Ecclesiology
The Gospel of God II
Lesson VII
Text – Romans 1:1
Romans 1:1
(1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an
apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
We
must acquaint ourselves with Paul and his epistles. Few realize that Paul and John wrote 20 of
the New Testament’s 27 books.
The
entire book of Romans reveals facts declared in and by the gospel.
I
Romans chapter one: The gospel
reveals that all are sinners in the sight of God
Wrote
Bishop Moule: “Gospel” is a word almost
too familiar now, so it is little understood.
In
the first verse in Paul’s letter to the Romans we are immediately introduced to
the gospel. The word is found at least
ten times in Romans alone.
It
is God’s Good News. It is God’s glad
tidings. It is well described in Luke 2:10: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy….” The gospel originated in Heaven. It is sad but true, the precious gospel is
little known today. We should always
keep in our mind that the gospel is a
declaration of accomplished facts.
1 Corinthians 15:1-3
(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;
The gospel declares that Christ
died for our sins. That is the first
great fact of the gospel. The gospel is
not concerned with what you do for God but rather with what God has done for
you.
Christ
died for our sins. He not only died for
what we have done or what we will do. He
died for what we are: ruined, helpless sinners.
This gospel is not of human merit but a gospel of grace. It is a gospel apart from the law and apart
from the sermon on the mount. Anything
else but grace is not the gospel.
Martyn
Lloyd Jones: “The gospel is the good news of God’s way of salvation.”
It
supersedes man’s way and removed every other way.
Acts 4:12
(12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18
(18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
To
people of this world the gospel is foolishness but to those who believe it is
the power of God.
This
gospel is a new message proclaimed only after Christ had finished His
redemptive work. This gospel of God is
often rejected because it brings man low before it lifts him up.
Vernon
McGee : “This gospel was sent to teach the total depravity of man. Hopelessly lost, helplessly lost.”
To
men who must have righteousness. To men
who do not understand God. To men who do
not “seek after” God. This gospel is
good news to sinners. Good news to bad people!
D.G.
Barnhouse: “I am convinced that the
ministry which seeks to exalt mankind can, in the end, can do no good for
mankind.”
God’s
gospel brings men low in order to lift them up.
As
we have stated: Men know by creation
that God is.
Romans 1:19
(19) Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto
them.
Men
know by creation that God is powerful.
Romans 1:21
(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.
And
men know that God will bring them to
judgment.
Romans 1:32
(32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which
commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure
in them that do them.
But
men left to themselves do not know the gospel.
When
we have stated that “all” are sinners, we mean both Jews and Gentiles. All are bad, so bad, that in God’s sight they
cannot be worse. So again we repeat the
words of A.W.Smith “The gospel is good
news for bad people.” We must see that
all are bad so we can really learn about grace.
Therefore all need to hear the gospel.
For all need salvation.
In
Romans chapter 1, there is a revelation of sin’s progression:
verse 21 unthankfulness,
verses 21-23 idolatry,
verses 24-26 immorality and
verses 29-31 violence.
Romans 1: 21-31
(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.
(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into
an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.
(24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between
themselves:
(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for
ever. Amen.
(26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against
nature:
(27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use
of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working
that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet.
(28) And even as they did not like to retain God in [their]
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are
not convenient;
(29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
(30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
The
rules cannot be broken. “Men moved from
idolatry to ignorance not through ignorance to idolatry.” (MacRitchie)
They
first knew God. Then they became unthankful, then idolaters.
What
God called sin then is sin now, although men and preachers deny it. A gospel that does not declare the awfulness
of sin is not a full gospel.
Romans
chapter 1 teaches the totally depravity of the human race and leaves all men
under condemnation. Then the book proceeds
to proclaim, that the need for salvation is a total need.
“The
method of Romans is first to clear away all ideas of man’s righteousness by
showing both Jews and Gentiles to be alike under sin and the whole world guilty
before God.” In a sense, Romans chapter
1 is a record of all human history.
