Romans 9

Starting in Romans 9, Paul begins to address an issue that the readers of his letter would surely bring up. He has been presenting the glorious truth of the gospel of God's grace and salvation through faith in Christ. It is a life changing message. It is a message accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. The problem is that it is the Gentiles who are responding in faith while only a remnant of the Israelites are responding. The greater part remain in unbelief. This is especially troubling because Abraham, the father of the Jews, was promised that his descendants would be like the grains of sand. These were the people of God! We may ask the same thing in our day. Why, if the gospel is so powerful and life changing do so many people remain in unbelief?

Romans 9 starts out with Paul expressing his great sorrow that his brother Jews had not received Christ by faith. After all, God incarnate came through the Jewish line--Jesus Himself was a Jew according to the flesh! (vss 1-5). Every true believer similarly experiences anguish of heart over those who are perishing in their unbelief, especially when they may be friends and family.

The apostle takes comfort, however, in the fact that God's word has not failed. He points out that not all the sons of Abraham were a part of the sacred covenant that God made with his people. God's promise was that the blessing would come through Abraham's son Isaac and not his son Ishmael. Likewise God chose Isaac's son Jacob for the blessing over Esau. So, in the physical sense, not all of Abraham's descendants were a part of the covenant. Likewise, in the spiritual sense, God never promises that all people will be saved.

Secondly, Paul takes comfort in his sorrow in that God is sovereign over salvation and that He has a purpose for all he does. He allows people to remain in unbelief and uses it for his own purposes. For instance, in allowing people to willfully remain in their sin, He demonstrates his great patience in forbearing their injustices toward Him in their refusal to honor Him for His grace. And so we see learn of God's longsuffering and mercy in the way he deals with His enemies. Likewise, we learn that God is truly just in the judgment that He eventually executes toward His enemies after bearing patiently with their injustice for a long time. And He uses this to demonstrate to the objects of his mercy how great their salvation is in that they have escaped such a fate.

At the end of Romans 9, the real issue of unbelief is presented. The unbelieving Jews stumbled over faith as the means of righteousness. The gospel promises that God will count us as if we were righteous because of Jesus' righteousness and not our own. And Jesus' righteousness is credited to us as a gift through faith in Him. This means that God does not value the righteousness we have in and of ourselves through the things we do. This is what the unbelievers objected to. They believed that their works, their deeds and actions, were good enough to make them acceptable before God. They rejected Christ because of their pride!

The truth is that our works can not justify us before God. As Paul presents in the earlier chapters, the problem is that inwardly we are sinners. Selfishness, self-centeredness and hatred dwell in our hearts. And the heart is what our works are judged by. Therefore, we need grace to be forgiven and accepted by God. And that grace comes by believing in Jesus as our Savior and trusting in His righteousness and not ours.

Romans 9 Questions

1. Describe Paul's sorrow over his fellow Jews not believing. How does it make you feel to know of friends and family who do not believe?

2. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous and the dust of the earth or the stars of the heavens. Does the fact that many Jews do not believe mean that God's promise has failed?


3. Where does this chapter teach that faith and conversion come from?


4. Do you think God uses people's unbelief for a reason?


5. Can you think of a way that perhaps God can use your friends and families unbelief for good in your life?


6. How has Israel stumbled over faith?


7. Why do you think so many people stumble over faith?

Questions for Romans 8

1. How does Romans 8 describe the believer being freed from the law?

2. Compare and contrast those "in the Spirit" and those "in the flesh".

3. What does it mean to be in the Spirit?

4. What does the Spirit of God do for us as described in Chapter 8?

5. Describe the future hope of the Christian.

6. How does Chapter 8 describe the certainty of our future hope?

7. What comfort is there for the Christian who is not confident in their salvation?

Questions for Romans 6

1. What are the questions in Chapter 6 that are being answered?

2. Considering the truths presented in Chapter 5, why are these questions being asked?

3. How does this chapter describe the Christian's relationship to sin?

4. How does this chapter describe the Christian's relationship to Christ's death and resurrection?

5. What do you think the significance is of these two relationships in 3. and 4. being presented as fact rather than instruction?

