteousness, BUT we also have the flesh that were dragging along with us.
Regarding that flesh, before we close, let's look quickly, at 4 verses in 2 places.
Colossians 2, verses 10, and 11.10.
And YE ARE COMPLETE in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:and;Romans 6, verses 6, and 7. 6.Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7. For he that is dead is FREED FROM SIN.Christ put off the body of the sins of the flesh, ON THE CROSS
where YOU were crucified IN CHRIST.
I don't want to leave you with what sounds like a negative ending. So, let's see that he does resolve it, as he goes on. Let's take a minute to see this strong connection between what we have read earlier and what we see here in Romans 8, verses 18, through 23. " For I RECKON THAT the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed IN US."19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
We were created, and we wait for this manifestation, the showing of this righteousness that IS IN US.
There is still the STRUGGLE going on .
" For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope,"21 "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now"
In other words, it wasn't just mankind that fell, at the fall. The whole of creation FELL . That's why there are mosquitoes, thorns, colds, and things like that.
23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit"
We have the Holy Spirit. We are sealed with the Spirit. We were baptized by the spirit into the body of Christ. It's a done deal. We have the first fruits, the earnest of God, the Holy Spirit.
"Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body"
How many times a day do we hear someone say, "I wish the Lord would come today, before I have this test, or before I have any more pain.
So we do have THIS STRUGGLE STILL GOING ON, that will be resolved, AT the redemption of our body.But, in the meantime, the Bible does have more to say about it, in the next chapter.
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ROMANS 7:21 TO 8:4
We will start off just before Romans 8. I think this is one of the most important sections. To me it's the second most exciting section,
the first being Paul describing how to be saved.
Let's start with First Timothy 2, verse 4.Who will have all men to be saved, AND to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
So, what I see there, is that, it's not just head knowledge. Yes, there is doctrinal information we need to assimilate,
But, it's not ONLY that. It has to do with our life, how we live.
That Is what this "Godly Living section," (the 2nd of 4 sections of Romans) explains and makes possible to us.
Because, it's not possible, by our own doing. We fail every time. God does it, OR it's not going to get done. God has to do it, not only judicially, and positionally, (by saving us)
but he also must do it in our daily lives. We need to let him do
what he says he is going to do, in these verses.
So, let's begin with Romans 8, verse 1, it says, "Therefore"
So, it is referring to what went before. So, we need to go back a few verses to Romans 7, verse 21 and it talks about a law. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary (online), the word "LAW" often does NOT refer to
the Law of Moses, but rather to either a civil law, such as the speed limit,or a procedure, rule of procedure, or the way things work,
such as the law of gravity.
That law is NOT the law of Moses. It is the way of operating. It's the way things work, Similar to the law of gravity. It's NOT something that...
IF you don't keep this law THEN, you will not be saved or something like that.
it's NOT a test, or a condition. It's just a way of operating.
So, in Romans 7, verse 21, then, we see, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
and THAT'S the crunch point. IF evil wasn't present with us, and if everything was easy,
THEN things would be a lot different. But, there is a battle that is going on. Just look, for a minute, at Romans 7, verse 5." For when we WERE in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members." Now that law is the law of Moses, the law that Israel was under.
" did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death "
Things didn't work the way we thought they would work, or the way we wanted them to work.
So, let's go on. We believers have good and evil struggling in us..
If you look in the next couple verses, we see a couple of laws. Talking about a saved person. We see the law of God, that equals the law of MY MIND ,
then you see another law, in my members, called the law of sin, in MY MEMBERS .
look at Romans 7, verse 22, "for I delight in the law of God after the inward man" So, a saved person doesn't want to sin. They are created unto good works. They are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. They want to do good works. They want to be pleasing to God. Its his new man, It becomes fulfilling to him.
But we also have Romans 7, verse 23," But I see another law IN MY MEMBERS, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity tothe law of sin which is in my members."
To clarify things, lets look at Galatians 5, verses 16, and 17. Here, we will see that although we are in a struggle,
God fixed it so that they are in two different realms.
" This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall NOT FULFILL the lust of the flesh.So, we see the beginning of a separation
between the flesh and the spirit.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary, the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would"
What you want to do, and think would please God, you can NOT do, because of THE FLESH .
So, that's the predicament that Paul is teaching about here, and he is going to show how it is resolved.
In Romans 7, verse 22, he says, "for I delight in the law of God after the INWARD MAN."
Let's look at Second Corinthians. We will cover 10 or 15 verses here, that explain the passage we are in. Second Corinthians 4, verse 16, it says "For which cause we faint not; but though our OUTWARD MAN perish, yet the INWARD MAN is renewed day by day.."
There's a definite difference there. Different directions too.
Now he talks about things that we often associate with the difficulties in life.
But, he relates it all to the difference that he just mentioned in verse 16, the difference between the OUTWARD AND INWARD MAN. In Second Corinthians 4, verse 17, Paul says, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"18. While we look not at the things which are seen, BUT at the things which are NOT SEEN: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Second Corinthians 5, verse 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal IN THE HEAVENS.2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened
That is not just our arthritis and things like that. Galatians 5, verse 17, says that,it is this battle that believers are in, "ye cannot do the things that ye would." BECAUSE OF THE FLESH. Second Corinthians 5, verse 4.For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: NOT for that we would be unclothed, BUT clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up OF LIFE.5. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, What is "the selfsame thing"?It is what Paul just mentioned:
THAT our "MORTALITY might be SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE." That my flesh will be swallowed up by the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
Now, Paul is going to tell us part of the resolution.who also hath given unto us THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT.Its only by God's deposit in us,
that we have the new man and we then begin to walk after the Spirit.
God did it.2 Corinthians 5, verse 5,Now he that hath WROUGHT us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.That word "WROUGHT" is the past tense of
the same word in Philippians 2, verse 12, translated "WORK OUT your own salvation."It can mean
"ACCOMPLISHED, FINISHED, PERFORMED, or WORKED OUT"
6. Therefore we are always confident , knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:And there is another assurance that
whether or not you understand God's provision that your walk WILL END in RIGHTEOUSNESS, you can be "ALWAYS CONFIDENT" of the outcome.
7. (For we walk by FAITH , not by SIGHT :)Let me expand that:
"Our walk is BY FAITH. Our walk is NOT by SIGHT."
"Not by SIGHT." Our walk is NOT by what we see (OUR SIGHT)` in other words, our walk is NOT by OUR FLESH.
It used to be only by our flesh, before we believed the gospel.Your flesh doesn't count toward your walking AFTER THE SPIRIT.
They are different.
Here is part of the remedy for this is predicament of wanting to be Godly, but having the flesh, like a dead man, dragging behind us.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
The flesh is crucified.Reckon yourselves dead to sin. You have to do that by FAITH. We walk by faith, NOT by sight. Second Corinthians 5, verse 8."We are confident, I say, AND WILLING rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Paul again assures the believer that those are the only 2 possibilities.Hell has passed out of the picture for the believer.
Now, Paul switches and says "WHEREFORE", or "for which reason,"and he begins to consider the believer's REWARDS.
9. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.10. For we (believers) must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
So, we can go back to Romans 7, verse 23. " But I see another law in my members, WARRING AGAINST the law of my mind "
The law of my mind, being the law of God, as he says, in Romans 7, verses 22, through Romans 8, verse 1.
22, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23. But I see another law in my members, WARRING AGAINST the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
That again is a restatement of that dilemma, of that predicament.24." O wretched man that I am! who shall DELIVER me from the body (the flesh) of this death?25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord
You have got to put those together. Who shall? Jesus Christ shall. And so, Paul thanks God that it is done. There is a way. 25.
"so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flash the law of sin."
So, what IS the resolution? Romans 8, verse 1,"there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who WALK not after the flesh but AFTER THE SPIRIT"
We need to remember here, what Paul is saying, and what he is not saying.
He doesn't say, " There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, IF THEY walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
But in God's sight, our walk IS after the spirit. It's a description, NOT a conditional statement. Who are these people? They and the ones that DON'T have condemnation. THEY ARE CHRIST'S. They WALK not after the flesh, but AFTER THE SPIRIT. So, were talking about how God views us again,
but it's regarding our daily WALK. It's done in Christ.
Are you beginning to see, from the scripture, the 2 REALMS here?
(((REVIEW)))
There are those that are "IN ADAM."There are those that are "IN CHRIST."Everybody starts out "IN ADAM."We all have descended from Adam, through Seth,
as in Genesis 5, verse 3.And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, AFTER HIS IMAGE;and called his name Seth:
Everyone born after Adam has Adam's death working in us, instead of God's breath of Life still working in us.
as in Genesis 2, verse 17.But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(((REVIEW)))
Being in Adam is being in the old man.Being in Christ is being in the new man.All are IN ADAM.The ONLY ones IN CHRIST too, are those who
choose to believe Christ's gospel of the grace of God, which Christ only told Paul.
So, only those who are now IN CHRIST, are in both realms, IN ADAM, and IN CHRIST.
Therein is the battle, OUR WALK.
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Think about what a walk is. You walk FROM one place TO another place. You progress along a path. Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines "WALK" as:
to ADVANCE by steps or to pursue a COURSE of action or WAY of life or to GO TO first base as a result of a base on balls.
Before you were IN CHRIST, you were under condemnation, for not believing the good news of God's provision to remove His condemnation from you. There is no condemnation TO THOSE WHO are in Christ Jesus. THEY NOW HAVE THAT "walk after the Spirit," because they have put on THE NEW MAN.
During this walk, they are NOT in just ONE REALM, THE FLESH, as everyone is that is born. There would be no progress, movement, or WALK in staying only "in the flesh."
But, we believers, are in the Spirit too. The Bible does not say that we are born of the Spirit. The Bible says that "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. Baptism is not birth! Baptized into the body of Christ is different from born into the Israel of God. We believers are created in the body of Christ, the new man. The Holy Spirit is our seal, sealing believers in the body of Chirst.
Starting from the time of our belief, we are in both realms, FROM the time we believe the gospel of salvation, UNTIL the redemption of the body. We are IN THIS WALK FROM being "after the flesh," TO being "after the Spirit". WHAT ARE YOU AFTER?
Lets go back to the Colossians 2, verse 6. "AS ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO walk ye in him:"
We do it by GOD'S DOING. It is not by effort that we receive Christ. It is not by our works that we can get saved. It's BY GOD'S DOING.
In the same way, we walk in Him. It's also all by God's doing. We have talked about imputed righteousness. You could consider this, IMPUTED WALK. I don't think that Scripture uses that term, but that is what it is saying. GOD DOES IT in the believer, in the same way, as he does salvation, in the believer.
Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith...Second Corinthians 5, verse 7,"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Second Corinthians 5, verse 21, 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, (Him) who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.
So, we need to reckon ourselves as being WALKERS IN CHRIST. Before we can reckon something, we must KNOW that IT IS A FACT. We need to realize that the outcome of our walk is predestined.
Romans 8, verse 29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God takes the responsibility of making sure we end up,CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SON
So, our outcome is guaranteed, in writing. Each believer will end upCONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SON
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, "WALK" means "TO ADVANCE BY STEPS". Our walk is given us by Jesus Christ. The more we reckon ourselves to be walking after the Spirit, the more we move along in our walk AWAY FROM walking after the flesh, AND ALSO, THE CLOSER we will become to being
"CONFORMED to the IMAGE of his Son.
Being "in Christ" is a mystery that Paul talks to the Romans about. It involves several things, a few of which would be: the gospel of salvation which was the gospel of Christ in Acts, which is the gospel of the grace of God to us, now. That is clearly shown in Romans 3, verses 21 through 28, especially verse 24 which we have gone through before, and we will go through again, at another time. But right now, we want to keep in mind these major elements of the previously unrevealed mystery of being "IN CHRIST" the Head of the body.
Romans 4, also covers another mystery, the imputed righteousness of God. Before Paul, it was unrevealed that God would impute His righteousness to all believers in the gospel He gives them, only through Paul. Righteousness is imputed only to all those who receive the gospel, believing the gospel of Christ, that Christ gave to Paul.
Other mysteries, only mentioned in Paul's writings, are: being baptized into Jesus Christ, being baptized into the body of Christ, being baptized into Christ's death, in which WE ARE dead with Christ, and also, WE ARE risen with Christ.
What we are dealing with today is another part of the mystery, unheard of before Christ's revelations TO PAUL: the law of my mind, the law of God, the inward man, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Remember that, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary (online), the word "LAW" often does NOT refer to the Law of Moses, but rather to either a civil law, such as the speed limit, or a procedure, or rule of procedure, or the way things work, such as the law of gravity.
Here, the law of my mind, the law of God, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, refers to a procedure, a way of operating, the way God is doing things IN us.
So, remembering again Colossians 2, verse 6, As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Since it's all of God's doing, for our salvation, and its all of God's doing, for daily living, then, God is both in the business of equipping us for heaven, as well as, equipping us for the daily Christian WALK, for what we do.
So, with that in mind, let's review some of the related scriptures:
Romans 7:22 For I DELIGHT in the law of God after the inward man:Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself SERVE the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM the law of sin and death.Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with the affections and lusts.25 If we live in the Spirit, LET US also walk in the Spirit.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is CREATED in righteousness and true holiness.
Let's go on to Romans 8, verse 2, as we WALK through this section,
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Did you hear it? That's a key there. That's a pivotal statement: MADE ME FREE, free from the law, from the way of operating, not the Mosaic Law (we're not under Israel's law anyway). It has made us free from the "sin and death" way of operating.
Well, what did that? What freed us? In the verse it says, " the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus"
So, it's not accomplished by my trying to be good. It's not my trying to keep some law that was given to Moses, or given to Israel. It's the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We have that Spirit, Second Corinthians 1, verses 21, and 22, assures us that we have the earnest of the spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;22 Who hath also sealed us,
and given the EARNEST of the SPIRIT in OUR HEARTS.
Paul speaks specifically to those Romans about Israel's law and says in Romans 8, verse 3,
" For what the law could NOT do, in that it was weak through THE FLESH"
That is talking about the law of Moses again. Paul talking specifically to those Romans in chapter 8, and he says,
"...what the law could NOT do, in that it was weak through the flesh ".
In other words, weak through our flesh. The law is holy, and just, and good, but our flesh is weak.
" what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Sonin the likeness of sinful flesh, and FOR SIN, condemned SIN IN THE FLESH :."
So the law is good, but our flesh is weak. Remember Romans 7, verse 14,For we know that the law is spiritual: but I AM CARNAL, sold under sin.
So, we must go back to Colossians 2, verse 6, again, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
That flesh, and sin in the flesh, is condemned already. Its already dead. Now, reckon it to be so.
And also remember, Romans 6, verse 6, that we studied,Knowing this, that our old man (from Adam) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
So then, let's look at Romans 8, verse 4, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Our WALK, our progress, is after the Spirit.
Now here again, don't misread that by saying, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, IF WE walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
No, this is a description of all those that believe in Christ. In Christ's sight, and by Christ doing, as it was just explained, we walk NOT after the flesh, in God's sight, but after the spirit.
Also, about the righteousness of the law, Paul doesn't say that the law will be fulfilled in us. That's not the point. The point of the law was to show that we can't be as righteous as God wants us to be. but it says that THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the law, the perfect righteousness of the law, that RIGHTEOUSNESS will be fulfilled in us.
Do you see why it's vital for us, and for God, that God imputes his own righteousness to us? That righteousness is what he looks at, and it's fulfilled in us. The righteousness is fulfilled in us, NOT the Law, but the righteousness that the law showed us that we can NOT attain, that RIGHTEOUSNESS is fulfilled in us.
So, let me just close with four verses that echo this, and give us a look back at it. We will close with these four verses from Ephesians 1, verses 4, through 7,
" According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5.having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself"
God has adopted us to himself. He has NOT adopted us to Israel, or into some other entity, but He has adopted us to himself. We are His body.
" according to the good pleasure of his will, 6.to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he HATH MADE US accepted in the beloved. "
We didn't work our way into being acceptable. God made us accepted in the beloved.
7." In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins"
Don't misread that to say "the forgiveness of some sins," or "the forgiveness of past sins." It says "the forgiveness of sins".
"according to the riches of his grace".
NOT according to our works, but according to the riches of his grace. PRAISE BE TO GOD
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We are working our way through Romans, covering the topics as they come up while following the flow of the epistle, without necessarily hitting every verse, as we go through it.
So, reviewing a bit, look in Romans 16, verse 25, and 26. Here we find, Paul summarizing what he had written to those in Rome. Back in the Romans 1, he said that he was writing to establish them. Here, at the end, he reviews what he had written that would establish them. So, we are using this as an outline for what he told them in the entire epistle.
" Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to..." So, Paul goes on to list the three things that he has taught in his epistle, that will establish the believers.
After the three establishers, the fourth thing that he writes about in the
epistle, is what ESTABLISHED LIVING consists of. Of the four basic quarters in Paul's epistle to all that be at Rome, the three parts that produce established living start with
"my gospel." Paul's "my gospel" is what we saw first, in our studies in, Romans 1, verse
15, through Romans 5, verse 11.
Secondly, in Paul's list that produces established believers, is "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to...the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery"
That is NOT the preaching of Jesus Christ according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Philip, and James, BUT it is
" the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY, which was KEPT SECRET since the world began, but NOW is MADE MANIFEST."
So, the second in Paul's list that produces established believers is:"the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery"
That is the section we are in now, and that this study is about.
The third in Paul's list of establishers, is:(16:25) " Now to him that is of power to stablish you...(16:26) by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"
Paul goes into those Old Testament Scriptures, and how they relate to the coming of Christ, and to who the Christ would be, when He came, and to Israel, and to what Israel's standing is today etc.
So, today we are going to be studying the second establisher, " the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery "
We will see some things that were not shown , before Paul. They were hidden. They were kept secret. They were mystery. until the time was right, until DUE TIME, until the time that God chose to reveal them to the apostle Paul, starting on the road to Damascus, but the Bible tells us that Paul had an abundance of revelations.
In Paul's Scriptures, we are given a view of several of those revelations. So, Paul did have an abundance of revelations from Jesus Christ in heaven. One of those revelations from Christ to Paul, is that Christ is DOING IT ALL, TO SAVE US. We can NOT attain heaven, but, because of God's grace, He did it everything necessary for us to go to heaven. That is not found in the Bible, before Christ's revelation to Paul. He wanted us to know that we could not do it, could not affect our own salvation. That is what Israel's Mosaic Law is all about.
But, after we know it, then he makes salvation available. Salvation is now available to us, it's just that we need to have faith, as we saw in the first establisher. It is through faith.
Let me just review some of these things that this second establisher gets into. Christ is DOING IT ALL IN OUR DAILY LIFE too.
Colossians 2, verse 6, "AS ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO walk ye in him:"
In that same way, walk in him, by trusting him TO HAVE DONE IT ALL FOR US, trusting his blood on the cross to save us, and, his dying on the cross to provide for us what we need to walk the daily life.
There is a battle raging within each saved person, of which, the lost have no knowledge.As we discussed in Romans 7, only saved people are in 2 realms. Every physically conceived person is "IN ADAM." But only the saved are BOTH "IN ADAM," and now also "IN CHRIST." So, only the saved are in this battle.
Lets recall some other points that are mystery that have NOW been revealed, but were NOT yet revealed at the time of John the Baptist and, were NOT yet revealed when Peter preached on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost, and they had NOT been revealed until Acts chapter 9 , when Paul was saved, and Jesus Christ from heaven began to reveal these things to him.
Another mystery thing is God's own righteousness being imputed to your account, as a result of you believing on Christ as your own Saviour.
In Romans 8, verse 2, we see another formerly unrevealed, mystery thing is that
the law of THE SPIRIT OF LIFE in christ jesus hath made me free from the law of SIN AND DEATH
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary (online), the word "LAW" often does NOT refer to the Law of Moses, but rather to either a civil law, such as the speed limit, or a procedure, rule of procedure, or the way things work, such as the law of gravity.
The law in Romans 8, verse 2, is NOT the law of Moses. It is the way of operating. It's the way things work, Similar to the law of gravity. It's NOT something that... IF you don't keep this law THEN, you will not be saved or something like that. it's NOT a test, or a condition. It's just a way of operating.
The words "law", in the verse means "the operation of" or "the working of." So, the working of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the working of sin and death of God has provided again. He has enabled us. He has equipped us for the daily walk, the daily life.
What is the law of sin and death that we are free from?We can see it back in Romans 6, verse 16,
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The law of sin and death is that if you sin, you die.
God FREES UP the believer from the working of, the law of sin and death, because we are already dead, crucified with Christ,
so that, as in Romans 8, verses 11 and 12, the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Notice here that the scripture is not saying:"Therefore, brethren, we are NOT debtors , to the flesh, to live after the flesh."but it says,
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors , (BUT) NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh.WE ARE DEBTORS TO NOT LIVE AFTER THE FLESH.
So, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free. It's a done deal.It's a past tense thing. He has made me free from the law of SIN AND DEATH.
This is the essence of the mystery that the life of the spirit within us, makes us free.
There is a difference. AFTER you have become a believer in Christ to save you,
there is a difference that goes on.
Its NOT that now you can touch somebody and they become HEALED. Its NOT that now you can TALK differently, ecstatically, or something. NO!But, it's a DEADNESS TO SIN, that makes a difference in
your ability to WALK toward being CONFORMED to the IMAGE of His Son.
It means that your WALK is TOWARD being after the Spirit, ` NOT TOWARD being after the fleshIt doesn't mean that you never ACT after the flesh,
but your WALK is toward being after the Spirit
Again, a WALK is NOT a STEP.a WALK is a SERIES of STEPS,
it is a PROGRESS along a PATH.Again, Romans 8, verse 1,There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.and Romans 8, verse 4,That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.The working of the Spirit of life within you,
gives you an ALIVENESS to BE instruments of God's righteousness in God's hands
You NO LONGER, as in Romans 6, verse 13, and 14,yield ye your members as instruments of UN righteousness unto sin:
BUT NOW, the working of the Spirit of life within you, enables you toyield yourselves unto God,
as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall NOT have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Now let's go on through the chapter, Romans 8, verses 3, and 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
In other words, law is good, but our flesh is weak. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
and going onto verse 4, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk NOT after the flesh, BUT after the Spirit.and notice it does NOT say That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, if we walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
God has enabled us.He has empowered us, for this walk. One characteristic of a believer is that they
"walk NOT after the flesh."
We still have the flesh, and until the Romans 8, verse 23, "redemption of our body," we will have the flesh. But during this time, we do have EVENTUAL victory over it. But, it's NOT automatic, though. It's a struggle. It's a BATTLE.
It something we have to do consciously, NOT to be saved,but to "walk not after the flesh"
As we saw earlier, in Romans 6, verses 2, and 11, and 12: 2,
...How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?And, since God says we "are dead to sin "11,Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.12,Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies because you ARE dead to sin.
There is a reason why we can RECKON ourselves to be dead to sin. It's not just "name it, and claim it."
It's NOT, "I claim that I am able to overcome Satan," or, "I REBUKE SATAN"
and stuff like that. The reason why we can RECKON ourselves to be dead to sin is that,
God told us we are dead to sin, since we are saved,
and forgiven by Jesus Christ, and trusting in him. We are dead to sin. It's a fact.
So put THAT FACT into action in your life, by RECKONING YOURSELVES to be dead to sin.
In other places, he uses the term "MORTIFY," meaning to "KILL."
So, here again, we see that this is ALL by GOD BUILDING US,it's all God's doing.
It's nothing that we could do. You know, as well as I do, that there are temptations, day after day. Satan would love to get us away from being productive for Christ,
and from being an ambassador,and from letting our light shine,
or, as Paul said in Philippians 2, verse 15, basically the same thing, but to us, INSTEAD of to Israel.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
So Satan would love to stop that, to keep us from shining. But, God has equipped us, and enabled us, to walk in the spirit, instead of walking in the flesh, to which WE ARE DEAD.We are NOT IN THE FLESH. Just like our being dead to sin, we also are NOT in the flesh.
So why would we go back to acting in the flesh,or, living in the flesh.
That is asking for trouble in this life.It is asking to reap corruption in this life. God has POSITIONED us "in the spirit." He has SET us "in the spirit"
Let's look at Romans 8, verses 5, and 6, For they that are after the flesh DO MIND the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Webster's dictionary defines "carnal" as "of the body or flesh," "carnivorous" is "eating flesh", "flesh eater".
In Romans 8, verse 5, we see that the FLESH is in opposition to the SPIRIT.
When Paul is talking about "carnal," he is talking about "fleshly," or people that that are living in the flesh, or yielding to fleshly desires.
So, in Romans 8, verse 6, we saw opposition to being spiritually minded.
And the opposition is being carnally minded. So that is the battleground. That is the struggle.
The battle is IN YOUR MIND, being carnally minded, OR being spiritually minded.
Look at Romans 8, verse 7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
See, the unsaved, the lost, do NOT have the ability to please God. There is the opposition between the carnal mind,
and the law of God operating within us. NOT the Mosaic law, but the way God does things in us.
And he is doing it in a formerly unrevealed, mystery way. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," is what Romans 8, verse 2 calls it.
It's His doing within us, His workings within us.
Romans 8, verse 7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So, a person can't fake it. They CAN'T live the life,
if they do NOT have the Holy Spirit within them. if a person doesn't have Christ as their Savior,
they can't fool God.
Romans 8, verse 8, "So then they that are in the flesh CANNOT please God."
Before being saved, NONE of the good that we tried to do, pleased God,
There just was no way to please God, without Christ changing us, without Christ's saving us
Romans 8, verse 9, is a CRUCIAL VERSE, talking to saved people now,But ye are NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
Paul is talking about our being, our status ,our position,
where we are in God's eyes, judicially.
We still have the flesh, but it's NOT our position, NOT our status.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man HAVE NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
So, inspired Paul says that if you belong to Christ, you have the Spirit of God.
Can you see that in the verse?Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
So, according to Romans 8, verse 9, every person that belongs to Christ , has the Spirit of Christ. Look at Second Corinthians 1, verse 22, about that.
Who hath also sealed us, AND given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Look at what that means in Ephesians 1, verse 13.In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (((REVIEW)))How long is it after a person BELIEVES the gospel, that he is SEALED with the holy Spirit? According to Romans 8, verse 9, there is NO TIME between believing, and being sealed.So, why does it say "AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED"?Because BELIEF, TRUST, FAITH, RECEIVING,
is the one condition to having that salvation of the gospel.Upon believing, you are sealed at that time.There is NEVER a time after believing the gospel of your salvation,
that you are without the Holy Spirit sealing you.Romans 8, verse 9,
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Also, Romans 8, verse 9, said earlier in the verse, if you have His spirit, you are not in the flesh.
That's the first part of the verse. But ye are NOT in the flesh, BUT in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.If you belong to Christ, you have His spirit, and
if you have His spirit, you are not in the flesh. That's an important fact,
just like being dead to sin is an important fact, because you have to RECKON the truth of it, to be true in order to apply it, to win that struggle in the events of your daily life.
You need that ammunition, that weapon, in your daily walk, to live a Godly life.
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Romans 8, verse10, "And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; BUT the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
Because of whose righteousness? Paul is NOT talking about all the good things you do,
now that you are saved. He is talking about God's imputed righteousness, the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD imputed to you. That's the only righteousness that we have.
We have to admit that before being saved, people do NOT have God's perfect righteousness, andthat all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
And then God enlivens us when we believe the gospel of salvation.While, the body is dead because of sin; ...the Spirit is life because of righteousness."And again, there begins the battle within us.
We will look at Romans 8, verse 11,
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead SHALL also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
"Shall" is a word that is more than merely future tense, but it is denotes DETERMINATION.
It is a CERTAINTY. God is OBLIGATING HIMSELF to quicken your mortal body.It SHALL happen.
God gives us hope that this struggle is going to end someday. We're not, for all eternity, going to have this struggle going on. But it is a battle which, day-to-day,
we must face, and either live godly, or, live a confused life without peace in our life.
As it says in First Corinthians 3, verse 15, Whether the believer yields himself
as an instrument of righteousness, or as an instrument of UN righteousness , he is still saved. It says, "he himself SHALL be saved."
But we would lose rewards that God wants us to have. I presume it will all be full of wonder and praise,
and we would give them back to him But, I am NOT real sure about it,
since the Bible doesn't actually say. But, that is my thinking right now. But I know we will be changed. Our minds will be changed and
we may recognize that God gave us some of those rewardsbecause he want us to have them,to execute our heavenly duties.
So there may be a change of opinion once we get to heaven. When we get those rewards, we may keep them,
but NOT with a fleshly mind of... "well, look, what I got,
It may be that we will keep them, more as an equipping for what duties that God has for us to do in heaven.
It is likely that our rewards will be to take the places of the fallen angels in the administration of the heavenly places.
Incidentally, elsewhere, in Ephesians 6, verses 10, through 18,Paul lists the armor that we have available, in this battle.
Romans 8, verses 12, through 16, emphasize our part in merely yielding to the Holy Spiritas He leads us into righteous living, as confirmed in Titus 2, verses 11, and 12.
Titus 2, verse 11, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, RIGHTEOUSLY, and godly, in this present world;So, Romans 8, verse 12, and 13, goes on to tell us that we are
equipped by the Holy Spirit to NOT live AFTER THE FLESH,but instead, through the Holy Spirit, MORTIFY the deeds of the body.
Romans 8, verse 18, tells us that yielding (by the Holy Spirit), to righteousness,will be WORTH IT ALL.
Romans 8, verse 18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which shall be REVEALED IN US.Speaking of "GLORY," Romans 8, verse 18,
speaks of the "GLORY" which shall e REVEALED IN US.SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE!Remember where we all started?Remember Romans 3, verse 23?
For all have sinned, and come short of the GLORY of God;Romans 8, verse 18, says that "the GLORY ... shall be revealed in us"
You get to cooperate with God in accomplishing that, as Paul says in Romans 6, verse 16,
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?and in Romans 6, verse 19,I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members
servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members
servants to righteousness unto holiness.
I intend to do some REVIEWING and some SUMMARIZING, sodon't worry is we jump around, and sometimes, it will seem that we are going out of order,
or repeating.
Let's get back to where we are, in the middle of Romans 8.Romans 8, verses 19, through 25, explains that
when Adam brought sin into the world, NOT only mankind fell.Romans 8, verse 21, tells us that
all of creation fell into "the bondage of corruption,"and waits like that, until delivered according to Romans 8, verse 19,
by "the manifestation of the sons of God."and according to Romans 8, verse 23,ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY .
So God tells us that the hope of the completion of our salvation, "delivered from the bondage of corruption," is the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY. It also is the certain end of that daily STRUGGLE,
the BATTLE that we are in, which isbetween the inner man, and the outer man, here on earth,yielding to follow either after the flesh, or after the Holy Spirit..
That "redemption of our body" is what we learned about, toward the end of the first quarter of this Rome epistle,that "the redemption of our body" comes BEFORE the wrath of God falls on this planet.
Romans 5, verse 9, Much more then, being NOW justified by his blood, we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through him.Notice that God's word says that " we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through him." NOT " we shall be SAVED THROUGH WRATH through him.Paul refers to that event again in Philippians 3, verses 20, and 21.20,For our conversation is in HEAVEN; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:21, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Of course, Paul refers many times to this rapturous catching up to meet the Lord IN THE AIR, although,no one else in the Bible ever refers to that event, where Christ comes to meet us, the body of Christ, IN THE AIR..
the Lord Jesus Christ's return to earth at the Mount of Olives, in Israel.
Here in Romans 8, verses 26, and 27,Paul says that the Spirit helps our infirmities. He helps us in these INFIRMITIES,
this STRUGGLE that we are going through. It is a BATTLE.Romans 8, verse 26, and 27,Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our INFIRMITIES: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:Often we are at a loss as to what to pray for,especially when we are tempted to do something NOT good for us, whether it's to skip a meeting, or to cheat on an exam, or whatever it may be, we know it is NOT good for us, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
I call it a STRUGGLE to highlight it. But actually, God's power is far stronger than
any "sin and death" working in us. "Sin and death" has already been destroyed.
So, remembering again Colossians 2, verse 6,As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
since it's all of God's doing, for our salvation, and its all of God's doing, for daily living, then, God is both in the business of equipping us for heaven, as well as, equipping us for the daily Christian WALK, for what we do.
So, regarding our daily walk,we need to reckon ourselves as being WALK ERS IN CHRIST .
Before we can reckon something, we must KNOW that IT IS A FACT.We need to realize that the outcome of our walk is PREDESTINED.WE need to REALIZE THAT the OUTCOME of our WALK IS PREDESTINED.
In the next few verses in Romans 8, we see how it benefits us, thatGod "FOREKNOWS" all things, including foreknowing who will believe His gospel to be saved by Him.
Romans 8, verse 29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Do you realize the impact of that verse?That verse says that God foreknew
which of us would believe His gospel of salvation, to be saved.But, Romans 8, verse 29, goes further to say that
Romans 8, verse 29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.God takes the responsibility of making sure we end up,
CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SONSo, our outcome is GUARANTEED, IN WRITING.Each believer will end up
CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF HIS SON
And, that actually is the CLINCHER that guarantees the ACCOMPLISHMENT of what God says our WALK should be after, being "AFTER THE SPIRIT."
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary,"WALK" means "TO ADVANCE BY STEPS"
Our walk is given us by Jesus Christ. The more we reckon ourselves to be walking after the Spirit,
the more we move along in our walk away from walking after the flesh, AND ALSO,
the closer we become to being "CONFORMED to the IMAGE of his Son.
Again, a WALK is NOT a STEP.a WALK is a SERIES of STEPS,
it is a PROGRESS along a PATH.
Now we can see that Paul has just completed explaining what he started out saying back in Romans 6, verses 1, through 9.He gives the means by which God accomplishes His will in us."So, lets read through those verses where Paul calls us to walk Godly. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?2.God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?3.Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death?
So, Paul is telling us that we DON'T NEED to continue in sin. and then he goes on to tell us why.
Not baptized into death, but baptized into HIS death.Paul goes on to use that phrase, that we are "baptized into death,"
but, IN CONTEXT, he is saying that we are baptized INTO CHRIST'S death.
It is not our death, or death in general, but HIS death.His death was dying for us, as in Romans 6, verse 4,
Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death.
Romans 6, verse 4,What are we baptized into? Into a tank of water? 4,
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism INTO DEATH: Christ's death, in 33 A.D.that like as Christ was raised up from the dead BY the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Paul declares
our death was with Christ, to newness of life.
Romans 6, Verse 6, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
That is in the sense that we have talked about before. It's an enablement it's what we're fitted to do,
what we are now able to do, what our new goals are, what our new purpose in life is.
That enablement includes the limiting of (NOT ending of)the power of the old man, the flesh.
