Additional Thoughts on Romans – Part 1
ROM 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
ROM 1:9 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;
Something was going on in Rome. The faith of the Roman Christians was spoken of throughout the whole world.
Now stop and think about it for a moment. People will not talk about it if nothing was happening. They obviously had a faith that was worth talking about. It must have been a working faith. A type of faith that gets things done.
And there is a connection in verse 9 that is often overlooked. Paul was praying for them without ceasing. There is a connection between prayer and things happening in God’s work.
As Christians we are to spend much time in prayer for the work of God and those that are involved in the work of God.
Things were happening in Rome. Their faith was being talked about all over the world. And all the while Paul was praying for them.
How much time have you spent this week praying for those that are involved in the work of God?
ROM 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
ROM 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
After Paul got saved he felt like he had a debt to those who were not saved. He says, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians”. His debt to tell others about the gospel extended to all. He felt he had a debt to tell the civilized Greek culture and he felt he had a debt to tell the Barbarians how to be saved.
These two groups represent the far ends of the scale. The Greeks were on the one end of the scale and the Barbarians were on the far end. By specifying the two ends of the spectrum, Paul was saying he had a debt to tell all cultures; the Greeks, the Barbarians, and all groups in between.
Paul also says that his debt to tell others about the saving power of Jesus extends to all no matter if they are wise or not. Everyone needs to hear the gospel cultured or not, wise or not. And Paul realized his responsibility. He said, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel…” He gave his all to tell others how to be saved. He felt he had a debt to pay. Jesus saved his soul and gave him eternal life. Something that Paul did not earn and could not ever earn. The least he could do for Christ was to tell others.
O for more Christians that understand this principle of their responsibility to tell others.
Every one of us that are saved have a responsibility and a debt to tell others.
ROM 1:16 For 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.
ROM 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The power of God unto salvation is the gospel of Christ. In fact it is the ONLY way to be saved. The gospel is salvation to everyone that believes. Not everyone who joins a group. Not everyone who is baptized or any other form of works. It is by belief. The just shall live by faith. The gospel is for everyone. It is offered freely to all for Jesus died for all. The fact that Jesus died for the sins of man and then was raised for our justification is the gospel. It is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. His righteousness is imputed to us if we will but believe with a repentant heart. He paid the price and took our punishment because we are not capable of paying it ourselves. We are sinners before a Holy God. It took the just dying for the unjust to satisfy God’s justice. Man is a sinner on his way to hell but the love of God provided a way of salvation. That is the gospel. And it and only it is the power unto salvation. We don’t need different music. Entertainment is not the answer. We don’t need a new program. Churches only need to get back to God’s one and only program and that is the gospel. And notice what Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”. Because it is the only thing that can save, Paul says I am not ashamed of the gospel.
It is a sad thing, but most Christians are ashamed at some level. Some more than others. Most will not tell others about Jesus. And many are too ashamed to even put a gospel tract or even an invitation to church on someone’s door. Have you ever wondered what would happen if a whole church started passing out tracts? Many churches have a handful of people who will. Some even have a good group doing it. I have seen God be faithful and bless the effort time and time again. Praise the Lord for it! It makes me wonder, how would God bless it if the entire church got involved. I believe that it would be amazing.
Christians let us not be ashamed and let’s get involved in getting the gospel out. It is the gospel that is the power unto salvation.
ROM 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
The context of this verse is salvation. The Jews thought that they had more respect from God and they thought that they would be saved just because they were Jews and honored the law.
But God is no respecter of persons. Every man must be saved the same way.
The rich do not have to do more to get saved and the poor are not given any slack. Every man whether rich or poor, Jew or Gentile must get saved the same way. It has been well said the ground is level at the cross. There is only one way for everyone to get saved.
And that one and only way is thru Jesus. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
It does not matter how much good your religion does, God does not respect it. True Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with God. When you accept Jesus as your savior you are made a son of God.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
It is called being born again.
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Have you turned from religion and trusted Jesus to save you?
ROM 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
ROM 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
ROM 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
ROM 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
When it comes to being saved, all men are without excuse. Some were given access to the law of God, which clearly shows them that they are a sinner. Any honest look into the law will show that there is no way for man to keep the law. “and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” Everyone who is judged by the law will fall far short for all men are sinners. An honest look at the law will show how desperately you need a Saviour.
So what about those who never heard the law of God? Do they get a free pass? No they do not. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:”
God gave all men a conscience. “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,” And any honest look at your conscience will also show that you are a sinner and that you will fall short of God’s perfect standard. Men are all born with a sense that there is a God. That is why even men in a remote spot that had no access to the outside world will be worshiping something. They have a sense that there is a God with whom they have to do, and they have a conscience telling them they are a sinner. They also have all of creation that shows forth that there is a God. If they respond to the light that they have been given, they will be given more light. God will call a man and send him half the way around the world to tell a searching soul how to be saved.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is not willing that any should perish. So He gave every man enough light that they might seek Him.
ROM 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
It says in the day. There is a specific day on God’s calendar that He will judge. He picked the day before the foundation of the world and nothing will change that date. Nothing will slow down or speed up His plan. And you can be sure of this, no one else knows when that day will be.
It says that God will judge the secrets of men. He knows all. A man might keep his wicked deeds and evil thoughts secret from men, but he CANNOT keep them hid from God. He sees every wicked thing every man does and He even knows every thought you ever had. And He will judge them all.
By what standard will He judge? The verse tells us, “by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Jesus is the righteous judge. All men will stand before Him one day. And you will be judged according to the gospel. You will be judged on what you do with Jesus. Will you believe and accept Him as your Saviour? If you do, then your wicked deeds are covered by the shed blood of Christ. You will then stand as His child with His imputed righteousness. In this case He will remember your sin no more. The other choice is to reject the gospel and try to stand on your own merit. In this case your sin is not covered and you will pay for all your sin by going to hell.
