1. The Lost World

The Book of Romans begins, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ (1:1a). The word "servant" in Greek is doulos, which means "bondslave." A bondslave had no rights of his own. He belonged totally to his master. As a bondslave of Jesus Christ, Paul was living totally for his Master.

Paul was called to be an apostle (1:1b). "Apostle" literally means "one who is sent." In his calling Paul was separated unto the gospel of God (1:1c). We remember that in the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts 13:2-3). Paul was sent by the Holy Spirit to bear the Gospel to the Gentiles. The word "gospel" means "good news." To hear some people tell it, God is bad news. But that's not true! God's love for us in Jesus Christ is good news.

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures) (1:2). This Gospel wasn't an event that simply happened without warning. The message of the Gospel, especially to the Gentiles, was spoken of by God through the prophets. (When Paul refers to the "holy scriptures," he has only the Old Testament in mind.)

The good news is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1:3a). So often we read the "Lord Jesus Christ" and think of this as His first, middle, and last name. "Lord" is not His name; it is His title. The Greek word for "lord" is kurios.

"Jesus" is His name. This is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name "Joshua," meaning "Jehovah is salvation." In Matthew's gospel we read, "The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21). His name implies His mission: "he shall save his people from their sins." "Christ" is Greek for the Hebrew word meaning "messiah" or "the anointed one of God," the one whom God had promised to send to His people. "Christ" or "Messiah" signifies His ministry as the fulfillment of the promise of God. "Jesus Christ our Lord" signifies the believer's relationship to Him.

In the Bible we read, "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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). The first part of that passage would be better translated, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord." Our obligation is more than confessing belief in Jesus Christ. You can believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but not be saved. You can believe that He died on the cross for your sins, yet not be born again. It's necessary to submit your life to Him as Lord of your life in order to have salvation.

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh (1:3). As king of Israel, David had a beautiful house in Jerusalem. When he saw the tent where people were worshipping God, he said, "Here I am dwelling in this exquisite palace, and all we have is a tent for God. I'm going to build a beautiful house for Him."

The prophet Nathan told him, "David, that sounds like a marvelous idea." But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that he had spoken hastily. "Go back and tell David that he can't build My house. It's good that the desire is in his heart, but he has shed too much blood." To soften David's disappointment God told Nathan, "Tell David that I'm going to build him a house."

So, the prophet told David, "I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that you can't build a house for God. The good news is that God is going to build you a house." God was telling David that through him the Messiah would come. God would establish His kingdom through David's seed, and there would never lack one from his offspring to sit upon the throne.

David was overwhelmed. "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" (I Chronicles 17:1-16). The Lord took David from following after sheep and made him ruler over His people. Now He planned to build David a house and establish his throne forever.

"Lord, what can I say?" David was speechless. Now that's a remarkable statement for David to make, because he was very gifted with words. Whenever I find it difficult to express my feelings to God, I turn to the Psalms where David expresses such things so well. Yet, here David was speechless because of God's goodness and grace. It's a wonderful experience when God so blesses us that words become inadequate to describe our feelings. As Savonarola said, "When prayer reaches its ultimate, words are impossible."

As we trace the genealogy of Christ back through Mary in Luke's gospel, we find Him coming through the line of David. Jesus is God incarnate and the seed of David, the beautiful God-Man, declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness (1:4), for He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Some people say that the Virgin Birth is only mentioned in two of the Gospels and so we don't need to accept the event as fact. If we don't accept the Virgin Birth as fact, then who was Jesus' father? How many times does God have to tell us something before we believe it? God has told us twice. Isn't that enough? Jesus is the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (1:3b-4).

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name (1:5). Paul had the anointing and calling of an apostle, although he considered himself to be the chief of sinners (I Timothy 1:12-15).

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. And now a salutation, To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:6-7). The first title given to the believers, "beloved of God," fits everyone. Many times it's difficult for us to accept God's love, because we oftentimes don't really love ourselves. Since we don't love ourselves, we wonder how can God love us. But He does!

More than that, we're called "saints." It was tragic when the Church decided to honor certain people for special deeds, thus setting criteria for sainthood. Should miracles occur by praying to a deceased person who was known for doing outstanding works during his lifetime, then the Church chose to consider the person a saint. Don't worry if the Church overlooked you. God has chosen you, and it's better to be considered a saint by God than from the Church any day. You have been called a saint. Now live up to your calling.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:7b). Grace and peace are called the Siamese twins of the New Testament because they're always coupled together. This is the proper order of the two words, for you can't have the peace of God until you've first experienced His grace.

Peace with God is necessary before you can have the peace of God. They're two different experiences. You can experience peace with God when you're saved, but still not know the peace of God.

Many Christians are upset, worried, and frantic. They're not sure that God will work out everything, and their lives are in turmoil. They don't have the peace of God. This is the peace to which Paul is referring. After I recognize that the grace of God is unmerited favor, I can experience the peace of God because I'm no longer striving. I realize that His blessings haven't been earned by my merit or goodness. I'm now trusting in God's completed work, and I'm at peace in my relationship with God. I've totally committed myself to Him.

First, said Paul, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all (1:8a). In the New Testament we're taught to pray to God through Jesus Christ. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name," Jesus said, "that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (1:8b). The godly faith of the Roman believers was well-known throughout the Church world.

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 (1:9). Paul's prayers were in the closet, so to speak. Paul states, "God is my witness," because he can't call on any man to verify his prayers. He was following the instructions Jesus gave us when He said, "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:6a).

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (1:10-11). Paul's motive for going to Rome wasn't to see the great Forum or the Circus Maximus, but to minister to the believers. He wanted to impart some spiritual gift through which they might be strengthened.

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me (1:12). Gathering together with God's people has a two-way effect. You cannot minister to others without being ministered to yourself. That's the beauty of sharing our spiritual gifts with one another. Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38a). Sowing the truth in love always reaps the same.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles (1:13). Paul wanted to visit them before, but had been hindered. The apostle wasn't deliberately slighting the Romans by his absence.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise (1:14). "Barbarian" is an unfortunate word here because of its modern meaning as "savage." The term originated because the Greeks considered that all foreign languages sounded like "bar-bar" on incomprehensible babbling. The expression actually referred to those who didn't speak Greek. It wasn't a derogatory expression in Paul's day.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (1:15-16). Jesus Christ is God's power of salvation. To whom? To everyone who believes.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (1:17). Paul begins early in the book to introduce the two themes of his message: (1) the righteousness which is of God through faith and (2) the just shall live by faith. Man's righteousness before God isn't predicated upon the Law of Moses or the works of man, but upon believing in the work of God.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (1:18). Verse 16 emphasizes the power of God, verse 17 the righteousness of God, and verse 18 the wrath of God. People talk about the power and righteousness of God, but they often deny or ignore one aspect of God's nature - His wrath.

The Mosaic Law was written on two tablets of stone. The first tablet dealt with man's relationship with God; the second dealt with man's relationship with his fellow man. A man is ungodly when he isn't right with God; he is unrighteous when he isn't right with his fellow man as God wishes him to be.

The wrath of God is to be revealed against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The two tablets of stone are thus tied together. You cannot have a right relationship with God and a wrong relationship with your brother. If you say that you love God, then you have to love your brother also. You cannot love God and hate your brother.

Some people hold the truth of God, but they hold it in unrighteousness. You say you believe in God. That's wonderful. It's the place to start, but alone it isn't enough. The devils believe in God, so what makes you different from them? You must believe in God and glorify Him. That's the difference!

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (1:19-20). The existence of God is universally attested to. The design of His work is self-evident to all. Those who deny or ignore God are totally without excuse.

When they knew God, they glorified him not as God (1:21a). Paul's first indictment against natural men is that they knew God, but they didn't glorify Him as God.

How many times have I failed to honor God and instead found myself arguing with Him. Peter and Paul argued with the Lord. This trait is part of my human weakness, and it doesn't give glory to God. By arguing with God, I bring Him down to my level, and even reduce Him below my level, because my premise is that I'm right. It's ridiculous! God knows far more about my own situation than I do.

Neither were [they] thankful (1:21b). First Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The circumstances of your life have been ordained by God and are working together according to a divine plan. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23a). Nothing happens to you by happenstance or accident. Don't say, "Good luck!" There is no such thing for a Christian. Similarly whenever you complain about your circumstances you're actually complaining about God. He has brought certain situations into your life for the best. When you moan and groan, God is displeased with your unthankful heart.

As Christians we need to learn to accept the things that come across our paths. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28a). May this truth be embedded in our hearts! When events that seem like tremendous tragedies come, we often ask, "If God loves me how could He allow this to happen?" We can't understand everything that comes across our paths, and God doesn't promise us total understanding. The lyrics to an old southern song have brought comfort to many.

Further along we'll know all about it.
Further along we'll understand why.
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine.
We'll understand it all by and by.

The point of the song is that in heaven we can sit down with Jesus and ask, "Why did that have to happen?" However, when we get to heaven, we'll be so excited and full of rejoicing that we'll just enjoy it all! God doesn't owe us any explanations, but we owe Him our complete obedience, surrender, and submission.