Remember? In Romans 6, verse 6, " Knowing this, that our old man is CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin,"The old man from Adam, is DEAD, CRUCIFIED.We should not serve sin. It's something that would NOT be
characteristic of the body of Christ to serve sin.
Paul goes on to declare the freedom from sin, thatour death with christ produced in us,
Romans 6, verse 7, 7,
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
That is a great way to put the whole thing in just a few words, isn't it?For he that is dead is freed from sin.
along with Romans 6, verse 2, 2,
God forbid. How shall we, that ARE DEAD to sin, live any longer therein?
and now, Romans 8, verse 8, Now IF we be dead with Christ,
we believe that WE SHALL ALSO live with him:9,
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (((REVIEW)))
to overcome this in our lives. The Holy Spirit NOW lives within believers,
as our earnest, and our seal.
Later, in Ephesians 4, verse 23, and 24, Paul tells us to be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God IS CREATED in righteousness and true holiness.
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Here in Romans 6, verses 11, through 13. Paul tells us that
God enables us to use the facts to deny sin access to our lives.
Use these facts that we are dead to sin, to deny Satan the ability to affect us.
Now, we can, deny from entrance into our lives, the sin that Satan would have us to do,
especially in Romans 6, verses 11, and 13.11. Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be DEAD indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
I like that term instruments. You think about the surgeon, with his instruments, a scalpel, or whatsoever. What would he be able to do, WITHOUT his instruments? He works through his instruments. God calls us to yield our members, as instruments of righteousness,
which God can work through.
Romans 6, verse 14. Paul declares that God frees us from the law, 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace.
in Romans 6, verses 15, through 23, Paul tells us of the power that God gives us
to yield our members as instruments of righteousness.
that we are enabled by God, to yield, and be instruments.
Especially take notice of Romans 6, verses 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 22.Romans 6, verse 15, What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, OR of obedience unto righteousness?17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.19. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for AS ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; EVEN SO NOW yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, AND the end everlasting life.23, For the wages of sin is death; BUT the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We now move into Romans 7, verses 1, through 6.Paul tells us that being dead to the law,
we have a new spiritual life to walk in. Especially Romans 7, verses 5, and 6, 5, For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.6. But now WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.Now, we are DELIVERED FROM THE LAW.That is confirmed in Romans 6, verse 14,For sin shall not have dominion over you: for YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace.
Look in Romans 7, verses 7, through 14. Paul shows that the carnal flesh insists on sinning.
Especially in Romans 7, verses, 12, 13, and 14.12, Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.13, Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.14, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
In Romans 7, verses 15, through 20, Paul warns of the difference in our newness of spirit,
difference between that and the oldness of the flesh, serving the letter of the law.
There is a difference. We can see that difference,
especially in Romans 7, verses 17, 18, and 20.17, Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that DWELLETH IN ME.18, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.20, Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.
In Romans 7, verses 21, through 23, Paul defines the opposing forces of
the law of God in the inward man against the law of sin in my members.
21, I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23, But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
In Romans 7, verse 24, through Romans 8, verse 7, Paul writes that God made me free from the law of sin and death. And that is significant, as you can tell, just from hearing it,
that God made you something, and it was freeing, He made you free from something
That law of sin and death, the operation of sin and death in our lives is what we have been made free from,
BY God himself. NOT BY your trying hard,
but by your accepting it, believing that he made you free, and living it out.
Especially see Romans 7, verse 25, and Romans 8, verses Romans 7, verse 25, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Romans 8, verse 1, There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4, That THE RIGHTEOUSNESS of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.5, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the Spirit.6, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
In Romans 8, verses 8, through 11, Paul identifies our position as,
belonging to Christ, having His spirit, and being NOT IN THE FLESH, especially in Romans 8, verses 8, 9, and 10.
8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF SO BE that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now IF any man have NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10,
And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Lets look at Romans 8, verses 12, through 15. Paul tells good news that now,
we can MORTIFY the deeds of the body, through the Spirit. It is through the Spirit living within us,
and living by the Spirit, INSTEAD OF living by our urges, ambitions, or whatever.
Paul tells us that, we can MORTIFY the deeds of the body, THROUGH THE SPIRIT,
especially in Romans 8, verses 13, and 15. 13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY the deeds of the body, ye shall live.15, For ye have NOT received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
So, that is the battleground . That's what is happening.
In our daily life, we have to realize that GOD, IN THE INWARD MAN will eventually to be victorious over SIN, IN MY MEMBERS.
That is all part of trusting God and receiving the righteousness of God within us.
And, it's all part of the unprophesied, revelation of the mystery.
We've gone through a summary of this second quarter of Paul's Roman epistle about Godly living, and our ability to do it.
It's all by Christ, and by His doing, in us. Just as He DID IT ALL when He saved us.
So, lets pick up here to study Paul's clinchers that prove all of this.
In Romans 8, verses 16, through 25. Paul tells of the hope that God gave us of
a future resolution to the internal struggle of SPIRIT over FLESH.
So, the point is that God gives us a hope. There is a future that we will be free from this struggle. That future hope is what we talk about when
we talk about " THE BLESSED HOPE " We all yearn for that blessed hope,
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.
We have summarized up to the last few parts.Now, here in Romans 8, verses 26, through 30, Paul says that the Spirit helps our INFIRMITIES. He helps us in these INFIRMITIES,
this STRUGGLE that we are going through. It is a BATTLE.I call it a STRUGGLE to highlight it. But actually, God's power is far stronger than
any "sin and death" working in us. "Sin and death" has already been destroyed.
God did give us a full ability,
enablement and equipment
to overcome this in our lives. It's NOT that we will be sinless. We are sinners until the redemption of our body, As we saw in Romans 7, verses 14, through 20,
sin is still in our members. But the Holy Spirit lives within us,
as our earnest, and our seal.
Later, in Ephesians 4, verse 23, and 24, Paul tells us to be renewed in the spirit of your mind;24 And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God IS CREATED in righteousness and true holiness.
We did briefly mention some of the equipping which Paul teaches that we now have.
so lets go back, and follow through with his teaching STARTING in Romans 8, verses 2, 5, 13, and 15.
Romans 8, verse 2,...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death. Romans 8, verse 5,For they that are AFTER THE FLESH do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are AFTER THE SPIRIT the things of the Spirit.Believers CAN DETERMINE what they are after in this battle.Romans 8, verse 13,For if ye LIVE after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8, verse 15,For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
So we are in his family. It's that intimate with God, God is enabling, and equipping us
to be Godly sons.
Let's look ahead into Romans 8, verses 18, and 21, Romans 8, verse 18,
For I RECKON that the sufferings of this present timeThat's this struggle, this battle that
we are talking about in this whole section. are not worthy to be compared with the glory which SHALL BE REVEALED in us.
Let us RECKON it also.Romans 8, verse 21,Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (((REVIEW)))Okay, we see Paul bringing us from
the questions he started presenting in Romans 6, verse 1, how to walk Godly, when we can't keep the law,
bringing us from that to the Romans 8, realization that God does it all IN US.
So, let's just SUMMARIZE some of the highlights of this second quarter of Paul's epistle to all that be in Rome.,
We will be hitting the highlights, so we can view them, as if, we were reading all those 3 chapters and seeing the continuity of it.
Toward the end of this quarter of Romans, Paul presents SOME CLINCHERS that prove the assertions he has been making throughout this second quarter of his epistle to Rome.
So, let's go through some of these summaries, and captions,to get the full picture and PROGRESSION.
So, let's now get quickly through a brief review,and then get back to those final steps in Paul's presentation of how we now can live Godly, in Christ Jesus.
Here, Paul is getting closer to revealing the clincher in our equipment for Godly living in the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.
So, lets review how Paul teaches that Christ accomplishes His will in us.
I will be going through these fairly quickly.I want us to TRY TO SEE the progression, as we go along here. Paul CALLS US to walk godly,
We must remember 11 things about believers are:1. DEAD to sin:
Romans 6, verse 6, Knowing this, that our old man is CRUCIFIED with him, that the body of sin might be DESTROYED, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
2. Being "dead to sin," we can now "RECKON" it to be so.Romans 6, verse 11, Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. now able to YIELD in obedience to righteousness.:Romans 6, verse16, Know ye not, that to whom ye YIELD yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
4. DELIVERED from the Law:Romans 7, verse 6,
But now we are DELIVERED from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
5. There is a missing summary verse that goes right here in the sequence.I was not able to get a condensed reading of this step in the sequence.So, after I read the rest of this sequence of steps,
I will read the series of verses that does make sense of it.So, skipping this step for now, we go to:
6. Our WALK is after the Spirit, NOT after the fleshRomans 8, verse 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK not AFTER THE FLESH, but AFTER THE SPIRIT.
7. We are FREE from the law of sin and death.Romans 8, verse 2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the law of sin and death.
8. We are NOT dehtors to the FLESH:Romans 8, verse 12, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
9. Through the Spirit, you can MORTIFY the deeds of the body:Romans 8, verse 13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
10. The Spirit HELPS our infirmities.Romans 8, verse 26, Likewise the Spirit also HELPETH our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession FOR US with groanings which cannot be uttered.
11. God predestinated us to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son.Romans 8, verse 29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Romans 8, verse 30,Moreover whom he did PREDESTINATE, them he also CALLED:
and we see that "calling" in Paul's writings. (In First Corinthians 1, verse 2.In Romans 1, verses 6, and 7. In Galatians 1, verse 6, and Galatians 5, verses 8, and 13, Ephesians 1, verse 18, and Ephesians 4, verses 1, and 4,Colossian 3, verse 15First Thessalonians 2, verse 12, and 4, verse 7, and 5, verse 24,Second Thessalonians 1,verse 11, and 2, verse 14,First Timothy 6, verse 12,Second Timothy 1, verse 9Acts 28:17-20)
So, God does call those whom He foreknew.Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:He justified them because, at the beginning,
he foreknew that they would believe. and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Now let's look at that missing series of verses, that explain the step after "DELIVERED FROM THE LAW"
and before,"OUR WALK IS AFTER THE SPIRIT."
When observing these verses, watch for the opposition that is told about,regarding the believers:
-nature from Adam, versus nature from Christ;-outer man, versus inner man;-old man, versus new man;-the law in my members, warring against the law of my mind.
Romans 7, verse 14, For we know that the law is spiritual:
but I am carnal, sold under sin.15, For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.16, If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.17, NOW THEN IT IS NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.18, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.19, For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20, Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21, I find then a law, that, when I would do good, EVIL is present with me.22, For I delight in the law of God AFTER THE INWARD MAN:23, But I see another law in MY MEMBERS, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me FROM THE BODY of this death?25, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Romans 8, verse 1, There is THEREFORE (because of that) now no condemnation to them which ARE IN Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and FOR SIN, condemned sin in the flesh: (sin, itself, is condemned)4, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Here are some additional verses from other parts of Paul's writings:
Ephesians 4:22 That ye PUT OFF concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23 And BE RENEWED in the SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;24 And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that YE HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN with his deeds;10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after THE IMAGE OF HIM that created him:
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST the Spirit, and the SPIRIT AGAINST the flesh: and THESE ARE CONTRARY the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.18 But IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT, ye are not under the law (that way of operating).
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with the affections and lusts.25 If we LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, let us also WALK IN THE SPIRIT.
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit IN THE INNER MAN ;
God will have his way God's will, will be done. God's spirit within us helps with our infirmities. He helps us in these STRUGGLES, and BATTLES,
or INFIRMITIES as it's called here.
LIFE-WALK BOXPicture a box, a big, square box, with a left and right side, a top and a bottom,
The lower left corner represents the time at which a person believes on Jesus Christ as his savior, that he died for his sins.
So that is the point on that box. The lower left of that box is where YOU BELIEVED. Now, IF you died right away, as a saved person,
you would go immediately up that left side of the box to the top. Let's say that's heaven up there, that's your completed life.
Now, let's look at this verse, further down in Romans 8, verse 29, " whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of HIS SON."
So as a believer that has believed that gospel of salvation in First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4, you are destined, you are predestined, you are predestinated, destined ahead of time, to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of his SON .
That is the final outcome of your existence, of your life. When you get to the top of that left side of the box,
and time passes, and you are along the top of that box, then you are already "conformed to the image of his son," of Christ.
So, you cannot backslide from that. That is your end result. You immediately went there because you died as soon as you got saved.
But what about ANOTHER PERSON who gets saved at that lower left corner.If he gets saved at the lower left corner of the box,
and he CONTINUES to live, and doesn't do anything for God, he doesn't grow, he never picks up his Bible.
And, so time passes, and he goes along this bottom side of the box UNTIL HE DIES as an old person. He was saved, becausehe fulfilled all that God required, He believed that gospel of salvation which Paul preached .
So, he will go to heaven.
He will go right up the right side of that box, and he will end up at the SAME PLACE as you.
You had died as soon as you were saved. You both end up in the upper right corner too.
But you came by a different route. You both believed Paul's gospel of salvation, but
he came on the bottom, INSTEAD OF on the top of the box. But by then, both of you are "CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON." It is predestined. God makes sure that it happens.
So, your walk may be along the bottom of that box, where the second person was, who died an old, and nearly useless life.
Or, your walk may be along the top line, or near the top of the box. Or, you may go a diagonal line of steady growth through that box,
your lifetime. But, your walk is from the STARTING point , to the END point . Your walk is from the ORIGIN, to the DESTINATION.You are guaranteed by God that in the end,
you will be conformed to the image of his Son.
So, look at Romans 8, verse 1. With that in mind, look at what your walk is,
and the guaranteed outcome of your walk, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk NOT after the flesh, but AFTER THE SPIRIT." So, only after that point on the lower left corner of that box,
only after you get saved at that point, do you have BOTH the flesh, and the spirit, so that you could go either "after the flesh," or "after the spirit."
Saved people have this battle, this struggle going on that UNsaved people know nothing about.
So, in your walk in that square box, if you move up a little bit, you are moving forward toward being "after the spirit."
Let's say that at some time, you sin. So, on that step, you are going "after the flesh" for a while. So, as time passes, you come down a little bit,
and then, you move up a little bit, and down, and up.
In whatever way your walk goes zigzagging through the middle of this box, God guaranteed that you are going to end up at the top right corner.
God said that he predestinated that for believers,your walk is going to be "AFTER THE SPIRIT," whether you take A STEP after the flesh, or not.
God is determined to CONFORM you to the IMAGE of HIS SON, CHRIST.
We are not in the flesh. That is no longer our lot. We believers are not in the flesh. Everybody starts off in the flesh. And we all have flesh.
But, according to Romans 8,verse 9, a saved person is "not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."
Well, how can you know if the spirit of God dwells in you? "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."So, the moment you receive Christ as your Savior,
believing on him to have died the death for your sins, YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN YOU.
Romans 8, verse 9, says that "ye are NOT in the flesh, BUT in the spirit ."
In a minute, we will see that Paul takes all that we just summarized, and by those final verses,
he draws it together with his ending to this quarter of the epistle, which is in verses 31 to 39. There, Paul shows our position, and utter security IN CHRIST ,
and the inability for us to ever be separated "from the love of God, WHICH IS IN Christ Jesus our Lord."
We will continue to verses 31, 32, and 34. 31,What shall we then say to these things? IF God be for us, who can be against us?
Who is greater than God, in other words, who is there that could possibly overcome God's will to save us to himself
32,He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Since God allowed his son, His precious Son, Christ, to be crucified, he will not prevent the good that the cross earned for us.
He is on our side, WHO can be against us. Romans 8, verse 34,Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession FOR US.who is he that condemneth? Jesus Christ is the judge, the condemner.
Revelation 19, verse 11, And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness HE DOTH JUDGE and make war.
So, since Jesus Christ is the condemner, and he already took your condemnation, unto himself, who is left to condemn you?
Who is there that is able to condemn you, and to take you out of God's love, and out of God salvation?
Who is going to make you go through God's wrath? Jesus Christ already took God's wrath that was toward you. It is an accomplished thing already.
So, remember that Jesus Christ, is the manifestation of God's love. He is many things He is holy
He is just He is fair. He is merciful. He is gracious.
He also has a wrath side to him. That is what we were talking about, He took God's wrath. God poured out his wrath on Jesus,
instead upon you and me. But in the aspect of God's love,
Jesus Christ is the manifestation of that love
Can we look at First John 4, verse 9. First John 4, verse 9,In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. and read Second Corinthians 8, verse 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR, THAT YE THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BE RICH.
So with that in mind lets look at these last 5 verses in Romans eight. This is Romans 8, verses 35, through 39. Romans 8, verse 35, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36, As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM that loved us.38,For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Romans 8, verse 39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So that pretty much says it all, I think. And, that concludes the second of Paul's three steps
about HOW TO BE ESTABLISHED.
That is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.
And, there wasn't much that was mentioned today, that wasn't mystery
It was mostly all kept secret until it was given to Paul to preach to us and
So we can rightly divide out those epistles written by the apostle of the Gentiles, to all men, as being for us.
We need to rightly divide Paul's epistles, from the rest of the Bible that was written to Israel,
We also need to rightly divide Jesus Christ's later, heavenly instructions to all men through Paul, from Jesus Christ's earlier, earthly instructions only to Israel.
we know in Matthew 15, verse 24, Jesus Christ said, Matthew 15, verse 24,
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.In Galatians 4, verse 4, we also read,Galatians 4, verse 4, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,Also, in John 1, verse 11, that he came to those under the law. John 1, verse 11,
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.and and then in Romans 15 verse eight. we see. Romans 15, verse 8,
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. That is Israel. Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:That's not secret. if it's a promise, then,
they are counting on it because God told it to them. If he told them, then it is not a secret. So the secret was elsewhere. The secret was afterwards revealed to Paul.
Jesus Christ came for a purpose, and to fulfill Scripture, and to bring in a kingdom, but it was rejected.
That placed Israel out of favor with God. In at least two other times in Israel's history,
when they were placed out of favor with God, their timetable stopped.
The prophecies of how many years till things would occur stopped. When they were back in favor with God again, the clock started again,
and, you can count the years. And that is the way it was with the 70 weeks of Daniel,
in Daniel 9, verses 24, through 27. It stopped, when they rejected the kingdom. It was up to 69 weeks, and then,
they rejected their Messiah, and lost favor with God soon after that by,
rejecting Holy Ghost filled Stephen and stoning him.
Then, God brought in, what he had kept a secret called the mystery and introduced it ONLY through Paul to us.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
That is why we read Romans through Philemon with the knowledge that it is pointed to us,
and that what it says is to all people without regard to their being descended from Jacob, OR NOT!
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Paul is shifting gears here. As we looked at Romans 16, verses 25, and 26,
we saw an outline there that we can use for Paul's epistle to Rome. He has finished the second part of the four part outline. Here, beginning in the third quarter of the epistle,
Paul is talking about what happened to Israel. He starts the summary and outline by saying,
"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to." The first three quarters of the epistle are how God stablishes us. The fourth quarter is what the stablished life looks like, how we live.
We talked earlier about Romans 1, verse 15, through Romans 5, verse 11, being about what Paul calls "MY GOSPEL."
According to Galatians 1, verses 11, and 12, it was given to him by Christ revealing it to him.
It was a gospel that was revealed to him, not reminded to him, or not told to him by any man.
It was revealed by Jesus Christ. So, therefore it did not exist before then, in our realm. We did not know about it. It was something new.
Let's go back to Romans 16, verses 25, and 26,The second quarter that we have just finished studying was,
"the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest."
which it does involve, but he already talked about "My Gospel."
In the second quarter, Paul goes on to talk about all that goes along withthis mystery of Jesus Christ's own righteousness, His perfection
being credited to our account, when we believe that he died for our sins.
There are 77 different things in that little three-minute clip of "Who Are You-In Christ," and all the different positions that we have by being "in Christ," once we are saved.
That was what was involved in the second quarter of Paul's epistle to Rome.
The third part of Paul's summary and outline, as mentioned here is, "BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith"
So, Paul talks about prophecy, which always involved Israel. He is telling us what happened to Israel,
and it does involve Israel's fall. He documents it. So if you have questions about
"why aren't we blessing Israel," or,
"why is the church here, and not Israel," or,
"why is NOT the church the body of Christ, also Israel," "why are not we graffed in,"
and all those kind of questions, they are answered by Paul himself, in these three chapters that are the third quarter of this epistle,which we are starting to study today.
This section, this third quarter of how to be established, is the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters in Paul's epistle to those in Rome.
Then after that, the 12th, through the 14th chapters are about what established living looks like.
Then, chapters 15, and 16, are saying goodbye, and farewell instructions
So, getting into where we are, let's start a few verses before the beginning the chapter because it does bear on the chapter,
Romans 8, verse 38, and 39,For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We saw earlier, in First John 4, verse 9, that Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God's love.
When God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, into the world for our sins, that was manifesting God's love.
Since Jesus Christ is the love of God to us, andsince we cannot be separated from the love of God, then we cannot ever be separated from Jesus Christ.
Next, look at the first in Romans 9, verses 1, to 3.I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,2. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.3. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh
Now, as we read, three verses earlier, Paul just finished saying that nothing, "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Then, Paul says,
"I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ"It's a wish. He's NOT saying "I do cut myself off from Christ." He's NOT saying "I am being accursed." He IS admitting that,
it's not possible to be accursed, or to be separated from Christ.
But he has this desire for Israel, and its that strong.
So, in a way, he is confirming that WE CANNOT BE CUT OFF .
Look at Ephesians 4, verse 30. Here, Paul talks some about the same thing. He says to
"grieve not the spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption"
We shouldn't grieve the Holy Spirit, and yet we do every day, don't we?
But we're not cut off every day. Why aren't we cut off? Because we're SEALED. Sealed how long? Unto the day of redemption, and
the redemption of the body is that at the catching up, or the resurrection for believers.
So, WE ARE SAFE. We are SAVED, and it's all by Gods doing.
Paul is talking about his desire for Israel. He says, 4,"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen"
08:5809:20
The book of Romans was written in Acts 20. Paul is saying,
"who ARE Israelites." So, he saying that Israel is still in existence. Israel has NOT yet been cast away, by the time of Acts 20.
"who are Israelites." "Are" is present tense.
Also, he says, "to whom pertaineth"
That word "pertaineth" is present tense, not pertained, but pertaineth. It pertains to the adoption. Israelites, "to whom pertaineth the adoption."It's present tense.
So, Israel's little flock of Messiah believers was still a valid way to God, for those who, at that time, chose to believe the gospel of the kingdom,
But, I doubt that anybody did. Not too many, if any. By that time, It was a rare thing in their diminishing.Israel, blinded in part, was denying that Jesus was their Messiah,
and was embracing the fallen, apostate leadership of Israel. Israel was being diminished throughout Acts.
AFTER they had HEARD Paul's gospel. I doubt that anybody believed Peter's kingdom gospel, to be saved into the kingdom,
They would choose Paul's gospel, to be saved to heaven immediately, without having to endure to the end, as Israel did.
Israel was told that they had to endure to the end, to be saved, at the end.
At that time they were still in time past. According to Ephesians 2, verses 11, and 12. 11,
" Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;12, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: "
So, we see that, at that time, they were still in time past. Israel was still considered a way to God. It was still available. They were not yet cast away. God was still making a distinction between Israel,
and the Gentiles, at that point. I am speaking of the world in general, around us here,
but not ever was there a distinction, once someone came into the BODY OF CHRIST.
But, Paul is not talking about the body of Christ here. He is talking about Israel, and his hearts burden for Israel.
So we will go on to Romans 9, verse 6. "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" if we don't take what it is saying, word for word.
it wording can be a little confusing. .
We will get to that in a second.
Let's go through the next two verses, Romans 9, verses 7, and 8. 7, "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.8, That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are NOT the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
In Romans 9, verse 6, the true Israel, the believing Israel was within the whole nation of Israel.
But true Israel only included believing Israel, not the majority, apostate Israel.
That is just what Paul is saying, " Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" In other words, there is the entire nation of Israel,
and Paul is saying the seed comes through only a portion of them.
And he goes on to define that portion as those who believed. Believed what? They believed what they had been told up to that time.
Of course Paul's gospel had been preached by the time that he wrote this epistle to Rome in Acts 20.
But it had not been known at the time which Paul is referring to here.Before they heard Paul's gospel,
before Christ returned to heaven,even before Christ came to earth,there was apostate Israel, which was most of the nation, and there were some that believed in the Messiah. They believed the Messiah would come. They believed that the kingdom was coming, and that the Messiah would bring it.
They were the true Israel.Again, Paul said in Romans 9, verse 6,
" they are not all Israel, which are of Israel"
Lets move on to Romans 9, verse 7. Only Israel is counted as Abraham's seed,
not the Arabs that descended from Ishmael. Paul makes that very clear. " Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called"So, the seedline only passes to Isaac, NOT to Ishmael.
Paul goes on in Romans 9, verse 8, " That is, They which are the children of the flesh,
these are NOT the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" That kind of summarizes both those previous verses,
summarizing that the seed comes through Isaac, and Israel, but not through Ishmael, and the Arabs.
That also summarizes that it is only through the believing portion of Israel, NOT through apostate Israel.
Let's go on to Romans 9, verse 9, 10, and 11.
9, For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.10. "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;11. (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;)"
Before going further here, let's review what the Bible says about the foreknownedge of God.
Please turn to Romans 8, verses 29, and 30.29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among MANY brethren .30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
That shows a progression that goes on in the life of the believer.It is all done by God.You can see in the text that He does each step.Those who will eventually believe,
God predestinates to be conformed to the image of his Son.Paul goes on to show that in predestinating the FUTURE believer ,
God does the calling of him, then,God does the justifying of him, then, God does the glorifying of him.
God does it all.
But, it starts with God knowing, literally ahead of time, what each person's choice is going to be.
God gives us freedom to choice to believe him or not,and we do choose.
GOD LOOKS down through the millenniums and FOREKNOWS what each person chooses.
Those persons who are going to believe the gospel,He predestines to eventually be conformed to the image of his Son.
(((REVIEW)))God does it allHe sees to it, that it happens, and get accomplished.It does NOT get done by our effort,
but, it is by our CHOICE.It is by our allowing God to do His work in us.God supplies the energy,
and the ability, and He enables us,and He equips us by His Holy Spirit,and He provides His righteousness.
He is the righteous One. It's God's righteousness in us. We saw that back in the first and second quarters of Romans. It is an integral part of the first and second
of the three stages of stablishment
In Romans 3, verses 21, through 28, we see that our salvation is all accomplished by God.
Its clear that we cannot be good enough. We cannot have the righteousness THAT God requires. But God provides the believer with His own righteousness. He credits His righteousness to the believers account,
his own righteousness, His perfection.
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Before starting again in Romans 9, verse 11, please picture this analogy.
The Bible says that we are saved by the faith of Christ, by Christ's faith. And that does not waver,
even if your faith wavers. Once you have made the choice,
His faith does not waver, and He seals you, andHe holds you.
There is a difference between you trying to hold on to God, and God securely holding on to you.
You can just picture a kid trying to hold on to someone's hand. There is a big difference between that,
and the adult holding on to the child's hand.The adult in this analogy is Jesus Christ, and
He does NOT fail, He does NOT accidentally let us go,and He certainly does not purposely let us go.
We started this chapter by reading that we cannot be separated. It is not able for anything to separate us. It is impossible to be separated from the love of God,
which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let's start in Romans 9, verses 11 again, " (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:)"
So, here is a distinction between works, and the calling of God.Let's continue reading in Romans 9, verses 12, and 13.12. It was said unto her,
The elder shall serve the younger.13. As it is written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
Let's look where God said this, back in Genesis 25, verse 23. 23." And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger" Now that was unusual back then. The firstborn got all the rights, and privileges. But here, we read that,
"the elder shall serve the younger"
God foreknew the choices that each twin would later make in their lives.
Look 3 chapters later in Genesis 28 verses 1, 8, and 9. 1. "And Isaac called Jacob,
and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt NOT take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;"
That was Isaac's charge to his son.Then, we read in Genesis 28, verses 8, and 9.8. And Esau seeing that
the daughters of Canaan pleased NOT Isaac his father;9. Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and
took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
So, Esau went on to mingle with the Arabs, with Ishmaelites, which was intermarrying, which was not permitted by Isaac.
In Romans 9, verses 6, through 21,God's choice in this, relates to two people. God chose that the elder, shall serve the younger.
By reading and believing the words of God on the pages of the Bible, we can be assured that it does not apply to ALL people.
There are certain groups, such as Calvinists, that try to claim that that it applies ALL people.
They claim that God chooses ahead of time, whether you are going to be saved or not.
An honest reading of the verses shows that the Bible is not saying this about "salvation", or "being saved."
Likewise, it says nothing about "all people." These verses are only talking about 2 people. God does NOT choose people to go to heaven,
and choose people to go to hell. God foreknows who will choose to believe,
and who will choose NOT to believe.
So, there is a big difference. HE GIVES US THE CHOICE. He sees ahead of time what we are going to believe though.
We can go on now to Romans 9, verses 14, 15, and 16. 14 What shall we say then? Is there UN righteousness with God? God forbid.15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is NOT of him that willeth, NOR of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy
Now, let's look ahead 2 chapters to Romans 11, verse 32. Remember who it is, on whom God has mercy. This section will show us. 32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
So, when Romans 9, verse 16, says, So then it is NOT of him that willeth, NOR of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Romans 9, verse 15, God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
We are all concluded in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon ALL Thankfully, this righteousness of God is available UNTO all people,
yet, according to Romans 3, verse 22, it is only UPON those who believe.
Romans 9, verses 17, and 18, 17, For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.18, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
So, it does say that he does hardened some. But, remember that God has foreknowledge of
what our choices are going to be.
Let us examine what actually happened here.It mentions Pharaoh. What happened in his case. Look in Exodus 5, starting in verse 2, and 4.
and will jump through a few verses here to see some highlights of what actually happened.
2,And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know NOT the LORD, NEITHER will I let Israel go.4, And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works?get you unto your burdens.
so he was getting hard on them. He didn't want Moses to give the people ideas that they could leave.
Exodus 5, verses 6, and 7.6, And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people,
and their officers, saying,7, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
So, Pharaoh put additional tasks on them. Pharaoh was hardening his heart, and making it harder on children of Israel.
Exodus 5, verses 8, 9, and 10.8,And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God
So, they were slaves by then. They were wanting to go, and sacrifice to God.
But, Pharaoh said, "No! If you have time to go sacrifice,just make more bricks, and do the good job of collecting the straw too.
He made it harder on them. Pharaoh hardened his heart. 9,Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10, And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
Lets jump to Exodus 5, verse 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.In other words, deliver the same amount. So, we can see a pattern here on Pharaoh's part,
NOT at all yielding to God's will.
NEXT, let's look down in Exodus 7 verses 13 and 14. to see when God hardened Pharaoh's heart.13, And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
14, And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
So, Pharaoh hardened his heart against God. And then later, God hardened Pharaoh's heart, After Pharaoh had chosen his course of action,
God chose to harden him in that. After that point, Pharaoh could not turn around.
It is similar to Second Thessalonians 2, verses 9, through 12, Where those that rejected the gospel of grace,
missed the rapture, and then in the tribulation, God sends them strong delusion, so they do NOT any longer have the choice of believing in God.
They are condemned at that point, but they are still alive.
Let's go on now, with Romans 9, verses 19, through 21. 19,Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
In other words, who could resist, if God choose them? But, he chose them, according to his FOREKNOWLEDGE. 20,Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?21,Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Here, in Romans 9, verse 22, Paul begins teaching about "'vessels' of wrath" (plural), and "'vessels' of mercy" (plural),instead of "'one vessel' unto honour", and "'another' unto dishonour," which he was talking about in Romans 9, verses 6, through 21
DO YOU SEE THE SHIFT IN OBJECTS THERE?Don't miss it, or you might confuse what God says about Jacob, and Esau,
with what God says about His foreknowing and fitting of believers and non-believers, starting here in
Romans 9, verse 22.22, What if God, willing to shew his wrath, God is showing His grace, and His love NOW. But there will come a time when He will show wrath.What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
I believe those "vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction" areall those whom God foreknows will NOT believe the gospel of salvation.
I believe those "vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction" INCLUDES those that missed the catching up of the body of Christ.
They are in the future from when he is writing, and from now. I believe He is revealing something here,
that was not revealed before Paul.They would then be in the tribulation,
in the wrath of Revelation 6, verse 17. 17,
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
They become "fitted for destruction" NOT upon creation, but upon God's foreknowing their choice to NOT believe the gospel of salvation.
I believe they become vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, as told in Second Thessalonians 2
This is the passage that I was talking about.
Let's look at Second Thessalonians 2, verse 7, 8. 7, For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I believe that is talking about the church, the body of Christ, still here on earth now, until he (the body of Christ) is taken away
The word "letteth" means restraineth. He that now letteth, or restrains,
will let, or restrain, until he be taken away
8, And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9, Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,Today, signs and lying wonders speak for themselves.10, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received NOT the LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be SAVED.they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved11, And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12, That they all might be damned who believed notpast tense "BELIEVED"That they all might be damned
who believed not the TRUTH, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.and sometimes that unrighteousness is
religious unrighteousness, RELIGION!
So, those vessels, fitted for destruction, had their choice in it too. They chose not to believe the TRUTH, when it was available to them. And afterwards, they were sent strong delusion,
that they would believe THE LIE. (((REVIEW)))
Let's go back to Romans 9, verses 23, through 24, 23, And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
The vessels of mercy includes those that in Romans 8, verse 29, God foreknows will believe the gospel of salvation.
They are the ones whom God brings through that progressionof predestinating them to be conformed to the image of His Son.
God foreknows their choice,then He predestinates them,then He calls them, then He justifies them,then He glorifies them,
as it says in Romans 9, verse 23,And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Remember that, in this section, Paul is still talking to Rome, about Israel, and how Israel fits into the SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS.
By the time that Paul writes this epistle to Rome,Israel had rejected their Messiah, and blasphemed the Holy Ghost,
which was their unforgiveable sin.Paul is saying that although the body of Christ,
received a different call than Israel's call,they both were CALLED.
24, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
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Regarding Romans 9, verse 24,Israel was called of God to BELIEVE that
Jesus is the resurrected Messiah, the Son of God.Some of Israel that was called by God,
accepted God's call to believe.The little flock of Israel, the Israel of God,
ARE those descendants of Jacob, AND Israel blessing Gentiles,that had accepted God's CALL to BELIEVE that
Jesus is the resurrected Messiah, the Son of God.
In Romans 11, verse 7, "The rest," that were blinded, were those descendants of Jacob, which in Romans 9, verse 31, " which followed after the law of righteousness,"
and " hath not attained to the law of righteousness"
BECAUSE in Romans 9, verse 32, and 33,32,
"Because they sought it NOT BY FAITH , but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
As you know, from reading Acts chapters 7, 8, and 9, Saul of Tarsus had NOT accepted God's call to believe that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah of Israel.
