Man's Problem - God's Solution

Preliminaries:

It's been hot, but you know we’re only 72 days away from he earliest recorded measurable snow in Wichita, KS

Thank you to the camp board for asking me to come and teach the Bible study. I appreciate their confidence and thank you to each one who is here and those who have joined us online. I am excited about what God is going to do in these next four sessions.

In these next few sessions we have together I want to talk to you about a portion of scripture that was confusing, disturbing, and didn’t make any sense to me at all until a couple of years ago.

I had the privilege of taking a course on the book of Romans. It helped but didn’t bring all of the answers I was looking for, and as a minister I feel it is our responsibility to expound or explain the Word of God as best we can.

I prayed for guidance and for God to open His Word to me.

shortly afterwards I was told about this little gem

“Fruit Unto Holiness” by the late Bro. Dale Yocum.

As I began to read this study on chapter 5-8 of Romans the Lord began to open my mind and heart to better understand what He was trying to tell us in these few chapters. Now I don’t have time for the entire book of Romans, or even all of these four chapters - nor do I claim to have all the answer, but I do want to deal with some of the parts of chapters 5-8 that were confusing and troublesome to me.

I pray God will help me as I can do nothing without His help and anointing.

Now this book is not why I am titling this Bible study “Fruit Unto Holiness” I’m calling it that because you will find it in

Romans 6:22 “22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

I want to look at some of the “fruit unto holiness” in these lessons.

Today I want to give an introduction of Romans and an overview of Romans 1-5 to help us see what has been written before and what is yet to come.

I hope to, if time permits this morning to deal with some important terms and concepts that will be used throughout this study as well.

What some have said of the book of Romans:

“It is the only part of Scripture which contains a detailed and systematic exhibition of the doctrines of Christianity” (Haldane).

“The principal part of the New Testament” (Luther).

Chrysostom had Romans read to him once a week.

Melanchthon copied it twice with his own hand in order to know it thoroughly, and it was the book he lectured on most frequently.

Introduction:

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul around the Spring of 58 AD While Paul was at Corinth staying with Gaius. (As Phoebe will bring the epistle to them after it is written Rom. 16:1).

Paul did not start the church at Rome but had a great love and burden for it.

As a side note - It is interesting that when we first come to know him he is called Saul - later he is called Paul. When I was younger I thought that was because of his conversion. But in reality the Bible never says that. But Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Roman or Gentile name.

Paul is called Saul in Scripture until Acts 13:9 His clash with the sorcerer and false prophet Bar-Jesus (Elymas) at Paphos.

Romans was assigned the first position in the Epistles of Paul in our New Testament Canon, due to its size (they often arranged from largest books to smallest by author) but also because it forms one of the major bulwarks of evangelical Christianity.

His reason for writing seems to be four main reasons

To unify the Jews and Gentiles

To assist in maturity of believers Romans 1:11

Missionary deputation (Recruiting sponsors for Spain Missions) - Romans 15:24-29

To give a systematic doctrine of salvation

A brief outline that I will be following for this study will be:

Doctrine (Rom 1-8) - Faith and Theology

The Power of the Gospel

The Doctrine of sin (Rom 1:18-3:20)

The Doctrine of Justification (Rom 3:21-5:1-11)

The Doctrine of Sanctification (Rom 6-8:39)

Prophecy (Rom 9-11) - The Nation of Israel (hope)

Past Election (Rom 9)

Present Rejection (Rom 10)

Future Restoration (Rom 11)

Love (Rom. 12-15) - Practical Application of Holiness and Ethical behavior

If you notice we have Paul’s “Faith, Hope, and Love” trilogy.

We are mostly going to concern ourselves with a slice out of the first part of the outline Romans 5-8 but I want to give a quick overview of chapters 1-4 and attempt to speak on Romans 5 today.

