Romans 1
Introduction of letter and ministry verse 1- 7
Paul – a servant of Jesus Christ – called to be an apostle
separated to the gospel of God
(which HE had promised afore by HIS prophets in the Holy Scriptures)
concerning HIS Son Jesus Christ our Lord
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh
and declared to be the Son of God with power
according to the Spirit of holiness
by the resurrection from the dead
by WHOM we have received grace and apostleship
for obedience to the faith among all nations
for HIS name
among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ
to 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
Testimony of the church in Rome verse 8- 9
First – I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all
that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world
For God is my witness
whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son
that without ceasing I make mention of you
always in my prayers
Paul praying for opportunity to come to Rome verse 10- 15
Making request – if by any means now at length
I might have a prosperous journey
by the will of God to come to you
For I long to see you – that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift
to the end you may be established – that is
that I may be comforted together with you
by the mutual faith
both of you and me
Now I would not have you ignorant – brethren
that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you
(BUT was let hitherto)
that I might have some fruit among you also
even as among other Gentiles
I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians
both to the wise and to the unwise
So – as much as in me is
I am ready to PREACH the gospel to you
that are at Rome also
Paul wants to share the Gospel verse 16- 17
FOR I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believes
to the Jew first – and also to the Greek
FOR therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith as it is written
The just shall live by faith
Natural revelation of God verse 18- 20
FOR the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men
who hold the truth in unrighteousness
BECAUSE that which may be known of God is manifest in them
for God has showed it unto them
FOR the invisible things of HIM from the creation of the world
are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made
even HIS eternal power and Godhead
so that they are without excuse
False worship preferred verse 21- 23
BECAUSE that – when they knew God
they glorified him not as God neither were thankful
BUT became vain in their imaginations
and their foolish heart was darkened
Professing themselves to be wise – they became fools
and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God
into an image made like to corruptible man
and to birds – and four-footed beasts
and creeping things
God gave false worshipers over to their lusts verse 24- 25
WHEREFORE God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts
to dishonor their own bodies between themselves
who changed the truth of God into a lie
and worshiped and served the creature more than
the Creator – WHO is blessed for ever
AMEN
God gave them over to vile affections verse 26- 27
FOR this cause God gave them up to vile affections
for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature
and likewise also the men – leaving the natural use of the woman
burning in their lust one toward another
men with men working that which is unseemly
and receiving in themselves that recompense of
their error which was meet
God gave them over to a reprobate mind verse 28- 32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge
God gave them over to a reprobate mind
to do those things which are not convenient
Being filled with all unrighteousness – fornication – wickedness
covetousness – maliciousness – full of envy – murder
debate – deceit – malignity – whisperers – backbiters
haters of God – despiteful – proud – boasters
inventors of evil things – disobedient to parents
without understanding – covenant breakers
without natural affections – implacable unmerciful
Who 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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (1411 “power” [dunamis] means ability, abundance, might, strength, mighty work, force, wealth or inherit power)
DEVOTION: We conclude the book of Acts with Paul in Rome. Here we find Paul writing to the church at Rome. He has left and wants to come back. He has further instructions for them. He spent at least two years there in a rented house preaching and teaching while under guard.
He is praying for the church at Rome. He has heard of their witness for the LORD. He complements them on their faith.
He instructs them in the fact that every human being can see the creation of the world around them and realize that it didn’t happen with a big bang or any other theory presented by the world or the liberal church. God created the world in six literal
twenty-four hour periods. He rests on the seventh twenty-four hour period. HE told the children of Israel to rest on the Sabbath day which commemorated HIS creation. Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to realize that if people looked at the Natural Revelation of Creation, they could see God. However, people would rather worship creation rather than the Creator. They would worship idol that looked like animals or humans or they would worship the sun, moon and stars rather than the God who created them.
Paul wrote most of the New Testament which is Special Revelation given to him by the Holy Spirit. Only those who see God in creation will accept the Special Revelation given in the Word of God because they are blind and have no understanding otherwise.