Imagine the potter with the clay. In front of him is the potter's wheel used to shape the vessel. After getting the clay to the right consistency, he throws it on the center of the wheel and begins to form it. The clay leaps up at his touch as he shapes it.

Now as clay in the hands of the potter, so am I in the hands of God. The wheel on which the potter molds the clay is like the circumstances of my life. The wheel is under the total control of the potter, and that's all the clay needs to know. "It hurts!" the clay may complain. "I wonder how much longer the potter will mold me. Won't he ever stop?"

God molds me by ordaining the circumstances of my life. I submit to Him so that He might work in me His eternal purposes. "I thank You, God, for all the disappointments and losses that I have experienced." Paul says, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17).

God's work in your life may be painful right now, but He's aiming at the eternal goal. He wants to bring you into a more glorious entrance into His kingdom. Maybe He has to deprive you now of something that you feel is so very important, but He overlooks your temporary ease for your eternal interest. He has such wonderful things prepared, and He's trying to lead us toward them. If only we would learn to flow with the Spirit and be thankful in all things, because we belong to God. If we live this way we'll never be disappointed.

Accepting God's will for your life is like the little boy who built a model ship. He carefully glued into place all the masts, riggings, and sails. After months of labor he took it down to the pond and gently laid it on the water. Proudly, he watched as the wind filled the sails and the little boat sailed gracefully across the pond. Midway across the lake a strong gust of wind knocked the sailboat over and it sank. The little boy looked up and said, "Wow! What a great wind for flying a kite!" When God stops you on one venture, be open to what He may have in mind. Don't sit down and cry. He has something else for you to do. Look for it!

God often has to deal with us severely, because we're not open and listening to Him. We easily get into ruts with our well-ordered lives and stop looking for what God wants us to have. "I'm at a good job, getting seniority, and doing fine. This is terrific!" One day you go to work and the foreman says, "Here's your termination notice."

Now it's, "Lord! What are You doing to me? This is terrible!" God has a better job for you, but you weren't looking for it. Now you are! God couldn't bring you to the better position until He upset the old conditions. Now you're open and listening to what God has to say. The Father delights in giving good things to His children, just as a parent loves to give some wonderful gift to his child.

We have one son who's always been difficult to please. Buy him a new shirt and he'll say, "Does it match my slacks?" Buy him new shoes and he'll say, "Why did you get that style?" Sometimes God has a hard time giving us gifts, too. What a disappointment when you give a truly wonderful gift to someone you love, and he or she barely acknowledges it. That isn't a response anyone appreciates, especially God.

But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (1:21b-22). Our imaginations often focus on the empty things of the world, and much of our mental power is exercised on vain fantasies. How much better when our hearts and minds are filled with God, His Word, and His love. The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Many times we profess ourselves to be wise and actually become fools by the theories that we believe and follow.

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (1:23a). The men of the world tried to make an image of God by fashioning it in the form of man.

And to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (1:23b). Have you ever seen the grotesque images of past civilizations or the awful images in India today that are worshipped as God? Quite often the statues are part man and part animal. How tragic and foolish! Yet people worship these things and say, "That's God. "

Now we come to the first "giving up" by God. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness [sexual uncleanness or impurity] through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves (1:24). Whenever man fashions an image of God in the form of a man, he brings God even below his own level. When a man puts eyes and ears on an idol, it still can't see or hear. Setting God below his own level creates moral depravity in man, for he loses his high ideals and becomes like his god. His god is less than man, thus his god becomes in his mind a base creature.

The ritual worship of false gods was often done through fertility rites and practices. In Paul's time, the great temple of Aphrodite stood on the Acropolis in Corinth. The priestesses of this temple were prostitutes who came into the city nightly. The Corinthians "worshipped" Aphrodite through sexual rites, and the profit supported their religion. Man degrades himself whenever he worships anything other than the true and living God. So, man is given up by God and given over to "uncleanness."

Who changed the truth of God into a lie (1:25a). Man has to live with himself, so he rationalizes his evil deeds in order to ease his conscience. But to do that he has to change God. He challenges God's Word and claims, "The Bible isn't really the inspired Word of God." Or he underestimates Him. "God doesn't care. He isn't really concerned."

In Paul's day some men believed that the body was completely separate from God's concern. These men taught that you must worship God in the realm of the spirit, but you could do whatever you pleased with your body. Such a teaching changes the truth of God into a lie, just to accommodate the lusts of the flesh.

And worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (1:25b). Men are doing the same thing today as in Paul's day. They're worshipping and serving the works of their own hands rather than the Creator of all things. Idolatry, one of the most common of all sins, is the obsession for the things made by men's hands. The idolater cannot rest until he possesses the object of his desire. For this cause God gave them up (1:26a).

Paul also tells us that God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another (1:26-27). Lesbianism and homosexuality follow whenever God gives up women and men to the things they desire. Don't tell me that God created a homosexual that way. That's changing the truth of God into a lie. Man becomes perverted because he doesn't want to retain God in his mind. He refuses to glorify God as God, and he seeks to make a god after himself. God gives him up to these vile affections, because he has rejected the truth of God within his own heart.

But if a person will return and submit himself to the truth, Jesus will free him from that power and manner of life. He came to set the captive free!

Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [ought not to be done]; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, convenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful (1:28-31).

This passage shows the sad picture of society today. People have sought to rule God out of their consciences. So, God has given them up to these vile practices. These sins will manifest themselves whenever a society turns its back upon God and seeks independence from Him. Whoever rejects Jesus Christ will find himself going downhill fast, doing things he never dreamed of, and losing any scruples against doing them.

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (1:32). Many people hold a prideful view of themselves, as the Pharisee who said, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men" (Luke 18:11). They feel smug because they're innocent of some of the grosser forms of sin. Yet, they go to a movie or watch a TV program as actors portray these vile things, and they actually enjoy or "have pleasure in them that do them." We need to take great care not to sow to our flesh in any way. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Galatians 6:8).

 

2. God's Justice

There is no break in Paul's writing between Chapters 1 and 2, and he continues in the next verse, Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things (2:1). We may judge someone else's sins, but so often we're guilty of the very same act.

Watching television and movies can be dangerous. Often a person receives vicarious pleasure from watching the violence and corruption on the screen. He wouldn't think of doing such things himself, but when he sees them portrayed on a screen he drinks it all in. He's as guilty as the people he's watching, because he's mentally indulging in the same practices.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things (2:2). God's judgment will be according to truth, because He'll judge not only men's actions but the motives that prompted the actions.

Many times after committing a crime, a man will make up an excuse to justify what he's done. As he gives you his explanation, he sounds like he really is innocent. However, he made up the story after the fact to justify himself and avoid punishment.

God told Ezekiel, "Dig a hole through the wall, go in, and take a look around the house of Israel." Ezekiel went in and saw many filthy pictures, detestable animals, and idols upon the walls. The Lord said, "You're seeing the insides of the minds of men" (Ezekiel 8:8-12).

Some day you may stand before God in heaven saying, "I didn't intend to cause any harm." He could say, "Let's review the thoughts that were in your mind at that moment." The Bible says, "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13b). You can't hide from God. He knows the secret motives of your heart, and His judgment will be according to the absolute truth.

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (2:4). Men so often mistake the patience of God as a weakness or, worse yet, as approval. A man says, "If there is a God in heaven, let Him strike me dead!" He shakes his fist at God. When he isn't struck dead, he says, "I told you. There is no God." How foolish! A person may be lulled into believing that God doesn't care or that He even approves of his sins, because God's judgment isn't immediate. By misinterpreting the patience of God as "getting by with it," a man shows despite toward the goodness of God and fools himself.

The goodness of God leads a man to repentance. So many times a preacher tries to get a sinner to repent by shaking him over hell and emphasizing the wrath of God. In reality, knowing how much he deserves the judgment and wrath of God, yet realizing the goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering of God, causes a man to repent.

The day of judgment will come and all secrets will be revealed. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (2:5). That's why I pray, "Remember not the sins of my youth" (Psalm 25:7a). That's why David prayed, "Have mercy upon me, O God... according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1). As a sinner David didn't say, "Have justice on me, O God."

God will render to every man according to his deeds (2:6). By continuing to sin, a person is damming up a huge reservoir of judgment that will finally burst and carry him off in the torrent. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, God will reward with eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile (2:7-10).

For there is no respect of persons with God (2:11). In this particular dispensation God deals equally with all men, Jews and Gentiles. If you're following Christ, He'll bless and reward you. If you harden your heart against Him by following your own path, then God will judge you regardless of whether you're a Jew or a Gentile. Your nationality won't make the day of judgment any easier for you, because God doesn't show any favoritism.

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 (2:12). Those who have never heard about Jesus Christ will be judged according to the knowledge that they have had. If they didn't have the Law of Moses, they'll be judged apart from the Law.

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 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: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another) (2:13-15).

God has given each person a basic sense of right and wrong. This standard is written upon the tablet of his heart, and his thoughts are either accusing or excusing him. What will God judge? The secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel (2:16).

