Romans 1
2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Paul puts out his creditials, a servant of Jesus Christ, and we read how he labored all through the book of Acts to serve the Lord. He was called to apostleship for the gospel of God and declares that the scriptures spoke of Jesus, through the seed of David, was and is the Messiah, the Son of God who was resurrected from the dead. After you have knowledge of this, literally after faith and works, this is all that is needed to enter in the kingdom of God.
7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is addressing the church members in Rome; and he greets them through God our Father, and to the Son, Lord Jesus Christ. I point this out because I always wondered why Paul never acknowledged God the Holy Spirit?
16For 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.
17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
This is a famous verse that the Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and he took many beatings for it to prove it. Christ is salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, then also to the Greek or Gentile. Jesus said salvation is of the Jews; they are the first born and God's people who know how to attain salvation through Him. So it will be Israel first then as many as would come from any nation.
Paul Get's Heavy - God's Wrath Against Mankind
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
God of course has wrath and He has revealed it to all, especially against ungodliness and unrighteous persons who have knowledge and understanding of the truth, but they hold it in unrighteousness. This again is particular speaking of preachers and priest who are in the know as far as the Sabbath day, the laws of God, the dark sayings, the paganism, and many other things that are done for money and not for God, and they will not teach the truth.
The know clearly that when Michael Jackson died, he made his homecoming when they put him in the ground, because it red dust thou art and dust shall thou return. The dead, no matter how good they lived on earth, are still dead until the return of Christ; so for a knowledgeable minister to tell someone they dead are in heaven smiling down; they are either ignorant of the scriptures or they know the truth but hold it in unrighteousness.
If they read the bible; God has shown it to them; but sometimes for whatever reason, we refuse good things when they come to us. Who has passed on what would have been a great spouse to get something that only looks good? Ministers and their followers are passing up on the true word of God to have something that only looks good (in many cases).
You may admit it or not; reading the bible the last 80 days, there are some scriptures that were just invisible to you; and I really haven't taught anything; I've just pointed out scriptures for you to come to the conclusion on your own. However, there are things from the creation of the world that you clearly see now. So far we have not met more than two in the Godhead. So with these people who hold the truth in unrighteousness, they know of God but gave no glory, they chose to be vain in their hearts and were then stripped of their talents. They profess to be wise but have only become foolish.
They changed the glory of God into an image, even an image in their mind to that of a corruptible mortal man and beast. For this; God has given them up to the lust of their hearts, as Paul calls it, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves." Why? Because they changed the truth of God into a lie; they rather serve the created more than the Creator (v20-25).
Paul Speaks Out Against Homosexuality!
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Because people put God on the shelf after He has revealed Himself to them through His true Word; He gave them up to vile affections. Women want to marry women, and men with men, which is unseemly and not natural and against the Lord's commandments.
Since they did not retain God in their knowledge, He gave them a reprobate mind to do things which are not convenient (v28). A reprobate mind is one that no matter what you do, show, or prove, they are stuck on what they think.
You can read to someone that the dead are in the ground and not in heaven all over the book as we have; and the reprobate mind will dismiss it and perhaps say something to the like, "I know my dad is in heaven with angels wings on his back smiling down on me right now." This is very sad and is the worst disease on the planet. I'd rather be an HIV patient with an open mind than a healthy billionaire who is reprobate. Look at what reprobate minded people are filled with.
29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Without understanding is the key; because if they had it they would not be reprobate. They know the judgement of God that those who commit those things in verses 29-30, are worthy of death, they not only do those things as sinners do; but they enjoy them as they do them.
Romans 2
2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Paul continues from chapter 1:
Paul ask, do you think you can do all those wicked things and escape the judgment of the Lord against such things? In other words; do you think you can walk around looking righteous but are full of evil and escape death, even the second death?
God has a day of wrath waiting for those people and will give every man (and woman) according to their deeds; those who continue to do well, to eternal life, but those who disobey the truth, evil and wrath in the lake of fire. Evil and wrath will come to evil doers, to the Jew first then to the Gentile; same with peace and righteousness, to the Jew first then to the Gentile.
God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't say those are my people, I'm going to let them slide, if you are wrong you are wrong. Wrong has not preference or color or nationality; all things that offend will be thrown in the fire. People who do the commandments will be justified; not those that can only quote them.
