Romans - March 2, 2009

SECTION --- Five: Vindication of God (9:1 -- 11:36) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

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. (Mat18:16; 1Ti 5:19) Must have witnesses to the facts that have been stated.
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. As used here “in” (en) denotes a fixed position where something takes place — i.e., the sphere where something happens rather than the instrument or channel something happened.
b. As a Christian, a person in Christ’s sphere, Paul is telling the truth.

OBSERVATION: Some writers suggest "in Christ" is an oath where Paul is calling upon Christ to be his witness, see no reason for this to be the case considering his usage of "in Christ" in chapter 8.

3. (9:1) What is Paul’s conscience? {cf. Act 24:16; 9:1-4}
a. “conscience” (G4893); 1) the consciousness of anything; 2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other.
b. It is not being used as a moral or religious word[#2] , but of one knowing themself [#1], i.e., what he knew about himself within himself — his inward man.
4. (9:1) What is meant by “in the Holy Spirit” as it is used here?
a. The instrument or channel by which Paul who is in Christ speaks is the Holy Spirit.
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. “in the Holy Spirit” — Paul did not speak the of words men (Gal 1:11, written before Romans) and he did the signs of an apostle (2Co 12:12, written before Galatians), thus, the Holy Spirit is Paul’s source for his words, i.e., doctrinal truth.
b. As a Christian (“ in Christ”, position) and as one inspired by God (“in the Holy Spirit”, instrument) he speaks truth — not of the world’s, “Be Sincere Whether You Mean It Or Not, type of speaking.
6. PONDER: Does this verse (9:1) suggest Paul could not be in error in any thing he says?
a. Peter, who was also in Christ and spoke in the Holy Spirit did fail to walk correct doctrine (Gal 2: 11-14). Did he talk the way he walked? Perhaps (Gal 2:16).
b. When Paul spoke doctrine and its application he did not speak error, however, He may have inadvertently spoken error on day by day things.
7. (9:2) What is Paul’s heart?
a. “heart” = (G2588); 2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours; 2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
b. Not #2b2 the part using the tools of thought (Memory, Reason, Contemplation, Perception, Judgment) but #2b1 feelings, i.e., empathy.
c. OBSERVATION: In English we have consciousness and conscience; the Greeks have but one.
8. (9:2) Why makes Paul feel the way he feels?
a. He is filled with sorrow and grief because he knows of what he speaks, he knows the spiritual situation, and future, of these good moral people — his kin in the flesh.
b. It is not issue of marriage/divorce, drinking, smoking, cursing, worshiping, serving, and etc.; it is a case of rejecting Jesus as the Christ and their Lord.

OBSERVATION (9:1-2)
Paul is telling the truth because he knows he is an inspired follower of Christ, thus, they can know for sure he is not lying and he is very concerned about them.

9. (9:3) What does “wish” as used here mean?
a. “wish” = (G2172); 1) to pray to God; 2) to wish, to pray, to pray for.
10. (9:3) What does “accursed or anathema”mean?
a. “accursed” (G331); A thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed, and if an animal, to be slain
b. Therefore, a person or thing doomed to destruction.
11. (9:3) Why is it impossible, or as least improbable, for such to happen to Paul?
a. Only Christ could die so others may live, thus, Paul’s death would be meaningless for the most it could do would be to put the readers on a guilt trip not a conversion to Christ as Lord.
12. PONDER: Since Paul could not be accursed so others might live what does Paul mean?
a. Paul’s mission was to carry the gospel message, thus, if he died the Gentiles and his kin would not have heard the gospel message (also 7 letters would not have been written). This is a hyperbole to show the emotional extent of Paul’s concern for his kin.
b. Paul is showing he is not a renegade, he still cares about these people who are special people even as Gen 3:15 was being fulfilled.

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A LOOK AHEAD

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

a.
24. PONDER: What does “who is over all” (9:5) imply?
a.
25. PONDER: Would it be correct to say because we do not have a record of God making a covenant with or giving laws to any other, people God did not care about them as much as He did Abraham descendants? Why that answer?
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 —