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (2:17-23).

Paul was addressing himself to the Jews who had the Law of Moses and were boasting in it. "We have the Law and know the things that are right. We're a light to those in darkness and a guide to the blind." The Jews stood as the moral and spiritual teachers of the world.

But Paul said, "Wait a minute! You teach that a man shouldn't steal, but do you covet your neighbor's goods? You teach that a man shouldn't commit adultery, but do you think about it yourself? You teach that a man shouldn't worship idols, but do you secretly worship idols in your heart?"

Paul was pointing out that the true intent of the Law is to govern and judge the attitudes of men more than their actions. This is the very thing that Jesus pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:17-18). Using five examples, He showed how the Law was being misinterpreted by the scribes and Pharisees and what God meant when He gave it. In each case, the scribes were applying the Law to a man's actions when God was judging his attitudes. The whole purpose of the Law was voided by their misinterpretation.

By applying the Law only to actions, the scribes felt very self-righteous. However, the Law's purpose was to make the whole world guilty before God by revealing sin and, thus, drive men to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. By misunderstanding the intent of the Law, the reaction of the scribes in their smugness and self-righteousness was exactly the opposite of what God intended.

As a result, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision (2:24-25). The Jews were trusting in the Mosaic ritual of circumcision for their salvation, but their disobedience of the spirit of the Law invalidated the ritual.

It's wrong to trust in a ritual such as baptism for salvation. Unfortunately, the so-called salvation of many people is based on the water sprinkled on their heads as infants. These people don't even remember the event, but they have a certificate that proves it happened. Such a religious ritual is meaningless in terms of salvation. Our relationship with God is totally dependent upon a living, active faith in Jesus Christ.

You may say, "When I was baptized, they put me all the way under. None of that sprinkling for me!" If you're not walking according to God's will, you can't trust in the ritual, even if you were baptized in the deepest ocean. Your heart determines your salvation, and your present life can invalidate the meaning of any ritual you may have experienced.

Paul says that the benefit of circumcision is removed by disobedience to the Law of God. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? (2:25-26). The crucial issue isn't ritual but obedience to God.

Personally, I don't agree with any denomination claiming that a person cannot be saved until he is baptized. Does baptism save? No. The work of God in a man's heart is what counts. Salvation rests upon the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (2:27-29).

Circumcision was intended to signify a people who would deny their flesh and live after the Spirit. The significance of the rite could be totally negated by a man if he continued to live after the flesh. Likewise, baptism symbolizes the death of the old nature and the new life of the Spirit. The proof of this work of God is in a person's life, not in the ritual.

 

3. The Free Gift

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (3:1). If circumcision can't get me points in heaven, then what advantage do I have as a Jew? Paul said, Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God (3:2). God committed His Word to the Jews in their native language. Those who read Hebrew could read God's Word.

We owe a great deal to the Jews for preserving the Word of God with such diligence and accuracy. Prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament was dated about A.D. 900. The Dead Sea Isaiah Scroll is dated about 200 B.C. When the Isaiah Scroll was translated, it was found to have no major changes from the text we already possessed. The Jewish scribes had faithfully and accurately copied the Word of God throughout the Old Testament period.

What if some [of them] did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (3:3). This is an interesting speculation. A man may claim to be an unbeliever. That doesn't change the truth. Suppose that he went into a math class. The teacher had written on the board, "2 + 2 = 4". He says, "Wait a minute! I don't believe that two plus two equals four." His opinion won't change the fact. Whether he believes or not doesn't alter the truth.

The truth will stand, and it isn't without effect because a person doesn't believe it. Similarly, a man cannot add to God by accepting the truth. When a sinner repents and accepts Christ, God doesn't say, "Goody! Another one on our side." He doesn't need us. He can live very well without us. He loves us, and because He loves us He draws us unto Himself. We're the ones who gain and are blessed. It's so wonderful that God pursues this relationship with us when He has nothing to gain by it.

For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) (3:3-5).

A person may claim, "God said that we're all sinners in Romans 3:23. By being a sinner I'm only proving that God told the truth. Why should God take vengeance on me because I'm proving His truth?" Oh, the stupid reasoning of man! How often we find ourselves facing these nonsensical arguments. Paul said, God forbid [perish the thought]: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? (3:6-7).

Some preachers tell stories packed with emotion in an attempt to turn people to Christ. There's no truth to the story, but it's persuasive and turns people from their sins. Some might say, "Why would God judge a preacher for lying? Look at the good that has come from it." But the end doesn't justify the means. Jesus said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Some Christians were slanderously reported to have said, "Let us do evil that good may come." Paul characterized such people as those whose damnation is just (3:8). The evil of man and the righteousness of God stand in brilliant contrast. Take the case of Tex Watson, a convicted murderer and former member of the Charles Manson family. Tex Watson is now a brother in Christ. How his conversion magnifies the grace of God. But should we do wicked things so we can magnify the grace of God? Never! One of the most glorious of all testimonies is obeying God's will. That kind of testimony thrills God's heart.

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; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (3:9-10).

Paul goes on to describe these deceivers who encouraged evil so that more of God's grace would be given.

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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 (3:11-20).

No one can be justified by the Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. We're already guilty before we even start. The Law wasn't given to justify us, but to expose our innate sinfulness. It reveals the fact that the whole world is guilty before God.

The Jews had misinterpreted the Law to such an extent that they felt self-righteous. The religious leaders were teaching that a man could actually keep the Law, because their idea of obedience was by outward observance only. But in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus pointed out that the Law was spiritual and that all men had already violated it. Jesus showed that the Law governs the inner attitudes of men as well as their outward actions. Though the Jews' actions may have been blameless, their attitudes were evil. For example, though they hadn't committed adultery, they had lusted in their hearts. So, they were guilty of violating the Law.

The Law condemns all of us, and it points all of us to the only hope of salvation that we have - the grace and mercy of God and the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (3:21-22). No difference exists between Jew and Gentile in terms of salvation. Each one who believes in Jesus Christ is justified from all the sins he has ever committed.

"Justified" is a beautiful word meaning "just as if I never did it." When I stand before Him cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, God looks at me as though the disobedience and sins of the past had never happened. God credits my faith in Him as righteousness. My hope is in the sustaining power and grace of God through His Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Apart from Christ I have no justification before God.

When I abide in Christ, my salvation and relationship with God doesn't vary. Years ago my relationship with Him was unstable in my own mind, because I tried to make it depend upon my good works. As a child I was taught that I shouldn't go to movies, dance, smoke cigarettes, or drink liquor. So I have abstained from all those things, but as a child I couldn't understand why God was blessing some kids at church more than He was blessing me. They were sneaking off to the Saturday matinee and smoking cigarettes. "God, I'm so good and they're such sneaks!" I was approaching God on the basis of my good works, but I wasn't so good in my thoughts. When the other kids were heading to the matinee, I really wanted to see Pinocchio or Snow White with them. How I wished I hadn't been brought up in that strict church. I longed for those things in my heart, but I wouldn't do them.

My Sunday school teachers told me the story of a little boy who went to the movies and said, "Jesus, please wait outside. I'll be back in about an hour and a half." I was told never to go anywhere I couldn't take the Lord. "If the Lord should come while you're at the movies, He'll leave you behind. When you come out, you may find the Church is raptured and you've been left." The first movie I finally went to see was agony. The whole time I thought, "What if the Lord comes while I'm sitting here? What if the rapture takes place?" I wanted to get up and leave!

Eventually, God in His grace caused me to realize that true righteousness isn't based on rules but on my faith in Jesus Christ. My relationship with God then stabilized. I certainly don't do the right thing in every situation. For example, I don't always tolerate abuse and won't always turn the other cheek. Thank God that my faults don't alter my faith in Jesus. I still believe in Him and love Him with all my heart. When I do wrong He speaks to me about it, and He teaches me to lean a little harder on Him instead of on myself.

God has brought me into a new righteousness based upon His faithfulness to keep His Word. There's never a problem on that basis, because I know that God is faithful and will always keep His word.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (3:23). Some may come closer than others, but all have come short of God's standard. As an illustration, suppose that we're sailing to Hawaii and the boat capsizes midway. We start swimming for shore. Some are very weak swimmers and sink within the first hundred yards. Some don't go down until the first mile. Some are strong enough to swim five miles before they go down. But all come short of reaching land.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (3:24). We can only be justified before God by His grace in the redemption purchased for us by Jesus Christ.

Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (3:25-26).

In order to forgive you, God must have a just basis of forgiveness. That basis of forgiveness is the substitution of Christ for you, the sinner. Jesus took your sins and bore your guilt. God had declared, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus died in your place and bore the judgment of your guilt. Thus, He can offer the forgiveness of your sins and the cleansing of your past. He can justify you before God of any wrong you have ever done. That's God's good news. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16a).

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (3:27-28). Salvation is by faith and it completely eliminates any boasting by us.

And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save," my lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow. [1]

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus presents me "faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24b). I won't be able to say, "I was such a faithful and strong Christian! I really held on to the end!" No! Boasting is eliminated, because my salvation has become God's work.