I. We begin with Doctrine - Faith and Theology (Rom 1-8)

The Gospel is God’s answer to the problem of sin

The Power of The Gospel (Rom 1:1-16)

After some introductory remarks and greetings Paul gets to the key text of Romans. Rom. 1:16 “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.”

This doctrine of salvation is sometimes referred to as “the Gospel” or “Good News” While the term “The Gospel” encompasses even more than what Paul writes about it does seem to be the main theme of the book beginning with the first verse: THE GOSPEL OF GOD (Rom. 1:1)

Rom 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”

You find another reference in Rom 1:16 “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.”

Not Ashamed:

I believe it was John Stott who commented that for Paul to say this is indicative of the fact that he may have been tempted to be ashamed. But he refused to allow the world, or opinions and criticism of others make him ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. WHY??? For it is the power of God unto salvation.... and Paul had personally experienced its transformative power!!!

The “Power of God unto salvation” is a strong truth statement that speaks of great things.

It is transformative power bringing everyone that believeth to salvation.

Romans has been a help and guide for many. The Gospel it contains has helped shape church history.

A Brief History of the Influence of Romans on Church History - How the Gospel the “power of God” worked in transforming power in lives

Augustine - 354-430 AD

At age 32, while sitting in the garden when he lived, he heard the voice of a boy or girl from a nearby house repeating over and over: Tolle lege! Tolle Lege! (Pick it up; read it; pick it up, read it). He interpreted it as a divine command. He writes, “So I quickly returned to the bench where Alypius was sitting, for there I had put down the apostle’s book when I had left there. I snatched it up, opened it, and in silence read the paragraph on which my eyes first fell: ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof’ (Rom. 13:14). I wanted to read no further, nor did I need to. For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away (Augustine, Confessions, Book VIII, p 108, trans. Albert Outler).

Martin Luther,

Over 1,000 years later in 1483, Less than 10 years before Columbus would discover America, a young man was born. Raised in poverty and later went to college to study law.

During a storm, a lightning bolt crashed very near to him, throwing him from his horse and in great fear he cried out, "Help me St. Anne, I will become a monk."

Young Martin Luther struggle for years to find assurance of forgiveness of sins. He pondered as he said, "night and day" how he, a sinner, could ever stand forgiven before God, who is perfectly righteous and will one day judge all people. It was while reading Romans 1:17 that his life was changed forever: "The just shall live by faith."

He is known as the founder or leader of the Reformation.

John Wesley

About 200 years later in England a young man, zealous for God and trying to walk in all the light he could, attended a church meeting according to his own words, "UNWILLINGLY" on May 24, 1738, and listened as the leader read from Luther's preface to his Romans commentary.

Wesley wrote about this experience later, "While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sins and death."

Some have said that “preaching from Romans particularly chapter six, has brought about more great revivals than any other part of the Word. (Yocum, 1989 p3)

Without the book of Romans we would not have much of Church History as we have it today.

The Bible Holiness Church makes the confession of being Wesleyan/Arminian. This means we subscribe in large part to the theology and interpretive methods of John Wesley and Jacob Arminius. John Wesley had four main beliefs or teachings that I think pretty well encapsulates this concept of the Gospel

All men need to be saved

All men can be saved

All men can know they are saved

All men can be saved to the uttermost.

{Maybe have the people say them again with you}

Paul was so convinced and persuaded of the authenticity and reality of this Gospel that he declares to the Roman church: Rom 1:15 “15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”

Paul had equipped himself to know how to share: I AM READY -

The Bible says that all of us should be ready to share this great gospel truth 1 Peter 3:15 “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

The necessity of preparation “So, as much as in me is,”

The need to make “sharing Christ” a top priority - This is a present tense, eager, on-going desire

This Gospel message will take care of what Paul is going to talk bring up in verse 18 - the reality, existence, and consequences of sin.

The Heart of the Gospel: Justification by faith (Romans 1:17)

We have in Romans 1 two special revelations of God

The righteousness of God (Rom 1:17)

There are three modes of God’s righteousness

God’s righteous character

His righteous activity

His righteous gift

I see these as combined since Paul sees this as the way God “saves” us not simply “justifies” us.

