Sunday, January 13, 2013



Romans Introduction
By the time Paul wrote Romans, he had preached in many churches for years.  His desire was to visit the church in Rome after he went to Jerusalem.  However, as Paul endeavored to go to Rome, the Holy Spirit warned him about the peril awaiting him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-14). What if he were unable to make it to Rome? Then he must write them a letter so comprehensive that the Christians in Rome had the gospel Paul preached, even if Paul himself were not able to visit them.  Therefore, in Romans, we have a thorough record of God and His plan of redemption for all mankind.
Romans Chapter 1
1.  How does Paul introduce himself in this letter to the Romans? vs. 1
  • 1)  bondservant of Jesus Christ
  • 2)  called to be an apostle
  • 3)separated to the gospel of God
2.  Paul was set apart for the Gospel of God. 
  • When did God promise this Gospel to mankind? vs. 2 -through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, which is basically means it was foretold in the OT and revealed in the NT.
3.  From the beginning of the ages, God has been promising the Gospel, the good news of a Saviour that would be sent to mankind to save them from their sins.
Comment on these verses:
  • Luke 24:25-27-He said that what had been told thru the prophtes of old, beginning with Moses, had come to be fulfilled in Him ( Jesus Christ)
  • Luke 24:44-45 -He tried to make them see, that all He had done, and said, and all that had happened to Him, was told of long ago, and had to come to pass.  By doing this, he was attempting to make them understand that He was the fulfillment of the prophecies, the Messiah had come to earth.
4.  What is contained in the good news, the Gospel message in regard to God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ? vs. 3-4-these verses tell us that Jesus Christ has all power, even power over death, as was shown, in his resurrection. He had to come and be born IN THE FLESH for all of this to happen.
  • 1)born of the seed of David
  • 2)power, according to the spirit of holiness
  • 3)resurrection from the dead.
5.  What kind of faith was Paul and the other apostles to introduce to the the Gentile nations? vs. 5 -grace and apostleship???
6.  Paul told the believers in Rome that they were also the called of Jesus Christ and the beloved of God. 
  •  What is every believer called as? vs. 7a -saints
Note: All Christians are 'saints' in that they are positionally "set apart" or "sanctified" to God and are "holy" through the righteousness imparted by the Lord Jesus Christ to them.
7.  Paul greets the church in Rome with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
  • What is the first thing He thanks God for concerning this family of believers in Rome? vs. 8 -for all of them who have faith in Him
8.  How often did Paul pray for these believers in Rome? vs. 9 -without ceasing, always in his prayers.
9.  What did he always request in his prayers when praying for them? vs. 10 -that God would allow him to come to them
Paul longed to see them and see that they were established in their knowledge and in their spiritual gifts.  He needed their encouragement as much as he longed to give them his. (vs.11-12)
He wanted them to know that he had planned to come to them many times, but had been prevented so far from coming.
10. Who did Paul say he was obligated to preach the Gospel to? vs. 14 - greeks and barbarians, wise and unwise.
11. He was eager to preach in Rome as well. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel? Give the two reasons he gives. vs. 16-17 -the just shall live by faith, and the unjust will feel the wrath of
God
  • 1)just shall live by faith
  • 2)wrath of God revealed by unjust

Note:  Why must all men be justified by faith?   The entire human race is guilty of ungodliness and unrighteousness.  The greatest peril facing the human race: the wrath of God.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. The idea is simple but sobering - God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against the human race, and the human race deserves the wrath of God.  We must not forget that the wrath of God is not to be compared with the human emotion and actions of anger, but is completely righteous in character.
In Romans 1:16, Paul spoke of salvation - but what are we saved from?   First and foremost, we are saved from the wrath of God that we righteously deserve.
In the next  portion of the letter (Romans 1:18-3:20), Paul’s goal is not toproclaim the good news, but to demonstrate the absolute necessity of the good news of salvation from God’s righteous wrath. 
In salvation, God delivers us physically as well as spiritually from the absolute fruit of wickedness that would destroy our lives if we continued on that course. Salvation is God's plan to rescue us from destruction and to restore us to the experiences with God that we could not have in our sinful state of nature.