God gave those who rejected HIM over to their own form of sin. They rejected his General Revelation and HIS Special Revelation [Bible]. HE said OK, have it your own way. There will be a judgment day for those individuals and they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. They will be given over to the Second Death.
When we study the life of Christ we watch him manifest his mighty works on everyone he meets. He healed those who were sick. He challenged the religious leaders. He taught the people with parables. He gave the interpretation of his parables to the disciples. He trained the disciples to continue his work on earth. He promised the Holy Spirit. He was willing to die for our sins. He manifested his ability at every turn. He told of his resurrection from the dead on the third day. He was our substitute. He paid the penalty for our sins.
Paul said that God’s dynamite happened in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. God declared that HE was Almighty by HIS work of raising HIS Son from the dead. Paul was a witness to the resurrected Christ. He saw HIM on the Damascus Road.
We are forgiven. Now he gives us grace to live in obedience to him while we are on this earth. We have strength given to us from him to face each day. It is not just regular strength. It is dynamite strength to face all the trials HE allows in our life to cause us to be more like Jesus. Praise his name!
CHALLENGE: Put in your memory bank that God has given you dynamite power to witness for HIM each day. Put in your memory back that HE will help you each day. You are a child of the KING, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (2098 “gospel” [euaggelion] means good tidings, good news, good news concerning the now present instantiation of Jesus’ divine dominion and way of salvation by His death and resurrection, news that makes one happy, or a good message)
DEVOTION: The gospel is defined as “good news.” It is also stated in the Bible to be a statement concerning the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the beginning of our understanding of the message God has for all those who are going to be believers.
There is no “hole” in the Gospel. People try to add to the teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is how we understand our basic belief in Jesus Christ. If we don’t believe that HE lived a perfect sinless life we don’t understand how HE could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. HE was the only appeasing sacrifice the Father could accept for our sins. Without HIS sacrifice we would spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
We have to believe that HE died on the cross as our sacrifice. We have to believe that HE was buried in a tomb for three days. We have to believe that HE arose from the grave on the third day. This is the teaching of the Gospel. We are not to add to or take away from this message.
People we share this message with will either become a believer or not. It is not our responsibility it is theirs. They have to make a choice. Nothing is missing from the message.
Once someone accepts the message they need to repent of their sins and follow Jesus. Once a follower they need to learn how to share these truths with others. It is not a message that we should keep to ourselves.
CHALLENGE: We have to be like Paul and not be ashamed of the “good news” he shared with all those he came in contact with no matter their position in life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. (545 “disobedient” [apeithes] means impersuasible, not compliant, contumacious, ungodly, or not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority)
DEVOTION: Children are supposed to obey their parents in the LORD. If a child finds themselves in a home that is trying to honor the LORD they need to follow their parent’s instructions.
Godly parent need to learn as much as they can about raising their children to honor the LORD. This requires the right attitude and right correction when necessary. We will learn that fathers can provoke their children to anger. We will learn that mothers are to train their daughters to be those who have a gentle and quiet spirit.
The Bible can be a great instruction book regarding the raising of children that will obey their parents. In the list of sins that are condemned in this chapter one of them is that children “disobey their parents.”
This is a sin that can affect the rest of the life of the child. It needs to be addressed starting before age six according to all studies. So if you have children under the age of six start now. If they are older pray that the LORD can give you strength to deal with attitudes that are wrong before they become adults. Sometimes parents might even have ask forgiveness of their children for not raising them according to the standard the LORD set for parent in the Bible.
This doesn’t give any excuse for the child who is disobedient. They have to answer for their actions as well. God doesn’t like disobedient children and HE chastens them to prove it.
Obedience of parents is a lifelong commitment. Children can honor their parents even when they are out of the house on their own. Some children never walk a step in the shoes of their parents to see how they were raised.
Some parents never received the right training from their parents and that means that they have learn from no example. They might be doing the best they know how – give them a break and pray for them.
CHALLENGE: There should be parents in every church who understand Biblical principles for raising children and who are willing to help others. Be an example!!
