Most Important Notes from BIBL 425 {4,236 words}
XVII. Lesson 17 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 9:1-5)
A. Four divisions: (1) the courthouse of Law (Romans 1-5), (2) the powerhouse of Grace (Romans 6-8), (3) a synagogue (Israel) (Romans 9-11), and (4) the Temple of God (Romans 12-16).
B. Romans is about righteousness: (1) God is righteous, (2) God demands righteousness, and (3) God provides righteousness. In Romans, Chapter Nine, God accepted Israel in the past. In Romans, Chapter Ten, He rejects them in the present. In Romans, Chapter Eleven, He restores them.
C. Romans 9 (God's sovereignty), Romans 10 (God's righteousness), and Romans 11 (God's wisdom). Romans, Chapters Nine through Eleven, are the third building of the four buildings of Romans.
D. Paul was brokenhearted that his own nation of Israel saw him as a traitor. He wrote these three chapters to show his love for Israel even though his ministry was already to the Gentiles. Romans 9:3 says, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race." The greatness of Paul and Moses was that both were willing to be cursed for their people's sakes. The Hebrew words for when the children of Israel were worshipping that golden idol shows that they were having a sexual orgy. They were breaking every one of the Ten Commandments. Paul felt the same agony and frustration as Moses had felt. Jesus also felt those emotions, too. Paul was still a Jew at heart, so these three chapters had a personal aspect.
E. Paul also had a theological reason for writing Romans 9-11, to support what he had written in Romans 8 concerning eternal security. God had selected the Jews in the Old Testament but later set them aside. Now, Paul wanted to prove that God would not someday lay aside Christians, too. When Paul wrote Romans, Stephen and James had already been martyred, so Paul was trying to vindicate God's program. Romans 9 was Israel's selection in the past (was undeserved) and God's sovereignty, Romans 10 was Israel's rejection in the present (not total or permanent) and God's righteousness, and Romans 11 was Israel's future restoration (totally assured) and God's wisdom. The restoration of Israel will usher in the Millennium.
F. Paul explains what roles Gentiles will play in all of this. God used Cyrus, an unsaved man, at the end of the Babylonian captivity.
G. Romans 9:4-5 says, "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen."
1. The advantages in being a Jew are listed in the above two verses. First, they were a special people, Israelites (Amos 3:2 - an intimate knowledge). The other eight advantages are underlined above.
2. They had the adoption
3. Ezekiel 10:18-19 talks about the time when God's glory departed Israel, and it never came back until Christ. The shepherds saw it, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the Ascension.
4. The Abrahamic (Genesis, chapters 12-15) covenant pertained to seed and soil. The Davidic covenant (II Samuel 7:12-22) promised a King. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31) promised a new heart. Those are the three important covenants in the Old Testament.
5. The Law was the best thing that Israel had because it taught them about God. They could not keep the Law, though.
6. They had the services of the Temple and Tabernacle services.
7. They had the promises that would lead to the Messiah.
8. They had the example of the patriarchs.
9. They produced the line to Jesus (human ancestry).
H. Israel did not have any excuses for not recognizing Jesus. There were 37 Old Testament references, and Jesus fulfilled every one of them. Psalm 22:1 says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" Psalm 22:18 says, "They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." Anyone looking at just that Psalm should have known what was happening.
I. The unsaved Gentiles have even less excuse because they have access to the full ministry of the Holy Spirit. They also have the full Bible.
XVIII. Lesson 18 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 9:6-33)
A. God's sovereignty - His absolute freedom and control over the affairs of men was shown through five examples in Romans, Chapter Nine.
1. Ishmael and Isaac (Romans 9:6-9) - only born again are true Jews, circumcised inwardly of the heart. Abraham had eight sons through three wives (Sarah (Isaac), Hagar (Ishmael), and Keturah (6 sons)). Isaac is a foreshadow of Christ because (a) he had a supernatural birth, (b) Sarah was barren and Mary was a virgin, and (c) Isaac was offered by his father as a sacrifice. God's sovereign will was that the second son would be over the first, not based on national descent.