12.  When we live ungodly and unrighteous lives, what are we suppressing; not allowing to come forth? vs. 18 -the truth
13.  What has God made evident to all mankind and how has He done it? vs. 19-20 -his invisible attributes are easily seen in the things he has made, but yet many refuse to  believe, his eternal power, and his Godhead.
14.  Does any man have an excuse not to believe in God? 
  • Why or why not? vs. 19-20 -no excuse whatsoever, for God has made Himself clearly shown, in the things that are made.
15.  Every man knows there is a God. How do they get so far away from Him in their choice to not believe?  vs. 21 - 25the fell far from God in their actions, and beliefs, so God let them go into the desires of their hearts, and in their "wisdom" they became as "fools"

Note: When man decides that they want to be at the center of their own universe, they worship themselves above God.  This is humanism and the prevalent false religion of our day.  God has given each one of us a freewill but we are not free to choose the consequences of our unbelief.  When God gives us over to our own lusts and impurities, we will reap what we have desired to sow in exalting ourselves above His love and design for us.

16.  When God gives mankind over to their own degrading passions, what is the result many times? vs. 26-27 -homosexuality, and things not normal for man and women to feel and experience.

Note: How does this prove that God never designed anyone to be homosexual?  Should any church group ever condone this lifestyle or allow the false conception that people could be born this way?  This is a result of refusing to accept God's design for our lives.

17. What do the homosexuals, whether man or woman, receive in their own bodies for this sin against God and His creation? vs. 27 -the penalty for their error that is due them
18.  What are other results of not acknowledging God as "God" in our lives?  When God gives us over to the depraved minds that we have apart from Him, what are the results that manifest in us?
List them below and if you have time, look up their meanings and give a more thorough definition for each. Vs.28-31 -
  • 1)unloving
  • 2)unforgiving
  • 3)unmerciful
  • 4)sexual immorality
  • 5)wickedness
  • 6)maliciousness
  • 7)covetousness
  • 8)full of envy
  • 9)murder
  • 10)strife
  • 11)deceit
  • 12)evil mindedness
  • 13)whisperers
  • 14)backbiters
  • 15)haters of God
  • 16)violent
  • 17)proud
  • 18)boasters
  • 19)inventors of evil things.
  • 20)disobedient to parents
  • 21)undiscerning
19.  Each person knows in their heart of hearts; in their God-given conscience that those who have a habitual life in these things are worthy of death (God's wrath).  They go ahead and do them anyway.  What else do they do? vs. 32 -approve of others doing the same things.

Note: In Chapter 2, Paul will establish that we are all guilty of falling short of God's design, but he will begin to unfold the hope we have in being restored to a right relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

For today, answer the questions:
  • Is any man excused from not believing in God and embracing His righteous standard of living?no
  • Are you ashamed of the Gospel? no
  • If not, how will you share the hope of Christ and the salvation blessing with others starting now?
Your summary and prayer today:Lord , help me to be all you would have me to be and all you would have me do today, let it honor and glorify you.   In Jesus name, amen n amen


Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship with permission to use on RTBwebsite only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.







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"Keep holding to His nail-scarred hand; it is where we find the strength to face another day"