Saul was NOT part of the little flock of believing Israel. But Saul was part of that entire nation of Israel
containing believers and UNbelievers who God CALLED TO BELIEVE.
Here in Romans 9, verse 24, Saul was part of the "EVEN US" that was called of God to believe.
Some believed, and some did NOT believe.Those who did NOT believe, became fitted for destruction,
and so they were hardened as in Acts 28, verses 25, through 28,the Loammi, casting away of Israel.
Look in another place, in Hosea 1, verse 9, he is actually saying that, in the future from when it was prophesied, there would come a time when Israel would be called,
NOT GOD'S PEOPLE. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for YE ARE NOT MY PEOPLE , and I WILL NOT BE YOUR GOD.
That is Israel's current situation. It is saying that, they are no longer considered Israel. They are now considered Gentiles,
Hosea 2, verse 23 prophesied that, LATER in Israel's history, And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy;
and I will say to them which were NOT MY PEOPLE, Thou ART MY PEOPLE;
and they shall say, THOU ART MY GOD.
Then, see what Paul reports about it in,Romans 9, verse 25, As he saith also in Osee, I will call them MY PEOPLE, which WERE NOT MY PEOPLE; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
That is talking about the time, after they were cast away, after this present time now, that we are in when they will be regathered.
They are NOT HIS PEOPLE, at this time now, but God will, in the future, call them, "MY PEOPLE."
That will be after the catching up to heaven of us, the body of Christ, when Israel will again be in God's forefront of action, the way He will be working with people, in the world, at that time.
Going on now, as Romans 9, verse 25, matched Hosea 2, verse 23, so also Romans 9, verse 26, matches Hosea 1, verse 10.
And it says in Hosea 1, verse 10,Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them,
Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them,
Ye are the sons of the living God.
And Paul says in Romans 9, verse 26, And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, YE ARE NOT MY PEOPLE; there shall they be called the CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.Hosea is a good little book, with a line of Israel's future events in it. Hosea is prophecy,
it is what has been told about God's plan.What had NOT BEEN TOLD about God's plan,
was revealed by Christ, but it was revealed much later, and it was NOT revealed by Christ when He walked the earth.
It was only revealed by Christ, AFTER His crucifixion, resurrection, appearances, and ascension.
It was only revealed by Christ, THROUGH PAUL.
So it is after Israel's casting away, they will be regathered. and as we continue in this study, we will find the place where they are cast away.
The time that they were cast away is documented in the Bible.
You can follow the sequence of events in prophecy, that have not yet happened, to find Israel's REGATHERING, in PROPHECY.
Let us go on to Romans 9, verse 27, Paul quotes Esaias (Isaiah) about Israel, saying, Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a REMNANT shall be saved:
I do not mean to offend anybody about the difference between Israel, and the body of Christ.
Please stick with us, and try to ignore any PRECONCEPTIONS thatyou find you may have, about Israel, and the body of Christ, until we see what the SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY SAYS.
I know that for a long time, I had a wrong preconception about it, and I had to consider the Scriptures without that preconception, before I was able to see what the Bible truth is, which is presented in the Scriptures.
Let's read from the middle of Romans 9, verse 27, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a REMNANT shall be saved:So there Paul is saying that, in the future,
there will be a large part of the nation, the physical descendents of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob will be Israel.
But, only a small part of them, a remnant, will be THE ISRAEL OF GOD, that part of Israel that believes God.
Romans 9, verse 28, and 29, says,28,For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (see Isaiah 28, verses 21, and 22)29, And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, weren't they?
In Romans 9, verse 27, through 29,we see the remnant of prophetic Israel, the few that believe.
They are there, believing the gospel of the kingdom, that was given to them throughout the years, starting with Exodus 19, verses 5, through 8.
Now, let's look ahead to the last part of this third stablisher. Here we see in Romans 9, verses 30, to 33. Paul BEGINS COMPARING those Greek Gentiles that were
When they heard Paul preach His gospel, the gospel of Christ, they believed it and became part of the body of Christ, and Paul BEGINS COMPARING them to Israel.
Romans 9, verse 31,"Israel...hath NOT attained to the law of righteousness."
Before we go to these verses in Romans 9, verse 30, let's look to see what Paul was preaching in the synagogues,
in Acts 13, verses 38, and 39, 38,
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man
That is speaking of Jesus. It just described Him in length,
and his death, burial, and resurrection. He says,
through this man is preached unto you the FORGIVENESS of sins :
Paul preached not just remittance of sins, until a future time when Christ returns.
But, he is now preaching about NOW,FORGIVENESS of sins at the time you believe.
39, And by him ALL that believe ARE justified from ALL things, That is present tense. ARE justified from ALL thingsNot just ALL PAST things, but from ALL things,from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
There is the comparison, 2 ways to be justified, 39,And by him all that believe ARE JUSTIFIED from all things, from which ye COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED by the law of Moses.
Before Christ's revelation to Paul,the law of Moses was all that was available.
And now, we will close with those last four verses, Romans 9, verses 30, through 33. 30,What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed NOT after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Remember that Paul is beyond talking only about Israel. He is now comparing
those of us that received the righteousness of God by faith, as Paul describes in Romans 3, verses 21, and 22, and Paul is comparing us, with Israel.
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed NOT after righteousness.That would be in "time past."
have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith 31,
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousnessor doing works of the law of righteousness, they
hath NOT attained to the law of righteousness.In other words, no matter how closely you try to
follow all those rules in the Mosaic Law, you cannot do it. You do not attained to the law of righteousness. You fail every time. 32, Wherefore? Because they sought it NOT by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone 33,As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
So, that stumblingstone is somebody to be believed. It is Jesus Christ. And, that was when Israel stumbled, when the crucified their Messiah, That is pretty much, Israel in past tense, in "time past".
Next, we get to chapter 10, the middle of the three chapters, in this third section of the 3 stablishers.
We see Paul talking about Israel, at that time, at the time he wrote.
Then in chapter 11, we see more about how Israel was cut off, diminished, and then cast away, and being restored, in their future.
Actually, their future, and hope, right now is in their coming to Christ, AS we all do, through the gospel of Christ, the gospel presented by Paul, which had been revealed to Paul, the gospel by which he was saved, on the road to Damascus, and that he presented to us in First Corinthians 15 verses 1, through 4.
1, and 2, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel WHICH I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;By which also YE ARE SAVED,So, he is telling them how to be saved by this gospel, What do these verses say to DO, OR BELIEVE in order to be saved.So, when a person is learning and considering
whether, or not to be saved,if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
So, do not believe in vain by changing what Paul preached. Do not mix what Paul preached with
another gospel that Peter, and others, preached only to Israel.Throughout his the 13 epistles, Paul preached that you are saved by
God's grace, through faith, NOT of works. A person first hears the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation,
and then trusts in Christ to save them as He said He would, and He is then, immediately sealed with that Holy Spirit.
3,For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received
Paul is telling how he received Christ. It has nothing to do with what you eat, or drink, whether a wafer, or wine.
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4, And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
So, that is God's word on how to be saved, IN WRITING. BELIEVE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS,
AND ROSE AGAIN FOR YOUR JUSTIFICATION. AMEN! Its that simple. When you add something to it ye pollute it.
Romans 4, verse 5, says ...to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness.
So that rules out mixing in, any of your works, to be saved.
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CONFESSING THE NAME - CALLING ON THE NAME
THE WORD, "FAITH"
We want to see who it is that confesses the Lord Jesus, calling on the name of the Lord.
Well, as we look in the Scripture, let me just say that Paul writes of to a variety of people, when he writes the Roman epistle. And as he goes through the epistle, he specifies which type of person he is, then, focusing his comments on. But in Romans 1, verse 7, Paul addresses the entire epistle “TO ALL that be in Rome.” So that's quite a wide variety of people.
He tells people of their need of salvation , then he tells of God's provision for it. He tells people they need to live a godly life , then he tells God's provision for it. And then, Paul gets to Romans chapters, nine, ten, and eleven, and he tells them what happened to Israel, and, why God is not working through Israel anymore.
We will read Romans 9, verse 30, through Romans 10, verse 17.
Romans 9:30 through Romans 10:17 30. ¶What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness , even the righteousness which is of faith .
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it NOT BY FAITH ,
Do you see that, “they sought it NOT BY FAITH” (F A I T H !!!!!)
but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:1 ¶Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness , have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law , That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise,
SAY NOT
Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
BUT WHAT SAITH IT?
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of FAITH, which we preach;
(“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”)
That fits right in with Rom.10:6. “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise,
See in Romans 10:9-10 what FAITH it was that Israel lacked, and needed.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead , thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 ¶For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So we are going to look in the middle of that section of nine, ten, and eleven. We are going to look in Romans ten, verses 5, and 8 through 13. We are starting with verse five.
Romans 10, verses 5, and 8 through 13 5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
8. "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:" (What word?) "that is, the word of FAITH ," (faith) "which we preach."
Alright, faith is not the gospel. When he is talking there, about "the word of faith,"
he is NOT saying, "the word of the gospel," andhe is NOT, talking about "the gospel of faith.", but it's the word “FAITH.”
WHO LACKED FAITH?
Just as Jesus Christ had done while on Earth, Paul identified Israel's shortcoming, as not having FAITH . In spite of their keeping the law, They didn't have the faith that God wanted from them. God wanted their faith first, and the works to be a result of the faith. Look in John 5, verses 43, through 47 where Jesus is speaking..
John 5:43-47 43. "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words ?"
So, early on, in Christ's ministry, He identifies Israel’s lack of faith, aims at that, and encourages people to believe, and a few do.
Look a little later, in Matthew 23, verses 23, through 28.
Matthew 23:23-28 23. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:" (.there you have it, FAITH.) "these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
(.in other words, don't try to trade them off. It is all part of the same Law that they had agreed to.)
24. "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter,
27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
Remember that iniquity is religious idolatry. It is its going away from God. It is not so much the idea of lying, or lust, or, things like that. It is religiously going against what God says. It is idolatry, basically. We can see WHAT ISRAEL LACKED. It was the word of FAITH.
Let's continue on, starting over in that passage again, in Romans 10, verse 8 again.
Romans 10:8-10 8. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of FAITH , which we preach;
9. That if thou shalt
(.Israel is the, "thou", being spoken of there? Paul is telling which good news that Israel failed to believe)
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, AND shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
That is the specific “FAITH” and “WORK of faith” that Israel LACKED, NEEDED.
Romans 10:11-14 11. “For the scripture saith,"
(Paul is quoting Old Testament scripture which is to Israel)
"Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
(in other words, God won't disappoint Israelites who trust in Him)
12. ¶"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
That is not Paul, preaching salvation to Israel.Remember Romans 9:31-32
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
So, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” is not Paul, preaching salvation to Israel, or to anyone in these verses.
That is Paul informing “All that be in Rome”, about,(1) Salvation (Rom.1:1-5:11)(2) Godly Living (Rom.5:12-8:39)And specifically, here,(3) What happened to Israel (Rom.9:1-11:36)
In showing to “all that be in Rome”, what happened to Israel,Paul quotes JOEL, who was preaching to Israel to FINALLY HAVE FAITH TO , CALL on the NAME of the Lord.
Here you can see it:(“Joel 2:32
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call”).
Romans 10:14 How then shall they (again, ISRAEL) call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Whoever shall CALL on the NAME of the Lord shall be saved, but, According to Joel 2:28-32, that applies to the last days.
So, Israel shall not able to call, if they have not believed in him, andthey can not believe in something, they have not heard to believe in.Without a preacher, how shall they hear, how shall they preach, except they be sent. So, it does limit, who can call on the name of the Lord, to those who have been preached the gospel to.
Depending on which gospel they hear, they believe, and are part of that, group of believers, whether its the ones that are waiting to be saved when Christ returns, those under Israel's program, hearing the gospel of the circumcision.
OR
those who are saved now, at the time of that they believe, having believed the gospel of salvation, that Paul preaches.
NOT OUR GOSPEL
So, notice that the passage says nothing about, "Christ died for our sins" or that Christ was raised for our justification. So we are not talking about the "gospel of Christ"
Let's look through Scripture, to find a gospel that matches the conditions. We are trying to match those certain qualifications there in Romans chapter ten, verses nine, and ten, firstly, confessing with their mouth , which is a physical act, and secondly, believing in their heart THAT God resurrected Jesus Christ
Looking in Romans 1, verses 1, through 4, THERE IS A MATCH.
Romans 1:1-4 1. ¶"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)"
(So, this is information from the Old Testament, that is being talked about here, the 'gospel of God'. It was NOT that which was KEPT SECRET.)
3. "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:"
So, the gospel of God consists of believing that Jesus is declared to be THE RESURRECTED, PROPHESIED CHRIST. And, you don't see any promise in there about salvation, or being saved.
So, comparing Romans ten, verses nine and ten,With Romans one, verses one though four,"to confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus," in Romans tencompares to "declared to be the son of God”, from Romans one, gospel of God,
And remembering that Lord, is a title of God,we find that confessing Him to be the Lord Jesus, is the same as declaring Him to be the Son of God
Next, believing "that God hath raised him from the dead " in Romans ten,Compares equally with:by the resurrection from the dead ." He was declared with power, to be the Son of God... in Roman one, the gospel of God.
So, the Romans one, verses one through four, “gospel of God”Is the same good news that in Romans ten, verses nine and ten, Paul says is what Israel failed to believe,Even though it was “nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith….”
Of course, the wording is different, but the same elements are present in each passage. Paul does not say in Romans chapter one, verses one, through four, that the gospel of God saves anyone.
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Of course PAUL PREACHED FAITH, but Paul did not preach faith, as part of a faith plus works gospel that Israel had always been given.
Faith requires an objectAll faith requires something in which to have faith .
But Israel had been given “covenants of promise”, and a Way to be saved,Not to heaven, but to “THE LAND,” on earth in God’s kingdom from heaven.
Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Belief was needed in Israel’s part of the covenants of promise.Works were needed in Israel’s part of the covenants of promise.
HEBREWS 11:4 says that It was by faith that Abel offered an acceptable, righteous sacrifice.
Hebrews 11:7 says that it was by faith that Noah prepared an ark to the saving of his house.
Hebrews 11:8 says that it was by faith that Abraham, obeyed and left Ur when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance
Up to the time of Abraham, the Bible hasn’t mentioned faith, trust, or belief. But it is what God wanted.
It would be as if, for some reason, I wanted you to touch some bowling pins, So I tell you that I will give you a hundred dollars to place these bowling pins in a straight line.What I want is for you TO TOUCH the bowling pins, But I never told you to touch the bowling pins.But you did what I wanted, and you wanted to do it.And you received the reward.
Likewise, God wanted mankind to trust Him.But in God’s wisdom, He did NOT order us to believe Him.But rather, God gave mankind certain assignments to fulfill. And in so doing, mankind exercised faith in God in order to obey Him.
But, with mankind’s love of taking shortcuts, and having our own way,
eventually, people began to do the assignments (THE LAW)without believing or caring about God, or what He said.
So, God sent Paul not only with His new gospel for mankind, But also with information as to how Israel had failed their God.
For clarity in this subject, I will omit man’s response in these verses,And only read the information Paul is providing.
Romans 10:2-6a,8a2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (There is the “FAITH” that they lacked)
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which DOETH THOSE THINGS shall live by them.
6a,8a But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise…what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of FAITH, which we preach;
But faith is the very thing that was lacking of those in Israel who were already claiming to expect a future kingdom from heaven.
But SOME OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS WERE MISSING, and left unfulfilled. And so Paul states them, and some of them appear the same, or similar as to what the requirements are, in the gospel that Paul preaches, the gospel of salvation.
But he is NOT talking about Christ dying for their sins. He is NOT talking about being justified by the resurrection of Christ.
ISRAEL’S FAILURE WAS LACK OF FAITH
Today, we need faith in the gospel of salvation that Christ, in heaven, gave to Paul for us.
B U T ,Before Israel fell, they needed FAITH in the covenants , the law, the prophets, and the gospel of the kingdom, and they needed to have works that their faith produced.
PAUL WAS NOT TEACHING that Israel failed to have faith in the gospel of our salvation, that Christ died for our sins, rose for our justification.
PAUL WAS NOT TEACHING Israel to believe the gospel of the kingdom.Paul never preached the gospel of the kingdom to anyone.
Paul was identifying for those in Rome, just wherefore it was that Israel hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Paul was preparing them to see how all men have now become acceptable regardless of Israel, and without blessing Israel.Paul later directly teaches in Romans 11:11 that, through Israel's fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles.Romans 11:11
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
So, Paul is making it very clear that ISRAEL DID FALL, and WHAT CAUSED THEIR FALL.
He is writing that Israel had needed to BELIEVE that Christ was resurrected, and to confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus. Israel lacked the faith to believe that in their heart.
They tried to keep the Law, and they believed God would bring his kingdom ,
but they failed to believe God HIMSELF , standing right there, in front of them, JESUS CHRIST!!!.
And they failed to believe God's proof of Jesus Christ's sonship and atoning sacrifice, which was HIS RESURRECTION.
They failed to believe all of that.
Paul is NOT preaching that they should finally believe the gospel of the KINGDOM.
Paul never preached to anyone that they should be part of an earthly kingdom from heaven
But rather, Paul is informing “all that be in Rome” of how Israel failed God
They lacked faith, the word of FAITH. So, in Romans chapter ten, verse ten, Paul said Romans 10:10
10. “…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”Israel’s word of faith.
Confession that Jesus was their resurrected Messiah, their “Lord”, was what was still lacking for Israel. And the key phrase there is "unto salvation." That was a future hope to whomever Paul was referring. It was Israel that was to WORK, CONFESS, and BELIEVE.
They needed faith, plus works of faith, and confession was a work of faith. It was something THEY had to do.
And, it went with ISRAEL’S believing unto salvation that was ready to be revealed in the last time.
Look in First Peter 1, verse 5. 1 Peter 1:5
5. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Their salvation was not given them as we are accustomed to hearing now.
For us, when we believe , we are saved. It says so in Ephesians chapter two, verses five, and eight, and will get to that in a few minutes,
but for them, their salvation was to come at the return of Christ , Israel’s day of atonement, when Christ returns and brings the kingdom.
It's different for us believers in Paul's gospel of Christ. Our salvation occurs at the time we believe . To verify that, or to show that, lets look at some verses, starting with Acts chapter thirteen, verse thirty nine.
Acts 13:39 39. “And by him all that believe ARE justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
That is a present tense thing, "are justified." And, by the law of Moses, no one could be justified from future sins.But Paul preached that “through this man (Christ)” “all that believe ARE justified from all things”
Lets go on to Romans 5, verse 11, Romans 5:11
11. “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement.”
We believers have NOW received the atonement.
In the middle of the salvation passage from Paul, about the gospel of Christ, in First Corinthians 15, verse 2, Paul says, 1 Corinthians 15:2
2. “By which also ye ARE saved,…”
Not, “you are waiting to be saved.” You are NOT waiting for Christ to bring that salvation at his return,
as Peter said to Israel, “ready to be revealed in the last time,”
On Israel’s feast day of Pentecost (Weeks), Peter preached that they were right then, in the last days, that the tribulation was upon them, leading to the Kingdom from Heaven.And the foreshadowing of the tribulation, actually was, upon them,and would have come, if they all had received their King and Kingdom.
Acts 2:14-24 14 ¶But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
So, this is the 12, speaking to the city full of Jews.
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But THIS IS THAT which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you BY miracles and wonders and signs,which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Israel could have accepted God’s offer, to send the kingdom at that time.But one year later, Israel committed their unforgiveable sin,of blaspheming the Holy Ghost, by stoning Holy Ghost filled Stephen.
then, John the Baptist would have been Israel’s “Elias, which was for to come”,
So also, the Acts 2 Pentecost would have started Israel’s “last days” tribulation, If all Israel had BELIEVED (FAITH) and received their Messiah and Kingdom.
Now lets get to Ephesians chapter two, verse five, Ephesians 2:5
5. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) ”
“Ye ARE saved.” Three words there. You can't deny them. Its in God's word. Believers today, are saved NOW, not just waiting to be saved. Ephesians chapter two, verses eight and nine, which is a familiar passage,
Ephesians 2:8 8. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Confessing the name of Jesus as Lord, and calling on the name of the Lord, THAT WAS WHAT ISRAEL WAS CALLED ON TO DO, In addition to keeping the Law.
The name of the Lord was important for Israel. It verified to them, the identity of God. And yet, they denied that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God, even as He was standing right there in front of them. They needed to call on the name of the Lord. They needed to BELIEVE Jesus Christ, standing in front of them, and then, call on Him, as their Savior.
They also needed to call on Him as their King, yes, but they needed a SAVIOR TOO.
According to Paul, in Romans chapters one, and two, especially two, Jews were sinners like the Gentiles, including us. They were sinners like the rest of the world,as proved by the Mosaic Law.
They were God's people. They were His chosen people.
But, they were given the Law to show that they could not keep the Law. They needed to believe God, and His sacrifice, Jesus Christ, His substitutionary sacrifice.
But they failed to believe, they lacked the faith .
CONFESSING, CALLING
Confessing and calling: let's look into that. Look at Joel chapter two, verse thirty two.
Joel 2:32 32. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”
That is in Joel's prophecy of the tribulation time, the last days, which Peter had claimed was starting, until it was aborted by Israel's rejection of their Messiah, and the Holy Ghost.But we'll get to that in a minute too.
Let's look at, earlier in Jesus ministry, in John 12, verse 42. In other words, before Pentecost when Peter preached what we just read in Joel’s prophecy. (BEFORE THAT)
John 12:42 42. “¶Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:”
Acts 2:21 21. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
Peter was repeating the prophecy that we read earlier from Joel.
In Romans 10:13, Paul repeated that same prophecy about Israel’s future, as he was showing Israel’s failure to have FAITH to CALL on the NAME of the Lord.
Lets look later in Acts, at Acts 22, verse 16. Ananias is saying this, not Paul, and its prior to Paul's teaching ministry. And it was said at Paul's conversion which was in Acts nine. But he's reporting back here, and he says, in
Acts 22:16 16. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and”
(That word “and”, connects to an additional thing there. “And,” as in ”two and two are four.” “And” means “in addition to”. So, “in addition to” arising and being baptized, also)
“wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
So, for Ananias, from what he knew to speak, in Israel's program, they needed to call on the name of the Lord.
We know that's not what Paul later preached, nor is it the gospel that was revealed unto Paul, committed to him, to dispense to us. But, that was Israel's program, before Paul’s commissioning.
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Lets look in a few places in first and second John, Written to Israel, expecting their tribulation, Jacob’s Trouble, to come next. First John chapter four, and verses two, three, and fifteen,
1 John 4:2-3 2. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
the spirit of antichrist.
Now we are going on to First John 4, verse 15. This is still to tribulation Israel, NOT TO US.
1 John 4:15 15. “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
And then finally, in this series of the verses, see Second John, verse seven, the seventh verse in this tiny epistle. 2 John 1:7
7. “¶For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
so we see that, again, it's confirmed that confession was necessary for Israel.
Let's look a little earlier in Romans, before we got to that passage. Look back in Romans 8, verses 30 through 32, which is talking of faith.
Romans 9:30-32 30. ҦWhat shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of FAITH .
31. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32. Wherefore?” (in other words, “Why”) “Because they sought it not by faith , but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”
Then the passage goes into defining Jesus Christ as the Stone, but the Rock to Israel, was a Stumblingstone. They stumbled over that Stone. In other words, they crucified the Lord, as in First Peter 2, verses 6 through 8..
1 Peter 2:6-8 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone , elect, precious: and he that BELIEVETH on him shall not be confounded.
7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Romans chapter 10, verses 9, and 10, is NOT a formula for our, “all men” salvation today,given exclusively to Paul, to dispense to us all, today.
But actually, it is PART of the gospel of the circumcision.
It is what remains of the gospel of the kingdom, after Israel has rejected the Kingdom, by crucifying their Very King.
So the gospel of the circumcision is the circumcision's gospel, Israel's gospel, after the immediate kingdom offer was withdrawn.
The gospel of the circumcision still involves:prophecy, the covenants,
including the law, and the identifying of who their Messiah was, and is.
Israel had to continue keeping the law, while they added what they had missed before.
What they needed was what they lacked.What they needed was, in a word, "FAITH."As Paul said, they had lacked the faith to:confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus,and to believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead.
IF WE, in the body of Christ today, not only have to believe, but also have to confess with our mouth,
THEN Paul contradicts what he said in Romans chapter four, verse five, disqualifying us from salvation IF we are counting on any of our works, such as confession to save us.
Romans 4:5 5. “But TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT , but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for righteousness.”
There you have the need for FAITH again, BUT it is in a parallel program.
They are two different programs, but BOTH REQUIRE FAITH.
So, it's easy to see, why its confusing when you hear Paul talking about Israel, and what they had missed, and what happened to them.
It is easy to be confused, when he is talking about Israel, failing to have faith, Then, we tend to think that he is talking about, the faith that is the only requirement for us in Paul’s gospel, “we are saved by faith.”
I'm trying to SHOW THAT DIFFERENCE here, that Paul, at that point, in Romans chapter ten, verses nine, and ten, was not talking about us. He was talking about Israel. And the faith he was talking about then, was faith in what THEY WERE TO BELIEVE , the gospel that they were told, the basics of who Jesus Christ is, and that he did die, and was resurrected, that he is God, that he was not a fraud, not the fake that they thought he was, that He was their Messiah,
Paul was telling what happened to Israel, and that Israel failed to have faith in God.
Even though they thought they were safe, as they do today. If you talk to a Jew today, he thinks he safe just because he was born a Jew. They continue to go through faithless motions, of keeping the law.
So, lets go back to Romans chapter ten, verses eight through fifteen, Romans 10:8
8. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee,” (Paul talking about Israel’s missing the boat)
“even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of FAITH, which we preach;”
In other words, Paul is saying that WE ALSO PREACH FAITH. Well, let's look on. Yes, Paul preached FAITH also, but NOT THE FAITH PLUS WORKS that is what he tells Israel that they missed, and, how they missed out on God’s blessings for them..
In some cases, Israel was already doing the works but also needed the faith that would please God.
So, Paul's identification of Israel's lack of faith, could sound similar to Paul's instructions to us, to those of us hearing the gospel of Christ that saves us into the body of Christ. It could sound similar.
But it's a different content of faith. The person is the same but that which is to be believed, is different. We are to believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose for our justification.
But that is not what Israel was told to believe. As a nation, they were to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ prophesied in the Old Testament, and that he was their Messiah that was prophesied to come.
That was what the gospel of the kingdom was, that he was bringing in their kingdom, that they would be a kingdom of priests to the rest of the world. That is totally different from individuals believing that Christ died for their sins and so are saved immediately, and baptized by the one spirit into the body of Christ.
Israel lacked the word of faith, just like the faith which Paul preaches to us.
For us, it's “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” Paul preaches to us that God's righteousness is only accounted “to him that worketh not,” instead of to him that believes and confesses and calls on the name of the Lord.
So, Paul exposes Israel’s fall, and what offer they failed to except.
Lets go on to the next verse. Romans chapter 10, and verse 9, Romans 10:9-12
9. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,” (that is what they were to do)
“and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12a. ¶For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:…”
(Notice he saying between the Jew and the Greek, not between the Jew and all Gentiles. Paul is identifying the Commonwealth of Israel of Ephesians 2:11-12.)Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
There is no difference in this aspect between the Jew and the Jew-blessing Greek Gentiles,
those of the Greek culture, seeking wisdom that blessed Israel, and came to the synagogues to show their faith in the God of Abraham. Both Jews and Greeks started under Israel’s covenants of promise, before they believed PAUL’S GOSPEL.So, there was no difference in them.)
Romans 10:12-15 12b. ¶…for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Who must these verses be referring to, since they are quoted from Israel’s prophecies?They are not mystery. They were not kept secret. They were in the prophecies. Look at Isaiah chapter fifty two, verse seven.
Isaiah 52:7 7. ¶How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
There is the King. Thy God reigneth.
Who is it that administers the gospel of peace in the kingdom of peace. Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7 tell us. Isaiah 9:6 -7
6. “For unto us (Isreal) “a child is born, unto us” (again, Israel, from Israel’s prophet, Isaiah) “a son is given: and the government” (there is that government, that kingdom) “shall be upon his shoulder: and his name” (His name, talking about His name being necessary for them) “shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The PRINCE of PEACE.
7. Of the increase of his government and PEACE there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even FOR EVER. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
So we can see that Romans chapter ten, tells us how Israel missed out on their kingdom, and their Messiah, the Prince of PEACE. Romans chapter ten, verses nine and ten, tell exactly what it was that Israel failed at. FAITH! Faith to CONFESS that JESUS is the LORD, the SON OF GOD. Faith to BELIEVE that GOD hath RAISED him from the dead. They lacked faith to call on the name, and identity of the Lord, being Jesus, the Christ, their Messiah.
Paul does here, what his manner is. He first declares the gospel of God, about who Jesus is. Only then, does he tell the gospel of Christ, about what Jesus Christ did.
who their Messiah would be, and when He would come, and where He would be born, and how He would die, and that He would not be left in hell.
Israel had been given multiple, multiple pointers to Jesus, born of Mary, that He was their Messiah, that same information which Paul later calls “THE GOSPEL OF GOD.”What Israel missed out on, what Israel missed was the word, FAITH. Israel simply refused to believe it.
In Romans 9, 10, and 11, Paul tells "all that be in Rome" what it was, that God had told Israel, that they had failed to believe.It was the information that Paul calls the "gospel of God" in Romans 1, verses 1, through 4
What Israel had needed to believe and confess was that Jesus of Nazareth was their resurrected Messiah.
They were not offered the gospel of Christ, UNTIL after Israel had fallen, After the stoning of Stephen, and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. After that, the remnant was being called out, especially, from Acts nine, through Acts nineteen, being called by the gospel of Christ , INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Romans chapter eleven, verse five, refers to them as Romans 11:5
5. “a remnant according to the election of grace.”
In closing, let's look at Hebrews chapter eleven, verse six. Hebrews is to the Hebrews, but this verse states a universal truth.
Hebrews 11:6 6. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Israel failed to have faith that God would do what he said he would do. All the way from KADESH BARNEA, to CALVARY, to the unforgiveable KILLING of the Holy Ghost filled STEPHEN, to their CASTING AWAY as Paul recited Isaiah’s curse to Israel,blinding, and deafening them, and ending the “Acts of the Apostles”.
But REJOICE, God will have His way.Although at the end of Acts, Israel became “not my people” to God,God will make it happen that again, God will say, “ye shall be my people,And I will be your God”
Ezekiel 36:24 24. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries,
25. ¶Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh .
27. And I will put MY SPIRIT within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE , and I WILL BE YOUR GOD .
That is what I see the scripture to be saying.
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ROMANS ELEVEN
(Romans 11, verse 1-10)THE ACTS REMNANT.
Romans 11, is about Israel, and what happened to Israel. Paul gives the way for us to be saved earlier in the epistle,
and then it turns out to be by a different gospel , from the gospel that Israel had been given.
And so, here in Chapter 11, Paul is handling what happened to Israel. Why aren’t we saved the way Israel was to be saved, or as Gentiles were to be saved, before Paul’s gospel was revealed.
And then he goes into information, about the remnant,
and he goes into a warning to Israel at that time that they are getting near to being blinded.
He talks about the fall of Israel,
and then he talks about something that some people seem to get hung up on, about “graffing in”,
and he talks about Israel's future, the bright future for Israel,
So, those are the seven topics that we will handle here.
The Mystery.
Let's start by reading about the mystery, that had been kept a secret.
Let's look in Ephesians 3, verse 4, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”.
This is Paul speaking to the Ephesians. The Ephesians had never blessed Israel,
never looked for the God of Abraham, or tried to come to God.
And so Paul was writing to them. By the time he writes them,
They had heard the gospel of Christ, and been saved. Paul said, "WHEN YE READ".So, it is not only important to HEAR THE PREACHING of the gospel
but God also works through READING THE WORD of God.
Ephesians 1, verse 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
These people are not “CALLED TO BE saints,” as the Romans and Corinthians.The believers in Ephesus ARE SAINTS, that Paul is addressing.
So, in Ephesians 3, verse 4, he starts out and says, “whereby when you read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
I think you understand what is a mystery, It is something that you did not know. It is something that was kept secret, Ephesians 3, verse 5,“which in other ages WAS NOT MADE KNOWN unto the sons of men as IT IS NOW REVEALED unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit, Ephesians 3, verse 6,that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
“The same body” would be the body that already existed, having been started in the middle part of Acts, between Acts 9 and Acts 19.
This Ephesian epistle was written after the end of Acts,
and Paul had gone through Acts establishing churches, and preaching the gospel that Christ revealed to him on the Damascus road.
The inspired Paul writes in Ephesians 3, verse 6 in the New Testament about this new gospel that Jesus gave to him. He writes, “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel”, NOT BY BLESSING ISRAEL, as was the way before according to Genesis 12 verse 3.
Genesis 12:3 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.
But, here in Ephesians 3, verse 8, Paul speaks, “unto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Those riches are unsearchable, meaning, search as you please you cannot find them written down from God, anywhere, before that time. God didn't reveal it before. That's why it was a mystery, it was a secret, unsearchable, it was not in the Scripture before. Ephesians 3, verse 9“And to make all men see what is the Fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ.”
Now, this is very interesting to me, about a mystery and its rarely talked about on the radio programs, Christian TV shows, or in churches. You don't hear about it. It is not noticed for some reason, or people just shy away from it. I’m not sure what the reason is, why we don’t hear it spoken of.
ISRAEL IS DIMINISHING
Romans 10, verse21.So, lets go from there into Romans 11. We’re going to study Romans 11, but we’ll start with the fourth verse before the beginning of it, in
Romans 10, verse 18, But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Romans 10, verse 19, But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.Romans 10, verse 20, But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
That is both believing, and non-believing non-Jews (being Gentiles).God was found by the seekers, the Greeks.God was manifest to those that would not believe.
Romans 1:19 ¶Because that which may be known of God IS MANIFEST IN THEM; for God hath shewed it unto them.Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE:Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 10, verse 21, “but to Israel he saith, ‘all day long I have stretch forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.’”
And Israel's vast majority, the leadership, were apostate. They were disobedient. They were idol worshippers. Even in their synagogues they were gainsayers, it says, “a...gainsaying people.” Gainsaying means “saying against,” coming from the word “against.” Not gainsaying, that they like to gain in the stock market or something else gained. Gainsaying means “saying against” or, in other words, “denouncers.”
Israel had become a nation of denouncers except for a few, called the little flock, that had followed John the Baptist, and then followed Jesus, and then they were the ones preaching on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost after the Lord went back to heaven.
So, even after multiple warnings Israel stumbled by crucifying their Messiah, and then, they fell by blaspheming the Holy Ghost in Holy Ghost filled Stephen, when Stephen gave his speech in acts seven.
