Additional Thoughts on Romans – Part 3
ROM 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
ROM 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
ROM 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
At the time that Paul wrote this Christians were being persecuted for their faith. Time and again you read in the New Testament of Christians being ran out of town, thrown into prison, beaten, exiled, and killed. They had tribulation, they had distress, they had persecution, and peril. And yet they were more than conquerors. People and governments had the power to bring persecution and even death, but they had NO power to separate them from the Love of Christ.
The Love of Christ could not be taken away. They were more than conquerors. They suffered, but they still had the victory. They stayed true to the faith and their Love for Christ stayed strong. Where did they get the strength? The end of verse 37 tells us. “…through him that loved us.” The strength was Christ’s and not their own.
It is His strength, His power, His Love, and His enabling. Christ is all knowing, all powerful, and all sufficient. That is why nothing can separate the believer from the Love of Christ.
ROM 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
All of creation has been stained by the fall of man. That is why you see death and corruption all around you. Verse 22 tells us that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain. Then in verse 23 Paul teaches that we groan within ourselves waiting for the redemption of our body. We groan within ourselves in two ways. One is our physical bodies. We suffer from all kinds of corruption. Arthritis to name one. Even without arthritis the older you get the more you feel corruption just getting out of bed in the morning.
Another area that causes us to groan within ourselves has to do with our old sin nature. We are pardoned in respect to it when we get saved, and we are given the Holy Spirit to help overcome its power in our lives. And I praise God for both of those. However, the old sin nature is not put off yet. We still must carry it thru this life, and yes it can and does raise its ugly head from time to time. My Spirit longs for the day when my sinful flesh is no more! By faith we know that all our groaning’s within will one day be no more. This is biblical hope. It is NOT hope as in maybe it will happen. It is hope as in I KNOW it will happen.
ROM 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
ROM 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
When we exercise this hope and with faith patiently wait for that day, we are honoring our God and His word. It brings Him praise and glory. Never lose site of the wonderful future that we WILL have with Him. All eternity with no more groanings from our physical bodies or from our spirit. Amen and Amen.
Once again Paul discusses working your way to heaven verses accepting the righteousness of Christ.
ROM 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Paul says that the Gentiles did not follow after righteousness but they have attained righteousness. The righteousness of faith.
ROM 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Israel followed after the law of righteousness but they did not attain it. In fact no one can attain it. No one can live up to God’s perfect standard. Some might get a little closer than others, but all fall far short.
ROM 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
The reason that they failed to attain righteousness is because they sought it by the works of the law and not by faith. This is also a stumblingstone to many today.
ROM 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The stumbling stone is Jesus. He is a rock of offence. Man wants to work his way to heaven because it lifts him up in pride. He can say look at what I have achieved. To accept what Jesus did for your salvation, a man has to humble himself. He must realize that he cannot save himself.
This goes against the pride of man. Accepting salvation as a free gift is an offence to man’s pride.
Paul goes on to say that whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Someone who gets saved will not be ashamed to say so. If they are ashamed to speak up, then they are offended by Jesus’ salvation. But the Bible clearly says that those who believe will not be ashamed.
Only God knows the hearts of men, but if someone is ashamed of salvation, then there is reason to doubt that they ever got saved.
ROM 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
ROM 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
ROM 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Paul had clearly shown in previous chapters of this letter that Jews and Gentiles were both guilty sinners. He had shown that being a Jew did not give them any advantages to being saved. They were just as guilty before God as anyone else. He had shown that it is impossible to work your way to heaven and that the only way a man can be justified before God is by faith in Jesus.
Some then might accuse Paul of being hard and ceasing to care about his countrymen. The truth was that Paul had a heart for his fellow Israelites. He had a great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for them. He greatly desired for them to see the truth and get saved. He often went and preached to them first and then went to the Gentiles when he was rejected.
His love for them was not reduced when they rejected him. He still cared for them even after they rejected him, stoned him, ran him out of town, and even tried to get him killed.
ROM 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
If it was possible Paul would have been accursed from Christ for their sake. Paul had a great heart for his kinsmen.
ROM 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Paul desired and prayed that they might be saved. Paul’s love for them demanded that he tell them the truth. Love demanded that he tell them that they are sinners in need of salvation and that salvation is only to be found in Christ Jesus. His love for them drove him to tell them of the love of Christ even if they rejected it and struck out at him for it.
If we really love someone, our love demands the same. We don’t really love someone if we let them continue on their way to hell without trying to tell them how to be saved.
ROM 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The rock of offence is Jesus. Many people in the world (most in fact) are offended at the name of Jesus. Even in Dearborn Michigan you can get arrested on a public street for handing out the gospel. All you have to do to offend some people is simply believe in Jesus. And they will say horrible things about you and if given the opportunity they will persecute you. There are those who claim Jesus, but they will not tell others. They are ashamed. However, the Bible says, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Others will openly profess belief in Jesus in the church house, but nowhere else. Why? For many they do not want to bear the reproach that comes from those who are offended at the name of Jesus.
Christians in America, you had better get ready and make up your mind now. Will you stand for Jesus or will you be ashamed. What is happening in Dearborn could be coming to your town very soon.
In my opinion, in this chapter are the greatest 5 verses in a row on how to be saved. There are many great verses on salvation. But if you had to pick 5 that are all in a row, I think that these 5 are the best.
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.
You have to believe in your heart. There is a difference between a head knowledge and a heart knowledge. You cannot just believe in your head. You must believe in your heart. You must receive Jesus in your heart to be saved. You must believe that God raised Him from the dead.
ROM 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confession with the mouth is a vital part of getting saved. You need to confess that you are a sinner and that you need to be saved. You need to confess with your mouth that you believe in Jesus.