The Bible says, "Ye are complete in him" (Colossians 2:10a). "Complete" means "perfect" You can't improve on perfection. Having begun in the Spirit, you must continue to walk in faith. God sees you in that state of perfection as you abide in Christ.

Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one God, who shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith (3:29-30). The Jews thought that they possessed God exclusively. Not so. All men may approach God now. The rituals of the past no longer matter, for faith in Christ is the key to justification.

However, faith doesn't cancel the Law of Moses. It actually supports the purpose of the Law. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law (3:31). The Law was given to show that all the world stands guilty before God. Salvation by faith eliminates all human boasting and shows us that we cannot save ourselves by works. Faith brings us to the same realization as the Law, and so it establishes the Law.

[1] From Jesus Paid It All by Mrs. H.M. Hall.

 

4. Abraham and Faith

In Chapter 4 of Romans Paul talks about the righteousness that God has established through faith. This righteousness isn't accomplished by outward obedience to the Law of Moses, but upon the principle of faith. Righteousness through faith eliminates any boasting on man's behalf. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith" (Romans 3:27).

My salvation is a work of God. I can't boast in my own works, because my salvation is God's work in me. He did it and I believed it. God counts my faith in the righteousness of Christ as my own righteousness.

In Chapter 4 Paul also emphasizes that justification by faith isn't a new concept with God. He explains that God had established the principle of faith with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, long before the Mosaic Law was ever given.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? (4:1). What did Abraham, the physical father of the Jews, discover about faith and justification?

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (4:2-3). If Abraham was justified by obediently leaving his home by Babylon to look for the Promised Land or by offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, then he would have been able to boast in himself. He could have said, "I left my home and was willing to give up everything, even my son, to follow God. I'm really righteous!" However, Abraham was justified solely by faith, not by works.

This same principle of justification by faith is true in our own salvation. If we were justified by our works, we could glory in ourselves and, thus, our boasting wouldn't be in God's work. For this reason Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14a). Our only place of boasting is in the Cross. Jesus said, "So you also, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, We are unworthy servants, for we have done only what was our duty" (Luke 17:10).

Glory for my salvation should always be given to God, yet my flesh delights in self-glory. How I'd love to take credit for my salvation, and I keep trying! Every time I say, "God, there must be some good in me somewhere!" He lets me fall flat on my face. There's nothing in my flesh about which I can glory.

Paul repeats this same truth in Chapter 7. "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18a). If you haven't discovered this fact yet, you will. God doesn't plan to redeem your flesh; He condemns your flesh to the Cross. He must change you from this corruptible body into an incorruptible one before you can enter into the eternal kingdom. "This corruptible [perishable] must put on incorruption [imperishable], and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:53).

Even when I know that no good dwells in my flesh, I often say, "Lord, surely I can conquer this problem. Give me a chance and I'll do better. I promise that I won't fail again." Every promise of doing better and being more faithful is doomed to failure, because it's rooted in the confidence of my flesh. My boasting and confidence must be in Jesus Christ and His finished work for me.

The concept of righteousness by faith is quite foreign to us. We often attempt to achieve righteousness by the do's and don'ts of Christian behavior, and we're soon legislating our own religious laws. Since there are always amendments and modifications, the list eventually becomes so long that no one can keep up with it.

If I have followed the rule of keeping my temper and have blessed others when I was abused, I feel very confident and begin to boast of conquering another area of my old nature. I feel very good, until I lose my cool and yell at my kids. Then I cry, "O God! I'm a miserable failure! I promised that I'd never do that again." I now feel so miserable and alienated from God.

Why did God establish the principle of righteousness by faith? It's the only way that my relationship with Him can remain constant in spite of my human failures.

The Mosaic Law failed to bring righteousness because its benefits depended upon man's obedience. "The man who obeys them will live by them" (Leviticus 18:5). The Law's fulfillment was based on man's flesh, but his flesh is weak. The Law didn't fail. Man failed. So God has established a new basis for righteousness: faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus has promised to cleanse a man from all sin and to present him faultless before the Father.

This New Covenant is based on God's faithfulness to keep His word. I fulfill my part of the bargain by trusting in God through faith in Jesus Christ. My righteous standing is complete once I stop trying to justify myself before God and rest where God is resting - in the finished work of Jesus Christ. (The Bible explains more about this "rest" in Hebrews 4.)

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt (4:4). If righteousness was credited to a man for his works, then God would owe him the reward of salvation. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they can work for their righteousness by door-to-door witnessing. Trusting in a righteousness that goes back to the Law, they seek to put God in debt to them. However, God will never be any man's debtor.

When I work for an employer, he is legally obligated to pay me my wages. But a right relationship with God is a gift that I do not, cannot, and never will deserve. This gift demonstrates the grace of God, as He gives me what I could never earn: perfect righteousness.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (4:5). Some people may look at this statement as almost heretical, but it's scriptural. They may protest that justification by faith is a dangerous thing to preach. "Christians will become lazy. They'll sit around believing in the Lord and do nothing." However, it's impossible to believe in Jesus Christ and do nothing. True faith will spark a tremendous response in a man.

The works of a Christian are in no way intended to make him holier or more righteous before God. One of the curses in the Church throughout the centuries has been the holier-than-thou attitude. They come to you with dreamy eyes and say, "Brother, are you ready for the secrets of God that have been made known to me?" That super-spiritual attitude is a curse among Christians.

My works don't add a whit to my righteousness. God has imputed to me the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and trying to improve on it is sheer folly. The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Christ, and I'm complete in Him. (Colossians 2:9-10)

Then what are my works as a believer? Just the glorious and natural response of my heart to the goodness, grace, and love of God. Paul said, "The love of Christ constraineth [compels] me" (II Corinthians 5:14). Love drives me to do whatever I can for Him.

Love is the highest motivating force, and it's the only acceptable motive for any true service for God. If love doesn't motivate me in my service for God, I might as well stop. If I think that my Christian service is making me holier or more righteous than others, I'm badly mistaken. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing" (I Corinthians 13:3).

Many times the urgings from the pulpit prompt people to serve the Lord for rewards. I was guilty of doing that for years. "I'll give you a giant lollipop if you bring ten kids to Sunday school." However, the entire work-reward concept is carnal, not spiritual. By appealing to this carnal motive, many pastors have created a spirit of competitiveness within their congregations. Though a person may work himself to death, he'll receive nothing for his carnal efforts, except perhaps some personal glory and applause when he collects his giant lollipop.

Not striving to do God's work doesn't mean that I'm spiritually lazy. It usually means that I'm doing more than ever, but my motivation is God's great love. Rewards could never have prompted me to do the things I've done. As Paul said, "Neither count I my life dear unto myself" (Acts 20:24a). To please and serve Christ becomes the joy, desire, and delight of my life, because He loves me so much.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (4:6-8). The word "blessed" means "Oh, how happy!" How happy is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.

Did you know that God no longer charges sin against you if you're believing in Jesus Christ? "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son continually cleanses us from all sin... If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins" (I John 1:7, 2:1b-2a).

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only? (4:9a). Is this blessedness of divine forgiveness just for the Jew? Or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision (4:10b). To the Jews circumcision was the most important ritual that a man could experience. According to their teaching, God wouldn't accept an uncircumcised man. Yet Paul says that faith, not circumcision, gave Abraham his standing before God. God credited his faith for righteousness while Abraham was still uncircumcised.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them [Gentiles] also: and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised (4:11-12).

God has imparted perfect righteousness to me, a sinner, totally apart from works and rituals. The bread and wine of the Lord's Supper are only a memorial. They will not save me. The water of baptism is only a symbol. It will not save me. Salvation is the work of God within my heart through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law (4:13a). Abraham lived 400 years before the Mosaic Law was given. His righteousness must have been apart from the Law, since the Law didn't even exist yet.

But through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression (4:13b-15). A man can't transgress a law that doesn't exist. So, mankind couldn't violate the Law until it had been given.

Therefore it [our righteousness] is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure (4:16a). A righteousness predicated upon your works could never be sure. Neither could it be sure if it depended upon your faithfulness. Because God wants you to be assured of your salvation, He promises to save you if you'll just believe in His Son Jesus Christ and His finished work for you on the cross. Salvation isn't premised on your works but on His work, not on your faithfulness but on His faithfulness. Only thus can your salvation be sure.

The guarantee of your salvation is certain. You don't need to constantly worry yourself with doubts and questions, such as, "Did I confess everything today? Forgive everybody? Love everybody? If I go to sleep and die tonight, will I find myself in hell?" Not knowing for certain whether you're saved would be miserable. Your attitude would be, "I hope I've done my best. I hope I haven't sinned. I hope..." You'd never have any confidence in your salvation, whereas God wants you to have confidence and certainty. So, He has established His New Covenant on the basis of faith in the complete work of Christ. Your salvation is secure and you don't have to worry, because Jesus has covered your sins of the past, present, and future.

To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all (4:16). Abraham is my father not in an ethnic but in a spiritual sense. He's the father of all who believe in God and are accounted righteous by their faith in Christ.

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (4:17).