And they were diminishing unto being cast away throughout acts. The casting away process was not immediate.
It started earlier. You can trace that back. We’ll do that later. But, it wasn’t all in one, surprising event, Even though there was one, definite, final casting away event, to make it clear that now, Israel is “not my people” anymore.
Romans 11, verses 1 and 2.Lets go on to Romans 11, verse 1-2.
“I say then hath God cast away his people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”
So, he asked the question, and he answers it for them. That’s why he asked the question.
Romans 11, verse 2, “God hath not cast away his people.” “Wot ye not?”
“Wot” comes from the same word as wit. As in, “to have your wits about you”, or to “witness”. It means to “know”, “know this” or “witness this .”Wot, wit, witness.
“Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias, how that he maketh intercession unto God against Israel saying,”
Well, let me just break in with a comment before we get into that. Paul wrote Romans in Acts 20. That's the timeframe. At the beginning of Acts you have the ascension of Jesus Christ. After his resurrection, He ascended back to heaven. And then you have Pentecost. And then it progresses along until we get to the end of Acts, in Acts 28. Well, in acts 20, Paul wrote Romans. And that is where we are reading from. So, Paul was saying at that time, in acts 20,
“God hath not cast away his people...,” Israel.
Romans 11, verse 3-4.So going on then in Romans 11, verse three,
“Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
This is what Elias had said. “I am left alone and they seek my life.” So, that was the perspective of Elias. That was the way he viewed it.
Romans 11, verse 4“But what sayeth the answer of God unto him? ‘I have reserved to myself 7000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Ba-al.’”
So God was saying that there was a remnant there, back then in Elias time. Not in acts 20, but when Elias had written it,
hundreds of years before, God had told Elias that “I have reserved unto myself, 7000 who have not bowed the knee.”
So, God knew that there were some that were on the same side as Elias. He was not alone. There was a remnant there.
ISRAEL’S ACTS REMNANT.
Romans 11, verses 5, and 6.Now, let’s go on to Romans 11, verse five, in Paul’s time , in Acts 20 . We are going to see that the little flock is all that keeps Israel from being cast away. It was the little flock that was those few believers, that Acts remnant. Paul had news from God that Israel was diminishing, and was going to be cast away. In order for Israel's believing remnant to be saved, they would have to be saved into something besides Israel, because Israel was about to be cast away. Israel had been diminishing throughout Acts. In Romans 11, five, we read, Romans 11, verse 5. “even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant.”
So now Paul is coming up to the time of the writing of the epistle to the Romans in Acts 20, after the ascension of Christ, after Paul’s Acts 9 conversion.
Inspired by Christ, Paul writes, “there is a remnant according to the ELECTION OF GRACE”, Romans 11, verse 6.“and IF by grace THEN it is no more of works.” So, it is by the electing of grace, and IF it's by grace THEN it's not any more of works, as it had been before.
Israel's program, Israel's way to be saved was by faith and works . They had the law. They had to keep the law. If they pick up sticks on the Sabbath they would be cast out of the assembly, or out of the camp, outside the wall. There was no life outside, I mean, they were out in the middle of the desert at the time the law was given, and they would be cast outside. They would die. That is what it came to.
They would have to be saved a different way. The remnant in Acts, was being saved into the body of Christ, by grace through faith…not of works,
by the gospel that Paul was preaching, instead of the gospel that Israel had been given, and the little flock had been given by Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry, before he spoke to Paul from heaven.
I didn't finish that verse. Let’s go back and finish verse six , and then we’ll go on to verse seven. “And if by grace is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works then it is no more of grace, otherwise work is no more work.”
In other words, if you work for it, then it is not a gift to you. Otherwise, what is the meaning of work, since it is going to be given to you anyway.
But that's not the case. He starts out by saying that it is by the election of grace, and if by grace it is no more of works. Because, if you have to work for it, then it is not truly grace, not really grace, if you had to work for it. But, it is no more of works.
ISRAEL’S BLINDING.
Apostate Israel Blinded.
Romans 11, verse 7. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and THE REST were blinded.” That is the point in verse seven, the REST are blinded . That’s Israel, the majority, apostate Israel.
We’re going through Romans 11, and were up to verse seven here. So, “the rest” would be the the main part of Israel, that apostate part of Israel.
And if you look in Romans 11, verse 25, we see a reference there to the same people that were blinded. That mystery had been hidden , and was now being revealed , Romans 11, verse 25. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness , in part , is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Not all of Israel was blinded. Just “the rest” were blinded. The election had obtained that salvation that they were looking for, including the resurrection.
They hadn’t yet been resurrected, but it was part of their program being believers in the gospel of Christ, and being brought in to the body of Christ.
So, “the rest” there in verse seven, “the rest were blinded” is the same as the “in part” in “blindness, in part” when we get down to verse 25. I hope that helps in the understanding of that part.
Israel’s Warnings.
Romans 11, verses 8 through 10.Romans 11, verse 8-10. “(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) unto this day.
Romans 11, verse 9,And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Romans 11, verse 10,Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”
See? That is David speaking back in his time. They had been warned through the centuries, not just by Paul in Acts 28.
He didn’t just snap Isaiah's curse on them. Isaiah had said it hundreds of years before Jesus came, and called his disciples.
Before Isaiah, we see in Romans 11, verses 9, and 10 . “...David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Romans 11, verse 10,Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway..”
Then, after Isaiah, we hear Jesus Christ after the first half of his earthly ministry, in Matthew 13, verse 13, “Therefore speak I to them in parables because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not;neither do they understand.” Matthew 13, verse 14,
“and in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias which saith, ‘by hearing ye shall hear, and not understand, and by seeing if ye shall see, and not perceive.’” So Israel was warned during Jesus earthly ministry. Israel was warned during Isaiah, in the Old Testament.
Isaiah said in Isaiah 6, verse 9, “and he said, go and tell this people”
so God is telling Isaiah to go to the people Israel, “hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not.”
Lets keep going with Isaiah 6, verse 10, “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their eyes heavy, and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”
So God at that point, had begun limiting them. Its just like with Pharaoh. When Israel, and Moses came to Pharaoh, he said no you can’t leave. Why should I let Israel leave. Exodus 5, verse 1-2And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
And he added more burdens to them. Exodus 5, verse 7-8Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle;therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Pharaoh hardened his heart. And then the officers of the children of Israel came back to Pharaoh in Exodus 5, verse 15-19 , and Pharaoh hardened his heart more.
So later, two chapters later, in Exodus chapter seven, verse 13, it says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Exodus 7, verse 13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Pharaoh hardened his heart first and then God sealed it in that way, in that condition, hardened . It’s the same thing here. Israel had ignored God, gone apostate , they had worshipped idols, broken the law, and they had been warned by David, warned by Hoseawarned by Isaiah, warned by Jesus Christ, and warned by Paul 2 or 3 times.
But here, Isaiah issued that curse that was a prophecy, to be pronounced at the time of Israel’s casting away.
In Psalm 69, verse 21-23, David echoes the same thing.“They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table become a snare before them, and that which should have been for their welfare let it become a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and make their loins continually to shake.”
Israel was reaching the end of their rope.
Then, after this passage that we’re talking about today in Romans 11, which was written in acts 20 , we see Paul later on, in Acts 28, as he reads to them this Isaiah curse , this casting away curse . Go unto this people, and say, Acts 28, verse 26“Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:” and then, Paul goes on, continuing with the same curse, directly out of Isaiah, against Israel for going into apostacy. Acts 28, verse 27-28For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed ; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
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START ROMANS 01-16 PART 23 OF 44START ROMANS-ISRAEL-1101-1136-pt2of7
THE GENTILES’ NEW OPPORTUNITY.
Romans 11, verse 11. “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But rather, through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy.”
Many people stumble on this verse. They don't understand. They think that it's saying that Israel did not fall. But it's not saying that they didn't fall. It's talking about the reason why they did fall. Do you see the word, “that”, the seventh word in the verse? “THAT.” The word, “that” is what I'm talking about, the seventh word. “I say then, have they stumbled THAT ... . The word, “that” means “for to”, or “for the purpose of”, or “in order that.”
So, if we temporarily substitute, “in order that” in there (not as a better translation, but just to help us see what the word “that” means in this situation, and then switch it back), it helps to understand what is being said.
(“I say then, have they stumbled in order that they should fall?”)
“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid!”
That is not why they fell in other words. “But rather through their fall, salvation is come”,
so it is a present tense saying, salvation is now “come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”.
Which Gentiles Would Provoke Israel?
So that tells us a couple of things. It tells us that is the reason why they fell. But the other thing that it tells us is that,
toward the end there, where it says “salvation is come unto the Gentiles”
why? Actually its saying
“for to provoke them to jealousy” but it's also saying which Gentiles that salvation was coming to up to that time.
It came to those that would PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY, Those that were in the position to provoke Israel.Those were the Gentiles that Israel could see in their synagogues, Gentiles that blessed the God of Abraham , and blessed Israel by coming to the synagogues to learn about God.
They were called the Greeks. Those are the Gentiles, that the text is saying that, salvation is coming to, to the Greeks in the synagogues.
Those Greeks in the synagogues were Gentiles that fit the description in Genesis 12, verse 1-3Now 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 show 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.
The text is not talking here about Gentile proselytes to Judaism, After circumcision, they already were CALLED A JEW, No longer called a Gentile.
Those Gen-tiles that blessed Israel by seeking God in the synagogues, were called “Greeks” in the King James Bible
Not all Greeks were believers, some were unbelievers. But, the ones that blessed God, and blessed Israel, according to Genesis 12, verse 3, came to God, coming to the synagogues, blessing Israel, those were the Gentiles that salvation came to first.
Not that it wasn't effective for all. But, being in the synagogues, THEY WERE IN A POSITION TO PROVOKE the Jews to emulation, or to copy them by believing that gospel which Paul preached.
If an alien Gentile that didn't bless Israel heard the gospel and believe it, he would be saved. But how would he hear it, without a preacher? If he acknowledged God was working through Israel, and so he came to the synagogue, then he would then be blessing Israel, coming under the covenants of promise, no longer being alien from the commonwealth of Israel. If he came to the synagogue to hear, then he would be fearing the God of Abraham, coming under the covenants of promise. He would no longer be alien from the commonwealth of Israel.
Its just that Paul was not yet sent to all men, to alien Gentiles. So Paul’s epistles at that time, were to, and about those Jews and Greeks that HAD BEEN in the synagogues. But, it was to be testified in due time, that it was through faith in that same blood of Christ, that anyone is saved.
Paul goes on, in a couple verses, to say that he magnifies his office of “apostle of the Gentiles”
in order to provoke them which are his flesh, Israel, so that he might save some of them. He is provoking them to emulate, to copy what those Greeks that believed in the synagogues, are now doing, coming DIRECTLY to God, through the Pauline gospel of Christ, their Messiah, into the body of Christ.
Israel Fell At Stephen’s Stoning.
So, going on to Romans 11, verse 12, then, “now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them” (of Israel) “be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?”
So, Paul was retelling that the Gentiles benefit at the time of Israels fall, and their diminishing.
The other thing, ISRAEL’S FALL was the one, major, negative change, after the cross, and before Paul wrote Romans, in acts 20. It was the one, major change, during that period, that was negative.
The event of Stephen being stoned, matches the one, negative change between the cross, and Paul’s writing of the epistle to the Romans, in Acts 20.
That defines the fall of Israel as beingthe time when Stephen was stoned for preaching the gospel of the kingdom, to Israel.
Stephen’s gospel was not the gospel that we have, but the gospel of the kingdom coming from heaven, that was for Israel.
Stephen preached it to them in Acts seven, and they rebelled , and were stiffnecked. You can read the whole thing, especially the summary in Acts 7, verses 51 to 60.
They stoned him. Stephen was filled with the Holy Ghost, and saw a vision of Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and they stoned him for that.
They stoned him to death, blaspheming and speaking against what he was saying from the Holy Ghost.
That was the unpardonable sin, speaking against the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 12, verse 31, and 32, Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost , it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
So, Israel was unforgivable at that time, according to Matthew 12, verses 31 through 32. THEY HAD FALLEN. .I don't know if you can determine that it was the beginning of their diminishing, or that it was part way along in the diminishing of Israel.
But their diminishing certainly progressed after that through Acts until they were finally read that Isaiah casting away curse from Isaiah 6, verse 9 and 10, and that was the end of the diminishing of any special opportunity for Israel, or Israelites. .
The book of Acts ends there. There are no more acts of Israel, or of the apostles to Israel, to write about.
Christ Sends Paul to Offer Salvation Directly to Gentiles.
After that, Paul writes his prison epistles to, for, and about the body of Christ. Romans 11, verse 13, Paul said,
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles I magnify mine office.”
Paul was Christ's only apostle of the Gentiles. Not the 12, they weren't apostles to Gentiles. In Matthew 10, the Twelve apostles were sent out, with specific instructions, not to go to the Gentiles, or to any city of the Samaritans. Christ said I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Like us, Paul was grateful for the news being sent from Christ, news of salvation available directly to all, not through Israel, but by the gospel, and so he magnified his office. That was the office of an apostle, a “sent out one”.
Paul was sent out with this message, so then he magnified that office. He is not boasting, or magnifying himself at all. He is just pleased, like we are, that God was gracious and started this new pattern, by which to be saved directly to God , rather than going through Israel, and having works required, to show your faith.
We will go on to Romans 11, verse 14, I magnify mine office.” “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”
Again Paul wants to save Israelites by provoking them to copy the Gentiles that are believing the gospel of Christ in their midst, in those synagogues.
Later on, after the casting away of Israel at the end of Acts,Paul tells that he is then sent to all the Gentiles, not just the Greeks in the synagogues who could
provoke Israel to copy their belief.Second Timothy 4, verse 17,Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that ALL THE GENTILES might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Romans 11, verses 15 and 16.“For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world.” Now here Paul is talking about the casting away again, and he is not saying, that they are not cast away here. But, we know from the verses one and two, that Israel is not yet cast away, at the time that he writes this in acts 20.
But here, Paul is talking about the casting away that is going to happen.
Paul is talking about the practical working out of the world's reconciliation, which Christ won at the cross, according to:
Second Corinthians 5, verse 19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.That reconciliation is to be worked out, by preaching the word of reconciliation.
In Romans 11, verse 15-16, He says, “for if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?
For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”
So, at that point, he is admitting, or reflecting that Israel will be cast away, at some point in the future, but not telling when.
At the time Paul spoke that Isaiah curse in Acts 28, that he was inspired by God to speak it.
That curse took effect then. They were cut off. They were blinded. Apostate Israel was blinded from that time, and became Lo-ammi.
Alright, we can see two things in there. First, Israels casting away is the reconciling of the world, no longer just of Israel.
So, when we read in second Corinthians 5, verse 19, that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself,”
That was on the cross, and God did reconcile the world unto himself there. And yet, the announcing of it was withheld from us Gentiles, until the timing was right, at the time that Israel was diminishing unto being cast away.
Then, Paul was sent a second time out to all Gentiles, even the alien, God cursing Gentiles that weren't in the synagogues blessing Israel. 1 Tim.2, verse 5-7For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
In fact, you can see them in Acts 19, when there was a problem in Ephesus, and there are some believers, but then there are some that are talking about how they are going to lose their trade, selling idols. They were Idol makers, and they stirred up the crowd, and caused a riot and everything.
Those people that cursed God, that were against Israel, are the ones that Paul writes to later, in Ephesians.
The second thing that we see here is another foretelling in this verse that Israel does have a bright future, a rising future. At some point in the future, they will be in power again. They will be a world leader, thee world leader, with Jesus Christ actually on the throne.
Israel Will Be BORN AGAIN
Look back at Romans 11, verse 15. “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead”. That is the phrase that I'm looking for, “LIFE FROM THE DEAD.”
You know, Israel was born in the wilderness, in the sea and in the cloud. Lets look at John chapter 3, verses 5 through 6, “Jesus answered, ‘verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Israel was born , and they died , being cast away, and they will live again, he is saying. There will be a future for Israel, “BORN AGAIN” to enter the kingdom of God, from heaven. So, they go together, the “born again” goes with Israel having died.
They were born in the wilderness, in Exodus 4, verse 22, And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh,
Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Then, they were cut off, becoming Lo-ammi as prophesied in Hosea 1, verse 9. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.In effect, that is what happened in Acts 28, verses 25 through 29, when Paul read that Isaiah 6, verses 9 and 10 curse to them.
John 3:6-7 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Ezekiel 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.25 ¶Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
Ezekiel 37:1 ¶The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
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GRAFFING DURING ISRAEL’S BLESSING.
Introduction.
Romans 11, verse 17.
Romans 11, verse 17, starts the section about the olive tree, branches being broken off, and being graffed in. There are often a lot of questions about that. It will be good to go through that. Romans 11, verse 17, says, “and if some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild olive tree wert graffed in (past tense) among them and with them partakest of the root and the fatness of the tree”. And he goes on, but, we can see here that he is talking about, an olive tree, and a wild olive tree.
Discovering Terms.
There are several things we need to discover here. We need to discover what the Bible says the “olive tree” is, what the “broken off branches” are, what is the “breaking off”, and what does it mean when it says “being a wild olive tree”. We need to find out what “graffing in” is, and “partaking”. What are the verses that tell us those things?
First of all, we need to do some background work so that we understand when God tells us what the olive tree is in scripture. What kind of blessing did Israel have?
Let’s go to Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1, through 3, and we will find out Abrams calling, right in the beginning when God called him out from all the rest of the people. Genesis 12, verse 1-3“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.” And then He goes on to confirm that to Abram’s, later called Abraham’s son Isaac .
And then, He confirms it again in another appearance to Isaac’s son, Jacob, and then to the 12 tribes of Israel.
God renamed Jacob, Israel, and the children of Israel are the 12 tribes of Israel, and their descendents.
A PROSELYTE GOES BEYOND BLESSING.
Lets become familiar with some of the scripture about being a proselyte .Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be CIRCUMCISED among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Exodus 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ORDINANCE OF THE PASSOVER: There shall NO STRANGER EAT THEREOF:
Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and KEEP IT; and HE SHALL BE as one that is BORN IN THE LAND: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.Exodus 12:49 ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Israel Is Separate From the Body of Christ.
Those things are not necessarily related to anything having to do with the body of Christ. We are talking about Israel, at this point.
They were two entities , two agencies running side-by-side, at the same time in the book of Acts.
An event in Israel does not necessarily correlate to any change or event in the body of Christ.
They are two separate entities . Israel was ending for a while, and the body of Christ was beginning at that time.
Gentiles Alien from Israel.
Most Gentiles had not blessed Israel, and so were not blessed by God with the covenants of promise to the commonwealth of Israel.
By not blessing Israel, most of the Gentiles fit into the description of Ephesians 2, verse 12, Ephesians 2, verse 12being alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
GENTILES BLESSING ISRAEL AND BEING CIRCUMCISED.
But there were a few Gentiles that blessed Israel, and then became circumcised,to become part of Israel, partake of the feasts,and be under the same law as the rest of Israel.As we saw in Exodus 12, verses 43, 48, and 49Exodus 12, verse 48“And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, LET ALL HIS MALES BE CIRCUMCISED, and then let him come near and KEEP IT ; and he shall be as one that is born in the land….”Exodus 12, verse 49One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger
They were unlike the rest of the Gentiles which had not blessed Israel. They were not aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and not strangers from the covenants of promise. They were not without hope, and not without God in the world.
So those promises of God to Abram, and Moses came down through the centuries to Israel in Paul's lifetime . Genesis 12, verse 3
“I will bless them that bless thee,” Exodus 12, verse 48,“let all his males be circumcised… he shall be as one that is born in the land”
and that's what these Gentiles that Paul was writing to, are resting in.
We see just a few verses back that he does identify them as Gentiles. They were Gentiles that were resting in the law. In Rom.11, verse 13, he says,
“For I speak to you Gentiles” and Romans 2, verse 17.
they rested in the law
THEY BELIEVED the law of Moses in Exodus 12, verse 48, that IF they became circumcised,They would be under the same law of the covenant as
“One that is born in the land.”
So, when they bore offspring, their children would be circumcised on the eighth day. Their children would be considered Jews, born in the land.And of course, the more generations that passed,the longer their genealogy would become.
That is what Paul was discouraging in the body of Christ.In Philippians 2, verses 3, and 5, Paul preached that Philippians 2:3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.Philippians 2:5.Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
But look what Paul had to write to Titus, in Titus 3, verse 9. Titus 3:9. But AVOID foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
See how the GENEALOGIES, contentions, and THE LAW, connected?And, he goes into more detail, in
1 Timothy 1, verses 3, through 7. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest CHARGE SOME that they teach no other doctrine,1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless GENEALOGIES, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: SO DO.1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment (what Paul had just COMMANDED Timothy to do, at the end of verse 4.) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of THE LAW ; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.There you see “GENEALOGIES” again connected with “THE LAW” . That’s where boasting about GENEALOGIES came in. Paul told Timothy to TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE,Which ruled out boasting in “the law” about how many generations “SOME” had been Jews.(Remember in 1 Timothy 1:3 Paul said to “CHARGE SOME”?
So anyway, these Gentiles were called Jews, and in Romans 2, verse 17, they rested in the law, and they made their boast of God So that is the way God treated people in the Old Testament. And we see an example of that when Christ came to earth. He did the same thing when he was walking the earth. He came unto his own, which was Israel, and they rejected him. They did not believe him.
Whether Israel got God’s blessings, or God’s curses, depended on Israel’s keeping God’s conditional law covenant that Israel agreed to through Moses.
LIsten, as we can hear this in Exodus 19, and Deutoronomy chapters 28, through 30.
Exodus 19, verse 5-8.Now therefore, IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people:for all the earth is mine:
(How could we spiritually be Israel, if Israel is above us, “ABOVE ALL PEOPLE”?How could we be above ourselves?)
Exodus 19, verse 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,
and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (NOT TO US)
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.Exodus 19, verse 8 And all the people answered together, and said, ALL that the LORD hath spoken WE WILL DO. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Deuteronomy 28, verse 1-2And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high ABOVE ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH:
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, IF thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 28, verse 13-16And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail ; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; IF that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:Deuteronomy 28, verse 14
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.Deuteronomy 28, verse 15 But it shall come to pass, IF thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do ALL his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:Deuteronomy 28, verse 16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:
For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:Deuteronomy 29, verse 27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land , to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:
And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.Deuteronomy 29, verse 29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: (until revealed to Paul)but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may DO ALL the words OF THIS LAW.
Deuteronomy 30, verse 15-18See, I have set before thee this day life and good , and death and evil ;Deuteronomy 30, verse 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee IN THE LAND whither thou goest to possess it.Deuteronomy 30, verse 17 But IF thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;Deuteronomy 30, verse 18, I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
So, Israel's leadership, and majority, had gone into apostasy , idolatry, and iniquity. John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the 12 Apostles called Israel back to total adherence to God's conditional law covenant that they had agreed to with God. Israel had largely, continued to reject God's offer.
THAT WAS ALL BACKGROUND WORK, so that we can understand when God tells us what the olive tree is in scripture.
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Let's look at what God says about that. There is a lot of speculation about what the olive tree is, but let's see what God says about it, in the Bible.
Jeremiah 11, verse 16-17.The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
Jeremiah 11, verse 17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee , hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
So, we see it right there. “The Lord called thy name a green olive tree”
talking about the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Combined, that's the nation of Israel. SO, THE OLIVE TREE, IN SCRIPTURE, IS ISRAEL.
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Broken Off Branches Are Disbelievers.
Jeremiah 11, verse 16 mentioned that "the branches of it are broken",
and goes on in verse 17 to say they were broken off "for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah"
Paul mentions in Romans 11, verses 19, and 20, that "The branches were broken off",
and "because of unbelief they were broken off."
Alright, Paul is saying that whoever these individual persons were, that did not believe, they were broken off, and it was those persons, that were the branches, that were broken off. So those broken off branches are the individual Israelites that disbelieved God.
In the Old Testament, the disbelieving Israelites were the ones that offered incense to Ba-al in Jeremiah 11, verses 16, through 17. And here in Paul's, Acts 20 epistle to the Romans, they were the ones that did not believe that Jesus was the prophesied Christ, the son of God, that rose from the dead.
They did not believe the facts about Jesus, that he was the one, prophesied in the Old Testament, and was coming to bear the sins of His people, Israel, as it says in Isaiah 53.
So, what are the “broken off branches” in Romans 11, verse 7, and verses 17, through 24? The “broken off branches” are those Israelites, offering incense to bail in unbelief, and those later that rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.
So the “broken off branches” werethose unbelieving Israelites of the nation of Israel, the apostate Israelites. They are "the rest" that were blinded in Romans 11, verse 7.What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Wild Olive Tree.
The “wild olive tree” was everyone, other than Israel Man went wild ever since Noah's flood, long before God called out Abram.
Graffing In.We will see that being a proselyte is related to being graffed into the olive tree.So, lets review what constitutes being a proselyte into Israel.God required circumcision as a sign or token of God’s covenant with Israel.Lets look in Genesis 17, verses 12, through 14. Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be CUT OFF from his people ; he hath broken my covenant.
But, what if a non-Jew wanted to be part of Israel?Look at Exodus 12, verses 43, and 48, and 49.Exodus 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:Only Israelites could partake of the Passover feast.Again, what if a non-Jew wanted to be part of Israel, and its events?Exodus 12, verse 48, and 49, And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, (And here is the condition that qualifies the stranger to be CALLED A JEW.)LET all his males be circumcised , and THEN let him come near and keep it; and HE SHALL BE AS ONE THAT IS BORN IN THE LAND : for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.49 ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
That has to do with “GRAFFING into ISRAEL, the OLIVE TREE.” Exodus 12:48“HE SHALL BE AS ONE THAT IS BORN IN THE LAND ”
“LET all his males be circumcised” “and HE SHALL BE AS ONE THAT IS BORN IN THE LAND :”
So, the olive tree was Israel, and those proselyted Gentiles, were graffed into the olive tree, and Israel’s promises. Remember, in Jeremiah 11, verses 16, and 17, the Lord calls the house of Israel and the house of Judah a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit.” The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
So, here in Romans 11, Paul, well-versed in the Old Testament, is talking about Israel's apostate branches that be broken off, some of the branches were broken off of Israel, the olive tree, and thou being a Gentile, wild olive tree wert graffed in among them, into Israel, the olive tree, as part of the commonwealth of Israel.
As Gentiles, they became circumcised as proselytes , and so, were graffed into the commonwealth of Israel, and got in under Israel’s covenants of promises in that way. That’s how they got into the olive tree, into Israel’s commonwealth.
Partaking
“Partaking” is the “partaking of Israel’s blessings”, under the Genesis 12, verse 3, promise to those that bless the seed of Abraham.
Genesis 12:3 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.
Loammi.
Hosea's prophecy applies at this point. In Hosea 1, verse 9, Hosea told Israel that God said, "Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God." That is a prophecy. So God is prophesying that there will be a time when Israel will stop being God's people, for a while. That happened at the end of Acts. God inspired Paul to pronounce Isaiah's casting away curse on Israel in Acts 28, verses 25, through 29,which we need to read at least once here.Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.Acts 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
That suspended their special standing with God. They can still come to God in the same way we do, but they do not have that blessing that they had before, During the book of Acts, Israel was diminishing and getting closer and closer to being totally cast away for the nation's apostasy, idolatry, and iniquity, capped by their rejection of their Messiah, and their blaspheming of the Holy Ghost, by stoning Holy Ghost filled Stephen.
But it had not happened yet. From the writing of Romans in Acts 20,
UNTIL Israel’s Acts 28 casting away, Paul still had some time left to preach the gospel of Christ, the gospel of salvation, to those Jews, proselytes, and Jew-blessing Greeks in Acts, to try to convince some of that remnant, to believe the gospel of salvation, and thereby, become members of the body of Christ.
In Romans 11, verse 25, Paul revealed that not all of Israel was yet blinded, but
"that blindness in part is happened to Israel." The remnant still had opportunity to believe Paul's gospel of salvation, but Paul tells us in Romans 11, verse 7,that
"the rest were blinded."
In Hosea 1, verse 9, “Lo-ammi” means, “for ye are NOT MY PEOPLE, and I will NOT BE YOUR GOD.” So, they stopped being God's people when that prophecy came true, in Acts 28. We can see, in scripture, that it did happen to Israel, that they were not God's people anymore. They became Lo-ammi in Acts 28 , verses 25 through 29.
The Olive Tree Can Not Be the Unsearchable Body of Christ
Ephesians 3, verses 4, through 9, tell us that the mystery of the body of Christ, is "unsearchable." Search as you may, you can not find it. It is not in the Old Testament. It is not in any previous prophecies or writings. Being unsearchable, it can not be found before. It was not told. They are not there. It was hidden. It was kept secret. The Lord Jesus Christ used many phrases, to assure us that what He revealed to Paul, was new information. It was never revealed before.
According to Ephesians 3, verses 4, through 9, the body of Christ is part of the mystery, that was revealed to Paul, to reveal to us, and that the mystery is unsearchable. Ephesians 3, verse 4 Ephesians 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ BY THE GOSPEL:Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
So, the body of Christ is not in the Old Testament in any form. However, the olive tree, as we just read, is in the Old Testament.
Since the olive tree is in the Old Testament, and the body of Christ is mystery, not being in the Old Testament, then, the olive tree can not be the body of Christ. Also, those who WERE graffed into the OLIVE TREE were not graffed into the body of Christ. They were graffed into Israel.This agrees with what we saw in the scriptures earlier.
God Now Saves By The Gospel, Into the Body of Christ
In Acts 13, Paul's preaches 3 times that God's way of saving people has changed.
FIRSTLY, Israel has fallen, AND according to Acts 13, verse 39, Christ's new pattern now saves all believers in His gospel, into the Body of Christ, at the time they believe. Israel's ministration of the law, did not do that.
Acts 13, verse 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
SECONDLY, in Acts 13, verse 46 and 48, Paul tells the Israel audience in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia,
"…It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles",
Notice that Paul did not say "we turn to ALL the Gentiles".The only Gentiles we can find record of Paul turning to,
at that time, were the Greeks in the synagogue,those God-fearing, synagogue-going, Israel-blessing Gentiles that Paul was speaking of in Acts 13, verse 48,
"…they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord:
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." This was the first of 3 times that Paul warned the Jews that he would be going to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to faith. He said it this time, in Acts 13, verse 46, then in Acts 18, verse 6, and then finally, in Acts 28, verse 25-29. That third time closed the book on Israel, until God re-gathers them after the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11, verse 25),For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that BLINDNESS in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
THIRDLY, in Acts 13, verse 47, Paul, inspired of God to write holy scripture, reapplies what had been prophesied for Israel (and will happen, in the future). Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 60, verse 3, that
"the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising",
which will happen after (Isaiah 60, verse 1) thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."
Paul had been committed with the dispensing of the gospel that he first received (see 1Cor.9, verse 17-18; 1Cor.15, verse 1-4). So Paul, reveals to these synagogue Jews and Greeks that the Light of the "glory of the Lord" (see Isaiah 60, verse 1, and 3) that had been upon Israel, that
"the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising".
Paul NOW in Acts 13, verse 47, says that "the Lord commanded us, saying,I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth".
In Acts 13, verse 48, those God-fearing, synagogue-going Gentiles (elsewhere called Greeks)
"were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord"But, in Acts 13, verse 45, the Jews
"were filled with envy...contradiction and blaspheming"
and in Acts 13, verse 50, those Jews"raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts."
And so, the God-fearing Gentiles were glad and believed the gospel of salvation, but the Jews just took another step in their diminishing (see Romans 11, verse 12).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?
(When Christ returns with His kingdom from heaven.)
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Romans 11, verse 17, Summary - Body of Christ
So, the olive tree is Israel . Those branches broken off were the Israelites that did not believe that Jesus was the Christ. Those from a wild olive tree, that wert graffed in, were those that started in the same position, as the Syrophenician woman.
They believed that Jesus was the Christ. They were Gentiles. They were not from Israel’s green olive tree, but they came into the synagogues. They came and they blessed Israel. They were seeking the blessing of God there.
When they (all their males) eventually became circumcised, that was the graffing into that olive tree, into Israel, that Paul spoke of. They were not graffed into the body of Christ, as some people mistakenly think.
The Bible never says anything about anybody getting into the body of Christ, other than by believing the gospel that Paul preached, and the Holy Spirit spiritually baptizing them into the one body of Christ. That is the only way to get in, not by graffing. At one time, graffing graffed people into the green olive tree, which was Israel.
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But now, Israel is cast away, for a while. So, for now, salvation is only available by believing the gospel revealed to Paul (see Galatians 1, verses 11 and 12). Galatians 1: 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man .Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
That gospel of salvation was committed to Paul to dispense . 1 Corinthians 9, verse 17, and 18, For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
So, I hope this helps to make it clear , as we go through the next few verses.
Let’s go on to Romans 11, verse 18. This continues on through verse 24. So, we continue on to the next verse. Romans 11, verse 18.(You Gentiles graffed into Israel) “Boast not against the branches (believing Israelites, then). But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.” Back then, the Gentiles could only approach God through Israel. The root bore them.
Israel’s Conditional Standing
Romans 11, verses 19 and 20On to verses 19, and 20, Romans 11, verse 19-20“Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.” Faith was part of the conditions that they were under, continuing to have faith.
“Thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:”
Those Israelites (branches) were broken off, and later it says they were blinded. Those Israelites, like those throughout their history, did not believe God. From the time when they came out of Egypt, and at Mount Sinai, they were making idols, and following idols. They even had idols in their synagogues.
God was calling them to repent from their apostasy, To change their mind about not believing God,and believe that Jesus was the Christ when He was walking on earth, and that He was their Messiah.
As they went along, David, in his kingship way back almost 1100 years before Christ, pronounced this on them , as we read earlier, Psalms (69, verse 22-23), “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap .
Let their eyes be darkened , that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”
After centuries of abusing their relationship with God,Breaking God’s covenant with them,And going gleefully into idolatry, iniquity, and apostasy,They would no longer be able to respond to God .
Israel’s Casting Away is Prophesied.
After Moses, David, and Hosea prophesied Israel’s blinding, then Isaiah prophesied it in Isaiah 6, verse 9, and 10.
Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Then Jesus Christ said it in his earthly ministry . When he walked on the Earth, He warned them that they were going to be blinded.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
So, THE DIMINISHING that they were told about had continued on for a long time. It had been told them that they would be blinded, IF they continued in their iniquity and apostasy.
THEN Paul finalizes it at the end of Acts, and that is the end of Israel, UNTIL they confess their sins, trusting that God…1 JOHN 1, verse 9“…is faithful and just to forgive them their sins, and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness”,
as promised to Israel in First John 1, verse 9 as well as many other places in the Old Testament (such as Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 30, and 2 Chronicles 7). Until then, Israel remains stumbled, fallen backward, broken off,
snared, taken, cut off, and blinded. They are no longer God's people. They are “Lo-ammi”.
