A SURVEY THROUGH THE ROMANS ROAD TO SALVATION
By: Daniel McMillin
THE BOOK OF ROMANS: THE GOOD NEWS
· THE GOSPEL AS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (ROMANS 1)
· THE TRUTH THAT NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS (ROMANS 2-3)
· THE UNRIGHTEOUS DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH (ROMANS 4-5)
· THE RIGHTEOUS UNITED WITH CHRIST (ROMANS 6-7)
· THE HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS (ROMANS 8)
· THE STORY OF ISRAEL AND THE RIGHTEOUS GOD (ROMANS 9-11)
· THE SACRIFICIAL LIFESTYLE OF THE RIGHTEOUS (ROMANS 12-13)
· THE LOVE OF THE RIGHTEOUS (ROMANS 14-16)
ROMANS 1
CHRIST: THE CENTERPIECE OF THE GOSPEL (VERSES 1-6)
· A CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE: PAUL
SERVANT
APOSTLE
CHRISTIAN
· A CHRIST-CENTERED MESSAGE: THE GOSPEL
· JESUS WAS PROCLAIMED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
· JESUS IS THE SON OF DAVID = MESSIAH
· JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD = LORD
THE CHURCH AT ROME (VERSES 7-15)
THE GOSPEL: THE SAVING POWER OF GOD (VERSES 16-17)
• THE GOSPEL IS THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
• SALVATION IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD GRANTED TO US BY GOD
• FAITH IS THE MEANS BY WHICH WE RECEIVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED (VERSES 18-23)
• JUSTIFICATION: GOD DECLARES RIGHTEOUS THE UNRIGHTEOUS
• WRATH: GOD JUDGES WICKEDNESS
• CAN WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD?
• GOD HAS MADE HIMSELF KNOWN
• YOU KNOW GOD THROUGH CREATION
• YOU TRADED THE TRUE GOD FOR FALSE (G)ODS
THE UNRIGHTEOUS (VERSES 24-32)
• IDOLATRY IS EXCHANGING GOD’S GLORY
• GOD ALLOWED THEM TO EXCHANGE GOD FOR SIN
• SIN RESULTS IN DEATH
ROMANS 2
YOU WILL BE JUDGED (VERSES 1-29)
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: “Y’ALL NEED JESUS”
BEFORE THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE: “YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE IN COURT!”
• GOD DOES NOT APPRECIATE YOU TAKING HIS SEAT (2:1-4)
• GOD DOES NOT PLAY FAVORITES; HE IS FAIR (2:5-11)
• GOD DOES EXPECT YOU TO FOLLOW THE RULES (2:12-16)
• GOD IS INSULTED WHEN HE IS NOT HONORED (2:17-29)
• GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT (3:1-8)
NATURAL LAW (2:14-16; 17-20)
• THE JEWS AND GENTILES WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STANDARD OR MORALITY (WHAT IS “RIGHT” AND “WRONG”) THAT GOD GAVE.
• THE GENTILES KNOW THE “NATURAL LAW” –GOD EMBEDS INTO EVERYONE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG.
• THE ISRAELITES KNOW THE “DIVINE LAW” –GOD REVEALS WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG THROUGH INSPIRATION.
• NO ONE IS “OFF THE HOOK,” THEY KNOW THE STANDARD FOR GOOD AND EVIL.
WHY DO WE THINK THAT WE ARE FINE WHEN WE ARE NOT?
• “RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE OK, AND BAD PEOPLE NEED TO BE SAVED.”
• I DON’T DO BAD THINGS
• I DO GOOD THINGS
• I GO TO CHURCH
• I HAVE A HARD LIFE
• CONCLUSION: “I’M GOOD”
• “SOMETIMES THE OUTWARDLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE FURTHER AWAY FROM GOD ARE WORSE THAN THE BLATANTLY IMMORAL PEOPLE ARE.” -MICHAEL KRUGER
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HYPOCRISY
• WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO SINNERS AND ASSUME WE ARE GOOD BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD (WORSE) THAN US. –WHY DO WE MAKE THEM THE STANDARD?
• CONDEMN SIN, BUT DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH MY OWN. –WHY CALL ME OUT WHEN YOU DON’T CHANGE?
• SHARE THE GOSPEL, BUT DO NOT LIVE BY IT. –WHY FOLLOW THEM IF THEY WON’T?
• CONCLUSION: “I NEED THE GOSPEL TOO”
GOD IS AN IMPARTIAL JUDGE WHO GIVES US WHAT WE NEED TO OBEY HIM AND PRONOUNCES US “RIGHTEOUS” WHEN HE JUSTIFIES US AND JUSTLY DECLARES US “GUILTY” WHEN WE HAVE KNOWN HIS LAW AND REBELLED AGAINST HIM.