Long before Abraham had fathered Isaac, God spoke to him as though his son already existed. I'm greatly comforted when God speaks about me as righteous, justified, glorified, holy, pure, and sanctified completely. God can talk about such things before they exist, because He knows they will exist. Jesus Christ will present me before the Father "faultless... with exceeding joy" (Jude 24). In the Bible God talks about my future state as a certainty. My dwelling with Him eternally is a fact to Him, just as Abraham's unborn son was a fact. Abraham against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be (4:18).

We now come to the four keys of Abraham's faith. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb (4:19). Ignoring the physical limitations of the situation was the first key of Abraham's faith.

Whenever I'm faced with a problem, I usually try to work out my own solution. As long as I can devise a plan, I feel confident. However, when a situation seems to have no solution, I start to worry. If I can't figure it out, how will God be able to solve it?

So often when I've worked out a possible solution in my mind, I then begin to direct God in my prayers according to my planned solution. At this point my prayers become direction prayers rather than direct prayers. God does answer prayer, but He often refuses to follow my directions.

Too often we trust in human evaluations and the analysis from the laboratory. Is the tumor malignant? The report says that it's benign, so we praise the Lord. But should word of malignancy come, we panic and give up all hope. We're only seeing the human possibilities.

Sarah could have called on the doctor and said, "My husband and I want a son of our own. However, I went through menopause about 30 years ago."

The doctor would have said, "Sarah, you're dreaming!"

Can you imagine Abraham coming in for his annual check-up saying, "Sarah and I want a son. Can you give us some vitamins or something?"

"No chance," the doctor says. "You're almost 100 years old and your wife is past 90. A son now? Abraham, forget it. That's humanly impossible!" God's promise to Abraham was humanly impossible to fulfill, but Abraham simply ignored the natural considerations.

When God is the working agent, any talk of limitations or difficulty is absurd. For example, consider the events in II Kings 7:1-20. When the Syrians besieged the city of Samaria and cut off all their supplies, the conditions became hopeless. The people, starving to death, resorted to eating their own children. A donkey's head sold for 80 shekels on about two pounds of silver.

When the king and his officer visited the home of Elisha, the prophet promised a complete reversal of circumstances. He said, "Tomorrow, about this time, a seah [seven quarts] of flour will sell for a shekel [65 cents] and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria. "

The king's officer said, "Elisha, even if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could such a thing ever be?" The prophet replied, "Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat it." Such a provision sounded so impossible under the circumstances that the officer didn't believe it.

Such is the price of unbelief. It robs you of the blessings God has already provided. So often we look for the ways that God might work - "If God would open windows in heaven" - but we don't need to understand the ways of the Lord. All we need is to believe and trust in Him.

The second key to Abraham's faith was not staggering in unbelief at the promises of God. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief (4:20a). How many times we stagger at God's promises through unbelief! God's promises often seem too good to be true. I can accept what God did for Elijah and Paul, but I can't believe that He would do it for me.

The Bible says, "He has given us exceeding great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:4a). One of these promises is "My God will meet all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). The promises of God are so great that our belief in them is prone to waver, and we hesitate rather than confidently claim them.

Abraham didn't waver, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (4:20b). This was the third key to Abraham's faith. He was praising and thanking God for a son even before Sarah was pregnant.

Years ago while pastoring in another area, I was working at a supermarket to meet the family's needs. We had three children and the church only paid twenty dollars a week.

My mother-in-law had died in Phoenix, and we went there to take care of the funeral arrangements. While I was gone my union dues at the supermarket lapsed. When I returned to pay them, the union had attached a fifty dollar fine. I couldn't afford to pay the fine plus the dues. I was in a bind, because the union wouldn't let me work, and I couldn't get the money without the work.

Since my income from the supermarket had stopped, things were pretty tough and I became discouraged. I've always believed in keeping my accounts up to date as a witness for Jesus Christ. Now for the first time in my life I started receiving letters from my creditors.

One morning I got up and totaled our debts. They came to $416.00. I laid them before the Lord, but I was very disheartened. "Where in the world am I ever going to get $416.00?" About that time the phone rang. I picked it up, and a friend said, "Chuck, I'm calling to let you know that I put a check in the mail for you. I sent it special delivery, and you should get it tomorrow morning. It's for $425.00."

Was I ever elated! I ran into the kitchen, grabbed my wife, and danced her around the room. I was praising the Lord. "Victory! Bless God! Hallelujah! We'll be out of debt! We even have enough money to go out for dinner!"

Later, after I had settled down again, God began speaking to me. "How do you know that he sent the money to you?"

"Lord, I've known my friend for many years. He wouldn't call me unless he'd done it. I trust his word, Lord."

"Very interesting," said the Lord. "You had My word this morning that I would provide the money, but I didn't see you dancing your wife around the kitchen. Instead, you were down in the mouth and blue. Now that you have a man's word for the money, you're all excited. Tell Me, whose word is greater?" I had to repent. My faith didn't include praising God for His promise before it was fulfilled.

We often become defeated and discouraged even though we have God's guarantee of victory and success. Abraham was strong in faith and gave glory to God before Sarah conceived, because he had the promise of God.

The final key to Abraham's faith was being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform (4:21). How big is your God? Is your God able? Many times God is too small for our problems, because He is the product of our imaginations.

The God of the Scriptures is eternal and almighty. He measures the heavens with the span of His hand, and to Him "the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance" (Isaiah 40:12,15). Oh, the greatness of the God we serve! "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20a). Abraham simply believed that God would fulfill His promises, and therefore it [his faith] was imputed [credited] to him for righteousness (4:22).

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (4:23-25).

 

5. Just as if I Never Did It

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God (5:1a). "Justified" means "just as if I never did it." The first result of justification by faith is peace with God. If justification depended on my works, some days this peace would be present and some days not, depending on my performance.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand (5:1b-2a). The second result of justification by faith is access to God. The door is always open. If we were righteous by our works, then the door would usually be closed because of our failures. Our relationship with God is established on His faithfulness to His promises and on our belief that He'll keep His word.

Satan has bound up many people by accusing them of a lack of righteousness by works. When we begin to pray for a need, he comes and says, "A fine one you are! You pray when you're in trouble, but where were you all week when things were going well? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. God isn't going to listen!" Satan troubles us constantly by claiming that the door is closed. "God doesn't want you to come. You failed to be righteous."

However, my righteousness isn't based on keeping laws but on my belief in Jesus Christ. The door is never closed, even after I've been a miserable failure. I come to Him through the righteousness given me by faith in Jesus Christ, and I can be confident of my standing with God.

And [we] rejoice in hope of the glory of God (5:2b). God's glory will be revealed in my life, and I rejoice in that!

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also (5:3a). This verse defines real spiritual growth. To rejoice in the hope of His glory is much easier than rejoicing in tribulations. Can I be glad even in hardship? Yes, when I know that my life is governed by God and that this hardship is producing patience, one of the greatest needs in my life. "Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:36).

I've heard people advise others against praying for patience because God will then send them tribulations. If that's the way patience comes then, "God, bring on the troubles." I need patience!

Difficult times cause me to seek God. When all is well, I don't always respond to Him immediately; but when I'm in trouble, I want God now. David prayed much the same way when he was in difficulty. "Answer me speedily" (Psalm 102:2b).

Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope (5:3b-4). In my difficulty I begin to realize that God will provide relief, perhaps not as soon as I'd like, but in His time. Thus, the experience of trusting in Him during tribulation produces hope within me.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (5:5-6). It's important for us to note our condition when God loved us and allowed His Son to die for us "ungodly." We find it difficult to get away from the idea that we must be good so God will love us. God's love for us stems from His nature, not our lovableness.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure [perhaps] for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth [demonstrates] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (5:7-8). If Christ had died only for good people, we could understand His dying for them. However, Jesus didn't die for the honorable and upright. He died for the ungodly and sinners. By this act God displayed His unconditional love for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him (5:9). If Christ died for us while we were still sinners in rebellion against God, how much more is He willing to save us from the wrath to come?

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (5:10). These "much mores" are wonderful. While still an enemy of God I was reconciled to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. If His death could reconcile me as an enemy, how much more will His life establish this loving relationship between God and me.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (5:11). The Old and New Testament words translated "atonement" differ in meaning. Atonement in Hebrew is "kaphar", which means "covering." The Old Testament sacrifices of goats and bulls covered sin but didn't put away sin. The Greek New Testament word for atonement, "katallage", literally means "making one" and would be better translated "reconciliation." Becoming one with God was impossible through the Old Testament sacrifices; it took the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to reconcile man with God.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (5:12). The word "have" is added in the King James Version; the original Greek reads, "...because all sinned." Paul is saying that when Adam sinned, he sinned for the whole human race. Just as Adam became a sinful creature, spiritually dead and separated from God, so did his children. Adam couldn't pass along any fellowship with God to his children, because he had lost it; and because he acted as our federal head, we came into this world separated from God.

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (5:13). Though sin was in the world before Moses gave the Law, it wasn't imputed to men until then.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come (5:14). Physical death came as the result of spiritual death. Though God wasn't imputing sin to men before the Law, sin was present through Adam. Death reigned because he sinned for us all.