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: 32 Who, 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. (4909 “pleasure” [suneudokeo] means be pleased, allow, consent, applaud, give approval, hearty agreement, or be feel gratified with)
DEVOTION: There is a long list of sins that the LORD doesn’t like in our world. Included on this list are all kinds of sins. HE doesn’t think one sin is worse than another. It is thought by some that pride is the worst sin but that might not be true.
What we see especially is that HE doesn’t like the people who not only practice any of these sins but they hearty agree with others committing sin. It is a warning to us that we need to inform people, who claim Christ, when they are doing something that is displeasing to HIM. It is not an easy thing to do.
Each of us can have friends who don’t think it is wrong to do some of the things that are listed above. They might think that if we say something, we think we are better than them. That is a wrong thought on their part. We should never come across that we are better than someone else.
Our life is made up of occasions where we sin and have to confess them to the LORD. If we see someone don’t things that we have been guilty of doing in our past we should come alongside of them and help them conquer the sin.
When people tell jokes that are off color we should make sure that we walk and away and not laugh. Our testimony to those outside of Christ needs to be one of caring but condoning their actions. They know the difference.
God the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to list these sins right at the beginning of the book of Romans to help us understand that no one is exempt for sin. No one is accepted without repentance. This is the message Paul wants us to share with those around us each day.
CHALLENGE: Never condone sin by not saying something when given an opportunity to confront someone on an individual basis. Always do it in love.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Paul thanks God for their faith verse 8
Paul prayed for believer in Rome verse 9- 10
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Preach the Gospel verse 15
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospel of God verse 1, 9
Prophets verse 2
Holy Scripture verse 2
Seed of David verse 3
Preach the gospel verse 15
Gospel of Christ verse 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verse 1, 3, 7- 10,16- 19,21, 23,24, 26, 28, 30,32
Gospel of God verse 1
Son of God verse 3
Beloved of God verse 7
God our Father verse 7
God is witness verse 9
Will of God verse 10
Power of God verse 16
Righteousness of God verse 17
Wrath of God verse 18
Known of God verse 19
Creator verse 20, 25
Eternal power verse 20
Godhead verse 20
Judgment of God verse 32
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 1, 3, 6, 7
Christ verse 1, 6, 7, 16
Jesus Christ verse 1, 6, 8
Son verse 3, 9
Son Jesus Christ verse 3
Lord verse 3, 7
Son of God verse 4
Power verse 4
Resurrection from the dead verse 4
Lord Jesus Christ verse 7
Gospel of Christ verse 16
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit verse 4
Spirit of holiness verse 4
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Flesh verse 3
All nations verse 5
Rome verse 7, 15
Whole world verse 8
Gentiles verse 13
Greeks verse 14, 16
Barbarians verse 14
Wise and unwise verse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Ignorant verse 13
Ungodliness verse 18
Unrighteousness verse 18, 29
Without excuse verse 20
Not glorify God verse 21
Unthankful verse 21
Vain in their imaginations verse 21
Darkened heart verse 21
Fools verse 22
Changed glory of God verse 23
Worshiped animals verse 23, 25
Dishonor bodies verse 24
Uncleanness verse 24
Lust of their own heart verse 24, 27
Dishonor their bodies verse 24
Changed truth to lie verse 25
Vile affections verse 26
Homosexual relationships verse 27
Reprobate mind verse 28
Fornication verse 29
Wickedness verse 29
Covetousness verse 29
Maliciousness verse 29
Full of envy verse 29
Murder verse 29
Debate verse 29
Deceit verse 29
Malignity verse 29
Whisperers verse 29
Backbiters verse 30
Haters of God verse 30
Despiteful verse 30
Proud verse 30
Boasters verse 30
Inventors of evil things verse 30
Disobedient to parents verse 30
Without understanding verse 31
Covenant breakers verse 31
Without natural affections verse 31
Implacable verse 31
Unmerciful verse 31
Pleasure in sinning verse 32
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Servant verse 1, 9
Called verse 1, 6, 7
Separated verse 1
Gospel verse 1, 15, 16
Promise verse 2
Grace verse 5, 7
Apostleship verse 5
Obedience to the faith verse 5, 8, 17
Beloved of God verse 7
Saints verse 7
Peace verse 7
Thankful verse 8
Faith verse 8, 17
Prayers verse 9
Will of God verse 10
Spiritual gift verse 11
Comforted verse 12
Mutual faith verse 12, 17
Fruit verse 13
Preach verse 15
Not ashamed verse 16
Salvation verse 16
Believe verse 16
Just verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Seed of David verse 3
Jew verse 16
Church (New Testament people of God)