2. Esau and Jacob (Romans 9:10-13) - Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years to have children, and Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for Esau and Jacob. God's sovereign will was that the second son would be over the first, not based on birth order. God determined before birth about Jacob and Esau, and He does whatever legitimate thing that He wants to do. Did God hate Esau (Romans 9:13 versus John 3:16)? That verse is quoted from Malachi 1:2-3, but the Book of Genesis did not indicate that God hated Esau. Obadiah 1:8-10 wrote against the very evil nation of Edom, and they were from Esau. The Edomites were treacherous, and they always betrayed the Jews.
3. Pharaoh of the ten plagues (Romans 9:14-24) - The sovereign election of God dealt with two sinful nations, Israel and Egypt. God determined to pardon sinful Israel with undeserved Grace, even after their sinful orgy in the desert (Exodus 33:19). God determined to punish Pharaoh and Egypt for their sins, but people cannot tell God what is fair or tell Him what He can and cannot decide. Before God hardened Pharaoh's heart, Pharaoh hardened his own heart. In Romans 9:21, God works as the potter, but He did not make the clay as it was. Vessels of dishonor willingly condemn themselves, and God's sovereignty works with vessels of honor. He did not make an Adolf Hitler to be an Adolf Hitler. Hitler made his own choices, and so did Pharaoh. Man is still responsible.
4. Hosea the Prophet (Romans 9:25-26) - Hosea was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom about seven centuries before Christ. His first son, Jezreel, meant that God would scatter. His second child, a girl, meant that a time would come of no more mercy. His third child, a boy, meant not my people. God spoke about what He would do through the names of Hosea's children. But in Romans 9:25-26, God will rename the last two children to names meaning to have mercy and my people.
5. Isaiah the Prophet (Romans (9:27-29) - God always has a remnant. Israel exists today because of God's sovereignty. The majority of Israelis will be judged, and only a remnant will be saved.
B. God always has been and always will be in complete control. Romans, Chapter Nine, deals with national election rather than spiritual election. Plus, God has all the facts, and He is fair. God has not told us all that He knows, but He has told us all that He wants us to know. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not contradictory, and they do not need to be reconciled because God and man are friends that do not need to be reconciled. God is sovereign and man is responsible. God is never surprised by human events, and He always know how to handle them. Romans 9:30-33 is the conclusion. The Gentiles find salvation through justification by faith, but the Jews have not found it through the Law.
XIX. Lesson 19 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 10:1-21)
A. Romans 9 shows why some Jews are saved, and Romans 10 shows why most are lost. Romans 10 is about the righteousness of God and Israel's rejection.
1. The burden for God's righteousness (Romans 10:1) - Paul wanted Israel to be saved.
2. The ignorance by Israel of God's righteousness (Romans 10:2-4) - When the scribes copied the Scriptures, they stopped and took a bath before writing Yahweh. If a page had three mistakes on it, the page was thrown out. They counted the letters, the words, and the verses. They had a great zeal but not according to knowledge.
Israel rejected Jesus because, first, they did not think they needed a Savior from sin. They needed a warrior, but in reality, they were like the religious man in Luke 18:9-14. Second, they had substituted good works for faith. Third, they had totally misunderstood the Old Testament, and in general, they did not know the Scriptures. In Matthew 2:1-2, their ignorance was clear because they could not answer the question of the Gentile, pagan wise men. The wise men knew the importance, but the Jews did not. The Jews also would not accept Jesus' claims of deity. Some Jews had thought that David or Hezekiah was the Messiah. Some thought that there would be two Messiahs. Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, not for claiming to be the Messiah.
3. The availability of God's righteousness (Romans 10:5-8) - The Word is in thy mouth and heart. This is also a picture of the Incarnation and Resurrection. In Isaiah 7:1-25, Ahaz was told to ask God for a sign that Israel would be delivered from Rezin and Pekah. Ahaz would not, so God gave the sign of a virgin who would save all of spiritual Israel forever.