Look
at the days before the flood.
Genesis 6: 5-6
(5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in
the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only
evil continually.
(6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the
earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Look
at the days and condition of the Jewish people in Isaiah’s time.
Isaiah 1:2-6
(2) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD
hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled
against me.
(3) The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
(4) Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD,
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away
backward.
(5) Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt
more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
(6) From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there
is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they
have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Look
at the catalogue of the works of the flesh as spelled out in Galatians 5: 19-21,
a list that is evident with men today.
Galatians 5: 19-21
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
[these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such
like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
So
the record in Romans chapter 1 (repeated again in Romans chapter 3) is not an
isolated case nor an abnormal one, but general and the universal state of
humanity. In Romans 1, sin is revealed
in more detail but there is no difference in its character whether it was
before the flood or at Rome. And the
issue never changes. It moves from
corruption to violence and to folly
- from idolatry to ridiculous
ignorance.
Here
we find the sad truth of the trite saying:
“God made man in his own image, and then man returned the compliment. Man made God not only in the image of himself
but most anything and everything else (Romans 1:22-23).
Thus
man reveals his folly. Man has gone from
the light to the darkness- not from darkness to light.
Notice: They changed the glory
of God (Romans 1:23).
Then they changed the truth
of God (Romans 1:25).
Then they changed the natural
use (Romans 1:26).
Man
now by nature is a mental, moral and spiritual pervert having turned to his own
way.
Isaiah 53:6
(6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Therefore
God gave them up to uncleanness (Romans 1, verse 24). God gave them up
to vile affections (Romans 1:26). God
gave them over to a reprobate mind. (Romans 1:28). The deeds done, listed in verses 29-31 are
not done in ignorance. And the verdict
for such behavior is death (Romans 1:32).
Without
God’s intervention there is no hope for man.
II
Romans chapter two reveals that all will come to judgment.
Romans 1:18
God’s wrath is against all unrighteousness.
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;
Romans 2:3
There is not escape from judgment.
(3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them
which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment
of God?
Romans 2:15
All through life, man’s conscience is either accusing or excusing him.
(15) Which shew the work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean
while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Hebrews 9:27
After this, (there is an after this), the judgment, not a second chance.
(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment:
2 Timothy 4:1
He will judge the quick and the dead.
(1) I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his
kingdom;
Acts 17:30-31
The day of judgment is already appointed. A day of reckoning is ahead for all men both
saved an unsaved.
(30) And the times
of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
repent:
(31) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained;
[whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him
from the dead.
Luke 12:48
To whom much has been given, much shall be required.
(48) But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy
of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is
given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of
him they will ask the more.
Perhaps
you had godly grandparents, but you are not godly. You had godly parents but you are not like
them. You were given a godly wife, but
you have not been moved by it. You have
heard the gospel. You have been in many
a Church meeting. You have had
opportunity. Much has been given, much
will be required!
All
these things will be brought up before you.
In
Romans chapter one it reveals man’s universal guilt. In chapter two it reveals the guilt of the
so-called better class including the guilt of the Jewish religious world. The third chapter will show that the law has
condemned every man and it will shut every mouth.
Romans 3:19-20
(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.
(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.
III
Romans chapter three begins to unfold and reveal God’s way of Salvation.
A
salvation from sin. A salvation from
wrath. A salvation from judgment. This is God’s way of escape.
Romans 3:9-12,
All are under sin and all need to be saved.
(9) What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise:
for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
(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, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:19-24, If you would be saved, you must
be saved God’s way.
(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.
(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.
(21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(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:
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;
Salvation
is unto all. And God provides
righteousness for all who believe.
In
Jesus Christ God has done for you what you could not do for yourself. He has provided a robe of righteousness that
is fit for Heaven.
J.E.
Erickson:
“The
law demanded righteousness (Galatians 3:12,21).