ROMANS 3
OUR GREATEST NEED FOR THE GOSPEL: “AMAZING GRACE”
• WE CANNOT APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF OUR SALVATION WITHOUT SEEING THE DEPTHS OF OUR SINS.
• PAUL DEMONSTRATES THAT WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES BECAUSE WE CANNOT KEEP THE LAW PERFECTLY, THAT IS, WITHOUT SINNING. IN ADDITION, HE SHOWS THAT JEWS AND GENTILES ARE IN THE SAME POSITION, THAT IS, THEY ARE LOST IN THEIR SINS.
NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS: “I AM A TERRIBLE SINNER”
• YOU ARE NOT RIGHTEOUS: THE LAW REVEALS WHO YOU REALLY ARE—YOU ARE A SINNER WHO IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR SINS (3:9-20)
• YOU ARE COUNTED RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH: THE LORD REDEEMS YOU KNOWING WHO YOU ARE –YOU CAN BE SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS (3:21-31)
SIN’S POWER TO CORRUPT: “BLINDED BY SIN” (3:9-19)
• CORRUPT MINDS: SIN IS HOW WE THINK
- “NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS”
• CORRUPT ACTIONS: SIN IS WHAT WE DO
- “ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY…NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD”
• CORRUPT WILLS: SIN IS WHAT WE DESIRE
– “NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD…NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES”
• CORRUPT LIVES: SIN DEFINES US
– “NO ONE RIGHTEOUS…THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME WORTHLESS”
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL: “WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST”
• JUSTIFIED –DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY GOD; GOD COUNTS THE RIGHTEOUS OF HIS SON TO BE OUR OWN.
• GRACE –UNLIMITED, UNEARNED KINDNESS OF GOD; GOD RECONCILES SINNERS TO HIMSELF.
• REDEMPTION –PAYMENT OR RANSOM FOR SINS BY JESUS’ DEATH; GOD DELIVERS US FROM OUR SINS.
• ATONEMENT –CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS; GOD OVERCOMES SIN THROUGH JESUS.
• YOU ARE A SINNER IN NEED OF A SAVIOR. YOU CANNOT KEEP THE LAW. YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF. YOU CANNOT BE RIGHTEOUS. YOU NEED JESUS! ONLY CHRIST KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY, ONLY CHRIST WAS RIGHTEOUS, AND ONLY CHRIST CAN SAVE YOU. IN SUM, WE NEED JESUS TO BE RIGHTEOUS.
ROMANS 4
JUSTIFICATION WAS NEVER BY THE LAW BUT WAS BY FAITH.
ROMANS 5
VERSE 1: FAITH—THE BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION
• IT IS BY GOD’S ACTION (“GRACE”) AND MAN’S RESPONSE (“FAITH”) THAT THE SINNER MAY BE JUSTIFIED BY GOD. “FAITH IS THE KEY THAT OPENS THE DOOR, WHICH IS GRACE.” –HIRAM KEMP
• THE TERM “JUSTIFIED” MEANS TO BE DECLARED, REGARDED, OR COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS; IT IS TO BE IN A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
• THE TERM “PEACE” REFERS TO FREEDOM FROM THE GUILT OF SIN AND RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.
VERSE 2: HOPE—THE RESULT OF JUSTIFICATION
• “PEACE” WITH GOD AND OUR “ACCESS” TO GRACE IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST, OUR MEDIATOR “BY FAITH.”
• THE CHRISTIAN MAY BOAST ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THEIR “HOPE” BECAUSE IT IS THE WORK OF GOD THAT ALLOWS US TO REJOICE IN “THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”
• THE TERM “HOPE” MEANS DESIRE PLUS EXPECTATION; IT IS ROOTED IN OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD.
VERSES 3-4: GLORY—THE HOPE OF OUR TRIBULATIONS
• WE NOT ONLY CAN “EXULT” OR “REJOICE” IN THE GRACE AND HOPE FOUND IN CHRIST BUT MAY ALSO BOAST “IN OUR TRIBULATIONS.”
• PAUL’S FORMULA FOR PEACE THROUGH CHRIST IS THAT IT RESULTS IN A CHRISTIAN “CHARACTER” WHICH IS DEVELOPED BY “PERSEVERANCE” THROUGH “TRIBULATION.” THE CHRISTIAN’S CHARACTER IS PROVEN THROUGH BATTLE AND MOLDED INTO A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY INDIVIDUAL. THIS CHARACTER THEN FINALLY PRODUCES THE “HOPE” THAT IS REQUIRED TO FIND TRUE TRANQUILITY.