4. The receiving of God's righteousness (Romans 10:9-10) - If you have received Christ, then sooner or later, you will have to tell someone. Confession is with the mouth but from the heart.
5. The scope of God's righteousness (Romans 10:11-13) - Paul already showed that all are lost, and now, he is showing that all can be saved.
6. The proclamation of God's righteousness (Romans 10:14-15) - Nahum 1:15 and Isaiah 52:7 both talk about the glorious deliverance based on God's message. Nahum's feet were beautiful because he talked about deliverance from the Assyrians. Isaiah's feet were beautiful because he talked about deliverance from Babylon. The Christian's feet are beautiful when they present a message of deliverance from sin. This shows the importance of carrying the message.
To have beautiful feet (1. call upon the Lord, (2) believe, (3) hear, (4) preacher, and (5) someone saved). For salvation, there must be an instrument of God, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God. No one can be saved apart from the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The Word alone is not enough. The Spirit must illuminate the Word. God must (Isaiah 6:8) send the instrument.
7. The rejection by Israel of God's righteousness (Romans 10:16-21) - Israel did not apply what they should have known. What God gave away for free, Israel would not take.
B. Even though Israel rejected Jesus, spiritual Israel will be preserved.
XX. Lesson 20 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 11:1-36)
A. Israel's rejection was not total. The liberal position is that Israel has no future. The covenant position says that Israel has no future because the church has become the Israel of the Old Testament. There are eight reasons why Israel and the church are not the same.
1. The promises are different. Israel's were earthly, but to church are heavenly.
2. The seeds are different.
3. The birthdays are different.
4. The nationalities are different. The church has all nations.
5. The relationships to the Father are different.
6. The relationships to the Son are different. The Old Testament was an unfaithful wife, and the New Testament is a chaste bride.
7. The relationships with the Holy Spirit are different.
8. The Temples are different.
The premillenial position is that Israel was selected in the past, rejected now, and accepted later. The five witnesses are himself (Romans 11:1), Elijah (Romans 11:2-5), a remnant according to the election of Grace (approximately 3,000 Messianic Jews in 1987 out of 3 million Jews in Israel) (Romans 11:5-10), the Gentiles (Gentiles got the message because of the fall of the Jews) (Romans 11:11-15), and the olive tree (Romans 11:16-24). When God rejected Israel, He did not destroy the tree. He broke off some Jewish branches and grafted in some Gentile branches. The church did not replace Israel. God is simply using different branches to bear fruit for Him.
B. In Psalm 69:21, David wrote about gall and vinegar fulfilled in Matthew 27:34. Israel's punishments and sufferings may not be totally attributed to the cross.
C. Romans 11:25-36 says that Israel has been blinded for the sake of Gentiles, but the Jews will someday be restored.
XXI. Lesson 21 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 11:25-36)
A. Israel's rejection was not permanent. God is still working on Israel, and all "saved" Israel shall be saved. The next great prophetic event is the Rapture, when Jesus comes for His people. Then, the Great Tribulation will begin, and the Antichrist will rule the world, or parts of the world, for seven years. The Second Coming will be Jesus coming with His people. Then, the Millennium. The three unconditional covenants are Abraham (seed and soil), David (sovereign king), and new (a new heart so that they will accept the sovereign king to rule over them).
B. In Romans 11:33-36, Paul writes about the "person of God" rather than about God. Pharaoh asked who is God (Exodus 5:2), and so did Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:15). Paul writes about twenty-one attributes of God.
1. He is self-existent (Exodus 3:13-14).
2. He is self sufficient (Psalm 50:10-12).
3. He is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27).
4. He is infinite and unbounded (Jeremiah 23:24).
5. He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12). Satan is not.
6. He is omnipotent (Genesis 18:14).
7. He is omniscient (Psalm 147:5).
8. He is wise (I Timothy 1:17).
9. He is immutable (Hebrews 13:8). A person can only change from worse to better or from better to worse.
10. He is sovereign, the absolute and sole ruler of the earth (Isaiah 46:9-11).
11. He is incomprehensible (Romans 11:33). The person of God cannot be known in total.
12. He is inscrutable (Isaiah 55:8-9). His ways are inexplicable and mysterious, and they lead to our own inability to understand why He allows certain things.