ROM 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Calling upon Him is not going to be a problem if you believe on Him.
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.
There is no difference between men. All need to be saved the same way. God will save all that call upon Him.
ROM 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It truly is whosoever will shall come. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I do hope that you have believed in your heart and not just your head. I hope that you have confessed to God that you are a sinner and called upon Him to save you.
If not, do it right now and you have His promise that He will save you.
ROM 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
ROM 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Here we have some questions that have obvious implied answers. The first question is, “how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” The answer is they can’t.
The second is, “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And the answer is they can’t. It is obvious that they must hear to believe.
The third question is, “how shall they hear without a preacher?” The answer is they will not hear without a preacher. Someone must go and tell them.
The forth question is, “how shall they preach, except they be sent?” And the answer is that they won’t.
Preachers need to go and tell for people to get saved. And preachers need to be sent so they can go and tell. It is a necessity. It is God’s plan for men to go and for those men to be sent. A church needs to be seriously involved in this business of sending men all around the world to preach the gospel.
Any believer that is not involved in sending preachers into the world is out of the will of God.
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.
It has been well said, The ground is level at the cross. When you come to the cross it does not matter if you are Jewish, or if you are Greek. God makes no distinction between a Russian, a Scotsman, an Eskimo, a Chinaman, or an Indian. The ground is level at the cross. It does not matter if you are rich or if you are poor. Money makes no difference when you come to the cross. And verse 12 tells us that the Lord is rich unto all that call upon him. All means all. It does not matter what mistakes you have made in the past. Everyone is a sinner and God has forgiveness enough for all. No sin is greater than the love of Calvary. He will give the riches of His forgiveness to anyone who will humble themselves and call upon Him for salvation. Have you called upon Him to save you? Have you received His forgiveness?
ROM 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
ROM 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
It is impossible for man to understand God’s ways and His judgments.
No one ever has or ever will know the mind of the Lord. The answer to the rhetorical question, “who hath been his counsellor?” is no one. God does not get counsel from anyone.
Sometimes we will see something evil taking place and wonder why God does not send down fiery judgment upon it. But our place is not to second guess God’s ways and His judgments. They are unsearchable.
Only God sees the beginning from the end. Only God knows the best way to meet out judgment. Whatever God chooses to do or not to do is for the best.
If God sends judgment upon someone right away, it is right. If God delays judgment, it is also right. God can also withhold judgment until after they die and it would still be right. Whatever He does is right and we do not have to understand it. In fact it is impossible for us to understand God’s ways.
It is not our place to dwell on it or worry about it. Our place is to realize that God is on the throne. We need to have faith in God and let Him handle things. His wisdom is far beyond us.
ROM 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
ROM 11:2 God 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,
ROM 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
ROM 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
ROM 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
God has always kept a remnant. The context of this chapter is clear that He is talking about a remnant of believing Israelites. Elias thought that he was the only one left, but God informed him otherwise. God had kept a remnant of 7,000.
Verse 5 tells us that there was a remnant of saved Israelites when Paul wrote this letter.
ROM 11:25 For 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.
God deals with nations as a whole and He deals with individuals. As a whole God has blinded the nation of Israel. But notice it say blindness in part not in full. Some Israelites can and do get saved today. God is keeping himself a remnant of believing Jews.
This blindness in part will last until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. In God’s time Jesus will come back and all the saved will meet Him in the clouds. The tribulation will start and the blindness in part of the nation of Israel will be taken away.
ROM 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
At that time and not before the blindness will be taken away. God will open the eyes of the Israelites and God says all Israel shall be saved. That is not talking about all the Israelites of all the ages. It is talking about all the Israelites that are living at that time. Israelites today still need to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to be saved.
The context of chapter 11 is that Israel has been partially blinded due to unbelief. Israel was the natural branches and they have been broken off and the gentiles have been grafted in. However, one day Israel will once again come back to God and be saved. Verse 28 says Israel is still beloved for the father’s sake, and then verse 29 says the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God will one day keep His promise to the nation of Israel. Replacement theology is a heresy. God has not turned His back permanently upon Israel. The chapter then concludes with a statement about the perfect knowledge and wisdom of God.
ROM 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
ROM 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
It is clear that His ways are so far above us that we must bow down in humility. If God says that one day all Israel will be saved, then accept it and praise the Lord for it.
ROM 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
ROM 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
All things only exist because of God. All things are working according to His divine plan. And it will all bring glory to Him one day.
Don’t get tricked into going against God’s word and His wisdom by believing in replacement theology. Christians today are not Israel. Israel is the natural olive branch and we are the wild olive branch that has been grafted in (verse 24). The nation of Israel still has its identity before God and one day He will do a great work in their hearts.
ROM 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
ROM 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Christians are to be separated from the world. We are to be a living sacrifice. We are to live holy lives that are acceptable to God.
Christians should not lie, steal, cheat, gamble, gossip, watch the world’s filthy TV shows, drink the devil’s booze, wear the devil’s clothes, or listen to the devil’s music. Christians are to have strong Christian character. They are not to watch two people have sex out of wedlock on TV. Christians are to set NO evil thing before their eyes.
Verse one tells us that this is not asking too much. It says living a holy life is your reasonable service. IT IS REASONABLE.
Christ went to the cross and took God’s judgment in your place. He saved you from the fiery pit of hell. After what He has done for you, living a separated life is only reasonable.
What is not right is bringing disgrace upon the Lord by living like, smelling like, looking like, acting like, and thinking like the world.
Image how things would change if everyone who said they were a Christian would start living like a Christian.
Living right to get saved would be legalism, but living right after salvation is only reasonable.