VERSE 5: LOVE—THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT
• THE CHRISTIAN HAS NO CAUSE TO BE ASHAMED OR DISAPPOINTED AS THEY SUFFER BECAUSE OF “THE LOVE OF GOD.” OUR “HOPE DOES NOT PUT US TO SHAME.”
• THE ACT OF SALVATION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE AND THE SPIRIT’S COOPERATION WITH THE FATHER AND SON.
• IT IS THE FATHER WHO LOVES US AND DEMONSTRATES THIS LOVE THROUGH THE SON’S DEATH ON THE CROSS, WHICH HAS ENTERED OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PRODUCES PEACE AND SUPPLIES HOPE NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE IN THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE
VERSES 6-8: DEATH—CHRIST DIED FOR US WHEN WE WERE AT OUR LOWEST
• WE WERE “HELPLESS” (V. 5), “UNGODLY” (V. 5), “SINNERS” (V. 8), AND “ENEMIES” (V. 10).
• CHRIST DIED BECAUSE HE LOVED US IN LIGHT OF, NOT DESPITE, OUR WICKEDNESS!
• JESUS’ DEATH IS THE GREATEST PROOF OF GOD’S ABIDING LOVE FOR US.
VERSES 6-11: SALVATION—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
SALVATION PAST: SALVATION FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN -V. 6-11
SALVATION PRESENT: SALVATION FROM THE PRACTICE OF SIN -V. 9-10
SALVATION FUTURE: SALVATION FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN -V. 9
GRACE=GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE.
JESUS DIED FOR US WHEN WE WERE AT OUR LOWEST TO GIVE US SOMETHING WE DO NOT DESERVE. HE DOES NOT ONLY FIX OUR PROBLEMS AND MAKE THINGS EVEN, BUT HE GIVES US MORE.
VERSES 9-11: SACRIFICE— THROUGH THE DEATH OF CHRIST
• JUSTIFICATION –V. 9
• SALVATION FROM WRATH –V. 9
• RECONCILIATION WITH GOD –V. 10
• JOY IN LIFE –V. 11
JESUS DIED TO SAVE SINNERS LIKE US BECAUSE HE LOVES US
THE TWO ADAMS
• PAUL IS TELLING THE STORY OF TWO ADAMS: THE OLD ADAM (THE FIRST MAN) AND THE NEW ADAM (JESUS, THE SON OF MAN). HE IS SHOWING HOW THESE TWO ADAMS REPRESENT HUMANITY EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY.
• “PAUL HANGS ALL OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY ON THE SHOULDERS OF TWO INDIVIDUALS—THE FIRST ADAM AND THE LAST ADAM.” (BEALE & GLADD 191)
TYPOLOGY: TYPES AND ANTITYPES; SHADOWS AND IMAGES
1. SHADOW: ADAM
2. IMAGE: JESUS
3. JESUS FULFILLS WHAT ADAM COULD NOT
SIN’S ENTRANCE THROUGH ADAM AND GRACE’S INTRODUCTION THROUGH CHRIST
• SIN ENTERS
• DEATH RESULTS
• DEATH COMES TO ALL
• ALL HAVE SINNED
• THE WORLD AFTER THE GARDEN IS A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE ONE GOD MADE IN THE BEGINNING. THIS IS BECAUSE ADAM SINNED AND FELL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY.
• “ADAM INTRODUCED SIN INTO THE WORLD; WE INTRODUCED SIN INTO OUR OWN WORLD.” –HIRAM KEMP
• SIN LEADS TO DEATH; THE SAVIOR (JESUS) LEADS TO LIFE.
• SIN BRINGS CONDEMNATION (WE ARE DECLARED GUILTY FOR OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS), AND THE SAVIOR BRINGS JUSTIFICATION (WE ARE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS THOUGH WE WERE GUILTY).
EVERYONE IS REPRESENTED BY EITHER ADAM OR CHRIST…WHO REPRESENTS YOU?