Roman's


Jul 21, '12 2:29 PM
for everyone
enhli29 wrote on Oct 22, '11
Just as God takes care of the birds and all other anmail on earth he will  take care of us.
Romans Chapter 2
1. If one judges another for a sin that they commit themselves, what do they bring on to themselves? vs. 1 – they bring on themselves condemnation
Note: There is a difference between the moral man and the heathen man. In Romans 1:32 the heathen man APPROVES and APPLAUDS sinful conduct but in Romans 2:1 the moral man DISAPPROVES and JUDGES sinful conduct.
2. What does the moral person know is just for God to do? vs. 2 – that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth
• If they know that and judge those who do those things, what will happen to them as well if they also practice those things habitually? vs. 3 – God’s judgment is against them
3. What is the kindness of God intended to do for mankind? vs. 4 – the kindness God intended for mankind is to lead him to repentance through “the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience”
What are the attributes of God listed in this verse? vs. 4 -
• 1) Kindness
• 2) Tolerance
• 3) Patience
4. If God has been patient with mankind and given man time to repent and yet that person keeps a stubborn and an unrepentant heart, what are they storing up for themselves? vs. 5 – They store up for themselves God’s wrath
5. God will render to every person according to his deeds.
• What is the lifestyle of the one that will receive eternal life? vs. 6-7 – Those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality
• What is the lifestyle of those who will receive wrath and indignation from the Lord? vs. 8 – they are self-seeking, rejecters of truth and follow evil
• What is the fruit of the life that does evil? vs. 9 – There is trouble and distress for that person
• What is the fruit of the life that does good? vs. 10 – glory, honor and peace for those who do good
6. There is no partiality with God. Those with the Law and those without the Law will be judged in the same manner.
• Who is justified before God in regard to the Law of God? vs. 13 – those who are justified before God in regard to the Law of God are “those who obey the law” – that is, they follow after Jesus – seeking to good and benefit of others for the glory of God
• Although the Gentile nations were not given the laws of God that the Jews received, how do they know the law of God? vs. 14 - 15 – their conscience bears witness either accusing or defending them
• What will God judge on that day of judgment? vs. 16 – “God will judge men’s secrets”
Comment on this verse:
• 1 Corinthians 4:5 – because nothing is hidden by the light but revealed, when the Lord comes all the motives of men’s hearts will be revealed. Either that person will receive just praise or rejection from Him.
Note: This next section is addressed specifically to the religious man, who thinks that the works of the law or ceremonial rituals will bring their salvation and that they have a higher rank with God than their fellow man.
Written to the person who:
• bears the name "Jew"
• relies upon the Law
• boasts in God
• knows God's will
• approves the things essential instructed out of the Law
• is confident that they are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature
• having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth
Questions for this religious person:
• You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
• You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?
• You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
• You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
• You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
7. What had these religious Jews caused to happen to God's name among the Gentiles? vs. 24 – God’s name was blasphemed among the people because of them. As Ezekiel says in 22:26, “Her priests have violated My Law and profaned My Holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and the unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”
8. What caused their circumcision as Jews to lose the value of what it meant? vs. 25 – they broke the Laws of God
9. If the uncircumcised Gentiles actually kept the Law of God, they would be regarded as circumcised. The circumcision of the flesh is not what makes a person a Jew in God's eyes.
• Who is the true Jew? vs. 29 – “who is one inwardly;” whose heart has been circumcised, “in the Spirit and not by the letter/Law; whose praise comes not from men but from God”
Application:
Note: For the Christian, our water baptism is the outward sign of what has happened on the inside in our hearts by the Spirit of God, as the Jew had the outward sign of circumcision.
This ritual will not make us a Christian anymore than a person's outward circumcision made them a Jew. God looks at the motives of the heart. Examine yourself to make sure you are not trusting in your religion, your church membership, your confirmation, your baptism, or any other thing to cause you to go to heaven. God has shown us the only way to be saved from the consequences of being a sinner in need of a Savior.
Comment on the following verses:
• John 3:3-8 – even though Nicodemus came to Christ at nighttime, Christ regarded him as being sincere in following after Him. He didn’t resist Nicodemus, although he could have, but started to explain the process of “receiving a new heart” for that is what Jesus discerned of Nicodemus.
• John 1:12-13 – those who are born by the Spirit of God, “to those who believe in His name [Jesus Christ, that is to say the Messiah] have the right to become children of God”
• Colossians 2:8-12 – the Laws of God which were given to Moses can be seen as the “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men” as those who understood the Law didn’t practice or keep them but violated them by pushing harder restrictions on the people. It’s why Paul rephrased the Law this way, “You who hate idols, do you rob temples?” No, those who are made alive have been done so because the Spirit has cut the dead flesh from the heart, making it alive and receptive to the things of God.
• Romans 6:4-7 – because Jesus, who was sinless from the start, obeyed God and was baptized unto death, so have we been made dead by our baptism with Him; not only that but because of the fact that when Jesus was raised from His baptism and the Spirit rested on Him, so are we dwelt by the Spirit once we are raised with Him. Baptism is the outward sign of what happened after the cross: Christ was buried and since we’re buried with Him by baptism, once He was raised back to life, so have we been raised as He conquered the grave.
Your summary and prayer today:
Father, I see that in a lot of ways I’ve made you my religion and not really been walking after you. I see that with what I thought I knew I didn’t know you meant for it to help me to come to you. Your word tells me straight that your kindness was intended for my repentance, to teach me to be just like you, bestowing kindness, tolerance and patience to others as well. This license doesn’t mean I can practice certain things and tell others not to do them for it would make me a hypocrite; “Do not commit adultery, and do you commit adultery?” Help me to be more like you, to be more loving, more patient, and to be called holy as you are. I want to be able to say and define what sin is and to call people to holy living as well; not as hypocrites, but seek after you for a relationship and fellowship as I have with you. This is my prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.