Paul – servant of Jesus Christ verse 1- 32
Called
Apostle
Separated to Gospel of God
Sermon
Brethren verse 13
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
The final item in the indictment is climactic (v. 32). It is prefaced by the reminder that men have not lacked a sufficient knowledge of God’s “righteous decree” or requirement (for this word see 2:26; 8:4). If the knowledge of his power and deity (v. 20) was sufficient to obligate men to worship God with gratitude for his benefits, the knowledge of his righteousness, innate in their very humanity, was sufficient to remind them that the price of disobedience would be death. Yet men were not deterred from their sinful ways by this realization. In fact, they were guilty of the crowning offense of applauding those who practiced wickedness in its various manifestations. Instead of repenting of their own misdeeds and seeking to deter others, they promoted wrongdoing by encouraging it in their fellows, allying themselves with wanton sinners in defiant revolt against a righteous God. (Harrison, E. F. (1976). Romans. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, pp. 26–27). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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The ordinance of God (το δικαιωμα του θεου [to dikaiōma tou theou]). The heathen knows that God condemns such evil practices. But also consent with them (ἀλλα και συνευδοκουσιν [alla kai suneudokousin]). Late verb for hearty approval as in Luke 11:48; Acts 8:1; 1 Cor. 7:12. It is a tragedy of American city government that so many of the officials are proven to be hand in glove with the underworld of law-breakers. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ro 1:32). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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1:32. This whole pattern of evil becomes the lifestyle of people who continue to do (pres. tense implies continuing or habitual action) these very things in open defiance of God, a defiance aggravated (a) by fully knowing (epignontes; cf. v. 28) that such things deserve death and (b) by encouraging others in the same lifestyle. Such extremity of human rebellion against God fully warrants God’s condemnation. (Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 444). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Impenitence (vv. 28–32). When man began to feel the tragic consequences of his sins, you would think he would repent and seek God; but just the opposite was true. Because he was abandoned by God, he could only become worse. Man did not even want to retain God in his knowledge! So, “God gave them over” this time to a “depraved mind” (Rom. 1:28, nasb), which means a mind that cannot form right judgments. They now abandoned themselves to sin. Paul names twenty-four specific sins, all of which are with us today. (For other lists, see Mark 7:20–23; Gal. 5:19–21; 1 Tim. 1:9–10; and 2 Tim. 3:2–5.)
But the worst is yet to come. Men not only committed these sins in open defiance of God, but encouraged others and applauded them when they sinned. How far man fell! He began glorifying God but ended exchanging that glory for idols. He began knowing God but ended refusing to keep the knowledge of God in his mind and heart. He began as the highest of God’s creatures, made in the image of God; but he ended lower than the beasts and insects, because he worshiped them as his gods. The verdict? “They are without excuse!” (Rom. 1:20)
This portion of Scripture gives ample proof that the heathen are lost. Dan Crawford, British missionary to Africa, said: “The heathen are sinning against a flood of light.” There is a desperate need for us to carry the Gospel to all men, for this is the only way they can be saved. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 519). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Paul’s Radical View of Sin. In this section, Paul also presents a very radical view of sin. Notice that sin is not simply a matter of breaking the divine commandments or violating the decrees of God. Sin runs much deeper than that—it concerns even the attitudes of the heart and how people think about God. To know the reality of the living God, who has given us every good thing we have, and yet fail to honor and thank him for his kindness—that is sin. To enjoy God’s good gifts with little sense of gratitude or indebtedness—that is sin. To treat God as if he weren’t all that important or relevant, to ignore him, to live life independently of him—that is sin. To fail to acknowledge God for who he is, to desire the created things more than the Creator himself—that is sin (1:19–25). For Paul, immersed from childhood in Scripture, sin is anything that falls short of the two great biblical commandments—the commandment to love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength (Deut 6:5), and the commandment to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Lev 19:18; cf. Mark 12:30–31). Sin is anything that falls short of acknowledging our full dependence on God for everything.