ADAM BROUGHT SIN AND DEATH INTO THE WORLD. HE REPRESENTS ALL OF HUMANITY POORLY BECAUSE HE IS IDENTIFIED WITH SIN. JESUS GIVES US AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE. THE NEW ADAM, JESUS, BRINGS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LIFE INTO THE WORLD. HE REPRESENTS ALL OF HUMANITY POSITIVELY BECAUSE HE IDENTIFIES WITH GOD AS HE BRINGS THIS GIFT OF GRACE. DEATH REIGNS THROUGH THE FIRST ADAM, BUT LIFE REIGNS THROUGH THE LAST ADAM. CONDEMNATION IS DESTINED FOR THOSE IN ADAM, BUT JUSTIFICATION IS BESTOWED TO THOSE IN JESUS. ADAM INTRODUCED THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE GARDEN—A WORLD OF SIN, BUT JESUS USHERED IN THE NEW ERA—THE LAST DAYS—THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE RETURN TO THE GARDEN IN THE END. JESUS HAS REVERSED THE CURSE OF ADAM BY ASSUMING THE NATURE OF ADAM, PAYING THE PENALTY OF SIN—DEATH, AND BLESSING HUMANITY WITH THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
ROMANS 6
SHOULD WE CONTINUE SINNING SINCE WE HAVE GRACE? … “CAN I LIVE HOW I WANT?”
• NO! GOD FORBID! DON’T THINK THAT WAY! YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED!
• WHY RESPOND LIKE THIS?
• IF WE ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST IN BAPTISM, THEN WE ARE SERVANTS OF OUR SAVIOR AND NOT SLAVES TO SIN.
• GRACE COVERS OUR SINS WHEN WE FALL SHORT, BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE US THE RIGHT TO REBEL. YOU ARE NOT FREE TO SIN BECAUSE YOU HAVE GRACE.
BAPTISM: DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION
• PAUL’S DEFINITION OF BAPTISM IS PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST’S DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION (DBR). BAPTISM IS THE MEANS BY WHICH THE BELIEVER IS BROUGHT INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST’S DBR.
• BAPTISM IS CONNECTED TO THE GOSPEL. THE GOSPEL IS THE DBR; WE PARTICIPATE IN THE GOSPEL THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL DBR. WE RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE DBR OF CHRIST WHEN WE EXPERIENCE OUR OWN DBR.
• IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A NON-BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN. BAPTISM IS NOT OPTIONAL. PAUL ASSUMES CHRISTIANS ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST AND USES BAPTISM AS A REMINDER OF OUR SALVATION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. HE POINTS TO BAPTISM AS THE WHEN OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST (UNION: WHAT IS TRUE OF JESUS IS TRUE OF ME).
• YOU NOW HAVE THE POWER NOT TO SIN BECAUSE SIN NO LONGER HAS MASTERY OVER YOU. CHRIST OVERPOWERED SIN THROUGH HIS DBR. YOU CAN RESIST SIN AND BE SAVED THROUGH JESUS’S DBR BECAUSE OF YOUR DBR AT BAPTISM. SIN DOES NOT CONTROL YOUR LIFE WHEN CHRIST REIGNS IN IT.
• “THE PURPOSE OF PAUL’S REFERENCE TO BAPTISM IN ROMANS 6 IS TO SHOW THE INCONSISTENCY OF A LIFE OF SIN IN ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM. ROMANS 6 DOES NOT SAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A BAPTIZED PERSON TO SIN, BUT THAT IT IS INCONSISTENT TO DO SO.” –EVERETT FERGUSON
• “AS A DEATH TO SIN AND A RESURRECTION TO A NEW LIFE, BAPTISM SAYS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE LIFE TO BE LIVED AFTER BAPTISM. SINCE BAPTISM MEANS SIN IS CRUCIFIED AND BURIED AND A NEW LIFE IS RAISED, THIS INDICATES THE KIND OF LIFE TO BE LIVED—RIGHTEOUS AND NOT SINFUL. WE ARE TO BE DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE IN AND FOR GOD.” –EVERETT FERGUSON
NEW TESTAMENT: SLAVERY
• IN THE BIBLE, SLAVERY WAS AN INESCAPABLE REALITY IN BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE PATRIARCHS HAD SLAVES, THE ISRAELITES WERE ENSLAVED, THE LAW OF MOSES GAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON SLAVERY, THERE WERE CHRISTIANS WHO WERE SLAVES OR MASTERS, AND PAUL WROTE ABOUT SLAVE-MASTER RELATIONS.
• “THE SLAVERY THAT MOST AMERICANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IS NOT ENTIRELY IDENTICAL WITH THE SLAVERY FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.” (FERGUSON 50-51)
• SLAVERY IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS MORE LIKE KIDNAPPING (1 TIM. 1:9-10) THAN BIBLICAL SLAVERY.