Revealed from faith to faith

Paul explains this when he cites an Old Testament passage “The just shall live by faith.” (Hab. 2:4 also found in Gal 3:11 & Heb 10:38)

I want to unpack this “faith to faith” idea a little more.

Righteousness or justification (The just shall live by faith) is obtained by faith, and is maintained through faith. It is by faith and through faith; faith from start to finish

Faith: This means not a Kierkegaardian “leap into the dark” (reacting to the Kantian consignment of faith to the category of subjectivity), but embracing truth in the gospel (in contrast to the false ideologies of the world Craig S. Keener, Romans, New Covenant Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2009), 29.

I also want to point out that Paul doesn’t use the term repentance in his discussion of faith, but real faith will bring about repentance. Faith believes all God says and does all God requires.

Three elements of faith by Dr. Allan Brown from 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.”

Belief in what God says

Commitment to do what God requires

Trust in and rest on what God promises.

So Paul is saying this righteousness is secured & sustained by faith

Faith provides for the imputation of a righteous to us, (justification) and simultaneously,

Faith procures the impartation a righteous to us (sanctification (regeneration) ).

We will talk more about this in a later lesson.

So the Good News or the Righteousness of God has been revealed from faith to faith

But we also have another revelation about God as we go into the section on the doctrine of sin.

The Doctrine of sin (Rom 1:18-3:20)

Gentiles Need of Righteousness (Romans 1:18-32)

The Revelation of The wrath of God -

We are told two things about it

God’s wrath is revealed from heaven.

God’s wrath has a future or eschatological aspect - but it is also revealed in the present by God “handing over” sinners to the consequences of their own sinfulness. Craig S. Keener, Romans, New Covenant Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2009), 31–32.

Just as God’s righteousness was seen in the truth of the Gospel - their unrighteousness appears in suppressing the truth.

Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men

They Suppress the truth - KJV “hold the truth in unrighteousness” that means they refuse to accept and reject the truth that is right in front of them.

2 Peter 3:5 “5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”

Kent Hovind calls that “dumb on purpose”

They change the truth

Peter accuses them of “wresting” or twisting the scriptures to make them fit their choices rather than have the Bible correct and guide their choices.

So God simply turns them over to themselves - which is a dangerous and scary place to be.

Mankind is under the wrath of God for suppressing and rejecting the truth that God has shown.

Jews Need of Righteousness (Romans 2)

Man will be judged by God according to the truth he knows, the works he has done, and with complete impartiality (Romans 2:1-16).

Religious orthodoxy, or the practice of religious ordinances will not restore the relationship between man and an offended and angry God. (Romans 2:17-29).

Ethnicity in general, but specifically being a descendent of Abraham does not immediatly procure eternal life.

All Men Are Guilty And Sinful (Romans 3:1-20)

Man’s condition and conduct is sinful and he is incapable of helping himself

Man’s condition apart from grace described clearly Romans 3:10-18 “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. 13 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: 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.”

The Problem Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

The Doctrine of Justification (Rom 3:21-4:25) (God’s Solution to mans’ problem of sin)

Justification by Faith Explained (Romans 3:21-31)

Romans 3:21-22 “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:...

Faith of Jesus Christ I understand to be the faithfulness of Christ (although there is much debate as to what this means)

Romans 3:24 “24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

What is grace: We sometimes only think of grace as “unmerited or unearned favor” which is certainly includes that, but it also includes enabling (1 Cor. 15:10 “10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” )

Dr. Ken Schenck has an interesting perspective of grace. He says first of all that you can solicit grace. If you are late to your work, you can ask for grace. He also made the point that in ancient times grace wasn’t always unconditional. If someone in that time gave you a gift of grace and you made rude comments or insult them you wouldn’t get grace anymore. There were often informal expectations when grace was given. So for God to expect us to be faithful after giving us grace works perfectly within that context.

