Romans - February 15, 2009

SECTION --- Four: Sanctification (6:1-8:39) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

22. (8:38-39) PONDER: Is Paul saying the items mentioned will not make us stop loving God or he is saying the items mentioned will not make God stop loving us?
a. This issue of this chapter is not what makes the readers not love God but what makes God stop loving them — what would make God cease being willing to help the man of Romans 7:24 and others in the same predicament.
23. What does the items listed have in common, i.e., what is the class of listed items?
a. All the things dreaded by people that could or can cause, in our way of thinking, God to cease loving us.
24. (8:39) As used here “in” (G1722, en) denotes a fixed position where something takes place — i.e., the sphere where something happens rather than the instrument or channel something happened. What is the significance of Chapter 8 ending and beginning with “in Christ” as it relates to the man of 7:24?
a. Only those “in” [remaining “in”] sphere of Christ’s influence will receive the benefits of Deity’s expressed love.
25. While God loves all He has created there are five benefits granted only to those obedient to God’s plan of salvation, i.e. those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, thus, are walking in newness of life. (Rom 6:3-4) What are they? [cf. Rom 8:1; 14; 16; 24; 26)
a. [8:1] Freed from condemnation; [8:14] Given an objective guide; [8:16] Positive we have salvation; [8:24] Assured of spending eternity in heaven; [8:27] confident Deity is involved in our prayers.
26. What is the significance of saying “Christ Jesus our Lord”
a. Christ = the anointed, the Messiah, Son of God, his deity; Jesus = his humanity, his human name; Lord = what he is — supreme in authority.
27. The fact under no condition will a child of God be separated from God’s love mean a child of God cannot be lost, i.e., not go to heaven?
a. Paul is not addressing if a Christian can receive God’s wrath, thus, miss heaven, but even those receiving God’s wrath are still loved by God. The issue of Romans 8 is not where one will spend eternity but God’s love for the world (cf. Joh 3:16).
b. Paul is not addressing what one must do to be saved but showing following the Law is contrary to following the law of Christ (1Co 9:21)
28. PONDER: Will any of God’s children miss Heaven, i.e., be is Hell?
a. If it is possible for a child of God to fall away, it is, then most likely a child of God who fell away is not in Heaven, i.e., in Hell (Heb 10:26-31; 2Pe 2:20-21)
b. PONDER: What is the one thing that prevents or will prevent anyone from spending eternity in Heaven?
(1) A hard, obstinate, disobedient, flesh obeying, inward man choosing to reject Deity’s expression of love.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A LOOK AHEAD
29. PONDER: Can one who has never seen or talked with Christ one on one, as did Paul, really become as persuaded or convinced as Paul there is nothing to cause Deity to stop loving His greatest creation?
a.

OBSERVATION (8:37-39)


E. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — How can the justified know they “are more than conquerors”? That is to ask, Can we know Deity left no stone un-turned providing the justified the means to be winners, thus, know even in times of stress and doubt they are winners?
1.
F. Conclusion —

XVIII. Section Conclusion (Sanctification Rom 6:1-8:39) —


The Book of Romans

V. Vindication of God (9:1 - 11:36)

Introduction
1. As noted in our introduction to Paul’s letter to the church in Rome he had two major problem that must be resolved if the gospel was to replace the Law of Moses among its disciples...
a. Salvation by faith, apart from works of the Law, will cause men to live in sin.
i. He had to stop and correct the tendency developing in the churches in Corinth and Galatia of adding the law of Christ (1Co 9:21) to the Law of Moses.
ii. Some today are inclined to add parts of the Law of Moses to the law of Christ.
b. Inform the disciples of the Law of Moses that God had not broken His promise and rejected the Jewish nation and their special and eternal relationship with Jehovah God.
2. To this point Paul has discussed the first problem. He has shown no one can say they are worthy of the purity required by God to be in His presents for eternity (Condemnation — Rom 1:18-3:20). Paul then established one is justified by the law of Christ not the Law of Moses [merit] (Justification — Rom 3:21-5:21). This did not sit well with those convinced salvation is by the Law of Moses and the law of Christ was an addition to the Law of Moses for the Gentiles only. Paul was told without the Law of Moses there was nothing to keep people from continuing in sin, thus, a law of merit was necessary and good. Paul offered proof the Law of Moses did not keep one from “struggling with (wanting to) sin”. Paul makes the logical argument what the Law of Moses (any law of merit) could not do, i.e., change the inward man, God’s plan of salvation through Christ accomplished. The plan of salvation through Christ set one free from the hopeless pull of the flesh, set one free from their body of death. (Sanctification — Rom 6:1- 8:39)
Section Preview
1. Chapter 9-11 is Paul’s response to the second problem — God did not break His promise to the Jewish people, i.e., those receiving the Law of Moses.
a. Had been led to believe, based on scripture [Gen 12:3], they, as a nation, were God’s chosen people, now Paul is telling them (a nation made up of Abraham’s descendants) God does not owe them the Messianic blessings, i.e. they, as individuals, must be obedient to the gospel of Christ or be rejected.