Paul says in verses 16 through 25 that in the day that Jesus Christ judges the earth, even if you're a child of Israel and you boast of keeping the law, you teach people to keep the law; if you do not keep it yourself, you have wasted your time and have dishonored God.
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Here Paul is making a point that if you do not keep the law or have faith in Jesus Christ; although you were circumcised physically on the 8th day, you are really still uncircumcised because your heart is not circumcised. If it can go that way; then what about a man who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the laws of God and has the testimony of Jesus, would he not be circumcised spiritually? But the question remains, is that man obedient to the covenant?
You can do everything I tell you to do; but if we never made an agreement; am I obligated to pay you? You cut my grass, cleaned my house and when I got home you showed me your work and asked for payment, my question would be, "have we met?" I may even call the police for trespassing.
Paul is simply making a point to the Roman Jews who think teaching the law is all that counts for them since they are Jews; it also includes doing the law or it is all in vain. There are Jewish people today that are sold into thinking they are the chosen people so they can do no wrong. That is totally wrong; and will lead anyone who thinks that way into destruction. The Lord may wink on certain things the Gentiles and Hamites do because He never appeared to them; but I say things in the scripture will be upheld. And remember what we read in Ezekiel; no uncircumcised man in flesh or heart will enter the Lord's house. The circumcision is in affect; but Jews should not hang everything on the fact they are circumcised.
29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 3
So the circumcision is important. Paul is speaking of being circumcised spiritually and physically. You must be both to really be circumcised. Why is this an advantage to the Jew? Mainly because to this nation were the answers or oracles of God given. This again, is why Jesus said salvation is of the Jews; because in order to know clearly what one needs for salvation, he must find an informed priest of Israel; a teaching priest if you will.
People tend to believe, in Paul's day as well as today, that since the Jews broke the covenant the Lord has done away with them and has chosen another people. Some say the Jewish people do not even believe in Jesus today; so they are done away with. The fact remains that we read in the Old Testament from Jeremiah that the Lord said He will make a new covenant with the house of Judah and the house of Israel. We also saw the covenant being made by Jesus on passover day when He was having passover dinner with His disciples. Paul then says because some do not believe does that make it where the Lord will change people? Paul says, God forbid.
20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Paul has confusing writing as Peter said but let's take a look at what he is saying. He said that no one is perfect therefore no one can readily look at the law and justify themselves. What law? When Israel sinned; there was a law instituted to absolve them of the sin. This is called the animal sacrificial law; when a sin is committed; an animal must be killed. This makes sinning easier to deal with. If you ran a red light and the state took away your car, licenses, and black listed you from purchasing another car, red lights would not be ran as much as they are. But since you can pay the ticket and take a class or be on probation, it doesn't hurt that bad to run the red when you're in a rush. Same thing with animal sacrifice, if you have two dozen bulls, what is one night with your neighbors wife?
Many Israelites adopted this mentality thinking their deeds by the law (of animal sacrifice) justified them; however Paul says that the righteousness of God, speaking of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, foretold by the prophets, is what counts. We have to read into what Paul is saying, who he is saying it to, and why he is saying it. Paul spoke to many people in different countries; so he had to teach them like you teach a baby.
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The law of animal sacrifice is no good; for you; but faith in Christ Jesus.
28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (animal sacrificial law). Trust that no being will come and die for you for breaking a set of laws, as he walked perfectly in those set of laws, just to allow you to continue to break those set of laws. It is speaking of another law; the law that governed the set of laws.
31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Paul knows what he is writing; it is just that the translators or Paul could have distinguished what law he spoke of for us to have clarity. Here he says to establish the law and not make void of it; a direct contradiction of what he said earlier in the same chapter. Verse 31 is saying do we stop keeping the ten commandment laws and only live by belief (faith). No, God forbid, we establish the commandments.
Romans 4
Abraham was justified by faith; because it said he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. My question is; how did Abraham show that he believed God? By doing what God commanded. He got up and left his native country at the drop of the word; he nearly killed his only son at the commandment of God, he circumcised himself at the age of 99 was it, at the commandment of God. He had works to show that he believed.
15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
This chapter appears and even sounds as if Paul is saying, faith is all you need. But then he drops verse 15; where there is no law, there can be no sin. You cannot run a stop sign that does not exist. So we are fumbling between two laws again.