6. How does this answer the main questions being asked in Chapter 6?


7. How are Christians instructed to respond to the truths presented in this Chapter?

Questons for Romans 5

1. What are the benefits of being justified by faith?

2. Why is Jesus' death such a wonderful thing?

3. How did sin enter the world?

4. How did Adam's sin affect each and every one of us?

5. How does Jesus' death affect believers?

6. Why is Jesus' death greater than Adam's death?

Romans 3

Chapter 3 starts out answering objections to the universal guilt of both Jews and Gentiles under God's law. If the Jews were God's chosen people and they were just as guilty as the Gentiles, then why would God choose them in the first place? The answer is that God raised up the Jewish nation as guardians of his revealed word. But since the Jews did not even believe the words they were guardians of, does that mean that God failed? Not at all. God is faithful to preserve his word even if the trusted guardians don't keep it. The fact that God keeps his word even though the Jews failed to do so, demonstrates how faithful He is. The Jew would then argue that if their unfaithfulness serves to highlight how faithful God is, does that mean that He is is wrong to judge the guilty, unbelieving Jew? Of course not. All who sin under the law will perish under the law if judged by the law.

Paul summarizes this by saying that no one is righteous under God's law because all people sin by break His law. Paul is not picking on the Jews. He was a Jew and he includes himself and all Christians as also being guilty under the law as well. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (verse 10). Everyone is under sin (verse 9). The point of Chapter 3 is that there is no hope under God's law.

All this leads up to the good news of a new way of being righteous before God apart from having to perfectly obey God's law. The new way is that God gives right-standing to the one who believes in His Son Jesus Christ. And this right-standing is given as gift, received by faith. In verse 21 and 22, it says "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known...through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." It is not a righteousness that is of us or by us. Those who receive it are "justified freely by His grace" (verse 24).

In verses 23-26 it says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (verse 23-26)

This passage instroduces the atonement. Jesus shed his blood and died on the cross as "a sacrifice of atonement." To atone for sin means to make amends for it. Jesus' atonement and our being freely justified are strongly related. The second can not happen without the first. God does not give us the gift of righteousness apart from this atonement. Otherwise God would be unjust for not punishing sin. And he would be unfaithful to his word in which he promised that sin would result in death. Since God can not lie and can not be unjust, he had to provide a suitable sacrifice for sin. And Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He was so pure and holy, his life so precious and his obedience so pleasing that it made up for the sin of all mankind.

The atonement answers the question of how God can pronounce someone not guilty who is guilty. It answers the dilemma of how God can be just and the justifier of sinners at the same time. It preserves God's purity yet demonstrates his loving mercy. It vindicates his holiness in forgiving sinners. It is a marvelous truth that God can freely pardon our guilt and remove our shame yet remain pure and holy! Therefore Jesus, God incarnate, laying down his life on our behalf glorifies God's grace. It takes away any grounds for us boasting of righteousness and it upholds the law by not ignoring our sin.

Questons for Romans 4

1. What does it mean that faith is credited as righteousness?

2. Why does the promise come by faith instead of works?

3. Describe Abrahams faith.

4. Describe a Christians faith that is like Abrahams.

5. Elaborate on how this statement in verse 17 applies to believers in Jesus: "God...calls things that are not as though they were".

Questions for Romans 3

1. How does Paul summarize the last half of chapter 1 and chapter herein chapter 3?

2. If Jews are under sin like Gentiles, what was the advantage of being a Jew then?

3. In Chapter 2, we read how the Jews boasted that they knew andunderstood God's law. What does this chapter teach is the realpurpose of the law?

4. What is the hope that is offered to sinners in this chapter?

5. Compare and contrast the two types of righteousness discussed in Chapter 3.

Romans 2

Romans 2 is a continuation of the last half of Romans 1. Paul is in the middle of describing humanity's great need of the hope that is proclaimed in the gospel. At the time that Paul wrote Romans, chapter 1:18-32 would mainly apply to the "Gentiles". These were the non-Jews who were ignorant of God's law as revealed through Moses. In our day, this might apply to irreligious people who don't know much of faith. Paul points out that although they do not have a knowledge of Scripture and God's law, they are without excuse because God has made himself plainly known to all people in nature.