Romans 11, verse 21Let's look at this next verse. We are reading Romans 11, verse 21. We see a feature about those that had been graffed in. It is a feature that is unlike anything ever taught by Paul in his teachings regarding the body of Christ.
That is another proof that they had not been graffed into the body of Christ, if you need another proof. The Bible already says they are not. It says they had been graffed into the green olive tree, which Jeremiah 11 says is Israel.
Let’s read in Romans 11, verse 21, “For if God spared not the natural branches , take heed lest he also spare not thee .” So, these people were graffed into Israel, and they could be removed just like the unbelieving Israelites had been the branches that were removed . They could actually FAIL TO BE SAVED.
Unlike us in the body of Christ, Israel's conditions were partly under their control . It depended on their works and their faith. So, in Matthew 24, verse 13, we see that they had to endure to the end to be saved, “But he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved.” That was for them. That was for Israel.
See how different that is from everything that Paul teaches. Christ never had Paul teach us that…we have to endure to the end to be saved.
Paul teaches in Ephesians 2, verse 5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace YE ARE SAVED.)” It doesn't say by grace you will be saved . It says by grace you are saved. Many of us know that, and we rest in that, from God’s word. We are saved now, as soon as we believe the gospel of salvation, we are saved.
Saved means saved from the wrath of God. IF someone ever ends up in the wrath of God,
THEN, they were never saved. Because, IF God says you are saved, THEN you are saved. And, here he says it again, in Ephesians 2, verse 8 and 9.“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Notice that it says, “For by grace ARE you saved”, not “For by grace WILL you be saved.”
So we will go on to Romans 11, verse 22, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off .”
It says “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity;” That is talking about His treatment of Israel, the way Israel related to God, and the way God related to Israel. “But toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness.” “IF”, do you see that condition? For those in Israel, and even those graffed into Israel, there was that condition. “IF thou continue in his goodness: OTHERWISE thou also shalt be cut off .” Thou also shall be cut off, from what? Cut off from what they were in. They were in the green olive tree, Israel. They would be cut off from Israel. They would be cut off from Israel’s future salvation into “THE LAND.”
They were not being saved into the body of Christ. Instead, they were enduring to the end, in order to, in the end be saved, as part of Israel, into THE LAND .
Israel Saved to The Land, on Earth.
Saved into the land. That is Israel's future, in the land. “The land” is, what was promised to Israel… in places like Genesis 13, verse 15, and Deuteronomy 30, verse 16. Genesis 13, verse 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Deuteronomy 30, verse 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways,
and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee IN THE LAND whither thou goest to possess it.
This verifies that Israel was going to be saved to THE LAND , IF they endured to the end . To the land is the part we are looking for here,
“in that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God,” (That is God talking through Moses to Israel, that they had to love the Lord,)
“to walk in his ways,” (that is actions,)
“to keep his commandments,” (that's keeping laws, doing works,)“and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”
So their inheritance was in the land , on Earth, not in heaven. Heaven was never promised in the Old Testament. The revelation of Jesus Christ through Paul was the first time it was told to us that we, in the body of Christ, would have a home “eternal in the heavens.”
Now, Romans 11, verse 23, “And they also, if they (Israel) abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in.”
So these Israelites in Paul’s time, that believed not that Jesus was their Messiah, and didn't believe that He rose from the dead
“if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in .”
Graffed into what? Graffed into the olive tree mentioned in Romans 11, verse 17, which Jeremiah 11, verse 16-17, show us is the nation of Israel. So, they would be graffed back into Israel
“for God is able to graff them in again.”
The natural branches of the olive tree could not be graffed back into the body of Christ again, because they started in Israel , and had not ever been in the body of Christ before, so they could not be graffed into the body of Christ, AGAIN, not having ever been in the body of Christ BEFORE. This again confirms that the branches were graffed into Israel, not into the body of Christ.
In Romans, Paul was writing in Acts 20. We know that by Acts 28, Paul recited that Isaiah curse to Israel and they were cut off .
They were “Lo-ammi” as prophesied by Hosea, in Hosea 1, verse 9. So after Israel was “Lo-ammi” , there could be no more graffing of anyone into Israel,because, Israel was no longer “ God’s people ”.
Now, let’s go to the last verse in the section, Romans 11, verse 24.
“For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?”
That not only is talking about individual Israelites, but also the nation of Israel. Back in Romans 11, verses 12, and 15, Paul had already revealed that there will eventually be a “fullness of Israel” (Romans 11, verse 12), and that there will eventually be a “receiving of them” that will be “life from the dead” (Romans 11, verse 15).
God is Trustworthy to Keep All His Promises to Whom He Promised.
He had revealed part of the mystery for us, the body of Christ, to know that at some point in the future, Israel will be back in God's favor.
God will keep all his promises to Israel. God does not make promises, and then say “well, I am going to fulfill it to somebody else. NO! If I promised to take you for an ice cream cone, and then took you and your friend, and got him an ice cream cone, BUT NOT YOU, I would have made the promise to you, and claimed to have fulfilled it to someone else. I would not be worthy of your trust.
How dare anyone claim that God Himself does that deceitful thing to His firstborn son, Israel. The object of the promises was Israel, and the object was part of what was promised . The object will still be Israel, NOT the body of Christ, NOT Gentiles or somebody else. Israel will be the ones to be blessed by Christ. Israel will be the ones in the kingdom of heaven, on earth, that will be ruled by Jesus Christ, Himself on the throne, and the 12 apostles on 12 thrones, as the Bible says in Acts 2, verse 29-32, and Matthew 25, verse 31, and Matthew 19, verse 28. Acts 2, verse 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;Acts 2, verse 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Matthew 25, verse 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Matthew 19, verse 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Christ and the Twelve apostles will be ruling from Jerusalem, in Israel. They will rule the world for 1000 years, as it says in the book of the Revelation. Revelation 20, verse 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
So, the graffed-in, wild olive branches were those Roman Gentiles, that rested in the law , that Paul was writing to here.
Look just briefly, in the beginning of the epistle when Paul wrote to them . The Bible says in Romans 1, verse 7, To ALL that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul was writing “to all” that be in Rome, he doesn’t say to Israel in Rome, or he doesn't say to the Gentiles in Rome. He is writing to all that be in Rome. You can pick out spots where he addresses Israel . You can pick out spots where he addresses Gentiles , that restest in the law. They would be those proselytes, that we have been talking about, that were graffed into the olive tree .
So here, he says, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God.”
He is calling them, to be saints. Jesus Christ is calling them to become saints through Paul's gospel. called to be saints: Grace to you and peace
from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We saw there at the end of that section in Romans 11, verse 24, that God is again telling, that Israel has a bright future. Romans 11, verse 24 .For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree : how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree ?
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ISRAELITE’S SALVATION DURING BLINDNESS.
Apostate Israel Blinded.
Romans 11, verse 25So, lets make the transition here out of talking about the “olive tree,” and “breaking off,” and “graffing in,” etc. and go into what it says starting with Romans 11, verse 25, about Israel's future.
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery.”
So, Paul is telling more new information that had been kept secret. The mystery is what had been hidden but is now revealed by Christ, through Paul. He says, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
We read (red) before what the “in part” means. We see back in Romans 11, verse 7, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it.”
The election being those that elected what it said in the verse before, grace. They were the Romans 11, verse 6,
“remnant according to the election of grace.” They elected grace, chose grace, believed the gospel of salvation whichPaul was teaching and preaching at that point. Romans 11, verse 7,
“The rest were blinded.” In Acts, there was a prophetic remnant,
and there was a grace remnant.The prophetic remnant was the church of God in Jerusalem,
with Peter, James, and John.The grace remnant was those in Paul’s meetings (gospel of God believers),
who believed that Christ died for their sins, and so were baptized by one spirit into the one body of Christ.
So that Olive-Tree, Acts remnant was the believers, the kingdom church, that believed that Jesus was the Christ, resurrected from the dead. Then there were also the unbelievers that crucified him, that believed that he was a fraud, and that He was not the Christ.
Going back to Romans 11, verse 25, “That blindness in part is happened to Israel.”
The part that was blinded was, “the rest.”
“The rest” that its talking about, didn't believe. They were not the election. They were not those that elected grace.
“The rest were blinded.”
I hope that is clear. God did not blind the believers. He blinded the unbelievers.
Israel’s Bright Future.
Here is Romans 11, verse 26. “And so all Israel shall be saved:”
(There it is again, God keeps His promises.) “as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”
There is going to be an ungodliness in Jacob. There has been ungodliness in the past, and there is even more so, now that they are not God's people, now that Hosea's prophecy, Isaiah's prophecy, David’s prophecy, and Jesus’ prophecy have all come true at the end of Acts, in Acts 28.
So going on to Romans 11, verse 27, “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
So, they were under a different situation, weren’t they? Talking about Israel, they were not saved as those in the body of Christ were saved, in Ephesians 2, verse 5, and 8, and 9. Ephesians 2, verse 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )Ephesians 2, verse 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Ephesians 2, verse 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Talking about Israel, they were not saved immediately, when they believed the gospel of the kingdom that was preached to them.
They were not saved immediately . They, will be, saved when Jesus Christ returns, according to Acts 3, verse 19-21, and according to First Peter, the first chapter.
Acts 3, verse 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.Acts 3, verse 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:Acts 3, verse 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
1 Peter 1, verse 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time . 1 Peter 1, verse 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ : 1 Peter 1, verse 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1, verse 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1 Peter 1, verse 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow .1 Peter 1, verse 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Their sins are taken away at their day of atonement, when Christ returns. And that's what He promised.
They had different instructions. They were under different conditions, than the body of Christ is under.
The body of Christ is for everybody now. But, Israel was a small nation and they were under a special situation, to show that all have sinned. No one can be good enough for God.
That is what Romans 3, verse 19-20, is all about. Romans 3, verse 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.Romans 3, verse 20 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.
Israel’s Blessings and Curses.
(Romans 11, verse 27.) “For this is my covenant unto them, WHEN I shall take away their sins” To see that covenant, look in Deuteronomy 30, verse 1, through, 10. This is Jehovah talking, through Moses, to the people of Israel. (1.) “And it shall come to pass, WHEN all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God HATH DRIVEN thee, (2.)
And shalt RETURN UNTO THE LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; (3.) THAT THEN the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.”
(So, Israel had incurred the curses WHEN ? It was WHEN they left off obeying…
“the Lord their God with all their heart, and with all their soul “[as we saw in Deuteronomy 30, verses 1, and 2].
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Israel did not need to prove their faith by their works. That was the clear, plain, and explicit commandment of God.Their blessing was everlasting life in the land.God covenanted that to them, IF, .IF they would keep ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS .
We can see in Deuteronomy.30, verses1, and 2,The conditions for Israel to again be “God’s people”(1) WHEN Israel shall call to mind, the blessings and the curse,(2) WHEN Israel shalt return to the Lord,(3) WHEN Israel shalt obey God’s voice and His commandments,
THEN the Lord will, [1,] turn their captivity,[2,] have compassion upon them, and, [3,] RETURN and gather them.) Deuteronomy, 30, verse 4“If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:” (As we, go on a few more verses, it gives the whole flow of what's happening to Israel.) Deuteronomy, 30, verse 5,
“And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land” (This is talking about a future event. They are not brought into the land yet. There is no prophesied holy nation there now. There is a United Nations state. But, there is no holy nation that God put there.) “And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. (6,) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, THAT thou mayest live. (7,) And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies,” and, on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. (8,) And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD,”
(Do you SEE IT?
Israel had not been obeying the voice of the Lord. They did not receive their Messiah. They rejected and crucified Him.) And the Bible says:Deuteronomy, 30, verse 8.“And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. (9.) And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, FOR GOOD: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee FOR GOOD, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: (10.) IF THOU
Remember to believe ALL the BibleRemember to believe EVEN the parts that tell you “TO WHOM” God is speaking.HERE, God is reiterating a former covenant, a promise that He had made with, and to ISRAEL. NOT TO US!
If THOU shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.”
Can you SEE IT? They had turned away from the Lord. But, God did, and will keep his covenant. They will have a bright future as prophesied, and as promised. But it's not today.
Remember how AMAZING it is that we have a position in Christ?Remember that SUPER list of “Who You Are, IN CHRIST”?Well, it is going to be just as SUPER, for the world to see Israel actually EAGER to keep all of God’s commandments, and
actually ABLE to keep all of God’s commandments.And, just as God does it all for the body of Christ, now,
At that time, God will DO IT ALL FOR Israel.Enabling Israel, Empowering Israel,Indwelling Israel with that UNCTION of:
1st John 2, verse 20, and 24 through 25, and 27(Remember, that this is TO, AND ABOUT, ISRAEL IN THE FUTURE)
1 John 2: 20 But ye ( Israel ) have an UNCTION from the Holy One, and ye know all things.1 John 2:24
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.1 John 2:27 But the ANOINTING which ye have (Israel had, and will have)received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
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So, again, when God enables and empowers Israel to trust and obey God’s voice and commandments, THEN GOD WILL DO IT ALL for Israel, as He does now, for us, the body of Christ.
God will complete Exodus 19, verse 6, Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
MAKING Israel a Kingdom of Priest to God.
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Then they will see Zechariah 8, verse 18-23 come to pass:Zechariah 8:18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
Zechariah 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.Zechariah 8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:Zechariah 8:21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.Zechariah 8:22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that GOD IS WITH YOU .
Romans 11, verse 28Look at Romans 11, verse 28, Remember, Paul is talking to Romans, about Israel, “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.” So Israel were enemies for the sake of the Romans that Paul is writing to, because Romans 11, verse 11 says,
I say then have they stumbled THAT they should fall,is that why they stumbled? that they should fall? “God forbid! But rather THROUGH THEIR FALL salvation is come to the Gentiles.” So, it’s through Israel’s fall that salvation came to those Gentiles that could provoke Israel to jealousy.
God Will Keep All His Promises to Israel.
In Romans 11, verse 29 we read, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
And that's what Paul had been saying all through this chapter, isn't it? That those promises to Israel were not just made to some segment of Israel: natural Israel, or
religious Israel, or spiritual Israel but they were made to Israel.
Mankind tries to dissect things to invent their own way, or to, save the Bible from telling lies, they think. But, the Bible doesn't tell lies, we just have to believe what it says.
God will keep all his promises to Israel. He made them TO ISRAEL, He will keep them TO ISRAEL.The gifts and calling that Paul is talking about, in the context of Romans 11, verse 29, are the promises, God made to Israel. And God pledges to keep all those promises, keep them to Israel.
ISRAEL’S UNBELIEF BENEFITS ALL MEN.
In Romans 11, verse 30, Paul is talking to Rome’s synagogue Gentiles. “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:” And we read just a minute ago in Rom.11, verse 11, that “through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”
It was not until after Israel fell by stoning Stephen, that Christ apprehended Paul on the road to Damascus. So these Gentiles, that he is writing to, obtained faith through Israel's unbelief. And also, he said it again in Romans 11, verse 15.
“For if the casting away of them” (now he doesn't say they were cast away yet.
In fact, at the beginning of this chapter, Romans 11, verse 2, Paul says that
“God hath NOT cast away his people”, Israel. But here in verse 15, he says), “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world,” (in other words, not just Israel anymore, but the whole world reconciled, with salvation made ready and available, [as it says in Rom.3, verse 21-22,]
“unto all”), Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all
and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Back to Rom.11, verse 15“what shall the receiving of them be”
(another promise of the future blessing of Israel) “what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead ?”
Alright, so Paul there is revealing that at some point in the future from Acts 20 (when he wrote Romans,) Israel will be cast away . He talks about the casting away, as a fact.
But it had not occurred yet. We find that it does occur in Acts 28, verses 25, to 29.
Salvation Offered Directly to Gentiles.
Romans 11, verse 31.Let's continue on here. We will go to the next verse in the series, which is verse 31. “Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” So Israel had stopped believing. Those Roman, proselytes, called Jews, had obtained mercy, through faith. They had come to those synagogues to find the God of Abraham. And, through their mercy, now Israelites can believe, through the gospel that Paul was teaching them, preaching to them.
Through Israel’s fall and casting away, salvation was offered, directly to Gentiles.No longer through Israel.Israel was gone. They were not any longer in God's favor. They were now “Lo-ammi”, as it says in Hosea 1, verse 9.Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are NOT MY PEOPLE, and I will NOT BE YOUR GOD.
The Logic of Paul’s Roman Presentation.
So salvation was by grace, through faith at that point, instead of being by faith and works , as it had been with Israel. So, these kingdom believers in Rome, that had blessed Israel , and been circumcised , had come into the olive tree of the commonwealth of Israel, and now, Paul was writing to them, teaching them his gospel, Romans.3, verse 19, through Romans 5, verse 11.
If you're in doubt, that's a full exposition of the gospel of salvation that Paul preached.
Write it down!Romans 3, verse 9 through Romans 5, verse 11.Read it a few times, carefully and honestly.
Let's go on to Romans 11, verse 32.. “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief”
(all the Gentiles, all Israel, they all were in unbelief) “that he might have mercy upon all.”
So Paul is coming to the end of this series of considerations. He starts by explaining that all people need the gospel , and what the gospel is, and how to be sa ved.
Then he talks about how to live Godly, Through the preaching of Jesus ChristAccording to the revelation of the mystery,and that we have God's own righteousness imputed to us,
That is what we live by. And we are to reckon ourselves dead to sin. Because, we are dead to sin!So, he goes through that whole section, from Romans 5, verse 12, up until Romans 8, verse 39.
After that salvation section, and starting at Romans chapter 9, verse 1, we have been considering what happened to Israel?
WHY IT IS that we can't just come to God through Israel anymore. WHY IT IS that we can’t just believe the gospel that
Jesus preached to Israel, while He was on earth.And WHY IT IS that we can’t just believe the gospel that Jesus gave to
Israel’s 12 apostles to preach, not going out of the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Paul is showing that Israel used to be, the way to come to God, but, that Israel messed up, sinned, and Paul shows how that Israel sinned.
And then, in Chapter 11, Paul shows that Israel does have a future, but right then, those that were coming to God, through Israel, from the nations, from the Gentiles, need to believe Paul's gospel, and be saved now, to heaven, instead of believing the kingdom gospel, waiting, and enduring to the end, to be saved, to the land of Israel, at the coming of Christ, when Christ returns.
So that's the difference. As we see in Rom.11, verse 32“God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” And, isn’t that echoed by what he said earlier, in Rom.3, verse 23-24? “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
PRAISE GOD’S WISDOM.
Next, we will go on to Romans 11, verse 33, as we get near to the end of the chapter. “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!”
So, in summing it all up, it is, as if to say that, God's ways are wise. They are way beyond what we could have ever thought of, or sometimes could even comprehend .
That is especially true, if we are handicapped by having been told things that are half-truths. Or people that didn't understand what the Scripture actually says, told us things that contradict, especially if those people were parents or spiritual leaders, such as pastors.
Romans 11, verses 34, and 35.Lets look at the next couple of verses. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”
God doesn't owe us anything. Who has given to God, that God would owe him something? No. No, that doesn't happen. God did not make a salvation covenant with all men. God doesn't owe us salvation. God doesn't owe it to us, to get us out of hell.
But He does offer us salvation , and it is only by relying on God's grace,not by any covenant, or obligation of God.
God has Done it All.
We can see something by comparing Romans 11, verse 34, “Who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” Compare that to where Paul first writes to the Corinthians in 1 Cor.2, verse 16:For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
So, we have been given the mind of Christ. We have been given the righteousness of Christ,
According to Rom.3, verse 21-22, Rom.4, verse 20-25, and Second Corinthians.5, verse 21.For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.We have been given a position with Christ,Seated in the heavenlies, according to Ephesians 2, verse 6.And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:We have the gift of His salvation. GOD HAS DONE IT ALL.
Conditions of Salvation.
If we try to add our works to it, and say, you did a lot God, but I know you would be more pleased if I lived a holy life, and counted on that also, for my salvation, NO, No, no, polluting God’s grace, with your filthy rags works, is as unacceptable to God as any other religion is.
You can’t claim to be save d , And then think you can still go to hell. That is not being saved.
You can't claim to be saved, and also think that IF you don't live a good enough life, or repent of every following sin, that comes later in your life, that you are no longer saved.
Repentance is not what saves. It is the blood of Christ, and your faith on Him for salvation, that saves from God’s wrath . Whether they are sins that you committed 30 years ago, 5 days ago, or 10 years from now, they were all future when Christ died for them . You had not committed one single sin, at the time Christ died for all those sins.
He died for all of your sins. IF YOU say that God will only forgive you if you repent, but that if you don't repent, he won't forgive you, THEN YOU are just saying that God's word is not true , and that he will not save you by believing on Christ, that He died for your sins.
In Romans 4, verse 5, the Bible limits salvation “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his, faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 11, verse 36.So just in closing, we will look at the last verse in the chapter. “For of him,
and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
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We are starting in Romans 12, at verse 1. and before we start let's review what we've already studied.
We have been going through Romans, and we saw in Romans 16, verses 25, and 26, that Paul says how we will be established, and
he goes on to tell us what that stablished believer's life is like. That is what we will study with today.
Paul tells us that we are established by "my gospel,"
and by, "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,"
and by, "the scriptures of the prophets"
The "my gospel" stablisher was what we studied from Romans 1, verse15, through 5, verse 11.
Being stablished according to "the preaching Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery" was what we studied from Romans 5, verse 12, through Romans 8, verse 39.
Then, in the last few days, we have been studying how Christ's revelation to Paul relates to the "scriptures of the prophets."
Paul tells what happened to Israel, and how Israel is not in the picture right now.
But they will be the head of the nations, in the future. Paul goes into all of that in Romans 9, 10, and 11.
The end of Romans 11 completes what Paul writes about how to be stablished.
Now to him that his power to stablish you according to my gospel, and (to stablish you) according to the preaching of Jesus Christ
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest,
and (to stablish you) by the Scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Today, we will be studying that fourth part following those three, that part which tells us what established living is like.
And so, we see him starting out saying, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God,
that is the only way to be able to do it, by what God is doing in us, by His mercy and grace in saved people, as well as in those who are not saved.
They need to have that work done in them for salvation by God, that conversion, that saving, and that imputing of his righteousness, to our account.
But in living, we need the mercies of God too. We need to live by that. Colossians 2, verse 6, AS ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:Let me continue in Romans 12, verse 1,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And, it is reasonable, it is not required, but it is reasonable. It is in line with what you have received. We are NOT under the law. It's not a law that we have to do. It's something that you can enjoy the giving of it.The Lord loves a cheerful giver. It's something you can do having understood
what a great sacrifice Christ made for you and me, on the cross.
The verse says to "PRESENT your bodies."You know what a PRESENT is. At the selected time, you give it, you bestow something.In this case, you " PRESENT your bodies a living sacrifice,"
the first time you realized that,having now received God's grace,
God's gift of saving you from God's wrath, you now can free up God's resurrection power in your life, by starting a life of yielding your members as instruments of righteousness.
That start, that beginning of yielding to the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, is what Paul means by, "PRESENT your bodies a living sacrifice."
So, Paul is beseeching you, begging you, THEREFORE, because of all his has shown us in the
"MY GOSPEL," first quarter of Romans,and because of all he has shown us in the
"PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY," second quarter of Romans,
and because of realizing that Christ's doctrine revealed to Paul is for us now, since we realize "by the scriptures of the prophets"
that Israel's doctrine is out of the picture for now, because of all this that Paul just finished teaching, NOW, "PRESENT your bodies a living sacrifice."
In other words, put into practice all that we have learned from Paul in Romans 1, through Romans 11.
It's something that is a step, in the beginning of your walk with the Lord. its NOT something to keep repeating. You keep repeating the yielding your members as instruments of righteousness,
but you shouldn't have to keep repeating the start of your yielding,you shouldn't have to keep repeating
the presenting of your body as a living, yielded sacrifice.
If you go back on your presenting of your body, then you need to realize that God still looks for your yielding.
You have done it once. You have given your body to God as a living sacrifice
and if you went back on it, then you need to realize that GOD IS FAITHFUL, He is still waiting for you to go on yielding to Him,
receiving the equipping of the Holy Spirit which already resides within you,
and then GO ON.
That is the first part, we yield our bodies to God. That is one thing. The next thing is to yield your mind. Looking at the next 2 verses, Romans 12, verses 2, and 3, we see, 2,
And be NOT conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The battle for the yielding of your body, starts with the yielding of your mind.Romans 12, verse 2 starts out with
"be not conformed to this world" There is a big clue of how to go about living.
if you are following trends, fads, and crazes, then in those areas, you are following the world, and you are limiting your ability to follow Christ.
But instead, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God
What is the will of God? Do we have any indication what the will of God is?
The will God is clear in First Timothy 2, verse 4. Who WILL have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
God's will is two things: to be saved, and then, to come unto the knowledge of the truth
The first is "TO BE SAVED" and that is clearly described in First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4,
If you can't yet point to God's documentation in writing that you are saved, those verses tell you clearly, that this is the gospel, and that this gospel saves you, IF you believe it.
The gospel being that by believing on Christ to have died for your sins, and risen for your justification, God saves you from His wrath.
God's will is two things: to be saved, and then, to come unto the knowledge of the truth
The second is "to come unto the knowledge of the truth."That is what we are doing here. We are allowing God's word to work in our lives,
to get into our minds. We are studying the Bible. God works through His Scriptures. The Scripture renews your mind.
Here is something that, we will see, goes along with allowing God's word to work in our lives.
There are four things that come along with "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."
Let's look in Colossians 3, verses 16, through 18, Let the WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
well that's speaking, in fact, speaking in the form of teaching.
SINGING with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
so that is singing
Now we have speaking and singing,
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God and the Father by him.
so that is giving thanks.
Now we have speaking, singing, and giving thanks, and finally we have
Wives SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Do you see the four things THAT FOLLOW in the life of someone being Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly?
Look in the verses there.FOLLOWING "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" we see
TEACHING AND ADMONISHING one another So the first thing that
FOLLOWS Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, is " SPEAKING. " Following "speaking," we see "SINGING."Following "singing," we see "GIVING THANKS."And, following "giving thanks" we see "SUBMITTING"
So following being Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly is:SPEAKINGSINGINGGIVING THANKSSUBMITTING
Now, let's look at Ephesians 5, verses 18, through 22. We are going to see that those four things
also follow being filled with the Holy Spirit.We will look at the complete thought, the complete sentence.We will continue to the next period, to end the sentence.18,
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19, SPEAKING to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20, GIVING THANKS always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
I think you can see where this is going.21,
SUBMITTING yourselves one to another in the fear of God.22,
Wives, SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
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So you have these four things, speaking, singing, thanking and submitting that following both of these things.
And what do speaking, singing, thanking and submitting follow. They follow being "FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT," and
they follow "LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY." That is why we study the Bible. Because letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
leads to speaking, singing, thanking and submitting, according to Colossians 3, verses 16, through 18.
And, according to Ephesians 5, verses 18, through 22,speaking, singing, thanking and submitting are led to by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
So, if both letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly, and being filled with the Holy Spirit,
if they both lead to speaking, singing, thanking and submitting,then they both must be either the same, or inseparable.
Being filled with God's word , IS,being filled with the Spirit !
That's is why Paul says that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If you look again at what it says, its talking about faith coming by hearing, and faith is fruit of the Spirit.
So, as you study the word, the Holy Spirit fills you, and grows His fruit in you, faith, along with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and the whole list.
They are all part of the package that the Holy Spirit produces in us, as we honestly study His word, and get more of what his word is saying,
instead of trying to find verses that match what we already think, and then convince ourselves that God told that to us.
Let's go to Romans 12, verse 3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
That is talking about faith again.Who can have faith? Who has the ability to choose to trust in the gospel of salvation?
First of all, Is God just and fair in his justifying of believers?Romans 3, verse 26,
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
So, God remains just when He justifies a personIt would not be just if
God GAVE some people the ability to have faith in the gospel, while He WITHHELD from others the ability to have faith in the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 2: 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Since God does remain just in saving those who believe, and does remain just in damning those who believe NOT the truththen all people have the opportunity to choose to believe, or NOT believe,or else, God would NOT remain just and fair.
So we know that in order for God to remain just in condemning all they who believed not the truth,God would have to make it possible for all to believe.
We all have faith in something, whether it's in the chair in which we sit, or faith in ourselves to be good enough to get to heaven,or faith to let go of our own attempts to be righteous,
and totally trust Christ to have died for all our sins, on the cross.
So we all have the capacity to exercise faith, and choose to believe, or choose to not believe, by trusting what we have been told, or what is in the Bible, and receiving it unto ourselves.
So, we all start with some faith, the ability to exercise faith.
But God increases our faith as we receive and study his word,and so we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
So, we need to yield our thoughts to God, by faith, it says here, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
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Now, Paul addresses the functioning of the body of Christ. That involves some of these same things, being filled with Holy Spirit. As each member is led by the Holy Spirit, the body works in unison . Romans 12, verses 4, through 5.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5, So we, being many, are one body in Christ...
There you can see the body of Christ in Romans, written in Acts 20. 5,
...and everyone members one of another. So we are together in this.There is no need to criticize other believers in Christ,
because they do not believe like I do, or because they do not respond to others like I do, or like you do.
We each need to work together, do our part, pray for each other, function together in the body.
Then he begins to give specifics. Let's look first at the gifts that Paul mentioned one chapter earlier in Acts 19,
in his First Corinthians epistle. First Corinthians was written in Acts 19,
and Romans, that were studying, was written in Acts 20. So let us look back at what the gifts were back in Acts 19,
one chapter in Acts before Paul wrote this epistle to Rome.
Now this only applies to this one church. The Bible gives no indication that this situation, or
these gifts were for anyone else, but for those believers in that church in Corinth, and here's why.
If you recall in Acts 18, they were called out from the synagogue. They were Jews, and Greeks that had blessed Israel,
and were meeting in the synagogue with the Jews, and they had heard Paul and believed, and come out of the synagogue, and entered a believer's house next door.
It wasn't just next-door. It was like a duplex. The wall of the house was joined hard against the synagogue. THE TWO ROOMS HAD A COMMON WALL.
So, when the synagogue met, they could hear the Church of God, and the body of Christ meeting together next door, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR COMMON WALL.
There was no air conditioning, so the windows would have been open making it even easier to hear..
The GIFTS that the Holy Spirit gave to this Corinth church on the other side of the wall of the synagogue were SIGNS for Israel in the synagogue, in this unique situation.
So, for that reason, they were given more gifts than other churches, because they were signs for their captive audience, Israel.
In fact, let's look at the scripture account of the start of that church in Corinth.Look in Acts 18, verses 1, and 4, through 11.1,
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;4,
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5, And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6, And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7, And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8, And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed , and were baptized.
9, Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10, For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
So Paul addresses this audience in Corinth that came from different backgrounds,but they all had now come to
believe the gospel of God, or the gospel of Christ,and had to leave the synagogue.
You see, back in that Acts time period, between Acts 9, and Acts 28,there were 4 groups of people.
One of those 4 groups was the body of Christ, which was referred to as the churches of the Gentiles, in
Romans 16, verse 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
But in First Corinthians 10, verse 32, Paul addresses one of the groups,the body of Christ, one of those churches of the Gentiles, and he says to them, to
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God
The Gentiles are different from the churches OF THE Gentiles,in the same way thatthe Jews are different from church of God in Jerusalem.
Those in the churches of the Gentiles had been the Gentiles (and others), but then they believed Paul's gospel of Christ, to enter the body of Christ, which is the churches of the Gentiles.
Those in the churches of God had been part of the Jews, that apostate nation that included Saul of Tarsus,
but they then believed Peter's gospel of the kingdom ,to enter that little flock of kingdom believers,which is the church of God, the Israel of God.
So with that in mind, in First Corinthians 10, verse 32, "BODY OF CHRIST (understood) ,Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God
In First Corinthians 1, verse 2, Paul addresses that mixed group in Corinth as the church of God.
Paul did as his manner was, and taught about who Jesus Christ is, in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, at Corinth,
But we also know from the Acts record, that although they started as Jews and Greeks in the synagogue,
many believed when Paul preached the gospel of God, about who Jesus Christ is.
Then, some of those gospel of God believers, went further to believe Paul's gospel of Christ being baptized by one Spirit into the one body of Christ.
That made for quite a mixed group in the church of God at Corinth,that was joined hard to the old Jewish synagogue.
We know it is a mixed group because of how Paul addressed them in First Corinthians 7, verse 17, through 20.17 But as God hath distributed to every man,
as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18. Is any man called being circumcised? let him NOT become UNcircumcised. Is any called in UNcircumcision? let him NOT be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and UNcircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
So, when he addresses his epistle to Corinth, Paul simply addresses it to the church of God, those formerly or currently in the church of God, those who were positive toward God and what they had heard about God's workings.
Paul was never called to interrogate each person he preached to, regarding what they had heard so far, or what they believed.
All this description of the church in Corinth, is to show its uniqueness, and the reason why they received more gifts of signs to Israel, than any other church is recorded to have received.
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So in First Corinthians 12, verses 7, through 11, Paul tells this mixed group,7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Many of these gifts that they had been given, were signs for Israel. Signs are for Israel according to many scriptures, including:1 Corinthians 1, verse 22,
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:Psalms 74, verse 9,
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
to the believers in Corinth's unique situation,Paul caps it by saying,First Corinthians 12, verse 11,
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally AS HE WILL.
And, the Holy Spirit willed to give these Corinthian's more gifts than what Paul wrote about, to Rome, a chapter later in Acts.
And we see in Romans 12, verses 6, through 8, that the Romans were told what gifts there are by then, in Acts 20, 6,
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7, Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8, Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
And that concludes Paul's teaching the Romans about what gifts were for the that part of the body of Christ, at that time.
And, we do not see anything in there about tongues, about interpretation of tongues,about healing, about working of miracles,about discerning of spirits,about any giving of special faith,about a special word of knowledge, or about a special word of wisdom.
All of those gifts that were only mentioned as being in Corinth, in the Acts 19 epistle of First Corinthians, were all gone by the Acts 20 epistle to Rome.
So, we need to take heed and realize that.
There was a difference. Things changed as the actions progressed through Acts. That's what Acts is, the actions, transitions, and changes occurring
in relation to the apostles carrying out their separate callings. There were things going on. Just as things were different before and after the fall in the Garden of Eden, and just as things were different before and after the giving of the Mosaic Law, and just as things were different before and after the cross,SO ALSO, things were different as the actions progressed through Acts.We are NOT NOW under the same conditions that they were under on
the feast day of Pentecost in Acts 2.The body of Christ has never been under the same conditions as Israel was.They are totally different and separate entities.
