CHARTS (OUERHEADS )

1. COUER
2. ROIIAN SOLDIER / MAP / JE W
3. NAP OF ROM E
4. WORD DEFINITION S
5. (BEFORE EACH SECTION?) ..
6. OUTLINE
7. /
8. INCLUDE :
9. SUMMARY OF THE BOO K
10. OUTLINE S
11. ABBREVIATE D
12. DETAILED
13. KEEP THE OUTLINE SIMPL E
14. CHARTS

I. INTRODUCTION AND THEM E

1. HISTORY OF ROME RELEVANT TO CLAS S
2. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AT ROM E
3. RACIAL COMPOSITIO N
4. INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH
5. MEMBERS THAT ARE NAME D
6. THEME: 1 :16-1 7
7. THE GOSPEL IS THE POINT OF INTRODUCTION OF THE EPISTL E
8. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL ?
9. OUTLINE OF STUD Y

II. INTRODUCTION AND THEME (1 :1-1 :17 )

III. THE GENTILES AND JEWS ARE UNDERSIN (1 :18—3 :20 )

IV. RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO FAITH (3 :21-4:25)

V. TWO MEN (5 :1-5 :21 )

VI. DEAD YET ALIUEJSLAUES YET FREE (6:1-6:23)

VII. FREED FROM THE LAW (7 :1—7 :25 )

VIII. FREED FROM SIN (8 :1-8:39)

IX. ISRAEL’S REJECTION (9 :1-10:21)

X. THE FAITHFUL REMNANT (11 :1-11:36)

1. 10- LIVING SACRIFICES (12 :1-12:21)

XI. CHRISTIAN RESPOHSIBILITES (13 :1-14)

XII. THE LAW OF LIBERTY (14 :1-15:13)

XIII. CONCLUSION (15 :14-16 :27)

1. Romans: An Introductio n
2. A good theme for the book of Romans might be taken from Romans 1 :17:
3. ” The righteousness ol’God revealed . ”
4. All of the arguments in the first eleven chapters defend this proposition and th e
5. exhortations of chapters twelve through sixteen illustrate the application of this theme .
6. The church in Rome consisted of Jews and Gentiles . The message of Romans tend s
7. to bring a clearer understanding of God’s view of the Jews and Gentiles through history an d
8. the present . The book was probably written around 57-58 A .D.
9. The book of Romans in modern times is often misunderstood as passages ar e
10. frequently taken out of context . The first eleven chapters are a complete argument-on e
11. argument-building upon the previous thought . Most of the abused passages are taken fro m
12. this section . Other passages in scripture can clarify the teaching in this book . Certai n
13. passages may seem to contradict other clearer passages but careful study will yield greate r
14. understanding .
15. 2 Peter 3 :14-18 should provide some comfort . It teaches us that :

XIV. The inspired apostle Peter understood the difficulty some had in interpreting th e

1. teachings of Paul .