Someone has made these clarifying insights about faith and justification

Faith is the condition of justification, not the cause of justification:

The moving cause of our justification is God’s love

The efficient cause of our justification is the Holy Spirit – who takes the things of Jesus, and shows them unto us

The meritorious cause of our justification is the death of Jesus Christ

The instrumental cause of our justification on God’s part, is the word of god

The conditional cause of our justification, on our part, is faith.

JUSTIFICATION DEFINED: John Wesley, in his sermon on Justification by Faith, asks the question, "What is justification?" He answers it by saying, "it is not the being made actually just and righteous. This is sanctification; which is indeed in some degree the immediate fruit of justification, but nevertheless is a distinct gift of God, and of a totally different nature. The one [justification] implies what God does for us through his Son; the other what he works in us by his Spirit. " (Vol. 1, 187). His definition of justification is "pardon, the forgiveness of sins." From the moment of faith, we are accepted through the Beloved, reconciled to God through his blood. (Ibid. 189, 190)On the question of imputation, Wesley wrote, "Least of all does justification imply that God is deceived in those whom he justified; that he thinks them to be what in fact they are not, that he accounts them to be otherwise than they are. ... The judgment of the all-wise God is always according to truth. Neither can it ever consists with his unerring wisdom to think that I am innocent, to judge that I am righteous or holy, because another is so. He can no more in this manner confound me with Christ than with David or Abraham." (Ibid., 188). He illustrates with 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says, "he made Christ to be sin for us." Wesley understand this phrase to mean, "treated him as a sinner, punished him for our sins." When God imputes faith to us for righteousness, he "counteth us righteous from the time we believe in him (that is, he doth not punish us for our sins, yea, treats us as though we were guiltless and righteous)." (Ibid., 196)

On the question of imputation, Wesley wrote, "Least of all does justification imply that God is deceived in those whom he justified; that he thinks them to be what in fact they are not, that he accounts them to be otherwise than they are. ... The judgment of the all-wise God is always according to truth. Neither can it ever consists with his unerring wisdom to think that I am innocent, to judge that I am righteous or holy, because another is so. He can no more in this manner confound me with Christ than with David or Abraham." (Ibid., 188). He illustrates with 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says, "he made Christ to be sin for us." Wesley understand this phrase to mean, "treated him as a sinner, punished him for our sins." When God imputes faith to us for righteousness, he "counteth us righteous from the time we believe in him (that is, he doth not punish us for our sins, yea, treats us as though we were guiltless and righteous)." (Ibid., 196)

Theological Definition: that gracious and judicial act of God by which he grants full PARDON of all guilt and complete release from the PENALTY of sins committed, and ACCEPTANCE as RIGHTEOUS, to all who BY FAITH receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

BHC Articles of Faith (Read from book page 11 section 10

Justification by Faith Illustrated by Abraham and David (Romans 4)

When was Abraham declared righteous? Romans 4:3 “3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:6-8 “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.”

If we stopped at justification alone we are only saved sinners. This is what you will hear on the radio and in many churches - forgiveness, not guilty, some where their broken sinfulness as a badge. I loved Pastor Joey Ratcliffe’s illustration of the broken leg. A boy is told by his mother to not climb trees. Little Junior climbs the tree anyway and falls and breaks his leg. Mother comes running when she hears him crying. The boy is remorseful and sorry and asks mothers forgiveness for disobeying. Mom looks down at her son and says of course I forgive you and walks back into the house. If we stop at justification - if we stop at only being declared righteous we are in trouble. Paul says there is something that accompanies justification lets look at that in our next section on sanctification.

We are actually given four aspects o salvation or four simultaneous events that happen the moment we are born gain in Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 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.”