So, when you compare Corinth's gifts reported in Acts 19, with Rome's gifts reported in Acts 20, there are no signs for Israel given in Paul's epistle to Rome,
OR EVER AGAIN, until Israel is regathered after the catching up of the body of Christ..
Other than briefly in Corinth, all the other gifts given to the body of Christ, were other types of gifts, many of which were for administrative purposes in that the early, Jew and Greek, body of Christ, church, while there were still apostles and prophets in that church.
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Now, starting with Romans 12, verse 9. We have a section here about actions, that result from the UNITY of the body,
the way the body will act, as a result of being unified together.
Let love be without dissimulation. dissimulation just means dissemble, feign, or pretend. So,
Let love be without dissimulation (which is pretending ), Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
So, you have "love, hate, and love" there or cleave, hold on to. What you should love,
and what you should stay away from, in order to be able to love
Cleave to that which is good.
Paul has more exhortations in Romans 12, verse 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.
We are just going to go through these verses, and take heed. So Paul is talking about brotherly love there, That's not talking about household feuds, as brothers sometimes have,
but brotherly love as being a warm, affectionate love for each other, and caring for each other.
Romans 12, verse 11,Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
These are the characteristic actions of a unified body of Christ, working together. This is the way they will treat each other.
Romans 12, verse 12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
So there is rejoicing involved in life in the body of Christ Earlier in this epistle, in Romans 5, verse 5, Paul exhorted that,
5, And hope maketh NOT ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
There will be tribulation. Second Timothy 3, verse 12, says that ... ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But, Paul has already told us in Romans 5, verse 3, that,And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience ;
12,continuing instant in prayer.
That is our connection, which is our fellowship with God. It's our aligning ourselves with God, and his word,
and making our requests to God. We also make ourselves aware of God's will in our lives. Earlier, Paul made a similar exhortation in First Thessalonians 5, verse 17.17, Pray without ceasing.
Romans 12, verse 13, goes on about a willingness to give, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Opening your home to others, being a giver, with your hand open to give. This applies to us, too, as an attitude of sharing the love of God. But the "necessity of the saints" at that time, included
the dire need of those Kingdom saints in Jerusalemwho had obediently sold all to wait for the Kingdom from Heaven.
Romans 12, verse 14, Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.Be blessers. Let's NOT be name callers. Let's NOT be frustrated when things don't work out the way we want,
when we witness, or when we ambassador.
When we function as an ambassador for Christ, it is frustrating sometimes. But, just think how it is for the Lord. He died for them, and they are ignoring him, or mocking him, or lying about him. But let us keep being faithful in what we do. Bless, and curse not.
Romans 12, verse 15. Now we get to a lot of instructions here for
the body of Christ in OUR FUNCTIONING TOGETHER. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep
Rejoicing has to do with our feelings.Weeping has to do with our feelings.In other words, in these situations, feelings do count.Feel with the rest of the body.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep
Romans 12, verse 16.Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate
In the dictionary, "condescend" means "to descend to an attitude less formal"
In other words, "give in," NOT on doctrine, but on preference issues. "be acceptant" "be inclusive" WITHIN THE BODY
Again, this does NOT go against "TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE"16,
Be not wise in your own conceits. So, stand on what the Bible says, but allow that other people
read the same Bible, and stand on the Bible, but, they do not see things the same as you do.
Regardless of whether it's from past studies, or not yet seeing other things in the Bible, or from things they have been told in the past, or whatever reason,
they just do not see things the same as you do.So, Be not wise in your own conceits.
Now we enter a section of verses about how the body of Christ interfaces with the world.
Let's start with Romans 12, verses 17, and 18. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, LIVE PEACEABLY with all men.
So, we are responsible for how we interact with ALL MEN, NOT just with those who also are in the body of Christ.
It's a given that we should live peaceably with the body of Christ, and be acceptant as we just read.
Romans 12, verse 19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord
Don't try to take that away from Him. We want to avenge ourselves. But that's the flesh. The way to live, walking in the Spirit, is to
avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
Let it happen as it will. The Lord is the one that repays. He says, vengeance is mine.
We are working through Romans 12. We are to the last verse, in the next to last section. Romans 12, verse 20.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Now it's talking about enemies. There are various situations. War is talked about as an exception to that. If someone breaks into your home,
and is about to kill your children, that would be an exception
This is in general, and as I understand from the from the context above, its talking more about people with differences of doctrine, people that are either unsaved, or abusive talkers about it,
who lie about the Bible. It means things like that, when it's talking about an enemy I don't know what coals of fire means.I've heard analogies like:
it makes the other person burn with guilt feelings,or,it refers to when your enemy's home fire goes out,
and he comes to your home for help, and you give him some fire to take home (apparently, back then, they would carry things on their head).
Finally, we go to the last section here. Paul, having started Romans 12 beseeching you to
present your body a living sacrifice, he now tells the result of that yielding as instruments of righteousness.
It is the means of success in the body of Christ. It's one verse here, a simple verse It's a great verse to learn. Romans 12, verse 21,
Be NOT overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Think about that. There is a principle, that we used earlier in studying Romans.
We compared two verses and saw that the second verse was the application of the first verse, whilethe first verse was the foundation that enabled the second verse.
As a quick reminder, compare these two verses, and then we will do the same thing with Romans 12, verse 21 that we are studying.
So first, let's briefly review this, Romans 6, verse 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin...
We believers are dead to sin, crucified with Christ, that is the fact .. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Now compare that with the application of it in Romans 6, verse 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So there is a fact, and there is an application of that fact. In Romans 6, verse 2, you are dead to sin, and so,
because of that, in Romans 6, verse 11, in putting that into practice, you can
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin
Now, look at Romans 12, verse 21.God says that you CAN OVERCOME evil.AND, He tells you HOW YOU CAN overcome evil.WITH GOOD!
So, remember that as a believer,"overcome evil with good" is an application of facts in other verses,
primarily, the fact is, Romans 6, verse 16, Know ye not, that to whom ye YIELD YOURSELVES servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
So the application of that fact is to go ahead and yield yourself as His servant "of obedience unto righteousness."
You are equipped for yielding as an instrument of righteousness.So, go ahead, make the choice,
as in Romans 12, verse 21, "overcome evil with good."Live the life that God enables us and empowers us to do.It is our destiny,
being predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Just in closing, here is that final verse. Be NOT overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good
The good that overcomes evil is God's righteousness.And as a believer, God's righteousness is credited to us,
imputed to us as we believe that... Christ died for our sins , and rose for our justification.
That same grace of God that bringeth salvation, also teaches us to live righteously, by God's own righteousness within us.
Titus 2, verse 11, and 12, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men,
12, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
IF you have received the gift of salvation, THEN you have received the gift of righteousness.
Romans 12, verse 21," Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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ROMANS 13, VERSES 1, THROUGH 14.
Let us start in Romans 13, verse 1, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.."
Now, who are the higher powers?There is a lot of disagreement about that,
and we need to determine who they areso we know what is being actually being said here.
Is Paul talking about the higher powers in the church, or spiritual powers, or governmental powers, or civic powers.
I believe that we can show that the Scripture is talking about the civil government round us that's in the world, not spiritual leadership here within the church, or among elders, or whatever
Let's go on to Romans 13, verse 2, Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
well, what damnation does the servant of the Lord dole out? Look at the Second Timothy 2, verse 24, if its talking about spiritual leaders.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
So it is not characteristic in Paul's teaching for the spiritual leaders to be handing out damnation.
Lets go to the next verse, and we'll see some more Romans 13, verse 3, says
for the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. I hope that our civic leaders are a terror, to those around us that are evil. But our spiritual leaders should not be.
Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Well, is the message of our spiritual leaders, "Do good, OR be damned?"
That does not fit, does it? The verse cannot be talking about spiritual leaders, or church leaders.
Wwhat did Paul say earlier, in the same epistle? Let's look at Romans 3, verses 23, and 24,
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Also, look at Romans 4, verse 5, but to him that worked if not
So, here in Romans 13, verses 1, through 6, Paul describes those "rulers" as requiring works, good works.
Romans 13, verse 3,For rulers are not a terror to good works, do that which is good.
But in Romans 4, verse 5, Paul describes those obtaining God's righteousness as those who do NOT work for it, but only believe.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
So it's incompatible. If Paul is talking about spiritual leaders, here in Romans 13,
then there is a contradiction, Paul would be mixing things up. But he is not. He is not talking about spiritual leaders here. He is talking about the civic leaders, the governmental leaders.
We will now go on to Romans 13, verse 4, For he is the minister of God to thee for good
Now before going further, let's consider that word minister. I am sure many people cued on that,
and thought the passage was talking about religious ministers, are pastors, or whatever.
But that word just means, "attendant," or "waiter," or "servant," one that serves, like serving a table.
and Romans 13, verse 1, said they are ordained of God. So they are to serve God in this way. But it's ordained that they serve in the government. That is what he's saying. He is not talking about religious leaders. Civil government is one of the basic institutions that God set up.
We will continue in Romans 13, verse 4. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Fortunately, for the most part, that is what the civil government does
Looking at Romans 12, verse 19, in our spiritual life, WHO does the revenging? Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord,
Not the spiritual leaders. He ordains that to the civic leaders to do. Ever since Adam and Cain and early world government
that is one of the four institutions set up by God for mankind.
Look at Romans 5, verse 1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Peace is not somebody holding a stick over our head, or a sword as it says in the text.
So it is not the religious leaders, spiritual leaders, or Bible teachers. There is no peace for crooks, because of the civil authorities,
and that's what it is talking about.
So, going on, I think we have established that. We need to be subject to the civil authorities.
Romans 13, verse 5, Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
How? Romans 13, verse 6,
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "TRIBUTE" as"A payment paid by one ruler or nation to another......or the tax levied for such a payment""In other words, pay your taxes. don't be one not having paid them, or you will have something to fear.
Let's read Romans 13, verse 7,Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due
to who was tribute due? to the government.Well, to Caesar back then, but to the government, in general..
custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
To whom is honor due? Let's look in the First Timothy 5, verse 17. Here, Paul brings out a different category. He is saying,
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Summarizing Romans 13, verse 7, Paul is saying, honor your elders, pay tribute to your government.
He is keeping separate the four different things that he is talking about in that verse,
tribute, custom, fear, and honor.
That brings up the question of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.The Bible mentions the topic of civil disobedience in several places.Jesus walked the earth in a time of much governmental corruption. And yet, when asked about paying tribute to Caesar, Jesus said, in Mark 12, verse 17,
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
So, we must honestly determined what rightly should go to the government.And, usually that would be what the law says should go to the government..
To my knowledge, there are 4 other cases in the Bible about civil disobedience.I know of 2 cases in the old testiment of the Bible.In both cases, the people of God followed God first, then the government.One involves Daniel's diet, in Daniel 1, verse 8.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
The other old testament case involve a couple events with Esther in Esther 3:9, and 4:14 through 5:2, and 7:3-6, and 8:5-7.
In those events, Esther made a stand for righteousness, and for God's people, standing up to the most powerful king in the world at that time.
As Esther made her stand, God worked behind the scenes to accomplish what was right.
When Jesus walked the earth, before before he went back to heaven, the Roman government was quite corrupt.
But when they asked him to pay taxes He gave them a coin,Matthew 17:27
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
later he said Matthew 22:21
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
In the little flock period, in Acts, there are two cases, both about PeterActs 4, verses 17, through 20, and Acts 5, verses 25, through 29. In both cases, Peter was threatened by the religious government officialsIn both cases, Peter answered similarly:
Acts 4, verse 20, For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.Acts 5, verse 29, Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
I am not aware of any case of civil disobedience involving our apostle, Paul.
Going on to Romans 13, verse 8,Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Notice that does not say that we are under the law. Don't get confused about what it is saying. it does not say that we need to do the law. "Owe no man anything" means "don't be a deadbeat." Payback what you borrowed. Don't let there be any anything left, that you owed did not pay on time.
Paul is NOT saying do not get a mortgage on your house, or do not get a mortgage on your car. He's not saying that.
A withholder is someone that owes something, and does not pay it. He ends up still owing it.Look at the contrast there, between a WITHHOLDER, and
a GIVER, somebody that LOVES ANOTHER. " Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:"
Okay, I am going to Romans 13, verse 9, Paul lists some things without naming the list, or even recommending it.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment
So, Paul is labeling that list as somebody's Commandments.He goes on to say,.
Paul doesn't say it is commanded, not a commandment, but a saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
Well, in the Old Testament, they were commands. But the idea of briefly comprehended,
means to sum up, or to GATHER TOGETHER INTO ONE.
It's the same word as in the Ephesians 1, verse 10.That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him
So, Paul says that all this list is gathered together in the one saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
Well, that is what he just said in the verse before, too. he said do not owe anybody, don't be a deadbeat, but "love one another" Don't be a withholder, be a giver. Here he's saying, "love thy neighbor,"
and it will take care of all these other things.
This is one of those times that we have to remember to whom it is that Paul is writing,
if we look in Romans 11, verse 13, For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles
Also Romans 2, verse 17,
Behold, thou art called a JewSo, they are Gentiles, that are called Jews, and they rest in the law. There is a scripture that we need to see now.This verse explains how they can rest in the law when, they are Gentiles, and the law was given to Israel. Genesis 12, verse 3,
And I will bless them that bless thee.Well, that is what they were counting on. The Gentiles would be the "them" in the verse,
that bless Israel, who is the "thee" in the verse.
And I will bless them (those Gentiles) that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed
That was God's plan for Gentile salvation before Paul. They had to come through Israel. They had to bless Israel. They had to admit meant that God was working through Israel,
and that Israel was the people of God, So, they came on that basis.
So that is what they were doing in Romans 2, verse 17.
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God
Paul reminds those former Jew blessers that, the summary of what they used to practice is actually
"to love one another." Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
They had that background.That was their whole life before they heard the gospel of Christ, believed it and were baptized by one Spirit into one body and sealed by that spirit there in the body.
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We are now going on to Romans 13, verse 10, Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law
It is not the doing of the law, but the fulfilling of it It is not a command to do the law If you read it carefully, it just doesn't say that. Fulfilling means completion, complementary
that which is put in to fill up, or its the piece that filled up.
You can't fulfill the law by trying to do the law.You can only fulfill the law by
the righteousness of God within you.
Let's look at Romans 8, verse 3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (our flesh, and Israel's flesh), God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh
So in that way, God fulfilled the law
Let's go on to Romans 10, verse 4,
...Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth
The word Paul uses for "end" mean "goal," or "conclusion."The law had reached or accomplished it's goal, conclusion, or end,
in Christ, when he died on the cross for our sins.
We will read the next verse Romans 13, verse 11, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
"high time" is an interesting word. It means "hour" (literally, OR figuratively), and
can mean "high tide," that the hour is here.We would say, it is the "due date," and
to wait longer would be late, or tardy.
"knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep"
When you picture somebody sleeping, it's a picture of the apathy that is often prevalent, even rampant..
"for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed"
Paul writes about the redemption of our bodies in Romans 8, verse 23It will come at a certain time.Right now, the redemption of our bodies is
nearer than when we started this lesson.Time keeps slipping by, and you cannot get it back.So, WAKEUP!ARISE!Start loving one another.Start loving your neighbor.
Salvation is a part of that verse.If you don't know that you are safe for eternity,
that Christ has declared you saved by his word, which he has already written down, it's there in the Bible.
It is available, we can find that out.
If you are saved, then there are others that need to hear the gospel of salvation.We are commissioned as ambassadors to share the gospel with others.
God put into writing, His good news about how to be saved. Look at First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved"
So Paul is telling them that they received this gospel. They believed it. They are saved by.
"by which also ye are saved"
Paul says that when you are deciding whether or not to receive this gospel for yourself, the condition is that you don't believe in vain, by mixing together the gospel that Paul preached, with the gospel that was strictly for Israel, that others preach in the Bible.
So, Paul says that his gospel saves you, "if ye keep in memory WHAT I PREACHED UNTO YOU , unless ye have believed in vain"
when hearing and considering the gospel that Paul preached.
So, what is this gospel, this good news that only Paul preached from Christ?See it in the next two verses, First Corinthians 15, verses 3, and 4.Paul tells us that this is the way that he was saved.
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
What Paul said in verses one, and two, is that, I declare unto you the gospel, which saves you, if you receive it, unless you believed in vain, by ignoring what Paul preached, orby mixing it with other gospels
preached by other Bible preachers, when you hear and consider whether or not to believe Paul's gospel of salvation.
Throughout Paul's preaching, and everything he wrote he is consistent. It is only by belief that Christ died for your sins, that anyone is saved,
in this dispensation. Look at Titus 3, verses 5, it's
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us"
The way to disqualify yourself from being saved, to make yourself ineligible, at the moment, is by trying to mix in some of your works, by saying, 'I can help Lord.
I do not think you can save me without me being good. God says through Paul that it's
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done," and in Romans 4, verse 5, he says
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
So, if you add in your good works, you do not qualify for the righteousness in Romans 4, verse 5, which is to him that worketh not.
You would be working for it, and you cannot attain it, by working for it.The work is assigned afterwards.
Let's go on with Romans 13, verse 12.We have the last three verses here.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light
That sounds a lot like what Paul had talked about before doesn't it? It sounds a lot like what we covered in Romans 6, 7, and 8. We will cover some of the highlights of how to do that, at the close. cast off the works of darkness, ... let us put on the armour of light.
Going on to Romans 13, verse 13, Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting
(which is carousing)and drunkenness, not in chambering
(chambering means "cohabitation," or we would call it "bed hopping.")not in chambering and wantonness,
(which is licentiousness, or lasciviousnes)not in strife and envying,
(those are pride sins)14,
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh"
So, there is the positive and the negative."Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
The key to NOT making provision for the flesh, fulfill it, is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ ,
lets look at these verses from earlier in Romans, as to how to live the Christian life, how to live out that righteousness which God has imputed to believers.
Let's start with Romans 6, verse 16. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
and 17, 18 and 19 and 22 so Romans 617 is Romans 6, verse 17,
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."
Romans 6, verse 18,"Being then made free from sin,".
"made free from sin" isn't that momentous? "ye became the servants of righteousness"
You might not have known that before, but,that's what happened according to the word of God.
18,"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
19, "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members
servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members
servants to righteousness unto holiness."
Romans 6, verse 22,
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
Let's look at Romans 7, verse 6."But now we are delivered from the law,
that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
We have the Spirit within us.
We will finish with a series of verses from Romans 8. Romans 8, verse 2,
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free" Get those three words. We are free
"made me free."It's not something I did. It's not something I earned. 2,
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
3,"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
4,"that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Who are the "us?" The believers, And, how are they described? They are the ones who walk not after the flesh
It's not that they fulfill the righteousness of the law, IF they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
The description of a believer in Christ is that they do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
It's a description, not a condition.
Romans 8, verse 9."But ye are not in the flesh,"
So, there's the answer. As believers,
"...ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
So every believer has the spirit of Christ. And, every believer is in the Spirit, and is not in the flesh. So we are the ones who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8, verse 10."And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
Now, verses 13, and 14. 13,
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,
ye shall live."There is a secret right there, a nugget of how to live.
"mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."Because the flesh is dead. It has been crucified with Christ. 14,
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Now, let's go on to Romans 8, verses 21, 29, and 30.21.
"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
29, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,"
So that is what believers are predestinated to, being conformed to the image of his son "that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
30,"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:"
So, the ones that God foreknew, he predestined.God foreknew that we who are now believers,
would choose to believe when we heard the gospel of salvation,and He predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Then, the ones whom God predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son,He called."and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
Going on to Romans 8, verses 33, and 34.33,
"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
Is God, who acquits you, going to charge you?He is not going to charge you since,
He is the One that is justifying and acquitting you.34,
"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died,"Who will condemn you? Is Christ going to condemn you, He is the Judge?But He took your place. He paid for all your sins, so that don't have any sin on your account.
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
How secure your position is as you believe that Christ died for your sins. Then, you can practice that life; that righteousness of God,
that he has imputed into your life. Reckon yourselves to be dead to sin,
We are under grace. That allows all of this because
if we were under the law, then we would be under the dominion of sin. That is what Romans 6, verse 14, says. why are you not under the dominion of sin" 14,
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Otherwise sin would still have dominion over you.
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Please turn to Romans 14 in your Bible. There are some controversial subjects here. There is a lot about liberty in there,
a lot about judging others, and about a weaker brother.
There will be a quiz.So, we will start off with the Romans 14, verse 1.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, BUT NOT TO doubtful disputations.
We need to define some terms. I looked up "doubtful disputations." In the definitions that I saw, "doubtful" could mean "debated" or "considered." "Disputations" means "disputes" In other words, "debated disputes." Do NOT receive these weak brothers, in the faith,
to those kind of things that come up. Disputes about what is acceptable, and what is not acceptable,
and what is the doctrine. There is reason for that.
WHY are they not to receive him that is weak, to "debated disputes," or "doubtful disputations."
Their are two places in the Bible that weak brothers, and causing to stumble are taught about.
They are in First Corinthians 8, and also in Romans 14. So let's look at some high points to compare,
and to shed some light on this First, we will look at the high points in First Corinthians 8. First Corinthians 8 mentions knowledge. Eleven times in the chapter, the words "know, known, knoweth" are mentioned.So, it is an important factor, an important part of what Paul is saying here.
So we will start off with First Corinthians 8, verse 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
Paul knows, and those believers that he is talking to, know. As we mentioned before, Paul was writing to a variety of people.
Often throughout the book, he would identify which segment he was talking to, at that time.
But he is saying "we know," so, the people that he is talking to, are the ones that know that
an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God, but one.
Look at First Corinthians 8, verse 6. But to US there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and WE IN HIM ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7,Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
The weak think that the idol is a real God. Look at First Corinthians 8, verse 10.
For if any man see THEE WHICH HAST KNOWLEDGE sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of HIM WHICH IS WEAK be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11, And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish , for whom Christ died?
Okay, it's quiz time.From what we have read, can you tell me was the weak brother saved? It says he could perish. Was he saved?Was the weak brother saved, IF he could perish? Let's consider some thoughts and comments about that.
Well, what about this?If anyone perishes, then, they were neither SAFE, nor were they SAVED. That is the meaning of saved. You are excluded from God's wrath. But if you perish, you are in God's wrath. So they are opposites. Those weaker brothers were not saved, in the sense of
being believers in the gospel of Christ, being saved at the time of belief, saved to heaven, and saved into the body of Christ.
Well since that is the case, what kind of brother was the weaker brother. Let's look at First Corinthians 10, verses 1, and 2.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all OUR fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2, And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
So Paul, the Jew, is saying that, for both he, and for the people is talking to, all their fathers were under the cloud, and all their fathers went through the sea, and they were all baptized unto Moses,
in the cloud, and in the sea.
Let's look at Acts 18, verses 1, and 4. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
4, And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
The Greeks were those that blessed Israel. They were the Jew blessers, as we sometimes call them. But, in Acts 18, verse 5, he testified to the Jews. So those were the ones in Corinth that listened to Paul's message, and to whom he was writing back in First Corinthians. They were the Jews, and the Jew blessers,
those in the Commonwealth of Israel that went to the synagogue every Sabbath, as it says there in verse 4.
So we are starting to get a picture that these weak brothers, were PAUL'S BROTHER ISRAELITES.
They were Israelites in the flesh, and in that sense, they were brothers in the flesh.
And he called them brothers. It was similar to how we would say, "my fellow Americans", Paul also uses the term "my kinsmen" in the same way in Romans 16, verse 7,
Salute Andronicus and Junia, MY KINSMEN, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Paul is talking about two people who were his kinsmen in the flesh , since they were in Christ before the beginning of the body of Christ,which started when Paul was saved,
according to 1 Corinthians 15, verse 3, and 1 Timothy 1, verses 15, and 16.
Now, let's look at Romans 14, verse 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
That is why it says "not to doubtful disputations." Because, they were not saved into the body of Christ. They were still Jews, and apparently
they were Jews that had heard, and believed that Jesus was the Christ, and was resurrected from the dead.
This is why those weaker brothers were described as "weak in the faith."
We know that "the faith" is a term that is used about both,the little flock, andthe body of Christ,
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
The body of Christ is the agency of God, that he is filling today, in order to take back the heavens, and to administer government in the heavens, in the future
Separately, the nation Israel is God's agency on Earth, to take back the Earth, and to administer government on the Earth,in the future.
Exodus 19, verse 6, tells us that,Israel will reign over the Earth. They will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
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They are different. Israel and the body of Christ are different.They are different agencies.
But, in the Bible, there are two or three, maybe four, names of things, in the Bible, which include both,Israel, andthe body of Christ.
I don't mean to confuse anybody, because, much of what we talk about, and try to clarify, is done by rightly dividing, keeping separate what is to and about Israel, from what is to and about the body of Christ in the Scriptures.
But, the Bible does mention a building. Look in First Corinthians 3, verse 9, and then we will look in First Corinthians 7, verse 18. First, in First Corinthians 3, verse 9,
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
So God's building included both those in God's husbandry, or the vine, and those to whom Paul is talking, in the body of Christ.
Paul also includes us body of Christ members, in the :"building"in Ephesians 2, verses 21, and 22.
21, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22, In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Now look at First Corinthians 7, verses 17, 18, 19, and 20. In these verses, we see that, in the church at Corinth, there was a mixture .
That is why it is not addressed to the body of Christ in Corinth. It is called the church of God in Corinth, because it was still a mixture.
They had just come out of the synagogue. They were all Jews, and Jew blessers, or Israel blessers. They still had The Law in their mind, and
also ordinances that were given to them, to keep. Some of those Corinth Jews changed from believing apostate Judaism,
to believing the gospel of God,that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah, as the little flock believed.
Others of those Corinth Jews changed further from believing apostate Judaism,to believing the gospel of God,that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah,
AND, they went further to believe the gospel of Christ,that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah,
who died for their sins, androse for their justification.
But, all of both groups were forced to leave the hostile, apostate, Jews in the synagogue.
Here Paul says, 1 Corinthians 7:17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18.Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become UNcircumcised. Is any called in UN circumcision? let him not be circumcised .
19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
So Paul is saying not to fight among yourselves. If you believe you are called to be in the circumcision group, stay there. If you believe you are called to be in the un circumcision group , stay there. The point is that both groups were in that church at Corinth. Both little flock Jews and body of Christ believers were together in that church. So, they were both in that building of God, as it is called. So, "the building" is NOT a unique thing
to the body of Christ, or to Israel, either one.
The same is true of "the whole family" mentioned in Ephesians 3, verse 15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
So, there you can see that the whole family in HEAVEN would be the BODY OF CHRIST.
The whole family on EARTH would be ISRAEL. So "the whole family" has the sense of being used to include both
Just briefly, we talked about the term the "church of God" being used for both. Look in First Corinthians 1, verse 2, and you can see that.Then we will look in Galatians 1, verse 13. But, first of all, First Corinthians 1, verse 2,
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus
"Sanctified" is what the writer of Hebrews said that the little flock was, Hebrews 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Believing Jews were sanctified, but not yet saved, as we see later in the same chapter.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28, He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29, Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
35, Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36, For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
38, Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39, But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
So, the point is that although believers in Paul's gospel today are saved immediately,
little flock believers in the circumcision gospel were sanctified unto a future salvation, at the sprinkling of the blood,when the fountain is opened to the house of David, when Israel "shall look upon me whom they have pierced."
Israel had to call on the name of Jesus. They had to believe who Jesus was, His identity, His name,
that He was the Messiah, prophesied in the Old Testament
And Paul called them to be saints. He was giving them the gospel , to become saints , in this epistle, and
to be spiritually baptized, into the body of Christ, which is a result of believing the gospel of salvation which Paul preached.
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Now, we will look at Galatians 1, verse 13. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God , and wasted it:
So before Paul was saved, he persecuted what was called the church of God. It included the little flock church at Jerusalem. After Paul was saved, and preached the gospel in Corinth,
the body of Christ there met together with the church of God , and in First Corinthians 1, verse 2, together they were called the Church of God.
In that rare case, it was a combined group. It included both those independent agencies,
the body of Christ, and the Israel of God, in one meeting, at that time.
But the main, and lasting way the term "church of God" is used in scripture is for the little flock Israel of God.
They were NOT enemies. They were NOT the same , but they were NOT enemies either.
So we see one other name that is relevant here, "the faith." Look at Galatians 1, verse 23.
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
So the faith is related to what Paul was preaching after his conversion in Acts 9. He preaches the faith which once he destroyed. AND it's related to what he destroyed before he was saved,
before he believed that pattern, which Christ offered to him, to save him, by that new gospel, which Galatians 1, verses 11, and 12, says was REVEALED to Paul.
So the term, the faith applies both to Israel, and to the body of Christ.
They both believe in, have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel believes that Jesus Christ is their King, that is returning to reign on earth. And we, the body of Christ, believe that Jesus Christ is our Head,
the head of the body of Christ, and He will be our Head in heaven.
It is no problem for God, Jesus Christ himself to be in both places, doing both duties.
So, as we go on, we can see that Israel's actions, following their knowledge, determines their stumbling, or not.
Look at First Corinthians 8, verses 10, and 11, 10,
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11, And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
So, that weak brother whom Paul is talking about, is not a member of the body of Christ, but he is a Jew, that is meeting with them there..
That is what is meant by that phrase, a weaker brother.
So, as we go through, we can understand better what Paul says, in Romans 14, when he is talking about a weak brother , or him that is weak in the faith , that he is NOT talking about a CARNAL CHRISTIAN, as we might assume from other passages.
So, as we look into Romans 14, we see three issues that came up to Paul, in that situation.
One was about the esteeming a holy day, in Romans 14, verses 5, and 6. One was about meat offered to idols, that we have concentrated on here.And, one issue was the drinking of wine, in Romans 14, verses 17, and 21..
They could be different issues today, when we are talking about a believer's effect on nonbelievers, and not causing a nonbeliever to stumble, and fail to believe the gospel of Christ, of which we are ambassadors.
Paul is still writiing about those Jews who had started to believe the gospel of God that some of them had heard, and they still met with those who went further to believe Paul's gospel of Christ, for salvation.
But the situation is different today, because neither believers, nor unbelievers today, are sanctified unto salvation.
Today, we are either saved, or not,saints or ain'ts
Neither a believer, nor an unbeliever today could lose their saved position.The unsaved nonbeliever is not sanctified unto obeying,
and the future sprinkling of the blood.when the fountain is opened unto Israel.
The saved believer is NOT able to end up in the lake of fire, because God, who cannot lie, saved him from His wrath, by taking the wrath FOR HIM.
Who is Romans 14 written to? Romans. Who is Romans written to? Romans 1, verse 7, says
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
So the point is, he says "to all that be in Rome.” As we mentioned before, he is writing to everybody there,
not necessarily only to those that believed the gospel of Christ, not just those in the body of Christ, not just to Jews,
although he does included Jews, and not just to those Jew blessers, called Greeks,
that met with them. not just to Gentiles,but "TO ALL THAT BE AT ROME".
When he is talking to a certain group in Rome, he will identify them in the text.
If we look in Romans 4, verse 1, we see an example of which group Paul is talking to, at that place in his epistle.. It says,
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Paul is talking about Abraham as "OUR FATHER." Well, I did not descend from Abraham ,
but Paul did,and Paul is talking to those who did descend from Abraham.
They had Abraham as their father , as Paul did.
Paul was a Jew.
So in that section, we can understand that Paul is talking to Jews among "all that be in Rome,"according to Romans 1, verse 7.
In Romans 1, verse 7, Paul addresses "all that be in Rome," without narrowing down the whole epistle.
But, he is obviously narrowing down, who it is that he is talking to, in Romans 4, verse 1.
Now lets go on through the text of Romans 14, verses 2, and 3.2,
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
In other words, he is inferring that the "weak," does NOT eat all things, only herbs. 3,
Let NOT him that eateth, despise him that eateth NOT; and let NOT him which eateth NOT, judge him that eateth: for GOD HATH RECEIVED HIM.
So there was a despising, and a judging going on, both of which are being discouraged.
Let NOT him that eateth, despise him that eateth NOTThat would be the body of Christ members AT THAT TIMELet NOT those in the body of Christ despise the Jews that
would not eat pork, or whatever, or in this case, food offered to idols,
The body of Christ members were DESPICING the Jews for not eating like them.
and let NOT him which eateth NOT That would be the Jews
let NOT him which eateth NOT, judge him that eatetheven food offered to idols. The Jews were JUDGING the body of Christ members for eating, unlike them.
for God hath received him.
Whether they were in Judaism, or whether they were in the body of Christ, God had received them on the basis of what they believed,
on the basis of the different Gospels, and the different conditions that were associated with those different Gospels, AT THAT TIME.
Don't be confused. There is NOT more than one gospel that works, now. The only gospel that saves now is Paul's gospel, which remains. Israel's gospel has stopped saving people to God through Israel,
because Israel has been cast away and is no longer a way to God after God declared, "I will not be your God," as God prophesied in Hosea 1, verse 9,and accomplished in Acts 28, verses 25, through 29.
But Paul's "dispensation of the grace of God " which we are in now, IS TEMPORARY.
Israel will be gathered, and God will keep all his promises TO ISRAEL.
Let's go back to Romans 14, verse 4, continuing after "God hath received him". Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?
Remember, the body of Christ had be despising the Jews, but, it was the Jews that had be JUDGING, the body of Christ members.So, Paul is telling the Jews not to JUDGE the body of Christ members,
BECAUSE:to his own master he standeth or falleth.
Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Here again, Paul assures us that God will hold up the body of Christ members.Paul says that God will MAKE HIM STAND.
Do you think that you, or others, might not have enough faith to stay saved , or to live the life that God wants you to live?
GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE HIM STAND . Romans 14, verse 4. Remember that. It is by God, not by you. It is "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD" that is upon all that believe.You merely yield your members as instruments of (His) RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 14, verse 5, One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Here, Paul briefly mentions another of the three areas of difference.Esteeming one day above another, or esteeming every day alike.
Know what you believe, and believe it because God said it,
NOT because somebody told you,.NOT because I tell you, or anybody else told you,or because you read it from somebody.
We are looking at what God says here, in the Bible. That is what we are going by. And, you need to, too. You need to let what God put in writing, be your final authority .
Let's go on to Romans 14, verse 6.He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth NOT the day, to the Lord he doth NOT regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord,
for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth NOT, to the Lord he eateth NOT,
and giveth God thanks.
So, it becomes clear once we realize, who is the weak one , and who the different groups are that were meeting together at that early stage in that mixed church.
So, starting with Romans 14, verse 7, At this point, Paul speaks to the body of Christ believers. He uses the terms "us" and "we." And, we can see, when we get a few verses further, that
he is talking about those who will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
So, that would be the body of Christ.
Paul is talking to that early part of the body of Christ, when Paul went from synagogue to synagogue, to preach the gospel of Christ.That was before all men, like we,
were preached Paul's gospel of the grace of God.