From this point of view, sin is defined as much by what we fail to do as by what we do. Here Paul reflects a profound understanding of the magnitude of human failing before God. Sin, then, is not simply a surface-level phenomenon, a matter of violating the laws of God but something defined on a much deeper level by the essential attitude and orientation of a person’s heart. This is similar to Jesus’ view of sin—that it is not the external things that defile a person but what comes from a person’s heart (Mark 7:18–23; cf. Prov 4:23). Paul’s conception of sin is much bigger and more radical than most people’s conception of sin because his conception of God is much bigger and more radical than most people’s conception of God. This is why the entire world stands guilty under the judgment of God (see “Human Sinfulness” in the Introduction.) (Mohrlang, R., Gerald L. Borchert. (2007). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 14: Romans and Galatians (pp. 47–48). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)
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Pursuing Paul’s argument we note in veres. 21–23 that the barbarous nations are without excuse for their present ignorance and bestial condition, “Because that when they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things.” Observe the downward steps on the toboggan-slide of idolatry—God first thought of as an idealized man, then likened to the birds that soar into the heavens, next to the beasts that prowl over the earth, and finally to serpents and other detestable creeping things, whether reptilian or insectivorous. Even the Egyptian worshipped the serpent and the scarabeus, and yet back of all Egyptian mythology is hidden the original revelation of one true and living God! What degradation does this imply on the part of one of the most enlightened nations of antiquity! And others bear similar marks of declension and deterioration.
Because men gave God up He gave them up. Twice in the verses that follow we read, “God gave them up,” first to uncleanness and then to vile affections. Once we are told, “God gave them over to a reprobate mind.” The vile immoralities depicted here are the natural result of turning from the Holy One. The picture of heathenism in its unspeakable obscenities is not over-drawn, as any one acquainted with the lives of idolatrous people will testify. The awful thing is that all this vileness and filthiness is being reproduced in modern high society where men and women repudiate God. If people change the truth of God into a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, the whole order of nature is violated; for apart from the fear of God there is no power known that will hold the evil desires of the natural heart in check. It is part of the very nature of things that flesh will be manifested in its worst aspects when God gives men up to follow the bent of their unholy lusts.
What a picture of mankind away from Him do we get in the closing verses. Sin and corruption are everywhere triumphant. Righteousness is not to be found when the back is turned on God. Nor are men sensitive about their sins or ashamed of their evil ways, but “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.”