Chapter 2 is written for the religious person who would sit in judgment of the irreligious sinner described in chapter 1. This would be the Jew in Paul's day. He anticipates their prideful response and refutes their belief that they are better and holier because of their religious heritage, their observances and their abstenance from the outward immorality of the pagan. Instead of agreeing their evaluation, Paul refutes their self-righteousness and points out that they are also guilty and condemned under God's law.

The person Paul describes in Chapter 2 is self-deceived because they believe they are good and acceptable simply for knowing God's moral laws. The believe they are righteous in and of themselves because of their religious observances. Yet Paul points out that like the Gentile sinner, they too fail to obey God's law. They have secret sins they hide. They harbor self-centered selfishness and are deficient in love for their fellow man and for God. Yet they are unwilling to repent of their sin and therefore are storing up wrath against themselves for the day of God's judgment.

Sin is not just an outward action but a matter of the heart. True righteousness requires a pure heart full of goodness, love and humility and the actions to back it up.

Romans 1

The Author of the book of Romans is Paul. It is important that we realize Paul was an apostle of Christ. An apostle was one who was selected by the Lord and given authority to establish the church. Paul starts his letter by reminding his readers of his calling to be an apostle. The previous book in the Bible, Acts, describes how Jesus appeared to Paul directly (Chapter 9) and how Paul was given powers to do signs, wonder and miracles from the Lord to prove that he had the Lord’s authority. Because of this, we treat Paul’s teachings as not from man but from the Lord. So the book of Romans is God’s word.

The book of Roman was written to all the Christians at Rome. It was not written to just super-Christians but to all believers: “to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (verse 7). This applies not only to the Christians at Rome, but to us as well. Paul’s purpose in writing this letter is to encourage the believers at Rome in the faith. He is excited and thankful for their faith. He longs to see them and strengthen them in the faith but has been prevented from doing so. So he is writing them a letter.

The faith Paul is talking about is the faith of the gospel. Paul was “set apart for the gospel of God” (verse 1) whom he serves with his “whole heart in preaching the gospel of His Son” (verse 9). It is his obligation to preach the gospel to all (verses 14-15). This gospel was promised by the prophets of old and was now being declared. The gospel, which means “good news”, regards Jesus Christ, who was proved to be more than a man but the very Son of God through his resurrection from the dead.

For many chapters to come, Paul will be explaining this gospel. The book of Romans is one of the more difficult books because it touches on deep truths which are sometimes hard to understand at first. He begins explaining the gospel in verses 16 and 17. These are the key verses of chapter 1 and the foundation for the rest of the book of Roman. It says that the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes because the gospel proclaims a righteousness from God that people receive by faith.

Let’s look at each part of this statement. First it says that the gospel is “the power of God”. This means that God exerts power through this message of good news. Wherever this gospel is preached, heard, understood and believed, there you will find God’s life transforming power! Secondly, it is “for the salvation of everyone who believes”. This gospel of Christ is about salvation. The word salvation means rescue or deliverance from imminent danger. As we will soon see it is salvation from sin, its penalties and power. Third, it concerns a righteousness from God. This righteousness is from God not from us. And so it is a righteousness that is given to us, not one that we earn. Finally, this salvation and righteousness come to us by faith. It is by believing the gospel that we freely receive its benefits.

Starting in verse 18, Paul is going to describe why we need salvation. He will continue this discussion up to the middle of chapter 3. His discussion will help the Roman Christians (and us) to understand why the gospel is truly good news! In verse 18 he says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” So this is the situation, God is very angry, at something. In fact he is so angry that he is wrathful. What is he angry about? He is angry about the wickedness of mankind. But it is not just any wickedness that God is mad about. It is the wickedness of people suppressing the truth. What truth? It is the truth about Him. Why is God angry about this? Because the truth about Him is made plainly known to all people by God Himself (verses 19-20). God’s divine nature and power are clearly seen in creation. We know that God is Creator, that he created us, that he has loved us and been good to us. We know that He is eternal and all powerful. And as such it should be natural for mankind to acknowledge and honor Him as God and be thankful to Him.

Instead it says “they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to Him.” Instead of worshipping him, they denied him and made up their own gods. They worshipped created thing rather than the Creator. They suppressed the truth and believe a lie instead.

In God’s anger, it says “he gave them over.” In other words, he let them go their own way to become more and more sinful. Verses 24 through 32 list many of the sins that resulted. And not only that, they were not ashamed of their wickedness but approved of it!