• SLAVERY IN THE BIBLE WAS NOT RACIAL/ETHNIC (BASED ON SKIN COLOR) SINCE PEOPLE WERE SLAVES FROM VARIOUS PLACES AND CULTURES.
• SLAVES WERE NOT TO BE MISTREATED SINCE THEY WERE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE (GEN. 1:26-27) AND WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TRUE MASTER IN HEAVEN (EPH. 6:9; COL. 4:1).
• SLAVERY TOOK DIFFERENT FORMS: HARD SERVITUDE (FORCED TO WORK) AND INDENTURED SERVITUDE (WORK TO PAY OFF DEBT).
• 1/5 ROMAN CITIZENS WERE SLAVES.
• PAUL’S AUDIENCE KNEW WHAT SLAVERY WAS LIKE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
• THERE MAY BE SLAVES AND MASTERS WHO ARE READING PAUL’S LETTER.
• SLAVES ARE TO OBEY OR SUBMIT TO THEIR MASTERS, AND CHRISTIANS ARE TO OBEY CHRIST (GAL. 3:28-29; COL. 3:11; 1 TIM. 6:1-2; 1 PET. 2:18-25)
• “ALL PEOPLE ARE SLAVES TO SOMETHING; THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT MASTER WILL BE SIN AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.” –DOUGLAS MOO
• THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN IS A SLAVE TO THE SAVIOR AND NOT TO SIN, THEIR OLD MASTER.
THE NEW EXODUS FROM THE OLD EXILE: FROM SLAVERY TO SIN TO SLAVERY TO CHRIST
• WE NO LONGER SERVE SIN. THE OLD SELF OF SIN IS DEAD. WE ARE NO LONGER ENSLAVED TO SIN. SIN SEPARATES; JESUS RECONCILES.
• JESUS FREES US THROUGH HIS DEATH. WE ARE FREED FROM OUR ENSLAVEMENT FROM OUR OWN DEATH AT BAPTISM BECAUSE WE DIE WITH HIM. WE ARE DEAD TO SIN AND LIVE IN CHRIST.
• DEATH AND SIN DO NOT REIGN IN OUR LIVES WHEN CHRIST RULES AND DWELLS WITHIN US. JESUS DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH. OUR OLD MASTER IS DEAD, BUT JESUS BECOMES OUR NEW MASTER. WE WANT FREEDOM BUT HAVE SLAVERY.
• JESUS MAKES US ALIVE TO GOD AND EMPOWERS US TO LIVE IN THIS NEWNESS OF LIFE!
UNION WITH CHRIST: NEWNESS OF LIFE IN THE NEW REALM
• JESUS TRANSFERS US FROM THE REALM OF SIN INTO THE REALM OF SALVATION AS HE TRANSFORMS US FROM OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND GRANTS US RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• WE SHARE IN THE NEW LIFE THROUGH CHRIST.
RESULTS OF SIN AND THE SAVIOR
WITH SIN, THERE IS DEATH.
WITH JESUS, THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE.
WHO WILL YOU SERVE? GOD OR SIN?
ROMANS 7
• ARE WE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO THE LAW?
• DEATH CANCELS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS (7:1)
• MARRIAGE AS AN EXAMPLE: WHEN ONE SPOUSE DIES, THERE IS NO LONGER A MARRIAGE (7:2-3)
• WE HAVE DIED TO THE LAW THROUGH CHRIST’S DEATH (7:4)
• WE HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE LAW THAT BRINGS DEATH (7:5-6)
• IS THE LAW SINFUL?
• THE LAW REVEALS SIN (7:7)
• THE LAW BRINGS DEATH (7:8-11)
• THE LAW IS GOOD (7:12)
• WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
• THE LAW IS GOOD, BUT I AM NOT GOOD (7:13-23)
• SIN IS AT WORK IN ME, AND I NEED TO BE RESCUED (7:24-25)
THE BOOK OF ROMANS: ALL THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CAN DO IS DECLARE YOU AS RIGHTEOUS
ROMANS 8
THE CENTERPIECE OF ROMANS
• GOD WORKS ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL FOR HIS GLORY.
• CHRIST BRINGS THE VICTORY THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS SO WE MAY BE CONQUERORS WITH CHRIST.
• PAUL GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS AND THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN THE CHRISTIAN.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHRISTIAN
• WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT LIKE? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT? WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO? WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT?
• WE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE THE END-TIME WRATH OF GOD BECAUSE WE HAVE THE END-TIME SPIRIT OF GOD (8:1-4).
• WE ARE NOT CONDEMNED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED –WE WILL NOT BE JUDGED AS WICKED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS SINCE WE ARE IN CHRIST (8:1).