A dangerous doctrine taught by Jehovah's Witnesses and other groups is that Adam only sinned for himself. This view takes away the truth that Paul brings out: since by one man's sin all could be made sinners, then by one man's righteousness all can be made righteous (see Romans 5:19). This corollary is the basis of the doctrine of justification by faith. One man can act for an entire body of people, as Adam acted for the entire human race when he sinned. Even so the second Adam, Jesus Christ, acted for all of us in His righteousness. It is imputed to all of us who believe in Him. If one man couldn't have sinned for all, then one man couldn't be righteous for all. If that were the case, we would have to establish our own righteousness. That would leave us out in the cold, because "our righteous acts are as filthy rags" in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6).

The doctrine that sin passed upon all of us by one man, Adam, is vitally important. I continually warn against the pernicious heresy that says a man is a sinner because he has sinned. Such a concept implies that a man could possibly live and die without sinning. Thus, he wouldn't need Christ. The biblical revelation teaches that a man has sinned because he is a sinner. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (5:12).

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many (5:15). If one man can make us guilty before God, then how much more can Jesus Christ through God's grace make us righteous.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ) (5:16-17). Death reigned from Adam. Life reigns from Christ. If one man can cause the world to die, then how much more can the triumph of Jesus over death bring life to those in Him. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:26).

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (5:18). Adam's sin brought condemnation to all men. Christ's sacrifice brought justification to all who believe.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (5:19-21).

Thank God for the abounding grace! One version translates verse 20 as "Where sin did abound, grace overflowed." We seem to have great difficulty accepting the grace of God. We're always trying to give God a reason to love us, accept us, or forgive us. But God loves, accepts, and forgives those who are miserable, rotten, and without merit. All we must do is cast ourselves upon Him and cry, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." To him who does not work but simply believes, God imputes his faith for righteousness (Romans 4:5). God accounts me just as righteous as His own dear Son.

 

6. Victory Over Sin

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (6:1). Since grace overflows wherever sin abounds, should we live in sin so we might see more of the abounding grace of God? Perish the thought!

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (6:2). Here Paul states a fundamental principle about our walk with Christ. The new life in Christ has brought death to the old. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). We're dead to sin so we might be alive to God through the Spirit. How can a Spirit-filled being live any longer in sin?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (6:34). When you went down in the waters of baptism, you were actually buried with Christ. As you came up from the waters, you were a new creature - ruled no longer by the flesh but by the Spirit.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man was [past tense in the Greek] crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (6:5-6). The word translated "destroyed" means "put out of business." My body of sin has been put out of business! If I want forgiveness for my sins, I must see Christ on the cross dying for me. If I want power over sin in my life, I must see myself crucified and risen again with Him.

Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20a). Your old flesh-dominated nature was crucified, died, and was buried with Christ. Now you're living after the Spirit-dominated life. As a child of God, you cannot serve sin and follow after the weakness of your flesh. God has freed you from its tyranny, and you need to reckon your old nature as dead.

For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (6:7-1 1).

We're to reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin. The word "reckon" means "to account." This accounting is a position of faith. As long as we're in this body of flesh, we have to deal with our flesh which desires to rule over us. Our old nature was crucified with Christ, and we constantly have to assert this position of faith. Crucifixion is a slow and tortuous death, as the flesh doesn't die easily. So, the two positions of faith we must take are that the old sinful nature is dead and that we're now spiritually alive unto God through Christ.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof (6:12). Man is an inferior trinity made of body, soul, and spirit. These are set in a vertical order. In the natural man the body is on top, dominating the soul (mind), and the spirit lies underneath, dead, because it's alienated from God. When a man becomes born again by the Spirit, his spirit comes alive and takes reign over the soul, and the desires of the body yield to the spirit. The true child of God is no longer ruled by his flesh.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments [tools or weapons] of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (6:13). You have the option of serving the flesh or the Spirit. As a child of God you must yield to the influences of the Spirit and allow your body to be an instrument in God's hands. Don't let the flesh reign over you anymore.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (6:14). Grace is the basis of your new relationship with God, and sin does not and cannot have dominion over you.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (6:15-16). If you yield to the lust of the flesh, you cannot be a servant of God. You'll become enslaved by your flesh, and it will rule your life, eventually destroying you.

When Adam yielded to temptation and ate of the forbidden fruit, he obeyed Satan's suggestion and became his servant. No man can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). As we walk in obedience to God, we become the servants of God.

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made fm from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness (6:17-18). We were once the servants of sin, but now we're the servants of God.

I speak, Paul said, after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness (6:19).

Again, we face the choice. We must make a willful and deliberate decision not to conform to this world but rather to yield to the Spirit of God. We must reckon the old man to be dead. Christ has set us free. That freedom marks the difference between us and the world. The unbeliever yields to the flesh, because he has no choice. He's under sin's power and has no control over it. Many sinners hate their sins and would like to be set free. Some of them even go to clinics for help. Though their sins gave pleasure for a time, these sins are now ruling and destroying their lives. In contrast, the Christian has been set free from the bondage of corruption. He has come to Jesus Christ in faith and yielded his body as an instrument of God to be controlled by His Spirit.

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death (6:20-21). The way of the flesh is the path of death.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (6:22-23). In a later chapter Paul asks, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). What "things"? The blessings of eternal life in Christ, God's glorious gift, spoken of here in Chapter 6.

Paul also said, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (II Corinthians 3:5). God's work in my life is sufficient to bring me to victory. Whenever the flesh rises up and seeks to draw me away, I reckon the old man to be dead, yield my body to God in faith, and receive victory.

Death, sin, and the flesh are always related. To live after the flesh is to miss God's mark for your life. Even so, spirit, righteousness, and life are related. The right God-ordained order for your life is to live after the spirit.

God is a superior Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit. Man is an inferior trinity of spirit, soul (mind), and body (flesh). If a man's spirit is alive and uppermost, he has fellowship with God. If a man's flesh is uppermost, his fellowship with God is broken, because God wants nothing to do with his sinful flesh. Man can only meet God in the spirit. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:16).

 

7. Flesh vs. Spirit

Here in Chapter 7 we see Paul's agony over trying to personally apply the truths of the previous chapters. A man may know the truth, but its application can cause intense problems.

Paul addresses the opening verses to Jewish believers, not to the general body of Gentile believers. Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (7:1). The point here is that the Mosaic Law held power over a Jew as long as he lived.

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God (7:24).

A married woman was bound to her husband as long as he lived or until he divorced her. (In Judaism a woman had no right to divorce her husband. The bride's father would demand a substantial dowry before the marriage to support the woman in case the husband put her away. This was actually alimony in advance.)

Gentiles have never been under the Mosaic Law. Even the early Church fathers decided not to impose the bondage of the Law upon the Gentile believers, since they weren't able to bear it themselves (Acts 15:13-24).

Paul is showing the Jewish believers that death brought freedom from the Law and as Christians they had died with Christ. Therefore, the Jewish believers were set free from the Law. They had been freed from the Old Covenant by death and joined to the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.

For when we were in the flesh, the motions [passions] of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (7:5-6). The Law worked in a man's body to bring forth fruit leading to death. Now he has been delivered from the Law and a New Covenant has been established. The Law was never intended to make a man righteous, for if righteousness could come by the Law then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). God gave the Law to show man his sin and to condemn him. It exposes the guilt of the whole world by revealing man's failure to meet God's standards.

Paul goes on to tell us, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust I was a sinner, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead (7:7-8). In a tragic misinterpretation of the Law, the Jews had tried to keep it as their claim to righteousness. This error persists in Judaism to this day. The modern Jew tries to outweigh his evil deeds with good ones. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is now a day to reflect over his past actions. However, there's no sacrifice to cover or put away his sin and guilt.

The Law isn't sin, but it certainly brings a man to the awareness of sin. Paul said that he didn't know what sin was until the Law revealed it to him, for without the Law sin was dead.

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin (7:9-14).

The problem is me. I agree that I should obey the Law. I should love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I should love my neighbor as myself and shouldn't break any of the commandments. The Law is good, right, and just. But with the Law comes the consciousness of God's requirement, and I become aware of how far short I have fallen.

Paul said, "The law is spiritual" (7:14a). By interpreting the Law in a physical sense, the Pharisees believed that they had attained righteousness. As a Pharisee, Paul was blameless in keeping the Law's outward observances. However, when he came to the realization that the Law was spiritual, he stood condemned. He had violated the spirit of the Law many times. The Law, intended to govern the attitudes of men, showed that all were guilty before God. "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10).

Now we need help! The Law brings us to a point of despair and hopelessness. It forces us to look for help beyond ourselves. Any religious system teaching that help can be found within us is bound to fail. Our nature is sinful, in rebellion to God, and not subject to His will. The weakness of the Law isn't in the Law. It is in us.

The first covenant that God established with man was based on rules "which if a man do, he shall live in them" (Leviticus 18:5b). However, man was so sinful that this Old Covenant broke down. So, God established a second covenant with man, the New Covenant based not on keeping rules but on believing in His Son.