Romans 5
We have peace and joy with the Father through Jesus Christ who made an atonement for our past sins. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
One man sinned against God in the garden and we have all of this dying going on today. Likewise, one man rose from the dead and we have access to this grace of life by Him, Jesus Christ.
19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Through Jesus we have a free gift of grace; but it does not mean the commandments are absolved. Chapter six will explain that.
Romans chapter 6
We should not sin, or break the laws of God just because we have grace. When we are baptized, the old person full of sin dies; and we are to come out of the water, new and live sin free lives.
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Not Under the Law But Grace
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
We are not under the law but under grace; so shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under it? Absolutely not. So what is Paul saying exactly. The ten commandments are not bounding to a righteous man. The laws are guides; but to a righteous man $100 bucks laying on the table of his neighbor never comes to his mind to steal it because he is not thinking of stealing. He is not thinking of lying, adultery, those things do not even come to mind so he is not under the law, he lives by them. But since we are flesh, and still sin involuntarily at times, we have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not mean we can go out and lay with our neighbors wife because we are under grace.
I have buddy who has a girlfriend who lives by the saying, "we are not under the law but under grace." She would flirt with him from time to time and even suggest they "make love." My buddy is married and committed to his marriage. She would commit adultery with him because she is under grace; but she did not read verse 15 that states we should not sin because we are not under the law.
Be Servants of Righteousness and Not Sin
16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
You Can Get Paid for Sin
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin is breaking the law; so as long as you can sin; there will be a law that you are breaking. And Jesus said not the smallest part of the law will be removed until all is fulfilled.
Romans 7
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
The law is not sin because the commandments points out sin. A man is sitting lusting after a woman doesn't know he is lusting until he read, thou shall not covet.
8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
We thought we were living the life while we were sinning; but commandments showed us we were actually dying it up and not living it up. Paul found they (the commandments) were to death. They point out how you can die forever if you do not adhere. And it killed the old Paul (v11).
11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
From this we learn the the Ten Commandments are holy, they are just, and they are good. So it poses another question; how then can they be nailed to a cross or done away with? You can't kill something holy. Even Jesus had to become a man to die.
Paul continues in this chapter that he struggles not to sin; but the body wants to sin so much. We have to keep our minds pure so our deeds will be pure. We have to become conscious beings.
25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
When I see a dazzling good looking married lady; I have to keep my mind off of the carnal lust and subject my body to the pureness of my thoughts, which are focused on the law of God.
Romans 8
2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Read carefully. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who DO NOT walk after the flesh but after the Spirit. Another way of saying this is to say, there is condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk after the flesh. So, all we have to do is find out how the flesh walk and how the spirit walks, and if we walk after the Spirit, we are not condemned.
5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
The Flesh Is Not Subject to the Law of God
6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
If you walk after the flesh, you are condemned. Because the flesh is carnal and the carnally minded is unto death; primarily because it is enmity against God because they will not keep His commandments; thus they cannot please God. So if you are not subject to the law of God; you are walking after the flesh and there can be condemnation on such.
13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
If you live after the flesh or carnal mind; you will die; but through the Spirit, you will be able to mortify your body and live to become a son of God.
Our goal is to walk after the ways Jesus did. We read the gospels and all the things He did, His customs, etc; we want to do just as He did so we can become joint-heirs to eternal life as He overcame, we must over come.
17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We are doing all of this to become adopted sons and daughters of God.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead into eternal life of many brothers (and sisters). If He was first of many brothers, we have a shot to come out of the grave with all power in heaven and earth, not as angels, but as Gods. Remember, this is why God is mindful of men as David asked, to become God and do the works of His hands.
We should work continuously to become on of His. 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing should separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord; not pork or unclean foods, not friends, family, or confusion over keeping or not keeping the law.
Romans 9
3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Paul tells the truth in Christ that he has great sorrow for his brothers in the flesh, to the point he wishes he can give his life to save all of them. His brothers in the flesh are Israelites, to them pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants (more than one), the giving of the law, and the service of God, and also the promises. All of this was given to the fathers of the children of Israel.
Throughout this chapter, Paul quotes many scriptures out of the Old Testament, testifying against the children of Israel that they are not saved simply because they are children of Israel. Many prophet wrote that only a remnant will be saved, mainly because of their unbelief.