• WE ARE NOT POWERLESS TO THE WORKS OF THE FLESH THROUGH THE LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FREED BY THE GIFT OF LIFE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AND JESUS’ ASSUMPTION AS A SIN OFFERING –THE SPIRIT SETS US FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH (8:2-3).
• WE ARE CONDEMNED BY JESUS THROUGH THE FLESH BY OVERCOMING THE FLESH BY LIVING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT –THE LAW REQUIREMENTS ARE FULFILLED BY WALKING BY THE SPIRIT (8:3-4).
• SINNERS FOLLOW SIN; CHRISTIANS FOLLOW CHRIST AND LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT (8:5-10).
• THOSE WHO LIVE BY THE FLESH FOLLOW THE FLESH; THOSE WHO LIVE BY THE SPIRIT FOLLOW THE SPIRIT –SET YOUR MINDS ON THE SPIRIT IF YOU LIVE BY THE SPIRIT (8:5).
• THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE FLESH ARE HOSTILE TO GOD AND ARE LED TO DEATH; THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE SPIRIT ARE RECONCILED WITH GOD AND LED TO LIFE AND PEACE (8:6-7).
• THOSE WHO ARE IN THE OLD REALM OF THE FLESH ARE DISPLEASING GOD; THOSE WHO ARE IN THE NEW REALM OF THE SPIRIT ARE PLEASING TO GOD (8:8-9).
• THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST DO NOT BELONG TO CHRIST; THOSE WHO DO HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST DO BELONG TO CHRIST –THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (8:9-10)
• THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN ALL BELIEVERS AND IMPARTS THE RESURRECTION LIFE TO THEM (8:11-13).
• THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE ADOPTION OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD (8:14-17)
• WE ARE CHRISTIANS IF WE ARE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (8:14).
• THE SPIRIT BRINGS ABOUT YOUR ADOPTION IN CHRIST (8:15).
• THE SPIRIT IS A SIGN OF YOUR ADOPTION WHO TESTIFIES ON YOUR BEHALF AND BEARS WITNESS WITH THE BELIEVER’S SPIRIT (8:16).
• THE SPIRIT ALLOWS US TO SHARE IN THE GLORY OF CHRIST AS HEIRS OF GOD (8:17).
THE HOPE OF GLORY
• THOUGH WE MAY EXPECT TO SUFFER, WE HAVE THE HOPE OF GLORY (8:18).
• ALL OF CREATION (EARTH) WILL EXPERIENCE LIBERATION IN THE END (8:19-22).
• ALL WHO ARE A NEW CREATION (CHRISTIAN) WILL EXPERIENCE REDEMPTION IN THE END –THE SPIRIT IS EVIDENCE (FIRSTFRUIT) OF OUR ADOPTION (8:23-25).
THE SPIRIT AND PRAYER
• THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES AND THROUGH OUR WORDLESS GROANINGS –THE SPIRIT STRENGTHENS AND AIDS US IN OUR PRAYERS WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY (8:26).
• THE SPIRIT HELPS US BY INTERCEDING FOR US—THE SPIRIT ACTS (SPEAKS) ON OUR BEHALF WITH GOD THE FATHER (8:26-27).
• POSSESSION OF THE SPIRIT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PREREQUISITE FOR BEING A CHRISTIN (8:9).
• THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW ARE MET BY THOSE WHO WALK IN THE SPIRIT, YET BELIEVERS ARE TO PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY BY THE SPIRIT (8:4, 13).
• LIFE IN THE SPIRIT IS FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE TO SIN—EVEN THOUGH THE SIN NATURE REMAINS—AS WELL AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, LIFE, AND PEACE (8:2, 6, 10).
• THE SAME SPIRIT WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO BELIEVERS’ MORTAL BODIES (8:11).
• THE SPIRIT CONVEYS TO BELIEVERS THEIR SENSE OF SPIRITUAL ADOPTION AND SONSHIP, WHICH ENTAILS NOT ONLY A PAST AND PRESENT, BUT ALSO A FUTURE, REALITY (8:14-16, 23).
• THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR BELIEVERS ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL (8:26-27).
SALVATION—PREDESTINATION
• THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BATTLEGROUNDS IN BIBLICAL DEBATE. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIBLICAL TRUTHS REVEALED (ACTS 2:22-24; ROM. 8:28-30; GAL. 4:4-7; EPH. 1:4-5; 2:8-10; PHIL. 2:12-13; 1 PET. 1:1-2).
• SALVATION IS ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE (DOING) AND WHAT WE MUST DO.