Jesus took upon Himself all your guilt and died in your place. For believing in Him, God credits you with the righteousness of Christ. This New Covenant differs diametrically from the old one. The Law depended upon man's faithfulness, and it failed because man was unfaithful. The New Covenant depends upon God's faithfulness, and it stands because God is totally faithful. So, you stand by the grace of God!

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow [know] not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I (7:14-15). When Paul first realized that the Law was spiritual, he began trying to fulfill the spirit of the Law in his own strength.

Many Christians still try to establish a legal relationship with God. I struggled with this problem for years, because I grew up in a "holiness church". We were always pledging to do good works for God. We'd never smoke, drink, or go to the movies. Our rules weren't the Ten Commandments as such, but regulations set up by our church leaders emphasizing a legal relationship with God.

However, God doesn't want a legal relationship with us. He wants a love relationship. Legal contracts are impersonal and formal, but God wants a love that cannot come by the Law. Paul discovered this truth when he came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, but he still struggled with his instincts from the old experience. He said, "The things that I really want to do, I don't do; and the things that I don't want to do, I do. And I hate it!"

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (7:16-17). The desire to sin isn't the new me, it's my old sinful nature. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5:17). The non-Christian lives after his flesh and has no conflict with it. The Christian's desires have changed, but he's still in his body of flesh. He wants to please God in his flesh and tries to conform it to the will of God. However, he finds himself doing things that he doesn't want to do.

How many times had I promised God, "I'm going to read ten chapters of the Bible and pray one hour every day this week." Yet I didn't do it. I found myself breaking vows and promises to God, because the good that I wanted to do I couldn't do.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (7:17-18). It has taken me many years to come to this truth, and I'm not sure that I completely live by it yet. Sometimes I think that there's some good within me, but more and more I agree with Paul: "in my flesh dwells no good thing. "

God passes only one sentence upon our flesh: death. He doesn't remodel the "old man," because the old nature is beyond repair. God has condemned the life of the flesh to death on the Cross.

The will to do good is present within me, but that's not the problem. The problem is my performance. Remember Jesus' words when He came to Peter and found him sleeping: "Could you not watch with me one hour?... The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:40b,41b).

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man (7:19-22). Inwardly I consent to obey the Law of God and delight in it. "Lord, I want communion and fellowship with You. I want to be Yours completely."

But I see another law in my members [body], warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (7:23). This is real spiritual conflict. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities," against those strong forces working within our flesh (Ephesians 6:12a).

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (7:24). You struggle, you try to overcome, you fight against the lusts of the flesh. But you're not making any progress!

As a possible example, let's say that you're overweight. You try every diet that exists. You admit that dieting is good. "I want to get rid of these extra twenty pounds. I'm not going to eat any more hot fudge sundaes." But by next Saturday you can't resist. "The good that I would I do not" (7:19). This body of flesh is still in opposition to your own will, continuing to bring areas of your life into captivity. If this wasn't the case, you would weigh twenty pounds less.

All Christians experience the battle of flesh against spirit. We're chained to a dead man, and wherever we go we drag this old carcass with us. It's smelly, corrupt, and we hate it, yet we're bound to it. In the next chapter of Romans Paul says that we "groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23b). Oh, how we long to live in a redeemed body! Then we won't have this struggle anymore.

At this point in his walk Paul was struggling with the desires of the body. He found that his flesh brought him into captivity, and he was acting in ways that he didn't want to. There was great conflict between his will and actions, between his spirit and flesh. In desperation he finally cried out, "Who shall deliver me?" When we cry out like this, help is near.

The highly effective Alcoholics Anonymous program recognizes and teaches this principle. First, the member must recognize that he has a problem. Second, he must seek help beyond himself. This is the key for real deliverance.

I'm living in this body of the flesh which has a tremendous influence on me. However, I can't overcome its power by myself. "Who shall deliver me?" By reaching out and taking hold of God, I begin to experience the overcoming power of His Spirit. Now I find that God can do what I can't do for myself.

As long as you're trying to deliver yourself, the Christian life will be one frustration and defeat after another. With the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin (7:25b). You want to do good and serve God, yet you're overcome by the impulses and desires of the flesh. As long as you're striving on your own, you'll find yourself living in the anguish described in Chapter 7 of Romans.

In despair I cry out for help. "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Paul said, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord (7:25a). Must I forever struggle, fight, and be defeated by my flesh? No. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, God has given me a way out. I don't have to be overcome by my fleshly nature anymore, for in Him I find true deliverance.

 

8. Set Free!

In Chapter 8 Paul explains how God looks upon the mind and heart of the Christian who desires to serve and follow after Him. God sees his faith in Jesus Christ, and There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (8:1-2).

For years mankind was under the law of sin and death. When we would want to do good, evil was present. We were bound by sin and death just as we're bound by the law of gravity. It was holding us earthbound or, more accurately, flesh-bound.

However, the law of gravity can be overcome by the proper application of certain natural laws, such as the principle of aerodynamics. Though aerodynamics doesn't negate gravity, it can overcome its force. Likewise, the application of certain spiritual laws can overcome the law of sin and death.

I'm no longer condemned by the Law of Moses, because the new law of faith operates in my life. I enter this new relationship with God through Jesus Christ and experience the life of Christ, which sets me free from the old Law. This new law of faith in Christ overcomes the effects of the old Law of condemnation.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (8:3). The Mosaic Law couldn't make me righteous, because my sinful nature prevented true obedience.

In contrast, this new law of life makes me righteous before God. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, not by us (8:4a). I no longer try to attain my righteousness by observing the Law of Moses. The Law and its righteousness is fulfilled in me, because Jesus Christ has fulfilled it for me.

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (8:4b). The requirements for fulfilling the righteousness of the Law are met by living according to the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (8:5-6). Since I'm walking after the Spirit, I now live according to the things of the Spirit. With this spiritual-mindedness I have life and peace.

The two main parts of man's nature are flesh and spirit. He also possesses a consciousness, his mind, which is controlled by either his body or spirit. If he walks after the flesh, his mind is controlled by the flesh; if he walks after the Spirit, it's controlled by the Spirit.

When God created Adam, He formed the body from the dust of the earth. At first Adam's body had no life. Then God breathed into that figure "and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7c), a trinity of spirit, mind, and body.

Because God's breath was in him, man became a spiritual creature with a consciousness governed by God. Since Adam had the mind of the Spirit, he walked and communed with God in the Garden of Eden. Though he had his bodily appetites, he wasn't ruled by them. When he disobeyed God and obeyed the lust of his flesh by eating the forbidden fruit, his nature was turned around. Its order became body, soul, and spirit. The flesh took control of his mind, and he lost the consciousness of fellowship with God. Coming to the Garden to commune with him, God cried, "Adam, where are you?" Adam was hiding because he had alienated himself from God.

Even today, every man dominated by his body is alienated from God and the life of God. The mind of the flesh is death (8:6), and such a mind has no awareness of the presence or love of God. It is dead to God and the things of the Spirit.

Jesus said, "Whatever is born of flesh is flesh. To be born of the Spirit, you must be born again" (John 3:3, 6). When I'm born again, the old things pass away and all things become new. Conversion takes place by the Spirit of God, and I become as new as when God created Adam.

The order of my nature is now spirit, soul, and body, the order that God intended for man. I begin to have the mind of the Spirit, which is life. The awareness of God's presence pervades my life and I desire more of Him and the things of God. Peace with God, peace within myself, and peace with my brothers now fills me, because God has brought me back to life.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (8:5a). Jesus described the people of the world as always concerned with eating, drinking, and clothing themselves. "What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear?" (Matthew 6:31).

But they that are after the Spirit do mind [have their minds set on] the things of the Spirit (8:5b). Those who are born again are absorbed with the ways of God, His love, and His Word. They seek Him first.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (8:6-8). The carnal mind brings death, because it's in a losing war with God. The mind of the flesh doesn't yield to God's Law, since it's in rebellion. Thus it cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (8:9-10). We find the delivering power of the Spirit through the indwelling of Jesus Christ. What we cannot do for ourselves He does for us.

Bob Munger wrote a wonderful booklet, "My Heart Christ's Home" (Inter Varsity Press, 1954). In it he describes a Christian who invites Christ to come in, settle down, and make Himself at home in his heart. The day this fellow invited Christ into his heart was glorious. Every morning the Lord and he would rise early, sit together, plan the day, and talk in beautiful, warm fellowship. As the days went by, the Christian gradually began getting up too late to enjoy this fellowship. Seeing Jesus sitting and waiting for him, he'd say, "Lord, I'm in a hurry today. But I'll be back tomorrow." Then he'd rush out the door.

After many days passed, the man longed for real fellowship with the Lord. Early one morning he stopped by, sat down, and said, "Oh, Lord, I've missed this!" He was surprised to hear Him say, "I've missed it, too."

One day the Christian came home from work and the Lord said, "There's a horrible smell in this house. I located it in the closet upstairs, but the closet door is locked."

The man said, "I've given You the whole house. All I've kept for myself is that little closet upstairs. Why can't You just ignore it?"