Romans chapter 10
Again it is Paul's desire to God that Israel as a nation might be saved because they have a genuine zeal for God; but it is not based on the knowledge of God. They are ignorant of God's righteousness so they foolishly set up their own. An example of this is not knowing what the law is; so they make up there own, things like smoking, drinking, having a mean and bad attitude or demeanor. While these may lead to sin; they are not necessarily sin.
In verse 4 through 9 Paul quotes Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 30, people usually take this as he is opposed to Moses; he is not; he is agreeing with Moses.
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
While this is true there are qualifiers to this statement. We read in the gospels how Jesus met a lot of evil spirits who knew Him by name and feared and trembled at Jesus. They confessed with their mouths that Jesus was the Messiah and Lord of all; will Satan and the evil angels that followed him be saved? So why do men believe they will be at just the confession?
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will indeed be saved; but as Paul ask, how can you call on Him whom you do not believe? How can you believe if you have not heard, and how can you hear without an informed preacher. Remember in Ecclesiastes chapter 12 when it said the preacher was wise because he taught the people knowledge? This is what the preacher must do (v13-15).
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is how you attain faith; it comes by hearing. You shall not kill or you will be killed and thrown in a lake of fire. You hear that and believe it; that is to have faith that will come to pass. That is the word of God. You hear you should love each other as you love yourself, and you show and share love with faith that this will help you attain eternal life. This is how it works.
But Israel Lacked Faith More Than Other Nations:
19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Romans 11
2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
This question must have been the question of the day then as it is now. Paul tells us that he is an Israelite, out of the tribe of Benjamin teaching the Gentiles, so that should tell us that the Lord has not cast away His people. As in Elijah's day when he believed he was the last prophet left, God let him know He'd reserved 7,000 who have never bowed the knee to Baal. Just as in this present day and in Paul's that there are men who have never serve pagan gods and who know who they are, what they are doing, when they will be redeem, where they are going, and why they are in captivity in all nations.
5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
The Lord put them in captivity, blinded them for their sake. Through their punishment the nations will be saved and so will Israel. So Paul gives the Gentiles good warning: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
If God treated His own as thus; what do you think He will spare those grafted in? Absolutely not; they will be burned immediately if they rebel or act too big.
25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Do not think that all of Israel is blinded; only the blindness has come in part until the times of the Gentiles in power become fulfilled. So one out two (probably one out of 10) children of Israel you come across know exactly what's going on. They know all the oracles of God and are in wait of redemption. The others are blind so do not laugh, scoff or take harsh advantage of the blind children of Israel, because not only is the Lord watching you; but the children of Israel who see are looking right at you as well.
Romans 12
Paul tells us in this chapter to live by love, by being living sacrifices by avoiding evil and sacrificing our own desires; and doing the Lord's. Showing love, even to our enemies is best way because it allows the Lord to avenge and not us. When we avenge; our hearts are filled with hate as we evilly repay our enemies. However, when we show love only, we are keeping the law of the Lord, which is to love our fellow brothers as ourselves.
21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Submit to the powers of God. We do it in things He has not left in our control such as gravity, waters, wind, fire, and other elements. We should submit to other powers such as His commandments.
Paul tells us that if we do evil; we better be afraid; because God does not keep a sword for nothing. God is not going to show up to battle and end up talking it out. Once He comes for battle you will be dead or critically injured as far as He desires.
8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
I would think Paul a very confused man if he told us that we are not under the law; but of grace, then tells us to keep the law because it is the expression of love. This is why we know there are two sets of laws. But we see from Paul that the Ten Commandments were in affect in his day (after Christ death and resurrection); and Christ mentioned in Matthew chapter 5 that the laws continue as long as the earth and heaven continue.
Paul says that it is time to wake up to the truth; to the light, and leave sleeping because the Lord was near in returning in His day; what about ours?
Romans 14
2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Let's not judge one another but to admonish and encourage in faith. Someone who is not as vast in understanding; those of us who are are to have patience with them. People who eat meat should not judge a vegetarian and vice versa.
6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
People do like to attribute this to the Lord's feast days and to His dietary laws; but Paul is not even speaking of these things; he is just addressing issues of days the Gentiles thought to highlight; such as in America July 4th is esteemed by many; but to others it does not mean anything. We aren't to judge those who esteem it or esteem it not.
Do all things that are acceptable, although different from culture to culture, as long as it is acceptable to the Lord God of Israel; then do it and worry not of being judged.
This concludes the reading we have today; and we will continue tomorrow.
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