OBSERVATION:
1. This is a much abused section for it is often applied to those in Christ (spiritual Israel) and not just those who are of the nation of Israel (Abraham’s physical descendants), as is clearly established in the first passage of this section. By ignoring context this section can and does support the “L” and “P” in the “TULIP” doctrine.
2. Augustine (“Father of Roman Catholicism”) and John Calvin (“TULIP” doctrine proclaimer) saw in this section the doctrine God determines beforehand (predestines), without rhyme or reason from man's point of view, where each soul will spend eternity — i.e. the choice of heaven or hell has been make before one has been born.

I. {Rom 9:1-5 } Introduction to Three Arguments
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has established the value and purpose of the gospel, salvation for all through Christ. Paul begins a new thought, specifically aimed at those holding on to the Law of Moses as the means or at least part of the means making them a special people, i.e., to be a child of God because they are of Abraham.
2. Preview — It is important for the target audience to know Paul is of the same family tree as they, thus, it is not lack of “proper linage” that drives him to teach what he teaches about the Law of Moses not being the means or proof of justification (Chapter 4).
B. Question For Discussion?
1. Why should they believe, much less listen to, Paul’s teachings about Christ?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. PONDER: What is required for one to know another is giving the correct facts — i.e., telling the truth about something and not lying?
a.

OBSERVATION: “in” (en) G1722; a prim. prep. denoting position and by impl. instrumentality.

2. (9:1) What is meant by “in Christ” as it is use here? (Same expression used at 8:1,39.)
a.



3. (9:1) What is Paul’s conscience? {cf. Act 24:16; 9:1-4}
a.
4. (9:1) What is meant by “in the Holy Spirit” as it is used here?
a. .
5. (9:1) How can the readers know Paul is not in error, i.e., his conscience (knowledge) can be mistaken or he is faking it?
a.
6. PONDER: Does this verse (9:1) suggest Paul could not be in error in any thing he says?
a.
7. (9:2) What is Paul’s heart?
a.

8. (9:2) Why makes Paul feel the way he feels’s?
a.

OBSERVATION (9:1-2)


9. (9:3) What does “wish” as used here mean?
a.
10. (9:3) What does “accursed or anathema”mean?
a.
11. (9:3) Why is it impossible, or as least improbable, for such to happen to Paul?
a.
12. PONDER: Since Paul could not be accursed so others might live what does Paul mean?
a.
13. (9:3) To whom is Paul addressing this section of Romans (9:1- 11:36)?
a.

OBSERVATION (9:3)


14. (9:4-5) According to these verses how is an Israelite (covenant name of God’s chosen people) defined — i.e., what are the eight unique set apart characteristics of an Israelite?
a.
15. (9:5) What is the significance of the statement following the source Christ’s humanity, i.e., “who is over all”?
a.
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
KJV 5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
ASV 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
NASB 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
ESV

16. (9:4) What does “adoption as sons” tell us about an Israelite? (cf.Deu 7:6)
a.
17. (9:4) What does “have the glory” tell us about an Israelite? (cf. Exo 13:21-22; 25:22)
a.
18. (9:4) What does “have the covenants” tell us about an Israelite?
a.
19. (9:4) What does “giving of the Law” tell us about an Israelite?
a.
20. (9:4) What does “serving God” tell us about an Israelite? (cf. Heb 9:1,6)
a.
21. (9:4) What does “the promises” tell us about an Israelite?
a.
22. (9:5) What does “their fathers” tell us about an Israelite? (cf Act 3:13;7:32)
a.
23. (9:5) What does “physical brothers of Christ” tell us about an Israelite?
a.
24. PONDER: What does “who is over all” (9:5) imply?
a.
OBSERVATION (9:4-5)

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Why should they believe, much less listen to, Paul’s teachings about Christ?
1.
E. Conclusion —

II. {Rom 9:6-13} Argument 1st of 3 — God chooses as serves His purpo