You cannot have it both ways. You must choose. Stand in judgment with Jesus as Saviour, or stand alone with your sin. One way leads to Heaven. The other way leads to Hell.
Rom 10:9 That 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.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
ROM 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Verse 20 makes it crystal clear that the deeds of the law do not justify anyone. The purpose of the law was not to save anyone because the law cannot save anyone. The purpose of the law was to show us that we are sinners in need of saving.
ROM 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Since we cannot be saved by keeping the law Verse 24 tells us how to be saved. We are justified by His grace. This grace is offered thru the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. It is thru Jesus alone. It is not thru a church. It is not thru a pope. Redemption is thru Christ only.
The verse also tells us that this justification is free. Free to us that is. This justification cost God a price. The price was the very Son of God going to the cross, shedding His blood, and dying for your sin.
Verse 28 is the summary of the above verses.
ROM 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Being saved. Being justified with God is by faith period. Justification is without the deeds of the law. You are saved NOT BY WORKS.
Here is a short list of some of the works today that people are trusting in to save them:
Baptism
Sacraments
Mass
Church Membership
Being good enough
Doing all that you can do
Confirmation
Your good outweighing your bad
Marrying more than one wife
Saying vain repetitious prayers
Temple rituals
Going to church on Saturdays
On and on the list could go. But God’s Word makes it clear that you are saved only by a repentant faith in Jesus and that justification is free.
Salvation is Jesus plus nothing. Jesus plus anything is not salvation but works.
Have you turned from religion and accepted Jesus and Him alone for your salvation with a repentant faith?
ROM 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
ROM 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
ROM 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
ROM 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It is a fact that all men are sinners. It also a fact that no man can become justified with God by works.
ROM 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This would leave man without any hope or recourse if that was the end of the story. If God did not provide another way, then all men would be on their way to hell, with no way to escape it. But praise God that He did do something about this hopeless situation. He did provide a way.
ROM 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The only way that a man can be justified is thru the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This redemption and justification is provided FREELY by His grace.
ROM 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
The only way anyone can be saved is by faith without the deeds of the law. Jesus plus any deed DOES NOT SAVE. The only way to be saved is, “freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
ROM 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Paul was a great Christian man who gave his life to the Lord’s work. He started many churches and spread the gospel over large areas. He had great compassion and a burden for people. In one place it tells us that Paul did not cease to teach with tears. Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
He gave those people years. He invested his time and his heart into those people. Paul walked with the Lord and took a stand for Jesus. He suffered many trials and tribulations, beatings and shipwrecks. And God used Paul to pen a large portion of the New Testament. Paul did not serve in the flesh. He did not seek glory for himself. Paul was a good Christian.
Notice what it says in verse 8, “And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,)” This good man who was doing God’s work God’s way was slandered. Some told lies about Paul and his work and others jumped on the bandwagon and affirmed the lies. What wicked hearts. To attack a good man who is serving God and is teaching the truth. What they should have done is join Paul, but instead they attack him. They did not even have the decency to just leave the man alone. They just had to open their mouth and slander a good man.
This kind of wicked heart is still around today. You mark it down, if you go about teaching the whole counsel of God, you will get slandered. Don’t let it bother you. It should not be a surprise. Actually some slander should be expected to come your way if you live for Christ. Just keep going. Keep your eyes upon Jesus. He is the one that we need to be concerned about pleasing.
Paul closed the door on works in chapter 3. He showed very clearly that faith saves and not works. But in Chapter 4 Paul does not stop making his point. He keeps hammering it home.
Men’s hearts are sinful and filled with pride. That is why men love works. It is a prideful thing to believe that you can work your way to heaven. The pride of man wants to have a part in their salvation. Sometimes it takes strong and consistent preaching of the word of God to break thru man’s pride. To get a man to humble himself and accept a salvation freely provided for him. A salvation that he did no works for. So Paul just keeps hammering it home.
If you have witnessed to someone, but they don’t yet get it. Just keep hammering away.
ROM 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
In verse two Paul tells us that if Abraham was saved by works, then Abraham would have a right to glory before God. Paul then says but not before God.
Abraham could not glory before God because Abraham was saved by faith and not works.
ROM 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
It was Abraham’s faith that was counted for righteousness.
ROM 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Verse 4 is a powerful verse. If you worked your way to heaven then God would be in debt to you. If it was of works then God would owe you heaven. God would have to pay off His debt to you by giving you heaven. But it does not work that way.
ROM 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Verse 5 says to him that worketh NOT. Instead it is to him that believeth. It is his faith that is counted for righteousness.
Do you have a repentant saving faith? Or are you still trying to work your way to heaven? Are you trying to get God to owe you heaven? If you are, you are going against what the Bible clearly teaches. Salvation is by faith and not works.
ROM 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
ROM 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
ROM 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Abraham was clearly saved by faith. God imputed to Abraham righteousness. Abraham was a sinner just like we are, but he had faith in the promise of God.
ROM 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
ROM 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
ROM 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
What happened to Abraham was written down for us. It was written so that we could know that righteousness is imputed to men on the basis of faith. If we will believe that Jesus was delivered for our offences and then raised for our justification, then God will impute righteousness to us.
Many will then ask, is it really that simple. Just believe and be saved. Yes it really is that simple.
All Abraham did was believe the promise that God gave him.
All you have to do is believe the promise that God gave you.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Salvation is believing that you are a sinner who cannot work your way to heaven and you need a savior. Salvation is believing in the work that Jesus did on the cross to pay for your sin and that He rose 3 days later showing the payment was accepted. Then you admit that sin and call upon God to save you with a repentant heart. Salvation is that simple.