"I can't live in the same house with that smell," Jesus said. "Either it goes or I go."

The man softened. "Actually, I've tried to clean that up for a long time, but I don't think I can, Lord."

The Lord said, "Will you give me the permission to clean it up for you? Just give me the key, and I'll take care of it."

The man reluctantly handed over the key. The Lord went to work. He cleaned and scrubbed until He got rid of the stink and filth in that closet. Though the Christian was unable to do the job himself, he discovered that the Lord would do it, if only he would yield. After the work was done, fellowship between the two was better than ever.

Maybe you have a locked closet in your heart. The Lord is saying, "This area of the flesh that you still serve must go." Simply give Him the key. He'll do a terrific job of cleaning the mess in that old, smelly closet.

And if Christ be in you, the body [old nature] is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (8:1-11). As Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, we also are made alive by the Holy Spirit. We have a new life, the resurrected life of Christ.

As a Christian, I need to recognize that my old nature was crucified. I'm now living according to my new nature and walking after the Spirit. With the Spirit of God dwelling in me, I'm not following after the flesh but after the Spirit.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh (8:12). I don't owe my old nature anything, because I've been freed from that bondage.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (8:13). Who will deliver me from the deeds of the body? God has provided the plan of victory through the Holy Spirit. The disciples were promised, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). He gives us the power to live as He wants us to live, freeing us from the bondage of the flesh.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (8:14). Many people claim to be children of God; but it's not what they claim that counts, it's what they are (see I John 4:20-21). Do they follow the Spirit of God, or do they live without seeking His will?

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (8:15-16). Abba is Aramaic for "father." I've been adopted by God into His family, and His Spirit bears witness with mine that I'm His son. So, it's only natural for me to cry, "Father! Father!"

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (8:17a). God has given Christ everything because He is the Son. Becoming a child of God through Jesus Christ makes me a joint-heir of all things with Him. Jesus said, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). As a child of God, all the Father owns belongs to me, potentially.

If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (8:17b). When Moses came of age, the Egyptian throne was his for the taking. He chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God, [rather] than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Hebrews 11:25-26).

Moses could have been the Pharaoh of Egypt, spending all the years of this life in pomp and glory; or he could choose to suffer with the children of God on earth and spend eternity in the glory of God's kingdom. Moses made a wise decision. He chose the worst that the Lord had to offer, the reproach of Christ, rather than the best the world had to offer, the kingdom of man. If you were to ask him about it today, he'd say, "I made the right choice. For the past 3800 years I've been enjoying its benefits. I have no regrets!"

For enduring the reproach of Christ we'll be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (8:18). Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17). Notice the contrast between "light affliction" and "eternal weight," affliction for a "moment" and "eternal glory." Our present sufferings aren't worth comparing with the glory to be revealed.

For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (8:19). Certain egotistic Christians apply this Scripture to their own fellowships, claiming that the world is waiting for their manifestation. I can understand their self-centered feelings. When I graduated from seminary I thought the world was waiting for me, too. After years in school, I was thrilled to get my diploma, receive my assignment, and head out to save the world. I was shocked. Nobody was waiting for me. I had to bribe people to attend church by giving them lollipops. The fact is that the world isn't waiting for any group to be manifested. Besides, Paul isn't talking about such a manifestation here.

Paul explains the meaning. For the creature [referring to us] was made subject to vanity [emptiness], not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope (8:20). For His own reasons God created man with an emptiness. This spiritual void causes man to seek after God, to find Him, and to fellowship with Him. Tragically, man often tries to fill that spiritual void with the things of this world. However, his physical and emotional experiences only lead to a greater sense of emptiness.

As man exists on the three levels of body, soul, and spirit, so his needs create drives on these three levels. We're all too familiar with our bodily drives, such as air, thirst, hunger, bowel and bladder or sex. We also recognize our soulish drives for security, love, the need to be needed, etc. What man so often tries to ignore is the crying need in his spirit for a meaningful relationship with God. As the psalmist David said, "My soul longs after thee, O God" (Psalm 84:2).

As long as you're trying to fill that spiritual void in your life with the things of this world, you'll find that the inner cry for God goes on. The moment you invite Jesus Christ to come and dwell in your spirit, you'll begin to experience the fullness that God desires you to know through Him.

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they [the world around us], 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 (8:21-23).

Paul speaks of bringing the creation into the glorious freedom of the children of God. This doesn't mean that Christians will be manifested as sons of God taking over earthly governments and ushering in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace. Paul is saying that God will exchange my old body for a new one, and I'll be with Him when He returns in power and glory to establish the kingdom of God on earth. I'm waiting for a new body to be in perfect harmony with my redeemed spirit. Then the war against my flesh will finally be over. Oh, how I long for that day!

In I Corinthians 15:51 Paul speaks of a new revelation from God: we will not all sleep as in death, but "we shall all be changed" in a moment. This corruptible body will be changed into an incorruptible one; this mortal body will be exchanged for an immortal one. The greatest problems in my Christian life have come from the weakness of my flesh. Once I experience that glorious metamorphosis, my problems will be over. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

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? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (8:24-25). If this body of flesh was already perfected and free of all worldly lusts, why would I hope for deliverance? My hope is in God's promise of His future work.

As long as I'm in this body, I'll be subject to its imperfections; but there's no condemnation against me, because I'm walking after the Spirit. I love Christ, and so God doesn't impute my unrighteousness to me. He has accounted me righteous, because with my mind I'm serving the law of the Spirit, even though with my flesh I'm still stumbled and sometimes fall. My failures are painful to me just as they're painful to Him. Thank God that my anxiety will one day be over. Paul says that while we're locked in this body "we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven that mortality might be swallowed up by life" (II Corinthians 5:2,4b). Until the reality of that day, I hope and wait patiently for God to complete His work.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (8:26). One weakness of this body is a lack of knowledge about God's will in every situation. Since the purpose of prayer is to open the doors for God's will to be done, how can I pray when I don't know His will? The Spirit helps me to overcome my ignorance.

Suppose that God is freeing a Christian from his old, natural ways through a series of trials. Seeing the man suffering, I pray, "Lord, deliver him from his trials." However, the worst thing in the world for that man would be deliverance from his trials before the work of God was completed. So, I could be praying in opposition to the will of God in my brother's life.

Enter the Spirit, who "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." To God the deep, wordless utterances of heartfelt prayer aren't unintelligible sounds, but powerful supplications. God understands them completely, for the Spirit within the believer prays according to the will of God.

Such divine intercession can seemingly insult my intelligence. After all, I want to understand the situation, but these unintelligible groanings affront my natural understanding. However, by faith I pray in the Spirit. For we're told, He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (8:27). The Spirit intercedes according to God's will, for God knows "what is the mind of the Spirit." Surely we should talk less and "groan" more!

And we know that all things work together for good (8:28a). A variation of this Scripture has become popular in many Christian circles: "We know that some things work together for good." They think that God has a purpose for some things, but not all things. "Why did God allow me to go through that difficult experience? What possible good can come from that?" Yet God's Word remains true and unchanging.

For whom do all things work together for good? For every man and woman on the street? No. To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (8:28b). Only a child of God can have this wonderful assurance.

Romans 8:28 has sustained me through some of the most difficult experiences of my life. When everything comes apart and I don't understand the events around me, I fall back on this verse. "All things work together for good..." God has a good purpose for everything I experience, because I love Him and He has called me according to His plan. This gives me peace in chaotic circumstances and strength in the hour of great testing. How this buoys me up when my intellect is exhausted from struggling to understand. What blessed assurance for the saints of God!

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (8:29). A subject such as predestination can create quite a problem within the Church. The difficulty usually arises from pressing a truth of God to a seemingly logical conclusion.

The problem about predestination can be stated like this: "If God has already predestined those who are saved, then He must have also predestined those who are lost. In that case, why should we do anything to save the lost? Those predestined to be saved surely will be saved. And there's nothing we can do about those who are predestined to be lost. So, why worry about it? Why witness? Why support missionaries? Why pray?" See how far astray human reasoning can go on a simple truth of God.

You must have all the facts about a case in order to make a reasoned judgment, but you don't and can't know all the facts about predestination. "For whom he did foreknow" Do you have foreknowledge?

God knew in advance who would respond to His love and grace, and these He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. The example of a football game rerun might be helpful in understanding this concept. If you saw the game in person, you already know what happened. You won't get excited watching the rerun on TV, even in the tension-packed closing minutes. You know which team won.

In the Psalms Moses declared that our lives are spent as a tale that is told (Psalm 90:9b). From God's point of view our lives are like a rerun. He knows in advance every decision, response, and reaction we'll make. So, I don't understand God's predestination because I don't look at life as He does. I don't know the end from the beginning, for I only "see through a glass darkly" (I Corinthians 13:12).

The difficulty lies in trying to understand how an omnipotent God makes His choices. I hear people say that His choices aren't fair. But what do they know about it? Nothing! The ways of the Lord are beyond man's understanding, and His mind is far beyond man's ability to comprehend (Romans 11:34).