Justification

Regeneration

Adoption

Sanctification (initial/positional) - Some Wesleyan scholars with whom I agree see regeneration and initial sanctifiation as synonomous

Justification by Faith’s Results (Romans 5:1-11)

Eight Fruits of Justification by Faith (Romans 5)

Peace with God -

Rom 5:1 “1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

No longer at war with God ( Rom 5:10 “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.” )

Access to God -

Rom 5:2 “2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

The term ‘access’ here refers to have entrance granted to the king through the favor of another.

A glorious hope - Tomorrow

Rom 5:2 “2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

It is the hope of eternity with God and the full redemption it involves. We call this glorification. We look forward we rejoice in hope of the glory of God

1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

But we don’t spend our days whiling away our time waiting for that tomorrow - we have something to do today...

The development of Christian character - Today

Rom 5:3-4 “3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

To a Christian trials and tribulations are character builders

James 1:2-4 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Patience = fortitude

Experience = character

Hope = steadfast confidence

God's love within -

Rom 5:5 “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.”

I am sometimes fascinated by how food is presented in pictures. I don’t remember if it was a Denny’s or IHOP add I seen in a magazine once that had a nice stack of fluffy golden brown pancakes with just a little bit of syrup dribbling down the side. Now maybe you like just a dribble of syrup with your pancakes but I like to pour it on, I like syrup left in the plate when I’m finished.

The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity dispenses God’s love into our heart and this word “shed abroad” means to pour and I don’t think He just dribbles a little of God’s love there He pours it out

Paul even tells us the ultimate proof and demonstration of God’s love Romans 5:6-8 “6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Salvation from future wrath -

Rom 5:9 “9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Reconciliation with God -

Rom 5:10 “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.”

To be reconciled in its theological sense means to have God appeased - no longer having warfare with God.

Joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Rom 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.”

Justification: Christ Victory over Adam’s Sin (Romans 5:12-21)

Notice some repeated words: (In KJV)

“ONE” = 12x’s Referring to Adam and Christ

“REIGN” 5x’s Refers to the two kingdoms

“MUCH MORE” 3x’s

Paul gives us some casual statements about Adam’s effect on humanity

“through one man …sin entered into the world” (Rom 5:12a)

“through the offence of one…many be dead” (Rom 5:15)

“from one…judgment” (Rom 5:16)

“by one man’s offence…death reigned by one” (Rom 5:17)

“by the offence of one…condemnation to all” (Rom 5:18)

“by one man’s disobedience…many were made sinners” (Rom 5:19)

These are contrasted with casual statements about Christ and His effect on humanity

“by one man, Jesus Christ…the grace of God and the gift by grace abound to many” (Rom 5:15)

“the free gift…unto justification” (Rom 5:16)

“by one, Jesus Christ…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life.” (Rom 5:17).

“by the righteousness of one…justification of life [to all men]” (Rom 5:18)

“by the obedience of one…many be made righteous” (Rom 5:19).

One has noted that Adam and Jesus are both similar in that their disobedience or obedience affected the entire human race. But the they are also dissimilar in that

The consequences are radically different

i. Adam’s act brought condemnation (v.16b) and death (v.17a); Christ’s brought righteousness (v.16b) and life (v.17b).

Adam’s disobedience effect passed upon all of us/ Christ’s obedience effect upon the entire human race is qualified by each person’s individual response.

The affect was completely different in magnitude

The contrast and comparrison is not about equivalency - no not at all

Think about this - the work of Christ, a manifestation of God’s self-giving love and grace is greater in every way than that of Adam.

Oh listen to this: Romans 5:20-21 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In holy pages, this truth can be found A promise to stand on when darkness abounds Oh, right never loses and wrong never wins And grace will always be greater than sin

Broken and bruised from the choices you've made Sin has a price and so often you've paid Oh, but Jesus is waiting, new hope is in Him And grace will always be greater than sin!

