How Do We Relate to Romans Today?
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Recap/Introduction
Recap/Introduction
Greek/Roman/Gentile
Came to Christ with out the Law.
They gave their lives to Jesus, by accepting the free gift.
They had liberty in Christ.
liberty, LIBO, freedom in their walk.
Misunderstanding that the grace they had did not mean they had the liberty to sin. Grace covers your sins in future, past, and present, but this does not mean you have a pass to sin as you please. Their are sins of ignorance and sins by choice.
Do we recognize our sins? Driving in the car.....The moment we get in the car, the sin itself can be waiting at the door, but we choose. Does this mean driving is a sin? Of course not! But our actions and reactions, those are possibly where sin will display themselves. Outburst of wrath?
What other things do you do that lead to sin for you? And what things do you do that does not lead to sin? Are you safe anywhere?
Our freedom is in Christ. In Christ Jesus. This position consists in many different states.
It starts with a decision to accept Christ.
Now, before I say this, I believe the decision to follow Jesus (after accepting) will burn in our souls, and we will naturally desire the following.
It continues with daily decisions.
A decision to pray to Jesus.
A decision to read the Bible.
A decision to worship Jesus.
A decision to serve the Lord.
This is a daily decision, a daily commitment.
We all struggle to do this, because we are fallen, and because Satan does not want us to have this relationship.
It requires our priorities to be straight, in other words to put the Lord Jesus first.
And I believe our priorities will be straight, if we are making the decision to follow Jesus.
And because of this, I believe that people today, suffer from what the Gentiles suffered, and also what the Jew suffered to some extreme.
The Jew suffered from being under the Law. The Law was tough to follow. In fact, it was impossible to follow the Law. But the Jews are a stubborn people. And do you know a stubborn person???
Well I know me. I would always think I was better than others. People would say I would suggest you not do BLANK. I would say, that is not going to happen to me, because I am better and smarter. Then, it would happen to me. I am not going to be addicted to BLANK. I won’t let this get out of control. I am not going to do........
Americans, we have rules. We struggle with legalism in life, and we drug it into church. And when we loose the personal relationship with Jesus, but go through the motion, we are living in legalism with God. At this point, the serving God is not a joy, but a thankless job. The reading the Bible, going to church are empty. How do you know you are empty? Because there will be no life in what you are doing.
God, who is ultimately the author of the Bible, knew what we needed in the future. This is why Romans is so valuable to us today.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)
for in chapter 1, Paul addresses the unrighteous heathen.
In chapter 2, he deals with the self-righteous hypocrite.
And here in chapter 3, he’ll speak to the super-=righteous Hebrew.
In chapter 1 Pauls declares “Creation around them condemns the unrighteous.”
In chapter 2 “Conscience within them condemns the self-righteous,”.
And in chapter 3, we will hear him say that the commandments given to them condemn the super-righteous.
Rom 3:1-8
Rom 3:1-8
Romans 3:1 (NKJV)
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
What advantage
What advantage
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4053. περισσός perissós
περισσός perissós
Over and above, more than enough
What profit is circumcision? What profit is baptism?
These are both symbolic of what is going on in the heart.
Question - Repenting is it required of us?
Is it something we say or do?
2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
This is why the Jew has the advantage.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 3
“Even though you don’t understand that the reason the law was given to you was to show you your sin and your need of a Savior,” answered Paul, “the fact remains that, because you had the law to guide you, you have been uniquely blessed.” In other words, although throughout history the Jews missed the reason for the taw, they nonetheless benefited from the results of keeping the law.
When the bubonic plague swept across Europe, killing one of every three people, the Jewish population was left virtually untouched. Why? Because in keeping the law, the Jews were protected from the plague due to the hygienic and dietary regulations contained within the law. So, too, throughout history, the Jews have always done well monetarily. Why? Because the financial principles contained within the law work—regardless of whether those who practice them walk close to the Lord or even believe in Him.
1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:
3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that
‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”
13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
These seeds, I believe can be chapters in our life. Describe based on my life, but I know verse 19 applies to me; “the cares of this world.”
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Selah
The New King James Version Chapter 3
oracles of God.
Scriptures, the law, witnesses of God, The Holy of Holies.
“Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV)
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Shift of understanding who God is…
Who does society suggest God is? Is there a loud rumbling in the world about who God is? Absolutely. God is all loving. All roads lead to God. The God of the Old Testament is not who God is today.
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
Are there liars? In church?
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
“Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
John 3:24–36 (NKJV)
3:24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The New King James Version (Psalm 51:4)
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
Abraham was pleading with the Lord for Lot’s case essentially.
Genesis 18:23–25 (NKJV)
23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
How did people go to heaven in the old testament? Before the law. By faith in God. The same as today.
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
Hearing the law I violated, presses on the fact that I didn’t make it that day. It acknowledges that I am guilty. There are laws I don’t even know exist at times, and when I learn about them, it raises the fact that I can’t measure up. American law, God’s law, I am guilty of violating them both.
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
If we do bad, but it shows how good God is, it is alright then? No
Example - Your testimony. Some people embellish on their testimony. Then those hearing think, oh how good God is to forgive THIS man. Sure, this can help some, but God doesn’t need you to lie to help others. God doesn’t need you to do anything. Surely, are there not really bad people out there who have already given their lives to God, who have a blessed testimony? Are there not more likely to come?
What happens when people find out you are a fraud? Will it eventually come out? Yes. Some of your closest people know you are a fraud.
It’s never right to do wrong to do right.