• CALLED: GOD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN OUR RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL CALL TO SALVATION.
• FOREKNEW: GOD KNEW BEFORE CREATION WHO WERE HIS PEOPLE (ELECT) AND WHO WERE NOT.
• PREDESTINED: GOD WILLS OR ORDAINS THOSE WHO ARE SAVED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT ACCORDING TO HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE. GOD ETERNALLY KNEW WHO IS SAVED!
• JUSTIFIED: GOD COUNTS THE UNRIGHTEOUS AS RIGHTEOUS ACCORDING TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SON.
• GLORIFIED: GOD WILL REDEEM OUR MORTAL BODIES AND GIVE US NEW LIFE BY GIVING US NEW GLORIFIED BODIES JUST LIKE CHRIST HAD WHEN HE WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST
• HOW CAN I KNOW THAT GOD IS FOR US?
• NO ONE CAN DEFEAT US WHEN GOD IS ON OUR SIDE, AND GOD HAS JUSTIFIED US (8:31-33).
• NO ONE CAN CONDEMN US BECAUSE CHRIST HAS DIED FOR US, RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR US, JUSTIFIED US, INTERCEDES FOR US, AND REIGNS OVER US (8:34).
• NO ONE CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST BECAUSE WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST WHO FIRST LOVED US (8:34-39).
• “THE BELIEVERS’ POWER TO DEFEAT SIN AND OVERCOME THE WORLD RESTS IN THEIR IDENTITY AS THE END-TIME PEOPLE OF GOD WHO HAVE BEGUN TO INHERIT THE NEW CREATION. THEIR SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION HAS RESTORED THEM FROM THEIR SPIRITUAL EXILE, AND ALIENATION FROM GOD.” –G.K. BEALE AND BENJAMIN L. GLADD
ROMANS 9-11
HOW DOES ISRAEL FIT IN GOD’S GRAND PLAN?
• GOD CHOOSES WHO HIS PEOPLE ARE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL FOR HIS GLORY.
• THE ISRAELITES DISREGARD FOR THE GOOD NEWS: ISRAEL HAS NOT EMBRACED THE GOSPEL, THOUGH THEY ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN GOD’S UNFOLDING STORY OF REDEMPTION (9:1-5)
• THE ELECTION OF GOD’S PEOPLE: GOD HAS CHOSEN (SPIRITUAL) ISRAEL AS HIS PEOPLE, BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES (9:6-29)
• THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL: ISRAEL HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL AND HAS CHOSEN TO PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD) BY WORKS OF THE LAW RATHER THAN BY FAITH, AND SO, GOD HARDENED THEIR HEARTS (9:30-10:21)
• WHAT DID THEY MISS? THE SHIFT IN SALVATION HISTORY THROUGH CHRIST’S ARRIVAL AND THE BLESSING OF ALL OF GOD’S PROMISES BEING FULFILLED.
• WHY DID THEY MISS? THEY COULD NOT SEE CHRIST BECAUSE OF THEIR TUNNEL VISION; THAT IS, THEY FOCUSED SO MUCH ON THE LAW THAT THEY COULD NOT SEE CHRIST AS THE CLIMACTIC “END OF THE LAW.”
• WHAT DO THEY NEED? THE GOSPEL MUST BE PREACHED TO PRODUCE FAITH IN THE LISTENERS. NO ONE CAN HEAR THE GOOD NEWS IF THE GOOD NEWS IS NEVER SPOKEN.
• THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL: GOD DID NOT REJECT HIS PEOPLE; IN FACT, HE HAS ALWAYS KEPT HIS PROMISES TO PRESERVE A REMNANT WITHIN ISRAEL WHO CONTINUES TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE MESSIAH, AND EVENTUALLY, ALL OF (SPIRITUAL) ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED (11:1-32)
• GOD HAS INCLUDED THE GENTILES AS HIS COVENANT PEOPLE AND HAS HARDENED THE HEARTS OF THE JEWS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO REJECT CHRIST.
• GOD EMBRACES BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES TO CAUSE THE JEWS TO BE ENVIOUS AND EVENTUALLY ACCEPT JESUS AS THE MESSIAH.
• THE DOXOLOGY OF ROMANS: GOD IS WORTHY OF ALL GLORY FOR ALL ETERNITY (11:33-36).
• GOD’S WISE PLAN TO SAVE SINNERS (11:33).
• OUR INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S WAYS (11:34-35).
• THE ULTIMACY OF GOD IN ALL THINGS (11:36).
• GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ACCORDING TO HIS ETERNAL WILL TO SAVE.