The
gospel alone reveals this righteousness.
It is by faith-righteousness (Romans 1:17). So far as the message of the gospel is
concerned, the revelation is pure objective.
Romans 1:17 – literally- For God’s
righteousness on the principle of faith to (such as have) faith is revealed in
it (the gospel) just as it is written, the righteous on the principle of faith
shall live”
(17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The
righteousness provided by God is seen to be one that springs out of faith and
it is one adapted only to faith. In
other words, it is righteousness wholly by faith. Paul quotes Habakkuk to show he has not
invented something new (Habakkuk 2:4).”
Habakkuk 2:4
(4) Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright
in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Before
the unfolding of the truth of the Church, the body of Christ, as found in 1
Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians especially, there must come this great
letter of Romans which will take up the ground work of salvation—showing,
explaining, proving how salvation is made possible for sinners.
The
law condemns those who are under it. But
here especially in chapter 3 of Romans, God proclaims a righteousness of God
provided for human beings without works.
Romans 3: 21-28.
(21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(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:
(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:
(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.
(27) Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what
law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
(28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by
faith without the deeds of the law.
And
the next chapter proves that plan is in keeping with Old Testament experience.
IV
Romans chapter four : The gospel reveals that Salvation is not by works
or keeping the law.
The
experience of Abraham, then David is referred to in verses 1-8.
Romans 4: 1-8
(1) What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
(2) 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 was counted unto him for righteousness.
(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.
(6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the
man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
(7) [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
(8) Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute
sin.
God’s
way of salvation is by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
It
is without or apart from works.
Romans 4:5
(5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
It
is without circumcision.
Romans 4:10
(10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in
circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
It
is without the law.
Romans 4:13
(13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the
world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith.
Law-keeping
will never do it.
Galatians 3:19
(19) Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added
because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was
made; [and it] was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The
law was dispensational - from Moses to Christ. Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:4
(4) For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth.
In Romans 4 :1-8
Salvation is without works.
In Romans 4:9-12
Salvation is without rites.
(9)
[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the
uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for
righteousness.
(10)
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?
Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
(11)
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of
all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might
be imputed unto them also:
(12)
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,
but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he
had] being yet uncircumcised.
In Romans 4:13-25
Salvation is without deeds of the law
(13)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham,
or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
(14)
For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the
promise made of none effect:
(15)
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no
transgression.
(16)
Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise
might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to
that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(17)
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom
he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things
which be not as though they were.
(18)
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many
nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
(19)
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he
was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
(20) He staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
(21)
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to
perform.
(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;
(25)
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
In
Romans 4:16, salvation is of faith (the
channel) by grace ( the ground).
Not bestowed because of merit.
Not withheld because of
demerit.
Not increased because of
merit.
Not decreased because of
demerit.
For
grace cannot involve any debt. Because
it is of grace, it is sure to all who believe.
V.
Romans chapter five: The gospel
includes our Justification.
Romans 4:25- 5:1
(25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised
again for our justification.
(1) ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:15-21
(15) But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift.
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto
many.
(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.
(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.)
(18) 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.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might
abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might
grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
“As
the Bible is an unfolding of the purpose, the plan, the program of God from
Genesis to Revelation, so Romans is an unfolding of the purpose, the plan, the
program of the salvation of God, each succeeding part adding to the progressive
unfolding of God’s purposes in the progress of Divine revelation. Therefore, it must needs be an inspired
record.”
2 Timothy 3:16
(16) All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and
[is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
The
epistles of Paul, including Romans, are all addressed to the
How
often do I remember Harold Hollands teaching me this with reference to so many
Evangelists, always preaching out of the Gospels and by doing so they often
presented what he called ‘a short gospel”.
He had lifted that phrase from Isaiah 28:20.
Isaiah 28:20
(20) For the bed is shorter than that [a man] can stretch
himself [on it]: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it].