At that time, the body of Christ consisted of Jews, and Jew blessers, called Greeks, who came out of their synagogues, when they heard and believed the gospel of Christ, which Christ had revealed to Paul .
Let's read on with Romans 14, verses 7, through 9.7,
For none of US liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8, For whether WE live, WE live unto the Lord ; and whether WE die, WE die unto the Lord : whether WE live therefore, or die, WE are the Lord's.
9, For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Remember the One New Man, of whom believers are a part.
No one lives, or dies to themselves, but they belong to Christ, who died and rose to be both, Lord of the dead , and Lord of the living .
In the next three verses, Romans 14, verses 10, through 12, we see that they were not to judge others that were in Christ, whether they were in the body of Christ, or in Israel's believing little flock, which still existed then.
This in no way annuls Paul's directions to beware of heresy and apostasy,and to separate from those promoting it.
Those early Roman believers were to worship God, rather than to point out each other's areas of slower growth.
We will read, starting at Romans 14, verse10. But why dost thou judge thy brother?
The ones that Paul identified as JUDGING, were the believing Jews.Paul talks of him as a brother. They are both in Christ. Paul speaks of the little flock, that believed as the 12 apostles,
as being in Christ. They were in the vine. Christ is the vine. Christ says in his prayer, in John 17, verse 21 that they are IN CHRIST .
The Bible does NOT say they were in the body of Christ. It would be an error to try to equate them because,
the body of Christ had not started by that time. We are told that the body of Christ started as
the result of that pattern Christ set up. Look in First Timothy 1, verses 15, and 16. where Paul tells us
when the body of Christ began, and those in the body of Christ.
It does NOT include anybody that was NOT a follower of Paul in believing the gospel that Paul believed, mentioned in First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4.
Before getting back to Romans 14, verses 10, through 12, lets go through those salvation verses in
First Corinthians 15, verses 1, through 4.1.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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Let's go on to Romans 14, verses 10, 11, and 12. 10,
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for WE shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
In other words, "Why are you judging us? we already face judgment seat of Christ."
11, For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
So, we believers in Christ, have the opportunity right now,.to confess Jesus Christ is OUR God and bow to Him in OUR lives, to worship him in our daily life, by our actions, by our allowing him access into our lives, by realizing, and reckoning that
we are dead to sin by the righteousness of God which he imputed to us, and imputed to your account which Paul just mentioned
("account" in Romans 14, verse 12).There are many things associated with the doctrine revealed to Paul,
that are called "mystery," because God kept them secret, until He revealed them to Paul.
We see Paul starting to talk about not being a stumblingblock to that Jewish believer, in a weaker position, but rather, to be edifying in love (Romans 14, verse 15) ..
He says in Romans 14, verses 13, through 18.13,
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself
The verse does NOT say that nothing is sin. But, talking about foods, it saying nothing is UNCLEAN, of itself.But, to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, TO HIM It is unclean. This further shows that the weaker brothers that Paul is talking about,
are fellow Jews who regard what the LAW says is CLEAN or UNCLEAN.
Paul goes on to says in Romans 14, verse 15, But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, NOW walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Again, I ask the QUESTION: was that brother saved?
He could be destroyed. That weaker Jewish brother is not saved, at that point. Paul is talking about Jewish brothers that
had to meet together with the body of Christ for awhile.. This was shown earlier in First Corinthians 7 verses 17 to 20. Let's read it again,17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18, Is any man called being circumcised? let him NOT become UNcircumcised. Is any called in UNcircumcision? let him NOT be circumcised.
19, Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20, Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Romans 14, verse 19, above, is explained by Galatians 5, verse 6,For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; BUT FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
As in Romans 6, verse 14.
So, Paul had a combination of believers meeting together. They needed to meet separately from the apostate Israel synagogues
where they heard Paul preach the gospel to them.NEITHER, the little flock that believed Paul's preaching of the gospel of God,
NOR the gospel of Christ believers that got saved believing Paul's gospel, in the synagogue,
were welcome in the apostate, blinded synagogues anymore,
So, there were meeting together, the little flock who had come to believe that Jesus is the risen Christ, and those that believed the gospel of salvation, as well as probably some that there were not yet saved.
We get that from First Corinthians chapter 14, verse 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
So going on with Romans 14, verse 16, Paul is saying there is nothing wrong with eating food offered to idols,
or with not observing the Sabbath. 16,
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:The weaker brothers are going to speak evil of it, IF you flaunt it in front of them. That is the impact of this whole passage. DON'T FLAUNT IT.
So, Paul is saying not to aggravate them, agitate them, give them reason to differ with you, and stumble at the stumblingblock.
In fact, Paul said back in Romans 14, verse 15, that could destroy him for whom Christ died.
Romans 14, verse 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
What a contrast we see there. It's not the earthly things, food, drink, wine, Sabbath, and food offered to idols. But, it's these inner qualities that matter:
the fruit of the spirit, righteousness, peace, and joy.
Paul again emphasizes that in Second Corinthians 5, verse 7. For we walk by faith, NOT by sight
Going on to Romans 14, verse 18, For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
We know we are accepted by God, if we are in Christ, by having believed the gospel that Paul preached.
But, it says in addition to that, we are approved of men.
Now, let's move on to Romans 14, verse 19, and continue on through the end of the chapter.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
That is the positive side. The negative side was for them to be careful in their lives,
not to place a stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall in the way of a little flock believing Jew..
But again, here we see that the positive side is to follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another..
Romans 14, verse 20, For meat destroy not the work of God.
All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
In those gatherings back then, which included both the newly believing little flock members , and the newly saved, grace believing, body of Christ members,
that which was alright for a body of Christ member to do,would have been "evil for that man" in the little flock to do,
if he "eateth with offence", believing it is actually unpure or unlawful FOR HIM.
If he thinks it is wrong and goes ahead and does it, he is doing something that he thinks is wrong, willingly violating what he thinks God wants of him.
In other words, HE IS SINNING!
Also, it would be eating with offense for a member of the body of Christ, to right in front of a Jew, to eat what is unpure for the Jews, if the tempted Jew goes ahead and eats what is unpure,because of you.
There are two things to consider in this matter.:Firstly, we need to be careful about
whose servants we allow ourselves to become.First Corinthians 6, verse 12,
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, BUT I WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANY.
Well, how can we determine, whose power we are brought under?Let's apply what we studied a few chapters earlier in Romans 6, verse 16,
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Secondly, we need to be careful to be faithful to our commission, to both tell others, the gospel of salvation, and to EDIFY fellow believers with the knowledge of the truth..
First Corinthians 10, verse 23, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, BUT ALL THINGS EDIFY NOT.
Romans 14, verse 21, It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Again, Paul is talking about that temporary situation there in Rome, Corinth, and other places concerning the Jewish little flock believers, meeting together with the body of Christ believers.
Romans 14, verse 22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Oh no!!! I think I did something I shouldn't have done!I think I caused a Jewish little flock believer to stumble by something I ate.
In that mixed situation, Paul was writing that those grace believers, with liberty, needed to consider how exercising liberty would affect others.
The actual event of eating or drinking what they were at liberty to eat or drink, may have been pure for them, but, they were not at liberty to cause little flock believers to stumble by "that thing which he alloweth".
Don't condemn yourself in the things that you allow.
And Romans 14, verse 23, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat,
Now, Paul is talking about he that doubts. That would be the weaker brother, or the Jewish brother,
the one not in the body of Christ. the one who still has to endure to the end, to be saved.
he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Here we see that those "brothers" which are not in the body of Christ, can be damned
Can he already be saved, if he can be damned? He is not among the saved, if you can be damned. That is the definition of "saved," avoiding God's wrath. If you can ever end up in hell, then you are not yet saved. So, it is brother Jews that were in that situation in Rome.
The context actually continues for a few more verses. So let us look into Romans 15 before we close. Start at Romans 15, verse 1,
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak , and not to please ourselves
That is an exhortation which goes to each of us, not to please ourselves, but to bare the infirmities of the weak.
Romans 15, verse 2, and 3,2,
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.3,
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
We can see that God mentions "knowledge," or "knowing," eleven times in that chapter.
Knowledge is a key, lack of knowledge is the trouble.
We as ambassadors need to teach Bible doctrine. We need to teach Bible knowledge in a way that
will be listened to by those around us. In our daily lives, we need to let people know that we are ambassadors. Ambassadors make a dent. We are to make a difference in the world around us.We are to make known what our sender has told us to make known..
In review let us look at First Corinthians 8, verse 6, and 7, and 10, and 11. First Corinthians 8, verse 6,
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
First Corinthians 8, verse 7,Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
That weak person thinks that the Idol is a real god.
Looking in First Corinthians 8, verses 10, and 11. 10,
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple,
shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11, And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
So, what is the remedy? Let's look at First Timothy 2, verse 4,
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
What is our position? What is our calling? In Second Corinthians 5, verses 18, and 20, we see that 18,
...all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
20, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
And finally, receiving and spreading that knowledge, let's look at the Second Timothy 2, verse 15,
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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Romans 15-Peaceful Edifying and Second Sendingcompiled by Mike McGlathery
Part one, PEACEFUL EDIFYING - Romans 15:1-13
RECEIVE OTHERS, BEARING WITH THEIR WEAKNESSES
The last part of Romans chapter 15, has a lot of important comparisons about what Paul said, and what he started there.
He said in Philippians 4, verses 15, and 16, that there was the beginning of a gospel at that time.
That works out to be the time he is talking about in the last part of this chapter.
ROMANS 14:13
So we're going to head into Romans 15, verse 1. “We then that are strong.”
Now, let's listen to that second word,”then”. We need to go back, and see what the, “then,” is about. What had preceded it, that he is talking about, and going to apply here. He says in Romans 14, verse 13,.
“Let us not therefore judge one another anymore,” and so chapter 14 was largely about judging, about putting a stumbling-block in front of a weaker brother, and about bearing one another's burdens, instead of judging them, bearing with them. So he goes on to say,
“Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
ROMANS 14:15
In Romans 14, verse 15, Paul says, “if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” So, we are reminded that, as we studied previously,
we found that the brother that Paul is talking about, is brother Israelites. Paul's brother Israelites, not brothers in Christ. That's why they were weaker. They were being ministered to, and given the gospel. Paul was trying to draw out from Israel,
a remnant according to the election of grace, giving them the gospel of Christ, that they would come into the body of Christ, by believing that gospel.
We are still reviewing here what we studied earlier, which is all encompassed in that word, “then,”, the second word of Romans 15, verse 1.
Lets jump down now to Romans 14, verse 22, “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” So, if the grace believer thinks that something is wrong,
and he goes ahead and does it, he is not caring whether he does something right or wrong, whether that thing was right to do, or wrong to do, whether it was allowed, but not expedient, as Paul puts it in other places.
Either way, if the grace believer is doing what he knows , not to be right , or what he thinks might not be right, and he goes ahead and does it, he is condemning himself in that which he allows,
in the sense that he is judging himself to have wronged someone.
Paul could not be talking about eternal damnation in this case, since only happiness is at stake here.
"HAPPY is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”
ROMANS 15:1
That brings us back to Romans 15, verse 1. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” So, Paul is defining the strong then, as those that are the believers in the gospel of salvation,
that are witnessing, although he doesn't use the word witnessing, ambassadoring possibly. He does later call believers, ambassadors (Second Corinthians 5, verse 20),
teachers (Second Timothy 2, verse 2), andlights, holding forth the word of life (Philippians 2, verse 15, and 16).
They at that time were actively seeking to draw out a remnant from Israel, into the body of Christ,
by preaching the gospel of Christ to them, the gospel that saves . He is calling them strong, that have the gospel, and they are offering it to others. And he is saying they ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, not to please themselves.
That goes along quite well, I believe, with what he says later, in Philippians 2, verses 3, through 9. He says, 3, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5,
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
So, we are not alone, in this. We don't have to forge a new way. We follow Christ in the revelation of the mystery,
6, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
So that is our example.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Christ is the one to follow in what he did in Philippians 2, verses 3, through 9. . Not in his ministry, only to Israel, but in his revealing to us, what he had kept mystery.And, its not by our own works, but by Colossians 1, verse 27,
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
He humbled Himself. He HUMBLES Himself, IN US He didn’t think about his own pleasure, his own rights. Christ did
“bear the infirmities of the weak.”
Christ IN US, DOES bear the infirmities of the weak through us. Romans 15, verse 1,“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” Often throughout Paul's writings we find edification is a major goal. Right here, we find that Paul is broadening the field. It's no longer just those Jews that he's talking about
as being the ones to whom we are ambassadors. But he is saying,
“his neighbor.” “Every one of us please his neighbor.”
Who is a neighbor? We will look in Luke, chapter 10, and see how Jesus answered that. Luke 10, verse 36,“Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” That is what we call Israel's good Samaritan parable. 37, “And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” So, who was the man's neighbor? The one that showed mercy on him. Romans 15, verse 2,
“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
We need to find those that are needing help, based on extending God's mercy and grace to them.
Here again it's an application of not seeking our own benefit but bearing the weaknesses of others.
Bearing with them. Not barking at them about it. Edifying them. Giving them time to grow and learn.
I believe "his neighbor" would include other saints too, as well as unbelievers, such as chapter 14 was talking about, brother Israelites, who were not yet saved.
But this would include it , using the word neighbor, would include all people.
ROMANS 15:3, 4
Looking now at Romans 15, verse 3, and 4. 3, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,not necessarily for our obedience, IF it wasn't spoken to us.
The things that were spoken to us are for our obedience, for our application, whether it requires obedience, or learning, or doing, or whatever. “Written afore-time,”
that would include the Old Testament Scriptures, wouldn’t it? “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
So, the Scriptures do have patience, and comfort to offer us, even the Old Testament Scriptures.
Now it does not say that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have salvation.
It says we might have hope. That is talking about the entire Bible,
not just Paul's epistles, or not just the New Testament.
We can find learning for us, in any of the books, they are all inspired by God.
They are all the word of God. And, they are all for our learning, as it said, here in this verse.
Looking in Romans 16, verse 25, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to (firstly) my gospel, and (secondly) the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret.”
In other words, “power to stablish you according to my gospel”, rather, than according to the preaching of Jesus Christ in the red letters, as he walked on Earth, but rather, than that, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery.”
That revelation came afterwards. It was not in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was not in Acts one, through eight. The revelation of that mystery began on
the road to Damascus in Acts, chapter 9. It had been
“kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest” Romans 16, verse 26,
“and (thirdly) by the scriptures of the prophets,” And that third part, is he part we are interested in here, in relation to Romans 15, verse 4. "and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"
So, here Paul says that all the Scriptures including the Old Testament Scriptures can benefit the believer, the grace believer, the believer in the gospel of the grace of God.
Not that we are saved by those. But, we learn the trail that led to our salvation,
the trail that led to Israel's being cast away, and a new way being offered by Christ to all men, rather than only to Israel, and Israel blessers, as was done in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Its, all good for learning, for doctrine, for reproof, for corrections, which is for insruction in righteousness.
Always considering to whom it was written. We are not written to, until Paul's writings.
looking at what Paul said here in Second Timothy, chapter 3, verse 15.
Paul was talking to Timothy, and instructing him. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures.”
When Timothy was a chil , it was long before Paul was converted, or wrote any Scriptures.
So Paul wasn't talking about his letters to us there. He was talking about the Old Testament Scriptures. And he says, “from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
So, the Scriptures made him wise, ready to receive salvation, and that salvation would come through faith in Christ Jesus, which was offered beginning with Paul.
So, we see Paul telling us that all the Scripture is good for us, it stablishes us, it helps us learn, and as it says here in Romans 15, verse 4, “whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Hope looks to the future, for something good happening in the future. Something good did happen. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed the gospel of Christ, or Messiah,
he was their Messiah. In Romans 1, verse 16Christ revealed that to Paul, to reveal
“to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” as it says here in Paul's, Acts 20 epistle . Paul also says he wasn't sent to all men at first, in Acts 13, verse 46,Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Later, what we talked about earlier, about what is going to happen later in this chapter, is going to confirm that the gospel went to all men at what Paul called, “the beginning of the gospel” when he left Macedonia .
The gospel at that point was the same message, the same gospel message. But it then began to be called the gospel of the grace of God,
instead of the gospel of Messiah. People that cursed Israel,
and never blessed Israel, didn't know about Israel’s Messiah.
The term the gospel of Messiah, or gospel of Christ had no meaning to them. But when they learn that they were condemned and needed a gracious Saviour,
the gospel of the grace of God meant a lot to them. So, the Old Testament Scriptures make us wise unto salvation,
but do not save into the body of Christ.
ROMANS 15:4b
The second part of Second Timothy 3, verse 15, tells briefly how to be saved. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” How?
“through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Its a condensation, like in many places, like in Acts 16, verse 31. It doesn't mention the blood,
but it does mention faith, and it does mention being saved.
So, two of the three main elements in salvation are mentioned here. And it's understood, I’m sure, by the time that
Paul was writing his last epistle, his 13th epistle, everyone especially the one he is writing to, Timothy, knew that he was talking about being saved, by faith on Christ, by the blood of Christ.
But, you don't find it very often in his later epistles, that he goes through, introduces, and explains in detail, how to be saved.
Those are in Paul’s Acts epistles.
ROMANS 15:5
So going on to Romans 15, verse 5, "now the God of."
In the previous verse, we read about in Romans 15, verse 4,"we through patience and comfort of the scriptures."
So, the Scriptures have, the word of God. God in his writings, gives us patience and comfort. And here it says
"Now the God of patience and consolation." And that word that Paul actually used, is the same word,
but, since its translated differently, the context must show that Paul used it a little differently.
Its a different application of it (comfort, consolation). And I'm not sure of all that went into the translating of it, into a different form. It may be that one form has to do with what is offered, in the Scripture,
and, the other form has to do with the reception of it from the scripture, the application of it, in the believer.
It may be similar to the difference between, being forgiven, or being remitted your sins.
They are the same word, but the time of the forgiveness is different. So, I can't say anymore on that, I just don't know.why
Going on with the verse, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded, one toward another, according to Christ Jesus.” In other words, Paul is saying, apply this,
what I've been telling you about bearing with one another, about bearing the infirmities,
or the troubles, the weaknesses of your neighbor,
whether a believer, or not. "Be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus,"as Jesus Christ is toward us
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ROMANS 15:6
Lets read Romans 15, verse 6, “That ye may with one mind, and one mouth glorify God.”
So that's the outcome, bringing glory to God. We can deny ourselves the right to correct everybody,
and to show them the right way, and things like that. But it's not by wisdom of words. Its by the Holy Spirit, and by the word of God.
So, we need to, sometimes just bear with somebody. If we can tell that they believe the gospel of salvation, and are a believer,
and they say, “well, you know, I'm glad that you're born again, like I am, by believing that Christ died for our sins.”
Bear with the infirmities, the weaknesses of others, and give them time to learn.
There is an application of the Scripture that can help with that. But, barking at them to correct them, doesn't help. It would not help me, I know,
if someone pounced on me, when I had tried to bless them, by saying, “God bless you.”
For some things, we can just say “Thank you for your, good wishes toward me” and things like that.
Then, let it go until the person has read more Scripture, and learned more about what the Bible actually says .
We all have idiosyncrasies. There is a difference between correcting someone that's ready to be corrected,
and barking at someone that's not ready to be corrected, and saying, “Don’t tell me ‘God bless you’, I’m already blessed.”
Well, it doesn’t sound like it. Anyway, our demeanor does go a long way in
expressing our ambassadorship to people, and our duty of being an ambassador to them.
So, we need to be careful what we say. And let your speech be seasoned with grace.
“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.” So, we will be unified in our approach, the approach of grace. I mean, that's the feature that we are relaxing in, that we are so joyous about,
that God is gracious with us . He doesn't spank us every time we
haven’t grown to full manhood, or maturity yet. It's a long trail, growing up. The gospel helps. Learning what Jesus told Paul, the revelation of the mystery helps. And studying the Scriptures help. But that takes time. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity.
ROMANS 15:7
Romans 15, verse 7, says “Wherefore,”
because of what he has said before, “receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
So, to the glory of God, Jesus Christ receives us as sinners, as fully needing all help. Right?
And, we are merely, willing to receive. And he gives us salvation,
forgives our sins, gives us the righteousness of God imputed to our account, many things.
But, we didn't do it. We weren't "good enough" to EARN it. We had many mistakes, many misunderstandings, yet to be corrected.
I know with me, God works on one thing, at a time. People look at me, and they see many things wrong with me. But, God is only working on, one thing at a time with me, usually. At least, that is all I am aware of. He may be setting me up for future growth in another area. But, that's because of the failings of our flesh. We can only make one decision at a time. Right? That is the way we think. That’s why we make lists, right? So that we can do one thing at a time,
and do it well.
Romans 15, verse 7, concludes what I would call, the first part of the chapter which was pretty much connected with the 14th chapter.
It is about receiving one another, helping one another, giving grace to one another, I think “mercy” was the word in the text, and bearing with one another's infirmities, or weaknesses.
Now, we are moving into Christ's reasons for coming to earth. We will cover a brief summary of these next few verses
that will cover from Romans 15, verse 8, through verse 13. Lets start with Romans 15, verse 8,
“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision” and notice that word “WAS.” “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, TO confirm the promises.” Why?
“to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Were they made, unto my fathers ? I don’t read that Christ made any special promises to the Scottish,
or to the IRISH, or to the ENGLISH, my ancestors, or to the FRENCHor to the RUSSIANS,or to the SPANISH.
It is talking, obviously, about Israel , and the fathers of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the 12 tribes.
It is crucial to see that Christ came to the circumcision, to Israel. Christ came to those that he was ministering to
in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and in early Acts. That was the circumcision, Israel. And Gentiles, like us, were NOT directly offered salvation. Back then, Gentiles were only offered salvation
as they came into that commonwealth of Israel, and in that way, they came under the covenants of promise made to Israel, by blessing Israel, as it says in Genesis 12, verses 1, through 3.
1, 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:2, 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:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, (Gentile salv b4 Paul)and curse him that curseth thee: (Gen.3:15 restated)and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (in Christ, the Seed)
ROMANS 15:9, 10, 11, 12
The next four verses, all talk of the Gentiles as coming to God through Israel. Through Israel!
That is the point, it was not the gospel that Paul preached . It was talking about Jesus Christ as a minister of the circumcision,
and his earthly walk, and the results of it.
In other words, it's not talking about the body of Christ, and its not talking about us .
ROMANS 15:9, 10
We will go on with these next four verses, Romans 15, verses 9, 10, 11, and 12.
We see that it says, 9,“And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.” And then in the next verse we see. 10,
“And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, WITH his people .” Do you see that? It's talking about the Gentiles, coming to God, through Israel.
“Rejoice, ye Gentiles, WITH HIS PEOPLE”
ROMANS 15:11, 12
Romans 15, verses 11, and 12, “And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.” So those Gentiles trust in this root of Jesse,
and Israel reigns over those Gentiles. That's talking about in the kingdom , in that one thousand year reign on earth,
that ISRAEL WILL BE THE HEAD, and the Gentiles will be the tail.
The Gentiles will be reigned over.
That is NOT talking about us. I hope I made that clear. It's NOT about believing the gospel of salvation that only Paul preadhed.. It's NOT about being spiritually baptized into the body of Christ. It's ONLY talking about the only way that
the Old Testament Gentiles had to come to God, through Israel.
These last verses that we have read, show Gentile salvation that was interrupted by the fall of Israel .
That's the way Gentiles would come to God, throughout all the Old Testament, UNTIL we come to this in Romans 11, verse 11.
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall ?” That is talking about Israel. Paul is explaining what happened to Israel. He says "what was the reason that they stumbled?" Did God want them to fall? Is that the reason that they stumbled?
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid.” In other words, that is not the reason they fell,
“but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.” So all those years before Israel fell,
Gentiles could come to God THROUGH THEIR RISE of Israel. In Isaiah 60, verses 1, through 3, God says to Israel, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light , and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
So that was the way, until Israel fell, and when Israel fell, THAT CHANGED . . That was no longer a way to God, anymore. God introduced A NEW WAY that was
not only for Israel, and those coming through Israel, but was FOR ALL men,.
That was through our apostle, Christ's only apostle of the Gentiles , PAUL.
So Paul went on to preach, calling out the remnant according to the election of grace, calling them out to be saved by the gospel of Messiah, the gospel of Christ, saving them into the body of Christ, the body of Messiah.
At that time, as we said before, that had a lot of meaning to those people, those Jews, and Greeks, or Jew blessers that Paul ministered to first,
until we got to the place where there was the beginning of the gospel that Paul mentions in Philippians 4, verse 15. That occurred about this time in Acts. At that due time, Paul was sent with this testimony, sent to all men. We are told that the transaction was done at the cross,
but it was not testified until "DUE TIME". It was only preached IN DUE TIME.
We are told that we can't call upon whom we don't believe, and we can't believe until we hear the preaching of that gospel.
That's in Romans 10, verses 13, through 15. This is critical to understanding the timing that God had. 13,“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14,How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” So they can't call on him of whom they don't believe. If they don't believe in God they are not going to call on Him, is what it is saying. And how are they going to believe in him in whom they have not heard. So he goes on to say, “how shall they hear without a preacher? 15,
And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” And then, Paul received another sending. That later sending is in the Bible. It was to
“all men,” not just to Jews, not just to Jews and Jew blessers, called Greeks.
Greeks are God fearing Gentiles that blessed Israel. Paul did go to them. Those were the Gentiles he went to, when first called on the road to Damascus. That was what God wanted. Paul knew it. It comes through when you follow who Paul went to, and then you read in Acts 26, verse 19. Paul WENT TO whom he was SENT TO.
“I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” So the ones that Christ sent him to, Paul did go to. I believe the Bible, and before his later sending,
the Bible only tells of Paul preaching the gospel of salvation to Jews, and to Greeks, Jew blessers, those that blessed Israel under the Scripture of Genesis 12, verses 1, through 3.
We mentioned that Paul was calling "a remnant according to the election of grace,” to believe the gospel of Christ, and so, come into the body of Christ. This is Romans 11, verse 5, where he tells us, “Even so then at this present time also there is A REMNANT according to the election of grace.”
He also mentions it, without using the word remnant, in First Corinthians 9, verse 20.Look at First Corinthians 9, verse 19, through 21.19,
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all.that I might gain the more”
That is what we were talking about earlier in this lesson, wasn't it? That we are free. We can do what we want. But, we make ourselves servant to all,
that we might gain more, in other words, win more to Christ.
In Paul’s case, while Israel was still intact, and not fallen yet, not totally cast away, he writes,
20,“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews..."
So that's about calling out the Jewish remnant. Then, “to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;.” That would be those that were Gentiles,
but they rested in the law as it said in Romans 2, verse 17.
Many of those that he was writing to, were in that category. He was writing
“To all that be in Rome” according to Romans 1, verse 7. But he defined which ones he was writing to,
in the different sections as he goes through Romans.
Here we see the Jews, and then those that come to God through Israel, the Jew blessers, or Greeks as they are called in the King James Bible, those Gentiles that fear God and bless Israel.
Those are the ones that he's trying to reach. Those were the ones from which he was drawing out
“a remnant according to the election of grace,” that they would elect, or choose the grace gospel that Paul was preaching,
called the gospel of Christ , at that time. And in First Corinthians 9, verse 21, he also says, about another group, neither Jew, nor Greek, “To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law”
Part two, - PAUL’S SECOND SENDING Paul’s First Sending Reviewed
ROMANS 15:13
Here in Acts 20, when Romans was written, Paul was awaiting for the later sending, which Christ, in the temple, had told him that he would receive, to preach the gospel to all men.
Two or three verses later, Paul receives that later sending, and refers back to it in Philippians 4, verses 15, and 16 as the beginning of the gospel, that he was to preach to all men .
Let's look at the next verse. Paul gives a challenge to believe what he has exhorted them to do,
bearing the infirmities of others. And we are going to look at Romans 15, verse 13. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” So that's his challenge as to what he has been telling them.
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We are considering the important section that refers to Paul’s second sending, in several places.
We will compare them with other Scriptures that show the same thing, and correlate well together.
Paul writes the book of Romans at about the time that the events of Acts 20 are taking place.
The time of the events of Acts 20 is, the time that Paul writes the book of Romans.
So the events that you find in Acts 20 are parallel to Romans. We will study them in parallel to find parallels to
confirm or deny each other. They will show the truthfulness, and trustworthiness of the Scripture.
Throughout most of Israel’s history, there were some Gentiles that came to God through Israel by claiming a promise of God. That promise is in Genesis 12, verses 1, through 3. There were other Gentiles, called aliens,
that did not claim that promise in Genesis 12, verses 1, through 3. They are described in Ephesians 2, verses 12, 13, and 17, as
being alien, and far off.
Now, according to Ephesians 1, verse 15, these are Ephesians that he had not yet met.
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
So, it's not the Ephesians that were in the church that he had started in earlier times in Ephesus, shown in Acts 18, and 19.
These are Ephesians that he had not met.
So, lets look at Ephesians chapter 2, verse 11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Ephesians 2, verse 12, “that at that time, ye were without Christ.”
They were not like these people that were in the covenants of promise because they had blessed Israel, as we’ll see in a few minutes. These aliens were without Christ,
Being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, they were strangers from the covenants of promise, not in the promises. They had no hope, and they were without God in the world.
Here is a promise that was used by those promise-claiming Gentiles, called Greeks.
This is in Genesis 12, verse 1, 2, and 3. 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:2 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:That is a promise of God right there, isn’t it? God will make it happen. Verse three is a crucial verse here, 3 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, that brings in those that are not of the seed of Abraham, those that are Gentiles. It brings them into the picture. If they wanted to be blessed,
they had to bless Israel. And I will bless them that bless thee
Look at Genesis 17, verse 19, And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
So, that brings in all of Israel afterwards. Some of the Greeks blessed the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
by coming to the synagogues to find God. Those Greeks were blessed by hearing Paul preach the gospel of Christ, the gospel of their salvation, at the time.
They were coming for years before that, Probably, for centuries before that.
But, at the time of Paul, that was what the blessing was that they received.
They blessed Israel, and they received a blessing from God, by getting to hear Paul preach to them how to be saved.
As we will see, Paul preached a different message of salvation, than Israel’s salvation, although its all, by the cross , by Christ.
ROMANS 15:14
With that understanding, let's now start with Romans 15, verse 14. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
So at this point, toward the end of Romans, Paul has given them the doctrine, and
he is telling them that they are full, they are filled with all knowledge.
It means that they have received all that Paul was commissioned to teach them.
Paul doesn't have to go and build them to maturity. This epistle transferred all the information to them that Paul had up to that time. It was complete. This epistle is the summary of all that Paul was teaching
up to that time.
ROMANS 15:15
So, going on to Romans 15, verse 15, Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
So, we see that it is a present tense thing. This grace is a, now thing, that is given to him.
Lets contrast that last phrase “the grace that is given to me of God.”
Looking at Romans 15, verse 8. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
That's why Jesus Christ came in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
But, as you see, it says, “…Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision.”
That says “was.” That means when he came. Not now, not anymore. But, in Romans 15, verse 15, when Paul said,
“the grace that is given to me of God.” It is a current thing. It's at the time that he is writing, in Acts 20.
So because of this grace that is given to Paul, he wants to write more boldly to impress something on the Romans. So, going to Romans 15, verse 16,
“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.” “Should be.” That's a future thing, “should be.” “ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
And that word “acceptable” is different than before. They were only acceptable before, by blessing Israel,
coming to God through Israel. That’s why they came to the synagogues.
BUT NOW, things are different. We are saved, by coming directly to God, through Paul’s gospel of salvation. “That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
Look in Titus 3, verses 4, through 7, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
That would be on the road to Damascus, that it appeared, according to Galatians 1, verses 11, and 12.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done.” It doesn't say it's not by righteousness. but it's 5“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing”, the cleaning from unrighteousness, “the washing”. And it says here that the Holy Ghost did it. It was
“the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
Titus 3, verse six, “Which he shed on us.”
It was his doing, and it was his imputing it to us, that makes it our’s.
It is not our works, it is His works
presented to us, imputed to us, to our account.
“Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Next, we read this in Titus 3, verse 7. “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs.”
God makes us heirs. It is not something we earn, It is not something we do. He makes us
“heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
PAUL'S TEMPLE VISION, AND COMPLETION OF HIS FIRST SENDING
ROMANS 15:16
Paul does not claim to have been sent yet , to all Gentiles with the gospel of Christ, the gospel of salvation.
In Romans 15, verse 16, Paul is telling information from God,
from Christ's temple vision to him, telling him that he would soon be sent TO ALL MEN. He is telling these people that he
“should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.”
It was something that was yet to happen. Paul is saying,
“I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.”
At that time, it was still future. “that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable”
directly to God. “Acceptable”,
not having to go through channels, or through a nation, or through Israel.
Most probably, it was a couple of chapters earlier, in Acts 18, verse 22, that Paul had that Temple vision, where Christ told him that he “will send” him , in the future, send him far hence, to the far off Gentiles. “And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and SALUTED THE CHURCH, he went down to Antioch.”Paul later tells about how it happened, in Acts 22, verses 17, through 22.And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.Acts 22:19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.Acts 22:21 And he said unto me, DEPART: for I WILL SEND thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
The epistle to the Romans was most probably written in Acts 20, verse 3. Paul was most probably sent the second time in Acts 20, verse six. Just three verses after he wrote this epistle to the Romans, Jesus Christ authorized Paul to go to all men , and to preach the gospel of salvation directly to all men , no longer limited to the remnant, in the synagogues, and the Jew blessers, the Greeks in the synagogues.
Now he was to go to all men, even these Ephesians that had not been in the commonwealth of Israel, and so, had not been in Israel’s covenants of promise.
So, this verse, Romans 15, verse 16, identifies that Paul has completed his first sending, and is anticipating his immediate second sending. It has not happened yet. He doesn't have inside information that it is going to happen immediately,
but he now knows that he has completed his first sending. By that he knows that his sending to all men must be imminent,
must be coming soon.
As we know, in Acts 20, verse 6, Paul left Macedonia, and That was what he identifies in Philippians 4, verse 15, as being
“THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL.” And, it was the beginning of
“the gospel of the grace of God.” It was not, called that before. It was the same message. It was the same, means of coming to God,
But now, it was to all men, from then on.
The conditions of that gospel were differentAlthough it was the same message, the same way to be saved,the recipients were different. They included all men,
instead of just Israel , and the Jew blessers. DIFFERENT RECIPIENTS, CONSTITUTES DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, meaning it became a different gospel, with the same saving message .
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Paul was initially separated to the Gospel of GodPaul was then called and sent to "THE WORK"-preaching the gospel of Christ.Paul was later told in a vision in the temple that
in the future, he would be sent far hence to the Gentiles.Paul indicated he knew he had fulfilled his first sending.Paul was awaiting his second sending.
which he got, 3 verses after he wrote this Roman epistle.