• GOD CHOOSES WHO HIS PEOPLE ARE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL FOR HIS GLORY.
• WHO IS INCLUDED AS GOD’S PEOPLE? INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE ELECTION?
ROMANS 12
• THE CALL TO SERVICE (12:1)
• CONNECTION: “THEREFORE”
• CONGREGATION: “YOU (ROMANS)…BROTHERS AND SISTERS”
• MOTIVATION: “MERCIES OF GOD”
• PRESENTATION: “YOUR GOD”
• CONTRIBUTION: “YOUR BODIES”
• PRODUCTION: “LIVING SACRIFICE”
• ASPIRATION: “HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD”
• CALCULATION: “YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE OF WORSHIP” (NASB) “YOUR TRUE AND PROPER WORSHIP” (NIV)
• THE CHARACTER OF SERVICE (12:2)
• CAUTION: “DO NOT CONFORM TO THIS WORLD”
• ADMONITION: “BE TRANSFORMED”
• TRANSFORMATION: “RENEWING OF YOUR MIND”
• DEMONSTRATION: “YOU MAY PROVE”
• CONFIRMATION: “THE WILL OF GOD”
• DESCRIPTION: “GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT”
• A LIVING SACRIFICE HUMBLY SERVES IN A COMMUNITY OF SACRIFICES: EVERYONE HAS A PLACE IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TO SERVE IN VARIOUS WAYS; EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST (12:3-8)
• A LIVING SACRIFICE LIVES A LIFE FILLED WITH ACTIVE LOVE: WE ARE TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST: SINCERELY LOVE OTHERS, PROMOTE WHAT IS GOOD AND OPPOSE WHAT IS BAD, MAINTAIN A SPIRITUAL PASSION OR EAGERNESS FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST, SUSTAIN THROUGH DIFFICULTIES THROUGH HOPE AND PRAYER, ETC. (12:9-21).
ROMANS 13-14
• WHAT DOES A LIVING SACRIFICE LOOK LIKE?
• BE IN SUBMISSION TO ALL AUTHORITIES (13:1-14)
• BY SUBMITTING TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE SUBMITTING TO GOD (13:1-7)
• FULFILL THE LAW BY LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR (13:8-10)
• WAKE UP! THE NEW AGE HAS ARRIVED AND WE MUST LIVE ACCORDINGLY (13:11-14)
• AIM FOR UNITY AND AVOID DIVISION IN THE CHURCH (14:1-23)
• DO NOT ALLOW ANY OBSTACLES TO COME IN THE WAY OF THE CAUSE OF CHRIST (14:1-6)
• WE BELONG TO CHRIST AND OUGHT TO LIVE FOR CHRIST (14:7-9)
• DO NOT JUDGE YOUR BRETHREN BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT FROM CHRIST THE JUDGE (14:10-18)
• UPHOLD PEACE ABOVE CONTROVERSY SO NONE MAY STUMBLE AND FALL ASTRAY (14:19-23)
ROMANS 15-16
• CHRIST LIVED FOR OTHERS, AND WE ARE TO FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPLE BY BUILDING ONE ANOTHER UP (15:1-4).
• WE HAVE BEEN UNITED TO CHRIST TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD TOGETHER (15:5-13)
• PAUL COMPLIMENTED HIS BRETHREN AND REMINDED THEM WHY HE WROTE: TO REMIND THEM OF GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GOSPEL (15:14-22)
• PAUL WAS MISSION-MINDED: HE WANTED THE GOSPEL TO GO INTO ALL THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY TO THE GENTILES (15:23-32).
• PAUL WAS MINDFUL OF AND THANKFUL FOR HIS BRETHREN.
• PAUL WAS A TEAM PLAYER, AND HE LOVED THE CHURCH.
• PAUL VIEWED THE CHURCH AS A SPIRITUAL, UNIVERSAL FAMILY THAT IS UNITED THROUGH JESUS – “CHURCHES OF CHRIST” (16:16)
• PAUL WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF THE CHURCH (16:17-20)
• PAUL PRAISED GOD FOR HIS GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS BECAUSE IT ELEVATED HIS ETERNAL GLORY (16:25-27)
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ROMANS
•THE GOSPEL REVEALS GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS (ROM. 1-4)
•THE GOSPEL CREATES A NEW LIFESTYLE IN CHRIST (ROM. 5-8)
•THE GOSPEL FULFILLS GOD’S PROMISES TO ISRAEL (ROM. 9-11)
•THE GOSPEL TRANSFORMS THE CHRISTIAN (ROM. 12-16)
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