Romans
chapter 5 begins with justification by faith.
Men hope to end, somehow justified when they stand before God. But it is here God wants us to begin
our Christian life—justified by
faith.
“It
is by faith only and alone. It is
nothing you can perform. I tell you we
had better preach justification by faith
alone.”
There
is no room for progressive justification.
Justification is a universal remedy for the sinner.
Romans 3:30
(30) Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Justification
by faith honors the law.
Romans 3:31
(31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God
forbid: yea, we establish the law.
As
we shall see, Romans 5 lists the many blessings of justification by faith. But remember it is part of the gospel and
therefore a part of our salvation which is all, totally a gift, given to one with
faith.
VI
Romans chapters six and seven:
The gospel reveals that Salvation includes our sanctification.
We
have been saved. We are being saved.
“Those
thus saved are shown next that they have been brought by Christ’s death into a
new creation where it is not possible to continue committing sin: because the way of practical victory over sin
in the life is in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
We must see our deliverance from
sin and its bondage is by identification with Christ in His death, burial and
resurrection (Romans 6:1 to 7:6).
In
chapter seven we have the despair of self-effort and then the answer found in
Christ.
Romans 7:7-25
Oh to be able to see where the answer lies relative to the life of
victory!
(7) 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.
(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
7:24 Who shall deliver us?
Romans
7:25 I thank God it is through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
We
should say and sing more often, “Christ is the answer”.
VII
Romans chapter eight: The gospel
reveals that Salvation includes our glorification.
Romans 8:1 opens with no condemnation.
(1) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:31-39 concludes with no separation.
(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.
(31) What shall we then say to these things? If God [be]
for us, who [can be] against us?
(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.
(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.
(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,
(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.
First
of all beginning at verse 30, observe the word “HE”. It looks and sounds as if God has done
something! And what He has done is a
package deal.
Whom
He justifies then He also glorifies.
It
is not one or the other, it is one and
the other. Every justified saint is
already glorified in God’s sight. He
speaks of these things that are not as if they are.
Romans 4:17
(17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many
nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and
calleth those things which be not as though they were.
That
is why Paul writes of saints as being citizens of Heaven …
Philippians 3:20
(20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also
we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
…
and already Ambassador’s from heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:20
(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.
As
far as God is concerned we have been raised up and seated with Christ in Heaven
(Ephesians 1:6), and now, sent back to earth from Heaven as Heaven’s
representatives. So sure are we of glorification. Therefore, verse 33 “Who”; verse 34 “Who”; verse 35 “Who”? We are of Paul’s persuasion.
VIII Romans chapters 9 to 11: The gospel is illustrated by Israel.
Romans 9:10-13
Salvation is not a question of good or bad.
(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;)
(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.
Romans 11:6
All of grace and not of works.
(6) And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works:
otherwise grace is no more grace. But [if it] be of works, then is it no more
grace: otherwise work is no more work.
If
it were not for God, all would be lost.
Too
often when reading Luke 15, we miss the greatest point in the three parables.
We
hear so much about the prodigal son, but the story really reveals the heart of
his father.
We
hear about the sheep that was lost, but the emphasis has to do with the heart
of the shepherd, seeking the lost.
It
is not the lost coin that needs emphasis but the woman sweeping, seeking until
she finds it.
All
three stories reveal the heart of God
So
does the history of
IX
Romans chapters 12 to 16: The
gospel reveals that only by receiving of the gospel is man’s behavior changed.
Romans
12:1 In our Personal life we cannot do so without
the gospel.
(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.
Romans
13:1 In our National life we cannot do so without the gospel.
(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.
Romans
14:1 In our Christian life we cannot do so apart
from the gospel.
(1)
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Romans
15:1 In our Daily life we cannot do so without the
gospel.
(1)We
then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to
please ourselves.
Romans
16:1-2 In our Social life we cannot do so apart from
the gospel.
(1) I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is
a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
(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.