Since I don’t want to confuse the issue, let me say that the blood of Christ, did apply to everybody, even before Paul’s second sending, and they could have called on God to save them, if they would have heard the gospel message, and believed it.
But they didn't hear and believe the message yet, because Paul had not yet been sent , to preach it to them.
Paul still had been going to the Acts remnant first, Jew first and also to the Greek, the Jew blessers, with the gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation.
But, Paul had a sequence in preaching the gospel. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,FIRST, he preached the gospel of God,Romans 15, verse 16,(“That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable.")and THEN the gospel of Christ. Romans 1, verse 16
"...the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth....."Although, after his second sending,
it was called the GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
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Remember that Israel was in a state of apostasy. They had idols that they were worshiping, even in the synagogues. He made sure they knew and believed the gospel of God, before he could give them the gospel, that he was commissioned to give them, the gospel of Christ, which was the power of God, to save them.
We will see that again here, as we go through these verses. First Thessalonians 2, verse 9, tells, “ For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you , we preached unto you the GOSPEL OF GOD.”
And, we see the account of when that happened in Acts 17, verses 1, through 3. “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:2 And Paul,” notice this,
“as his manner was,” this was his custom. This was what he did, in his ministry. He “went in unto them” in the synagogue, “and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures .” And in verse 3, he was “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead.
reason in 3 synagogue meetings, that Jesus is the resurrected Christ.
Look in Romans 15, verse 16.And since that was Paul's manner, his way of ministering,I have no doubt that he also did that in Salamis, Paphos, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Perga.I believe that, before Paul preached the gospel of salvation to anyone, he preached for several weeks that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah.Especially to the Gentiles, Paul was"ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost”
Besides, the Bible never says that Paul ever was sent to, and preached the gospel of salvation, to any alien Gentile, before he was sent to all men .
And what about Peter?Well, that is what Peter knew. That's what Peter preached, that Christ died. That they had murdered their Messiah .
But, Peter did not preach that by believing that Christ died for their sins they would be saved.
But Peter did preach that Israel had murdered their Messiah.
So, this is what Paul did in Thessalonica, according to Acts 17, verse 3“Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
So, that's the gospel of God. That is what is defined in Romans 1, verses 1, through 4,
as being the gospel of God. It was the good news that
Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, the Christ, and that he rose from the dead.
Lets go on with Acts 17, verse four, which talks of the believing Jews and Greeks, “And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” Those Greeks were the Jew blessers, Israel blessers. We are still looking in Acts 17, verse 5. “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,” I wouldn’t want to be around them.
You can see Believing Jews, in verse 1,Believing Greeks, in verse 4,Non-believing Jews, in the beginning of verse 5, and Non-believing Gentiles, in the middle of verse 5.
“and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. Acts 17, verse 6,And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. 10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
We could add, "as his manner was,"
as we know from verse two.
But, we know from the previous verses that Paul had no chance to finish the work in Thessalonica.
He had gotten chased out of town after just 3 meetings with the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue, while he was preaching the gospel of God to them.
Let's check back now as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, in First Thessalonians 3, verse 1. “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
Paul had been chased out of Thessalonica, as we read. So he goes to Athens, and then he says,
“...when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of CHRIST , to establish you , and to comfort you concerning your faith :.”
So concerning their faith, he ministered and fellowlaboured for them the gospel of Christ.
Paul was committed to the dispensing of, or the dispensation of, the GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
As we read in First Corinthians 9, verse 17, and 18. “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”
18, What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
The Gentiles first needed to be ministered the gospel of God. They did not know who this Christ was, or who Jesus was. They needed to know the prophecies, and that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, and that he was the Christ, and that he did rise from the dead.
Then, they could understand that Christ died for our sins, and for their sins, and that by believing that, they are saved.
What we need to see from this, is that Paul had to start by preaching to them the gospel of God , as he did in First Thessalonians 2, verse 9, and confirmed in Acts 17, verses 1, through 3 .
Then we see that after he preached that, he was immediately removed from the city, and went down to Berea, because of those unbelievers that chased him out of Thessalonica.
From Berea, he went to Athens, as it said in First Thessalonians 3, verses 1, and 2, and Paul sent back Timothy to preach to them the gospel of Christ, which comes after the gospel of God. Maybe I should say the gospel of God has to come before the gospel of Christ. They have to know who Jesus is, before they can know what He did for them.
PAUL EMPHASISES THE END OF HIS FIRST SENDING
ROMANS 15:17
Now that we have seen Paul’s manner and sequence of preaching,we can go on with Romans 15, verse 17. “I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.”
what he has to glory of. “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.”
So we will try to unravel the double negative. He is saying that I speak of those things which Christ hath wrought, has finished, by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.
Paul emphasizes that it is not of Peter, of the 12. It is by him, Paul, that
Christ made the Gentiles obedient, and acceptable. Their acceptance by God is mentioned a couple verses back, In Romans 15, verse 16. “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be ACCEPTABLE , being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
ROMANS 15:19
Now we will read Romans 15, verse 19. “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have FULLY preached the GOSPEL OF CHRIST..”
There is a finality to that. He has done it all. I have fulfilled,
“I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Compare with me, if you would, this verse we just read, Romans 15, verse 19, with Second Corinthians 12, verse 12, “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;” it says here,
and then in Second Corinthians 12, verse 12, he says, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
So Paul had signs of an apostle. It is not talking about signs among the people. Those signs were done, those wonders were done by Paul. And, we know that there were miracles done. He raised a dead man, Eutychus,
and other things were done.
In the second half of Romans 15, verse 19, Paul makes a significant statement.
“I have FULLY PREACHED the gospel of Christ.” Having fully preached the gospel of Christ,
there is nothing more, to do there. Paul had fulfilled his mission,
as much as had been committed to him, up to that time.
So we see the completion of Paul's first commission.
There is an echo of it, starting in Acts 20, verse 17, paralleling what we read in Romans 15, verse 19.
Now this is Acts 20, verse 17. Paul had written Romans in Acts 20, verse three, and we know from Philippians 4, verses 15, and 16, that in Acts 20, verse 6, Paul had been commissioned to GO TO ALL men with the gospel of salvation , the gospel of Christ , not just to the Jews first, and also to the Greek,but then to all Gentiles.The gospel of salvation which had earlier been called "the gospel of Christ',started being called the gospel of the grace of God,because the conditions had been changed to include preaching it to all people.
So by a few verses later, here in Acts 20, verse 17, he had started sailing away from Philippi, and gone to Troas, and then to Miletus. And it says,
“And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus.” MIletus is like a seaport for Ephesus. It is down by the coast. And
“he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.”
Now that would be the Jews and Greeks church that had first been established in Ephesus, NOT the church that Paul wrote to later on, after the end of Acts, in the epistle that we call Ephesians, not to that group of people.
This is to the people in Acts 18 and 19, that he dealt with there in Ephesus. He calls the elders of that church down to
the sea port in Miletus, and says, Acts 20, verse 18“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,,”
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We know that the Bible says in Second Timothy 3, verse 16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.”
Paul said back in Acts 20, verse 20, “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you.”
So, going on to Acts 20, verse 21, He's telling what he has been doing, his past here,
what he has been doing, up to this point. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance,”
in other words, change your mind, from false gods, and from idols, change your mind.
“repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Those are allusions. FIRST, an allusion to the gospel of God, change your mind toward God. And then SECONDLY, it is an allusion to the gospel of Christ,
“faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We find out that it was to these Jews and the Greeks that Paul had testified to as late as Acts 18 in Ephesus.
In the past, that is what Paul had been talking about, the Jews and Greeks, not all men.
He is telling about what he has been doing, until now.
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By now he knows that he is authorized to go to ALL men. But he is starting his talk with these elders from Ephesus.
He goes on in Acts 20, verse 22 and he says, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”
So Paul is heading for Jerusalem. He didn't fully know what would happen there. But he did know what Christ had told him in Acts 18, verse 22, as later told to us, in Acts 22, verse 18. “And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”
So this news that Paul received in that temple vision there in Acts 18, verse 22, was something that would be rejected by the Jews, and they would not like at all. Paul knew to get out of there, and he got out of there in a hurry,
in less than one verse in Acts 18, verse 22. But here, he is going back. We will find out soon, why he's going back. It has to do with those destitute kingdom church believers in Jerusalem, who had obediently sold everything
But now, we go on to Romans 15, verse 20. “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation.” Well, we find that to be true. He did not preach the Gospel to certain people, only to those that Christ sent him to, when He sent him.
If we look in Galatians 2, verse 9, Paul had accepted a concession from James, Cephas, and John, that he would go to the Gentiles, the heathen, and they would be going to the circumcision , the true circumcision, the believing Israel .
Lets read that to confirm it, it says, “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Looking in First Peter 1, verse 1, we see Peter starting off his letter, and he says “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, ASIA, AND BITHYNIA.”
Especially take note their of Asia and Bithynia. And then, as we look at Paul's journeys, in Acts 16, verse 6,
we see him not preaching, and building on another man's foundation. In Acts 16, verse 6, it says,“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”
So Peter had contact with these people in Asia. He probably had visited in the province of Asia, That was not the continent of Asia, it was the province. So, it says that they were forbidden. Paul was forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16, verse 7, reads, “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”
Peter had contact with people in Bithynia, as we saw in First Peter 1, verse 1. Reading Acts 16, verses 8, through 11,
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;.”
So they traveled on their way over toward Macedonia. That was the door of opening for the gospel to
be preached in Europe and the West. But, they followed the Lord’s leading, and the Lord kept them from crossing paths, and building on each other's ministries.
ROMANS 15:21
Looking at Romans 15, verse 21, “But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”
Now, think about it, the covenants of promise were spoken to Israel. So, its saying,
“To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see.”
So, if the covenants of promise were spoken to Israel, then it is not talking about Israel there, is it?
The oracles of God were spoken to Israel. So again, its not talking about Israel. The Acts Greeks, and proselytes, are the only ones mentioned in Scripture that fit that description in romans 15, verse 21. They shall see, and they shall understand.
ROMANS 15:22
Going on now to Romans 15, verse 22, those Greeks had a place in God's plan, during the startup of the body of Christ, before the gospel of Christ, or the gospel of the grace of God, was preached to ALL men. They were standing in. They were a means of drawing out the remnant of Israel
into the body of Christ by believing the gospel of Christ. So they had a special place, back then.
We find a lot of what Paul later writes after the end of Acts, to the Ephesians, has to do with accepting each other,
the two groups accepting each other. As we see in Ephesians 1, verse 12, those Acts Greeks, that first trusted,
“be to the praise of his glory”, that they get along with those in the next verse, Ephesians 1, verse 13,
“ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth.” Paul was exhorting those two groups to, get along together. That is why he is talking about the seven unities. Getting along, that is why he says that
they are to endeavor to keep the peace and unity of the spirit. Throughout the book there are these references that the two groups are to get along, to accept each other , and to realize that they are one body. They are one body in Christ. It is the body of Christ,
and not to begrudge each other.
I think that applies also to the section in First Corinthians 13, verse 10, about “when that which is perfect is come.”
After Acts, all the parts of the body were in place, by the time Paul began preaching the gospel of salvation to ALL men, instead of just preaching it to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The body was COMPLETE THEN, PERFECT, HAVING ALL ITS PARTS.
That would be in Acts 20, and we don't see any more tongues, or signs like that after Acts 19. Acts 19 is the last that we see any of that. So, that's where I place the meaning of “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
ROMANS 15:23
Romans 15, verse 22, and 23, “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you.”
No more place in these parts. So just let me emphasize this. He has
“NO MORE PLACE IN THESE PARTS.” He is done. He is finished. His first commission, his first sending that was
in Acts nine, that we can read about in Acts 26,
Paul is saying he has completed his first commission, that they were filled with all knowledge, he told them in Romans 15, verse 14, that they were filled with all knowledge, they were filled up, they were full.
In Romans 15, verse 19, he said that I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
In Romans 15, verse 23, here he is saying I have no more place in these parts.
And in Acts 20, verse 20, he said I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you.
He had told them everything. He had FINISHED.
In Acts 18, verse 22, Christ had told Paul of his NEW COMMISSION that WAS COMING.
It was later told about in Acts 22 verse 21 as we read, it says, “And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles .”
Now Christ had sent him before, to Gentiles. But, He hadn't said, to all Gentiles. It turns out from following Paul's travels, he was sent to the Jew first, and also to the Greek Gentile. He had been sent to those Gentiles which would provoke Israel to emulation.Here, Christ is not being redundant.
Paul did not disobey, and fail to go to the Gentiles that Christ initially sent him to.
IF in Acts 9, Christ had sent him originally to all Gentiles, THEN Paul would have been disobedient, and Christ would've had to tell him again that, I'm sending you to the Gentiles, again .
But we see in Acts 26, verse 19, Paul says “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”
So we know that Paul did go to whom Christ sent him , in Acts nine.
So, this has to be a different sending. Its a sending to different people. To all Gentiles , far hence,
positionally, and doctrinally far hence . Those that had not blessed Israel.
So, in Miletus, in Acts 20, verses 17, through 38, Paul tells those early believers in Ephesus, those early Jews, and Jew blessing Ephesians, that he has received of the Lord, a ministry that was not mentioned before,the ministry TO TESTIFY the GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
He has received this ministry. He is letting them know. Lets read that verse. Acts 20, verse 24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course.” He had a course to finish here,
“with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus.”
That is where Paul tells them that he has now received this ministry, “to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
That is the first time, that name for the gospel of salvation, is listed in Scripture.
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In the same way that Paul had said that he finished his first sending, he later says that he finished this second sending, that he has now received.
We can see that in Second Timothy 4, verse 7. He says, “I have finished my course,” having started by saying, “that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
The new name of the gospel of salvation coincides with “the BEGINNING of the gospel”
that Paul mentions in Philippians 4, verses 15, and 16, as being when he LEFT Macedonia, in necessity.
That was in Acts 20, verse six. It doesn't give the details that Paul gives in Philippians 4, verses 15, and 16, but it does verify when it was.
It was three verses after this epistle to Rome, was written in Acts 20, Three verses after Acts 20, verse 3.
In Acts 20, verse 6, Paul says “And we sailed away from Philippi ” and that was a chief city in Macedonia, “after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.”
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So that takes up 12 days. And we already read that, later in this chapter (Acts 20), starting in verse 17,
he has gotten to Miletus, and addresses these elders, that we have been talking about, as a parallel section to Romans 15.
In Acts 20, verse 24, after Paul tells of his new sending , he confirms that he has finished his first sending , and that HE WON'T BE BACK.
He goes on to say to these elders coming down from Ephesus to Miletus,
in Acts 20, verses 26, and 27, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of ALL MEN.”
In other words, he has done his job. He has given them the gospel. And not only has Paul given them the gospel, buthere, he is hinting that there will no longer be that large segment of humanity without the gospel that he is sent with,“ALL MEN,” - THE GENTILESHe continues in Acts 20, verse 27,
“For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL the counsel of God.”
ALL that he had been commissioned to preach, HE PREACHED. IT'S DONE.
Paul is now on a new commission, TO ALL MEN.
Acts 20, verse 28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, AND to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.”
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves” and that is not to say that, he's not their apostle anymore. But, there is a cutting off here. He's NOT going to be revisiting them. He's done his job with them, is what he is saying. So, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which, he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Remember what the "church of God" is.That is the church that Saul of Tarsus persecuted,
BEFORE CHRIST SAVED HIM as the beginning of the body of Christ.
So, the church of God in Jerusalem, is what he is talking about, and we will see that a little bit later.
He's talking about sending help to the Jerusalem church’s destitute believers that had sold all to bring in the kingdom.
“For I know this, that after my departing,” there he is talking about it again. He’s leaving. “Shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” (cutting off the funds to be sent to Jerusalem)
So, Paul raises funds for his travels far hence, away from Jerusalem, and to the “far off” “alien” Gentiles, not aliens from outer space.
But, to the for “far off” “alien” Gentiles that he mentions in Ephesians 2, verse 12, 13, and 17, That at that time ye were without Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were FAR OFF are made nigh by the blood of Christ.17 And came and preached peace to you which were AFAR OFF, AND to them that were nigh.
So, if we want to read, we can read it also in Second Corinthians 10 verses 14, 15, and 16.
Paul is raising funds to do this second sending
that he has now been given by Christ. He says, “For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you.”
He has already ministered as far as to Corinth,“also in preaching the gospel of Christ .” 15, “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16,TO PREACH THE GOSPEL in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.”
So he is saying that we want to be enlarged by you. We want you to take part in our ministry, so that we can go “TO PREACH THE GOSPEL in the REGIONS BEYOND YOU,” in other words, TO ALL MEN.
Paul is talking about what he was now commissioned to do,
to preach far hence to the Gentiles, no longer just to the Jews and Greeks .
ROMANS 15:24
Paul had written that to the Corinthians. And to these Romans, Paul also writes in the area of raising funds. Paul writes in Romans 15, verse 24, “Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, (in that direction)if first I be somewhat filled with your company.”
So, he wants them to help him go thitherward, go further, in that direction,go on his way, after they have visited awhile.
PAUL TAKES COLLECTION TO KINGDOM CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
ROMANS 15:25
We see here, Paul's trip to Jerusalem with the collection for the destitute little flock, as we read these next few verses, starting with Romans 15, verse 25.
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.” And, if we just check back in Acts, briefly here, to the parallel section, Acts 20, verse 28, we see, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood .”
Lets take a brief, but important side trip here.WHOSE BLOOD did the Bible just say, purchased the church of God?G O D ' S OWN BLOOD.Who shed His own blood on the cross?The Lord Jesus Christ is God!!!
So, that is the church in Jerusalem, that he is talking about,As we see again in the parallel section in Romans 15.
ROMANS 15:26
And so, Romans 15, verse 26, going back to the section we are in, “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”
Lets the take a sidetrip here, if we can, and look at Acts 2, verses 45 and 46, before we get to Romans 15, verse 27. So, in Romans 15, verses 26, we have seen that it said,
“For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”
And here, in Acts 2, verses 44, through 46, we see the actual script of what happened in Jerusalem,
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”
So that is what they knew about in Macedonia and Achaea. And, they sent this contribution , for the poor saints, which are at Jerusalem.
ROMAN 15:27
Now in Romans 15, verse 27, “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.”
And the carnal things would be the physical things that we just read about.
They sent this contribution to help them physically .
Regarding the spiritual things, “if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things”, we know that the oracles of God were through Israel, were given to Israel. We have Scripture because of Israel,
that's a spiritual thing . Another thing is what we read at the beginning. Genesis 12, verse 3,
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”
Some of the Gentiles, for centuries, had been taking part in Israel’s blessings, by blessing Israel.
So that's what that means “if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things , their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things .”
ROMANS 15:28
Lets read Romans 15, verse 28. “When therefore I have performed this.”
So, Paul was taking this money from Macedonia and Achaea to Jerusalem.
He is going back after he been told to leave in a hurry, get out of there, the Jews will NOT accept you, when you are preaching this. And, now he is having to GO BACK . “When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.”
ROMANS 15:29
So, Paul is planning to go on this journey to spread the word to ALL MEN now,
instead of just to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. And in Romans 15, verse 29, “I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.”
When he comes there, he is sure. BLESSING comes after COMPLETION.
A new home is a blessing when you're warming your feet by the hearth, not when you're still planning it, not when you're just making out architect plans, or when you're waiting and watching the bricks go up, etc. The blessing is when you're enjoying it. Its WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.
So Paul says “I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” He has completed that gospel, which was the gospel of Messiah, that's what Christ means, the prophesied Messiah of Israel. It was the gospel for those Jews first
and also, the Greeks that blessed the Jews.
So, its no wonder that God gave that same salvation message a new name when he sent it to ALL MEN
He has completed that first sending, and he is ready to start that ministry, that apostleship, that sending to ALL MEN , INCLUDING TO US. That gospel of the grace of God, is our door of entrance to come to God apart from Israel, which is now cast away, and Loammi.
Going on to Romans 15, verse 30. “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” So Paul is requesting their teamwork, and their support for the new sending that he's received of the Lord.
ROMANS 15:31
Romans 15, verse 31, says “That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea.” So, he knew there were going to be hard times
when he got there with that gift, for the little flock. He knew that apostate Israel would not accept him. “And that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints.”
ROMANS 15:32, 33
We will finish with verses 32, and 33. “That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you, be refreshed.33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
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There are some other things said about Phoebe. but I will be staying with what the Bible says. There is stuff in tradition. There is stuff in postscripts, and things like that. If you look at the postscripts, they talk about bishops ruling churches. However, as I read the scriptures, the bishops were overseers that
God had raised up in the body of Christ, to oversee and take care of the church at Jerusalem, the destitute believers there, that had sold everything, to bring in the kingdom.
But then, Israel would not accept the kingdom , and did not believe their Messiah.
So, Israel's believers were left destitute. So, God raised up overseers, bishops in the body of Christ,
to oversee the collection and distribution of support, for those Jewish little flock believers.
That's what I read in my Bible. Those postscripts had to have been written
probably at least 300 years after the fact. So THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THIS . Romans 16, verse 1,
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea
Cenchrea is a town about eight or ten miles from Corinth,
in Achaea, or now Greece, near Athens. From the way it looks on the map,
I would guess it is about 50 miles from Athens. But, it's eight or ten miles from Corinth, where Paul wrote Romans. There was apparently some communication,
and this sister, from the church in Cenchrea brought the letter
Well, I'm going to stop there, because we don't know what happened. The rest is from postscripts.We all have to be aware and wary of letting opinions enter in. What the Bible says is that she was a sister. But then he goes on to say 2,
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
A "succourer" means an assistant, or an assister.I don't know if there is a word "assistor"But, the word "assistant" sounds like a permanent job. But, the way I understand the word "succourer" it's
one that helps out, one that helps and assists in the duties of others,like a secretary is thought of doing.
So, she helped others, and Paul is saying " that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer (an assistor) of many, and of myself also.
Wouldn't you love to have been recommended by the apostle Paul, to live back then and have him say so-and-so is a great help to me, receive them.
Wow! What a privilege.
She was a helper of many, and of Paul also.That takes a long time to become known for helping many people.So, GET STARTED!
Let's go on the verse 3. Now a lot of this chapter is taken up with greetings, summaries, and a few warnings, and we'll get to those. But largely, it is greetings.
So, Romans 16, verse 3, Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Priscilla and Aquila show up in Acts 18, and in other greetings, like in First Corinthians 16 and a few other places.
Aquila and Paul stayed together in Corinth, since they both were tent makers.Aquils had a Pauline Grace Church in his house, First Corinthians 16, verse 19,
…Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Aquila also sailed with Paul, from Corinth to Ephesus, just before Christ appeared to Paul in the vision in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Aquila was helpful in that early era, when they were bringing in the remnant, when Paul was ministering to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, just before his Temple vision.
Going down to Romans 16, verse 4, talking about Priscilla and Aquila, 4
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Here, Paul gives the, not often used name, "the churches of the Gentiles" to the churches that he had established with the gospel of Christ.
Look at Romans 16, verse 5,Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
So, apparently Epaenetus was either the first believer when Paul first went across from Turkey in Asia minor, to Greece in Europe, and the West,
after his Macedonian vision.Or else, Epaenetus was in that first group of believers,
since firstfruits is plural,it could refer to the first group of believers there.
Let's look at Romans 16, verse 6,Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
There must have been a lot of Marys around. I don't think there is any hint that she would be any particular Mary,
that we might be thinking of, or that other groups may think of.
So, we will go onto Romans 16, verse 7, Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles , who also were in Christ before me.
This is another verse that often is misused. Those who do NOT believe try to throw that at us,
saying that the body of Christ was before Paul. Well, it doesn't say that, DOES IT? Look for the word "body" in that verse. It's not there, IS IT?
Progressing through verse 7, Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen,
Webster says "a KINSMAN is a man of the same RACE or FAMILY or RELATIVE. "KIN" is a group of persons of the same STOCK, RACE or FAMILY.
As a kinsman, Paul was a fellow Jew with Andronicus and Junia. As a fellowprisoner with Paul, they had been in prison together at some time.
Going on, it says they were of note among the apostles, speaking of Andronicus and Junia.
They were noteworthy, no matter which group of apostles Paul means there, they were noteworthy,
and so he salutes them, as he salutes others in other places.
We will see in a few minutes that Paul salutes people that are not necessarily in the body of Christ.
Paul could have been referring to the apostles meaning Paul, Barnabas, Silas, or Timothy.
Or, he could have been talking about the apostles: Peter, James, John, Philip, meaning the 12.
From the Scripture, its pretty evident that, in the early days of the body of Christ, there was much cooperation between the body of Christ, those middle of Acts, Pauline, grace churches,and the little flock Israel of God.
Those body of Christ churches are called: churches of the saints churches of Christ churches of the Gentiles churches of Asia churches of Galatia churches of Macedonia.
All those names are used of the body of Christ churches that Paul established. There was cooperation between them, and
that Matthew 16 Jerusalem church, the Judea churches, the little flock Israel of God.
There was cooperation, and you can see that in Scripture, in various places where they met in the same building.
They were meeting together temporarily.In Romans 1, verse 7, Paul addresses
To all that be in Rome, and then in Romans 4, he talks to Jews, and
in other places, he talks to Gentiles that call themselves Jews.
But, let's look at the cooperation in Colossians 4, verse 10, and 11, 10,
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you(that's 1 person)
and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas(that 2 people)
(touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
(and thirdly he mentions) 11,
And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision . These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
So, Paul is going through here, and mentions many fellow workers. He is not saying they're the only fellow workers. As he mentioned, he is talking about
those fellow workers, who were OF THE CIRCUMCISION.
So, there was cooperation between the two different groups.
At that time, there was NO test such as, "do you believe in Jesus in. "YES".
Well, in which way do you believe in him? are you in my group , or in their group .
They were all of the faith, of whom Jesus was the Saviour. They realized the difference. They knew what they had believed, to enter their group. One group, Israel, believed that Christ was coming back,
as King to rule over them at some point, and they believe he is the Messiah,
risen from the dead. The other group, the body of Christ, believed that
Christ had died on the cross for their sins, to forgive them of their sins, and that by believing that,
they are saved from God's wrath They believed two different things. But, they both had the same Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Let's go on to the following verses Romans 16, verse 8. Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
and it's neat, how Paul blesses these people. I would have been grateful to be called "my beloved" by Paul,
or, a "helper in Christ",or, a "fellow worker",or, "noteworthy",or, any of these salutations by Paul.
I would love to have been there, and been noted by the apostle Paul,or even be a helper of a rightly dividing Bible teacher today.
Romans 16, verses 9, and 10,9,
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10, Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
You can take all these as exhortations, to be approved, to be a helper, in Christ, to be beloved, to be lovable.
Now we see Romans 16, verses 11, through 13,11,
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12, Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13, Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
I don't see any indication that Paul had a physical brother named Rufus. I think he's saying that she is like a mother to him,
She mothered him. She was apparently about a generation older,
and coached Paul, encouraged him in things that she could. I think that's why he put that in there. I don't think there is any documentation that
Rufus's mother was Paul's literal, physical mother
Romans 16, verse 14, Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them
So, that is five brethren, and brethren that are with them. That must have been quite a group, with at least six, or more there.
Romans 16, verse 15, Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
That is another group. There are lots of people in those groups that Paul is saluting.
Romans 16, verse 16, Salute one another with an holy kiss.
That must have been the custom, at that time. I don't know that we need break our custom now, to do that. I think the custom now is a firm handshake, a warm friendly handshake.SUIT YOURSELF.
The churches of Christ salute you.
there is another use of a name for those body of Christ expressions, or gatherings that had formed by those who
believed the gospel of Christ that Paul was preaching at that time, that they would be saved, if they believe that Christ died for their sins, and rose for their justification.
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Now we get into the next section that has more warnings. Let's read Romans 16, verses 17, and 18. 17,
Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.
18, For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
We have all heard presentations, where the presenter accentuates the positives, and hides the negatives.
But, this goes beyond that to intentional deception originating from the Deceiver himself, the Serpent, Satan.
the "good" and the "fair" are deceitful presentations in that context. They are traps!
Can we see what keeps this section, these two verses, especially verse 17, can see what keeps it from saying "divide from dividers," which would also make us dividers, from which to be divided?
What's the difference there? What prevents these verses from meaning,
"Mark those which cause divisions and offenses , and, divide from them ?
What's the difference there? It does say "avoid them." That is staying away from them,
isn't that making a division? Can we see what the difference is there? Do you have any thoughts on that? What makes the difference? Why are we not also "dividers" by avoiding those who cause divisions?Why are we not also causing a division then?
Let's look closely at verse 17. the part of the verse that makes us NOT be "dividing from dividers," which would make us "dividers, from which to be divided," is
17,Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine
That's the key! contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned,
not learned anywhere, not any old doctrine. but, the doctrine that Paul has just given them in Romans one, through Romans fifteen, and what he is saying now, the doctrine that Paul's is presenting them,
the epistle of Romans, to the Romans, the epistle of Corinthians, to the Corinthians, etc.
Later, Paul sends other epistles to the churches of all the Gentiles,even of us "far off" Gentiles,after his later sending, which followed his temple vision,
and after the end of the book of Acts.
But here, at this point in Paul's receiving of revelations, and at this point in Paul's writings, what is the doctrine which they had learned?
IT'S PAUL'S DOCTRINE, PAUL'S TEACHINGS.
Don't be confused, there are people that call other epistles, general epistles as if they apply to us.
But those epistles were NOT written by Paul,They are not Paul's doctrine, or teaching,
Paul, speaks to the UNcircumcision, whereas, Peter, James, and John, speak to the CIRcumcision
That's NOT us!!! All Scripture is inspired of God. Let me identify them, name them.There are 66 books in the Bible. I'm not going to list through them individually, but there 66,
not only 27, not only 13, and not only 7,
but there are 66 books in God's Bible.
Let's go to Romans 16, verse 19,It's talking about Paul's teachings, and he says,
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
So, that's the purpose of what Paul has taught them, to make them wise unto that which is good, and simple or UNaffected by evil.
Wise unto that which is good, involves wisdom. It's Godly wisdom. Let's look in the First Corinthians 2, verses 6, and 7.Paul talks about that with a SIMILAR group, with the Corinthians. He says, 6,
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Now, we will read First Corinthians 2, verse 13,
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
So, in all of those verses, Paul talking about the wisdom of God, God's wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery.
And each time, he says, we speak this wisdom. We speak the wisdom of God. We speak not in the words of man's wisdom,
but that which the Holy Ghost teaches.
Paul is calling them to go back over the epistle, to learn it, to read it, to study it, and to remember what he says to them, when he comes. Paul is teachng that they need to learn his doctrine, and avoid polluters or changers of his doctrine.
In Romans 16, verse 17, Paul said, Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM
That covers through verse 19. Let's cover the last verse in this section, Romans 16, verse 20.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Paul concludes that section of warnings. He says the same thing there. All four of those verses make up Paul's final exhortation .In a way, he is just saying what we would say today,
made popular by commercial "JUST DO IT."
Similarly, Paul says in Ephesians 6, verses13, Take unto you the whole armor, … having done all, … STAND!
I think he is saying the same thing here.
That's the last instructions in the epistle to the Romans, He gave them a final warning to
stick with the doctrine, and, not be affected by those who would pollute the doctrine, or, who would be-little it,NOT believe it.
Romans 16, verse 17,Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.
Mark them, and avoid them that divide away from Paul's doctrine .
Now, we enter the next section of greetings. In Romans 16, verse 21, and 22, Paul says, 21,
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22, I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
So, the scribe puts in his salute in fellowship, and in cooperation in the Lord. That's good. They are in cooperation. They are working together, and not just doing it as a job.
Romans 16, verse 23, Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you.
So, there was a church in Gaius's home where Paul was staying. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
How about that? Quartus, A BROTHER, is in Paul's greetings list.
That could have been any of us,not Quartus, the preacher,not Quartus, that memorized all the verses,not Quartus, that street preacher,just Quartus, (simply) A BROTHER.
That description and blessing could have been toward any saved person.
Romans 16, verse 24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
There are three places in the chapter where Paul seems to end the epistle. I don't know if Paul finished this epistle, and was on the boat,
and thought of more people to greet, and then ended it again.
Or if he just wanted to end a section with a blessing, before going to another topic.
Here, Paul reminds all that be in Rome of what he started out to do.. At the start of this epistle, Paul started by saying what he was going to tell them. Then he wrote in the epistle telling them what he had wanted to say. Then at the end, he tells them what it was that he had told them.
That is what we have here in Romans 16, verses 25, and 26. 25,
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26, But now is made manifest,
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Now let's review some the things we have studied in each section. now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel
That represents Romans 1, verse 1, through Romans 5, verse 11.That is the talking largely about God's imputed righteousness
in God's salvation. We will look in Romans 3, verses 24, 25, and 26. These are good verses to summarize that first section. 24,
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
And that is the "according to my gospel" part.
And now to him that is of power to stablish you according to
Romans 16, verse 25,the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26,But now is made manifest ,
That would-be Romans 5, verse 12 through Romans 8, verse 39, which is the second section in the epistle,
Imputed righteousness for our walk is summed up by Romans 6, verse 22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Throughout that section, it's talking about how God does it, not us. Its not our being good. Its not our trying to be holy. The holiness is a fruit. We are made free from sin.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Going on to the third section in Romans Romans 16, 26
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
that would be represent Romans 9, verse 1, through Romans 11, verse 36. It is talking about works of righteousness that was Israel's mistake. They did not depend on the righteousness of God. They depended on their works of righteousness.
We are looking at Romans 9, verse 30, through Romans 9, verse 33, which summarizes that third section.
30, What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
So, that rock of offense, and that stumblingstone is a person to be believed on. Who is the Bible telling us to believe on? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
As we go on in that same section, we see other verses that summarize it, in the Romans 11, verses 32, and 33.
32, For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
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!
God had a marvelous plan, and he has worked out a lot of it that we can see that was prophesied, and a lot that was not prophesied, that was mystery, and revealed at the time
When I read the Bible, I find Paul was the only one receiving those revelations. And yet Peter verifies it in a couple places,
and history does too.
So, going on to the fourth section, Romans 12, verse 1, through the end of the epistle.
The way we live our lives after having been stablished, is summarized by Romans 12, verse 21.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good
And, its God's good, God's righteousness, not our works. Which we have seen in rest the epistle.
Paul finished that summary of telling them what he told them, and he gave this final statement in Romans 16, verse 27.
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Just before we close, let's compare this verse 27, with Romans 16, verse 24. We see,
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AmenSo, Paul gives grace to fellow believers, but to God he gives glory verse 24,
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. verse 27,
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
And, that's the doctrine of Paul, as written to all that be in Rome.
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