13. He is holy (Leviticus 19:2). His holiness is a union of all his other attributes.
14. He is righteous and just (Psalm 96:10). Loves holiness and hates sin.
15. He is true (Titus 1:1-2). He cannot lie, and He does not have to. People lie to get out of a jam or to get something that they do not deserve.
16. He is faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23).
17. He is light (II Corinthians 4:6).
18. He is good (Psalm 107:8 and Psalm 23:6). Goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life.
19. He is merciful (Psalm 103:8-17). We do not get what we deserve.
20. He is gracious (I Peter 5:10). We get what we do not deserve.
21. He is love (John 3:16). The most recognized and least understood attribute of God.
C. From the Talmud, when God was about to create man, the angels advised against it because man would be bad. The angel of truth said that he would be a liar. The angel of holiness said that he would be unholy. The angel of love said to create him anyway.
XXII. Lesson 22 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 12:1-8)
A. CONSECRATION is Romans 12:1-2. - Paul urged people to become living sacrifices (see Ephesians 4:1).
1. In Luke 12:20, the rich man was about to build a bigger barn and God demanded that man's soul on that night. God only accepts a living sacrifice from brethren (male and female). He does not demand that.
2. To "offer" is a Temple term and relates to the offering of sacrifices. Christians are to present once and for all their bodies. Christians do not give up anything to become Christians. They receive. People do not have to give up anything to be saved.
3. When Christians present their body, then they have presented everything.
4. Daily sacrifices died, so new sacrifices would have to be offered again. Also, those sacrifices could not take away sin. But Christ offered Himself once for all, and now, He wants His people to live daily for Him. God wants living martyrs, not dead martyrs.
5. Because of the mercies of God - false religions practice sacrifice to obtain mercy. Christians sacrifice themselves because of God's mercy. Look at the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18:26-29 and the Moabite king in II Kings 3:27.
6. Daily serving the Lord is one's reasonable service or spiritual act of worship.
7. When people do the above, then their offering will be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord.
8. Three reasons why Christians should not be conformed to this world: (1) we are citizens of another world system, (2) this world is antigod (I John 2:15-16) and belongs to our enemies. God is sovereign, but the whole world lies in the hands of the evil one, (3) and this world system will soon pass away (II Peter 3:10). Use a bridge to cross from one side to another but do not try to build your house on a bridge.
9. Christians are to be transformed by the renewing (Titus 3:5 - renewed by regeneration) of their mind. Christians cannot renew themselves in regeneration, but Paul said that they should when it comes to consecrating themselves. Ninety percent of the problem of not finding God's Will is a failure to consecrate one's life. Consecration is giving God a blank check with your life.
B. EVALUATION is Romans 12:3. A Christian should not think more of himself or herself than is reasonable. We must learn to rely on the Lord.
C. COOPERATION is Romans 12:4-8. A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability given by Christ through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Every believer has at least one gift - (1) to glorify the Father, and (2) to edify the church. Abusing a gift is to not use one given or to try to use a gift not given. Some of the gifts are (Romans 12:6-8) (1) prophesy (foretelling and forthfelling), (2) ministering or serving (the gift of help - Aaron and Hur helped Moses become great), (3) teaching, (4) exortation or encouraging (able to inspire), (5) giving of oneself and/or money, (6) administration or leadership (church is organism and organization), and (7) the gift of mercy showing.