What Paul has just described is called by different names throughout Scripture such as the “dominion of darkness”. It is called being lost, dead in sin, under condemnation and many such names. God and man are separated and estranged because of sin. What we see in our world what Paul describes. It is in this context that Paul is proclaiming the good news. It is the message of hope proclaimed that is bringing people out of darkness into His marvelous light!

Why is God Holy?

If there is anything revealed from heaven to men, it is that God is holy. To be holy means to be set apart for special honor. With respect to the Creator and ruler of creation, it refers to the tremendous obligation of all God's creation to render him the highest honor. Conversely, not doing so is the highest possible moral failure.

There are three reasons to reserve special honor for somone. First is because of who they are. When somone has character that exceeds what is common, that person is regarded with great dignity. When somone has more integrity than myself, it natural that I should regard that person with honor. Not only is it natural to do so, it is right to do so. Any impartial third party would judge that way. When we see a person of disrepute discredit an honorable person, we feel a sense of injustice.

God's character is perfect. He never does anything wrong. He never fails to do what is right. He loves perfectly. He is long-suffering and exceedingly patient when he is wronged. His motives are alway pure. He is generous unlike any other. He is extravagant in his goodness. He is quick to forgive even the greatest of wrongs. He is the perfectly just judge. He never condemns the innocent nor is he ever tempted or bribed to look the other way from evil. Every part of his character far exceeds that of any of his creatures. Not only is He holy in his character but in his very being. He is the highest being, the only eternal, infinite, limitless, self-existent being. And so it is natural that we should honor him above everything else.

The second reason we give someone special honor is because of their position. People in high and honorable positions deserve special respect. Our parents deserve special honor because they served us as caregivers when we were young. Our employers deserve respect since their leadership means that we continue to have employment and thus provide for ourselves and our dependents. Our civil and military leaders allow us to live in freedom and safety and pursue happiness. In regards to God, he holds the highest and greatest positions. He is the Giver and Sustainer of life. He is the Ruler of all creation, the great Provider, the loving Father, the faithful Savior and Helper, the strong Protector, the impartial Judge and the Executor of justice. Because of these high and honorable positions, we owe him unique honor.

The third reason we reserve high honor for someone is because of how they treat us personally. Someone who is good to us beyond others inherently deserves special honor from us. God has created us. He is our creator. We gave us all existence. He is the one who has ultimately given us everything we need for life. Every good gift we have received can be traced back to his own divine decision to bless us individually and personally. Family, friends, loved one, emotional happiness, material blessing--it has all come from Him. He has provided for us the way to be forgiven of all our sin in dishonoring him through His Son Jesus Christ. He sent his eternal Son into the world to become our Savior and pay the penalty of our sin. Even as God's enemies, Christ died for us, the ungodly. He has opened up his arms with the offer of salvation to all who believe--even those who hate him.

That is why even the angels in heaven cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!"

Make Requests To God All The Time

Yesterday I had one of those common Christian experiences: I realized some truth that I already knew, but in a way that, for some reason, really hit home. I was out for my afternoon walk, enjoying the trees and the birds and of course thinking and conversing with God. Suddenly, I realized that it should be normal make requests to God and to make them often. And that in doing so my life would be much better because it is normal for God to answer persistent prayer.

I remembered that there are many instances in Scripture where we are told to ask. Jesus said, "Ask...seek...knock" (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9,), "You may ask me for anything in my name..." (John 14:14), and "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish" (John 15:7). Somehow our thinking gets twisted and it can seem more noble not to bother God with requests. After all, we are no longer little kids who always pester our parents for things, but we are adults with responsibility to provide for ourselves. But we are to be like children before God. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

The thing is that our asking is to be more than just an occassional request here or there. We are to be prolific in what we ask for and how often. According to Jesus, not a day is to go by without petitioning God: "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...Give us today our daily bread'" (Matthew 6:9). We are told, "...but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18). And we are to be persistent in our asking. Jesus taught that we should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1). In fact, our lack is attributed to neglecting to ask: "You do not have because you do not ask God" (James 4:2).