That the apostle’s picture of heathenism is still true the following clipping bears witness: “A Chinese Teacher once told a missionary that the Bible could not be so ancient a book after all, because the first chapter of Romans gave an account of Chinese conduct, such as the missionary could only have written after full acquaintance with the people. The mistake was not an unnatural one, but it is a heathen’s testimony to the truth of the Bible.” (Ironside, H. A. (1928). Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans. (pp. 30–32). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, &c.] Either of the law of God, the law and light of nature, by which they might in some measure know the difference between good and evil, and what was right and wrong; or the judiciary sentence of God against sin: that they which commit such things are worthy of death; at least of corporeal death: not only do the same, but have pleasure in those that do them; all which greatly aggravated their wickedness, since they sinned against light and knowledge, with approbation and good-liking of their own sins, and took pleasure in the sins of others. The Jews have a saying, “that no man is suspected of a thing but he has done it; and if he has not done the whole of it, he has done part of it, and if he has not done part of it, he has thought in his heart to do it, and if he has not thought in his heart to do it, ראה אחריﬦ שעשו ושמח, he has seen others do it, and has rejoiced.” And if such a man is a wicked man, how much more wicked are such who commit sin themselves, and delight in the sins of others? now from this whole account we see the insufficiency of the light of nature to guide persons in the way of salvation; what need there was of a divine revelation; and how impossible it is that such men should ever be justified before God, by any works of seeming righteousness done by them; which the apostle had in view, in giving this account of the depraved nature and conduct of the Gentiles, and of those among them who professed to be, and were the wisest and most knowing of them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 422). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
Romans is a logically arranged book developing the theme of 1:17, “the righteousness of God is revealed ….” Paul relates the righteousness of Christ to the problem of sin (1:18-3:20), then resolves the problem with salvation (3:21 – 5:21), and the believer’s progress in sanctification (6:1- 8:39). He explains how Israel fits into the picture with God’s sovereignty (9:1- 11:36), and closes with how a believer will ultimately serve God (12:1- 15:13). (June 27, Living The New Testament by Paul Enns)
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FROM MY READING:
God establishes a unilateral covenant with Abraham.
INSIGHT
The opposite of obedience is unbelief; the essence of obedience is belief. If you truly believe God is totally good and all powerful, if you truly believe He always acts for His children’s benefit, you will obey whatever He asks of you. It is when you doubt these truths that obedience to the Lord becomes difficult.
The New Testament tells us: “Abraham believed God” (James 2:23). Therefore, he obeyed when God said, “Get out of your country” (Genesis 12:1).
Are you struggling with obedience in an area of your life? Perhaps there is something in the Scriptures you do not truly believe. Search your life, and in the tradition of the disciples, ask the Lord to increase your faith (Luke 17:5). (Quiet Walk)
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SUBORDINATION
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 16:14
The Scriptures teach that the Spirit is subordinate to the Father and to the Son. That is what is meant in John 16:13. Our Lord says, “He shall not speak of himself,” which means that He does not speak from Himself—He is given what to speak. And indeed His work, we are told, is to glorify Christ (John 16:14). The Spirit does not glorify Himself; He glorifies the Son.
Is this not wonderful? Here is the subordination. Here is the division of the work. The Son says that He has come to glorify the Father, and the Spirit’s work is to glorify the Son. Each one reflects the glory of the other. Thus we look into the mystery of this amazing doctrine of the blessed Trinity: “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:14). This is, to me, one of the most amazing and remarkable things about the biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit seems to hide Himself and to conceal Himself. He is always, as it were, putting the focus on the Son, and that is why I believe, and I believe profoundly, that the best test of all as to whether we have received the Spirit is to ask ourselves, what do we think of, and what do we know about, the Son? Is the Son real to us? That is the work of the Spirit. He is glorified indirectly; He is always pointing us to the Son.
Yes, we must realize that He dwells within us, but His work indwelling within us is to glorify the Son, and to bring to us that blessed knowledge of the Son and of His wondrous love to us. It is He who strengthens us with might in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16-19), that we may know this love of Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: The Spirit does not glorify Himself; He glorifies the Son.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 19-20, by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones)
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The Holy Spirit’s Ministry: Searching Our Hearts
“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27)
One of the great axioms of Scripture is that the triune Godhead is not three gods, but rather “the LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Having just given the wonderful insight in the previous verse that the Holy Spirit helps our “infirmities” by transmitting our inexpressible prayers directly to God, the Creator now responds that the inseparable and omniscient triune Godhead already knows that the indwelling Holy Spirit communicates for the “saints according to the will of God.”
This is no new truth. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Bible abounds with this fact. “The LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9). “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21). “God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20).
It is no wonder that God knows the “mind of the Spirit.” The core ministry of He who is “the Spirit of truth” is that He will “guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The law of God cannot save – that’s legalism. But everything in the Bible is for our edification, that we may be equipped for good works (2Tim. 3:16-17). So whatever the Bible teaches, we should believe. And whatever it commands – by precept, example, story, or song – we should do. (p. 52, The Hole In Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung)
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