XXIII. Lesson 23 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 12:9-21)
A. APPLICATION is Romans 12:9-21). There are no less than twenty-seven (27) applications in this passage.
B. Applications in Romans 12:9 - "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." (1) Love must be sincere, without hypocrisy. Sinners could tell that Jesus loved them but hated their sins, (2) Hate evil or shrink from it. Job eskewed evil. Eskewed literally meant to cross the road, much as when the Jew saw a leper coming down the street, (3) Cling to good (Matthew 19:5 and Mark 10:7 - like the intimacy between husband and wife).
C. Applications in Romans 12:10 - "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (4) be devoted to one another, (5) honor one another above yourself. Jesus made Himself of no reputation. He took on the form of a servant. He called Himself the Son of Man because He associated with humanity.
D. Applications in Romans 12:11 - "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (6) Not slothful in business really means to be fervent or zealous in the spirit. The NIV says this better than the KJV. Being optimistic and diligent in service. God cannot used negative people. The first Christian concert in Europe was in Acts 16:25. (7) Have a boiling, enthusiastic spirit for serving the Lord.
E. Applications in Romans 12:12 - "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (8) Rejoice in "the" hope, (9) be patient in tribulation, and (10) pray without ceasing, having an inimate relationship with the Lord. The position in prayer is not important. The theology of prayer is important.
F. Applications in Romans 12:13 - "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (11) Christians and churches are to help those of the Faith if they are in need. (12) Be hospitable. Christians are to love people and use things, but many times, they get that reversed.
G. Applications in Romans 12:14 - "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (13) Eulogize or say nice things about those that persecute you. (14) Do not curse. Christians will have enemies if they serve the Lord zealously. Do not curse is really about not praying negatively about our enemies. Prayer time should not be a time to pray curses on others (II Peter 3:15-18).
H. Applications in Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (15) this is having empathy for others (John 2:1-11 - He rejoiced, and in John 11:35, He wept).
I. Applications in Romans 12:16 - "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (16-18) Jesus spent time with Nicodemus and then met with a Samaritan harlot. He spent an equal amount of time with both.
J. Applications in Romans 12:17 - "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." (19-20) To repay evil for good is devilish. To repay evil for evil is fleshly. To repay good for evil is divine.
K. Applications in Romans 12:18 - "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (21) If one will not fight, then two cannot fight.
L. Applications in Romans 12:19 - "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.'" (22) Retribution comes from earthly Government or from God. God says to not take matters into your own hands.
M. Applications in Romans 12:20 - "On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" (23)
N. Applications in Romans 12:21 - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (24-25)
XXIV. Lesson 24 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 13:1-7)
A. The institutions of marriage, human governments, Israel, and the church were given by God. All of these institutions are under demonic attack today. The devil knows and understands the Bible. Paul discusses all four of these in his writings.
B. Romans 13:1-7 -> Paul tells why Christians should be good citizens: (1) for wrath's sake to not be thrown in jail (external reason (Romans 13:1-4)) and (2) for conscience sake (internal reason (Romans 13:5-7))
C. There are not any exceptions to the for wrath's sake argument. They are to be subject to all higher powers (the whom). All powers that be are ordained of God (the why). David's attitude toward Saul demonstrated this (I Samuel 24:1-12).
D. Before Pilate, Jesus said that God ordains the power (John 19:10-11).
E. Paul was around during the days of Nero, and he still wrote to obey the authorities.
F. What about non-biblical laws? In Acts 5:29, Peter resisted the authorities because obeying God is a higher law than obeying man. But people need to be very, very careful about disobeying a civil law because it may not be contrary to the Bible. An example is not registering for the draft.
G. Jude 1:8 says that evil people despise the government. In Isaiah 14:12-17, the devil five times said that he would. There is a big difference between how the devil used the word "will" and Jesus used it in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39).
H. Paul did not condemn the death penalty and even hinted to it being okay in Romans 13:4. The evil-doer should be punished by the authorities.
I. Christians will have to give an account for their citizenship. People cheat on taxes when they practice bartering. Christians are to obey the law for conscience sake. Romans 1:7 does not teach alienation between church and state.
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
BIBL 425 - The Book of Romans (Lessons 25-30)
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