Not only are we to persistently ask in prayer, but we are to expect God to answer: "when he asks, he must believe and not doubt" (James 1:6). "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it" (Mark 11:24). "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3). It is so easy for prayer to seem rote because our expectations are low. But how could we expect God to answer unless he really does answer prayer? The promise of God answering prayer is abundant in Scripture. Jesus himself, promised many times that our prayers would be answered:

• Ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7)
• How much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11)
• Anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19)
  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22)
• I will do whatever you ask in my name (John 14:13)
• If you remain in me...ask whatever you wish and it will be given you (John 15:7)
• My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (John 16:23)
  

Once again, it may seem unspiritual or selfish to expect God to answer prayer. But according to Scripture, it is not. The key is that the focus is meant to be on God. The goal of prayer is not simply to receive what we need. Rather, the purpose of answered prayer is for us to learn that God is gracious, good, generous, trustworthy, powerful, loving and merciful. And that in learning this we might trust in him, depend upon him and be happy in him.

The simple fact is that whether we pray or not, we all have needs, fears, hopes, dreams, wants. If we neglect praying for these, think of the alternative. We try to be God for ourselves. We strive for what we lack. We depend upon ourselves. The result is so often frustration, anger, worry, depression. James says, "You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2).

Of course, there are times when prayer hasn't been answered. Sometimes God says no for reasons that may not be clear at that present time. Does that mean that because God has said no before that I should neglect placing my requests before him and expecting him to answer? Because God said no in the past, does that mean he will always say no in the future? There is only one way to find out: present our requests before him often and persistently. That is the only way to know. If God truly is generous, should we expect more prayer to be answered or less? I would think more. And if he does say no on occassion, don't you think that will answer all the more abundantly other requests if we are waiting for his generosity?

Blessings,

John

Why is Jesus the Only Way?

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)

Undoubtedly, you have heard a Christian say that Jesus is the only way. We base this belief upon Jesus' word quoted above from the Bible. Why did He say it?

1. He is God's one and only Son

A popular saying is that we are all God's children. However, when Jesus claimed to be God's unique Son, he meant something all together different. When it is said that all people are God's children, the idea is that we are all created by God and receive some level of blessing from Him. What Jesus meant when He said that he was God's Son is that God is not his creator but his real father. Just like we share the genetic make up of our earthly fathers, so Jesus is of the same essence of his father. Earthly mortal men beget earthly mortal children. Jesus, being "begotten" of God is divine like the Father, eternal like the Father and shares the same character like the Father. He has a unique, eternal relation to the Father. Listen to what Jesus said:

"If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:7)

"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." (John 17:1-5)

Jesus is set apart from all other religious leaders and prophets who are mere men. He is nothing less than God come in the flesh.

2. He was sent into the world from heaven by God

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16)

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty...I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 5)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.(John 1)

All other religious teachers, philosophers, leaders of religions began life at birth, and built their ministries on their own wisdom or a perceived calling from God. Jesus is set apart from them in that he was with God from the beginning, was given a mission by God, came down from heaven, was born of a virgin and took on humanity to carry out his mission.

3. He Made Atonement for our Sin

Jesus gave his life for us as a substitute for our sin. God sent Jesus to be our representitive. He became like us by taking on humanity. He lived a perfect life for us, never sinning and pleasing God without blemish. Then he died on the cross to pay for our sin.

God was so pleased with Jesus' pure and sacrificial life as our representative, that whoever puts himself under Jesus' lordship and associates himself as Jesus' follower by believing in his name, he counts all our sins forgiving and views us as having the same innocence as Jesus. He looks upon us as a son or daughter with the same affection he has for Jesus. That's how pleased he was with Jesus! And this is what it means that Jesus atoned for our sins.

But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

No mere mortal can make atonement for the sins of the world. No other religion or philosophy or path offers payment and forgiveness for sin. Jesus is the only one who offers it.

4. He Sits and the Right Hand of God in Heaven

It is written that God was so pleased with Jesus, that he raised him from the dead and exalted him to the highest position at his right hand with all authority. He is called Lord or lords and King of kings. He is called the ruler of God's creation and the Judge of all men. This means that every man, woman and child are under Christ's authority. There is no founder of any religion that is his equal. It is written that He is above all. That means that Jesus is not one path among many. He is the one way.

If all this it true of Jesus, it is only reasonable that Christ is the only way to heaven. Why should there be another way? How could there be another way? Why would anyone choose another way?