Grace will always be greater than sin Calvary has proven it time and again Whatever you've done, wherever you've been God's grace will always be greater than sin

Every true Christian is said to be holy by way of privilege and duty. List the five basic components of “holy”?

a. Privilege

i. We now belong to a holy God

ii. We are connected to God

iii. We are separated from common or ordinary

b. Duty

i. Live a life that is separated from sin

ii. Live in accordance to God’s revealed will

Paul speaks of the Roman’s “faith.” (1:8) What are the three indispensable elements of saving faith? (See Heb. 11:6: 1) Believe what God says; 2) Commit to do what God requires; 3) Trust in and Rest on what God promises.

We are justified:

by God, as the SOURCE - Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.

by grace, as the SPRING - Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

by faith, as the MEANS - Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

by words, as the EVIDENCE - Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

by works, as the FRUIT - KJV Jam 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Why title “Fruit Unto Holiness”

Intro of Romans

Overview of Romans 1-5)

Important terms and concepts

Outline of whats to come

Important Terms & Concepts to Romans

The Gospel - The term “gospel” is from the Anglo-Saxon “godspell” meaning “glad tidings” or “good news.” This glad tidings in the Old Testament could be something like the birth of a son (Jer 20:15); the choice of a king (1 Kings 1:42); victory in battle (1 Sm 31:9). It is news that is proclaimed widely (1 Sm 31:9), spread rapidly (2 Sm 18:19-31), and declared and recieved joyfully (2 Sm 1:20). There is also the concept of the Gospel of God as Savior such as the good news is not just, for instance, David’s deliverance from battle, it is that the Lord has accomplished the victory (2 Sm 18:19). There is also the idea of God’s saving work in Isaiah 40-66 it is seen explicitly in the prophecy fulfilled by Jesus at the reading of the scroll when Isaiah records, there are “good tidings for the afflicted” (Isa 61:1).

In the New Testament the word “gospel” (Gr. euangelion) is similar to the Old Testament thought but still somewhat mysterious. As seen previously, the Gospel means literally “Good News.” It is first of all the good news of victory of Jesus over sin and death. Paul says this victory is the “power of God unto salvation.” I would summarize the Gospel as it pertains to Paul in Romans, to be the entire message of God’s plan to redeem and restore fallen humanity encompassing all Christ did, said, and accomplished by his death, resurrection, and ascension.

The Gospel of God is not a New Testament conjecture but was prophesied and predicted thousands of years before (Rom. 1:2, Heb. 4:2)

Bibliography: ISBE (Revised), Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Beacon Theological Dictionary, A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (Watson)

Sin - The study of the doctrine of sin is the branch of theology called hamartiology. “One’s doctrine of sin reveals his concept of God, of the nature of man, of the Atonement, and of the principles and possibilities of grace.” Beacon Theological Dictionary.

The legal definition of sin is any transgression against the law of God (1 John 3:4). The ethical definition of sin, as used by Wesley and many of his followers is “a willful transgression against the known law of God.”

Sin entered the world when our God appointed Federal Head of the human race, willfully disobeyed the direct command of God (Rom. 5:12). The only other person who operates in a “federal headship” role in humanity is Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

We recognize and acknowledge two main types of sin in humanity, first, original sin or inherited depravity (Psalm 51:5). The only one who has ever escaped “inherited depravity” since the fall of man is Jesus Christ. Adam’s sin affected every member of the human race (Rom. 5:18). Paul describes the sinner in Ephesians as spiritually dead, governed by this world’s philosophies and values, disobedient to God’s standard and following their own desires he points out that God’s wrath rests on every sinner (Eph. 2:1-3). Paul teaches us in Romans that everyone has personally sinned this is the second type of sin, referred to as actual or committed sins (Rom. 3:23). The Bible talks about four categories of sin in regard to actual or committed sins.

High-handed sin - this is premeditated, uncaring, willful sin committed in defiance of God’s known commandment (Num. 15:30-31). There is no recorded animal sacrifice for this type of sin.

Willful sin - Willfully sinning against God’s law (Lev. 6:2-6). An example of this would be Adam whatever his motives for eating the forbidden fruit, he still knew it was against God’s law. May not be premeditated, but can include lying, extortion, and false swearing.

Sin of deception - Violating God’s Word, although not necessarily in a defiant or wilful way. You now believe it is acceptable or appropriate to do so by being deceived (1 Tim. 2:12-14).

Sin of ignorance - Unknowingly violating God’s Word (Lev. 4:13,22,24,30; Num. 15:27-29).

Can be defined as sinning in true ignorance, did not mean to violate God’s Word, or you did not realize you were violating God’s Word.

Can also be defined as sins of “surprise” or “passion” in that you did not premeditate or plan the sin prior to committing it.

Sins of ignorance are sin because God calls them sin. They are not referring to human mistakes and infirmities that are not in violation to God’s law. Remembering everything, spelling correctly, perfect addition is not required by God’s law, but motives and intentions are examined.

One has to view context of sentence, verse, passage and text to see if talking about acts of sin or the sinful nature.

The Flesh

Faith

Salvation

Justification

justification is a judicial act of God, a declaration which involves being pardoned, acquitted, reconciled to God, and accepted as righteous in Christ. It is objective: what God does for us through Jesus Christ. Justification grants us a new position and relationship with God. It is a state of being into which one is brought as a consequence of the divine declaration. Its meritorious ground is the Cross; the conditioning cause faith. Dr. Allan Brown GBSC Notes Week 6

My writings ->Justified - a legal term denoting the judicial act of God declaring an individual to be in right standing with God. The basis of this justification is not on the basis of Christ’s righteousness (song lyrics - “when he sees me he sees the blood of the lamb he sees me as worthy and not as I am..”) It is our faith not Christ’s righteousness as Calvinism they ignore Romans 4 that Abraham was justified by his faith. Rom 5:1 “1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” When we put our faith in Jesus Christ and are declared justified, we are united with Christ. we find that it is more than just “Jesus died for me” or “paid the penalty for me” we find that “I died with Jesus” Rom 6:1-7, Gal. 2:20, Gal. 5:25, Rom 6:6 I am crucified with Christ - While Jesus “Paid it all” when we put our faith in Christ - we also died with Christ - according to what God says. Illustrate difference between justification and sanctification with a dollar bill - Justification is status and standing sanctification is transformation and actual change in you. Luther and others focus only on justification (forgiveness) if we stop here we only have saved sinners (Joey Ratcliffe’s illustration about the broken leg) “Just a sinner saved by grace” (New Testament calls us “holy ones” or Saints over 60 times not sinners.”) In our dying with Christ we died to sin, and are therefore free from sin.

John Wesley, in his sermon on Justification by Faith, asks the question, "What is justification?" He answers it by saying, "it is not the being made actually just and righteous. This is sanctification; which is indeed in some degree the immediate fruit of justification, but nevertheless is a distinct gift of God, and of a totally different nature. The one [justification] implies what God does for us through his Son; the other what he works in us by his Spirit. " (Vol. 1, 187). His definition of justification is "pardon, the forgiveness of sins." From the moment of faith, we are accepted through the Beloved, reconciled to God through his blood. (Ibid. 189, 190)

On the question of imputation, Wesley wrote, "Least of all does justification imply that God is deceived in those whom he justified; that he thinks them to be what in fact they are not, that he accounts them to be otherwise than they are. ... The judgment of the all-wise God is always according to truth. Neither can it ever consists with his unerring wisdom to think that I am innocent, to judge that I am righteous or holy, because another is so. He can no more in this manner confound me with Christ than with David or Abraham." (Ibid., 188). He illustrates with 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says, "he made Christ to be sin for us." Wesley understand this phrase to mean, "treated him as a sinner, punished him for our sins." When God imputes faith to us for righteousness, he "counteth us righteous from the time we believe in him (that is, he doth not punish us for our sins, yea, treats us as though we were guiltless and righteous)." (Ibid., 196)

Regeneration

Sanctification

Entire Sanctification

Holiness