XV. The writings of Paul could be understood . They were not impossible to understand .

1. They could, with an improper attitude, be twisted to teach false doctrine (i .e. Calvinism )
2. leading to destruction .
3. So let’s take Pete r’s advice in verse 17 and beware that we do not fall from our ow n
4. steadfastness . How do we apply this? James 1 :5-6 tells us to pray for wisdom an d
5. discerning in spiritual matters .
6. Arguments Defending the Righteousness of Go d
7. Chapter 1
8. The Gentiles saw the attributes of God but did not serve Him .
9. Chapter 2
10. The Jews had the law and received the promise but did not serve Him .
11. Chapter 3
12. Therefore, all are under sin . The righteousness of God through Christ Jesu s
13. is revealed for all have sinned .
14. Chapter 4
15. Faith is the means to righteousness . It is not wage and is not restricted to th e
16. Jews alone but to all who are of faith children of Abraham .
17. Chapter 5
18. Our justification through faith is by the grace of Jesus who brought life int o
19. the sinful world that was ruled by death because of Adam .
20. Chapter 6
21. Being under grace we must walk in newness of life, presenting our member s
22. to righteousness and not returning to the way of death .
23. Chapter 7
24. In serving Christ in a new life, we must bring into subjection the carnal law o f
25. sin that abides in our flesh and wars against the spirit .
26. Chapter 8
27. Those who walk according to the Spirit have freedom from the law of sin .
28. Although the war continues between flesh and spirit there will come a tim e
29. when the corruptible flesh will be exchanged for incorruption .
30. Chapter 9
31. Israel, Go d’s people, are not his children because of their physical heritage bu t
32. those who seek God in faith .
33. Chapter 10 The Jews mistakenly sought self-righteousness instead of the righteousness o f
34. God, not based on merit or wages but on faith .
35. Chapter 11 Those who are physically Mews can attain that salvation by seeking th e
36. righteousness that is through Christ . Warning to the Gentiles : Do not be arr-
37. ogant against the Jews who were taken away to allow the Gentiles adoption .
38. JUSTIFICATIO N
39. To understand the word justification particularly its use in the epistle to th e
40. Romans it is helpful to examine its base and its use in other passages .
41. The Greek word for justification is DIKAIOSIS (&t Kalwatc) and has as its root DIK E
42. (&IKq) the word for justice . The primary meaning of justification, according to Vine’s ,
43. is to be pronounced or declared righteous . God alone can pronounce justice for li e
44. alone has set the standard of what is right . To be just, DIKAIOS (SIKMOC), is a n
45. adjective describing a person’s relationship to what is right . ” The English wor d
46. ‘righteous’ was formerly spelled ” rightwise’, i .e., (in a) straight way . In the N .T. it
47. denotes righteous, a state of being right, or right conduct, judged whether by th e
48. Divine standard, or according to human standards .” (Vine’s, Just Definition A . L).
49. The American Heritage Dictionary defines just as ” consistent with what is morall y
50. right” and ” valid within the law” . Hence, to be just is to be found right according t o
51. an objective standard of righteousness and by one who can truly judge in suc h
52. matters .
53. For one to have been justified under the law of Moses one would have to keep ever y
54. command never missing the mark . ” Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh wil l
55. be justified in His sight …” (Romans 3 :20, see so Galatians 3 :10-14). If one ha d
56. kept every precept he could expect to receive f
57. $ the law (Romans 4 :4}a
58. bid God found fault with Israel because they did not continue in the - -
59. covenant (Hebrews 8 :7-9). To be found just then one must have faith in Christ
60. r
61. Jesus (Romans 3 :28-30) and obedience to Him (James 2 :24).
62. J
63. Righteousnes s
64. From the same root we get justification we get righteousness . The Greek word fo r
65. righteousness is DIKAIOSUNE (&t Kacloauvq). Vine defines DIKAIOSUNE as ” th e
66. character or quality of being right or just-formerly spelled rightwiseness, whic h
67. clearly expresses the meaning” (Vine, Righteousness, I) . Describing God it ofte n
68. speaks to the rightness and justice of His dealings with man . His righteousnes s
69. alone allowed man to be found just when man could not be justified through his ow n
70. efforts (Romans 3 :10). Righteousness then is the character or quality of having fait h
71. in Christ Jesus and obedience to Him .
72. Some will teach that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to man regardless of hi s
73. behavior and his life after ” getting faith” does not affect his salvation . ” When Go d
74. looks at the man he sees the righteousness of Christ” . This teaching however fails t o
75. see the conditions of righteousness or the state of justice inherent in the definitio n
76. and its use in the Holy Scriptures . Although man cannot justify himself, to b e
77. justified he must have (action) faith in Jesus (Romans 3 :28-30). This faith must b e
78. a perfect faith as described by James 2 :22-24. This is pictured in Galatians 2 :16-
79. 20, the culmination being a life that lives not after the flesh using Jesus as a cloa k
80. for sin but a sacrificial life with Jesus as the pattern of life .
81. Romans 1:1-19: The Glorious Gospe l
82. Historical Backqround For The Book of Romans
83. Written by the apostle Paul around 57-58 A .n .
84. Church at Rome
85. -Was likely started by Christians spread through the world by persecution since Paul ha d
86. not visited there and they did not have spiritual gifts . (Acts 2:10; 8:18)
87. -City was the center of the known world and the capital of the world government Muc h
88. travel in and thorough the city would have invited Christians there .
89. Its membership included Jews and Gentiles.
90. Paul had never been there but had desired to visit them so that he could :

XVI. Be encouraged by them.

XVII. Impart a spiritual gift to perfect them (Ephesians 4:11-16)

1. Although he had not visited them he labored in prayer for them unceasingly .
2. Paul opens the book with the most important message of the world, the gospel, and the rest of
3. his book expounds the gospel message. Properly understood, the book of Romans will help u s
4. appreciate and better comprehend the scope and nature of the gospel .
5. The Glorious Gospel of Chris t

XVIII. Taught In Old Testament Prophecy (Romans 1 :14 )

A. Jesus the Son of David (Psalm 132.11-12)

B. Jesus the Son of God (Psalm 16.8-11)

XIX. Through Jesus Imparts Grace (Romans 1 :5)

1. A Ephesians 2 :8

A. Ephesians 3 :2-7

XX. Develops Faith (Romans 1 :6) Of Obedience (Romans 1:5)

A. James 2:14,22,24,26 - A faith perfected by works

B. Hebrews 11:6 - Necessary for pleasing God

C. Romans 10:14-17 - The world of God is the gospel that leads to faith

D. 1 Timothy 1,3-11 - doctrine is included as being part of the glorious gospel .

XXI. Calls Us To Salvation (Romans 1:6)

A. Romans 8:28-30

B. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 - Gospel is the means of callin g

XXII. Includes traditions taught and written by the apostles

XXIII. Includes strengthening to good works

XXIV. This explains why Paul wanted to preach the ” gospel” to those who had bee n

1. called and were saints (Romans 1:15) They would not need the gospel if th e
2. gospel was only for idle belief.

XXV. God’s Power Of Salvation To Those Who Believ e

A. It is the method that the omnipotent wisdom of God has chose n

XXVI. Does not need to be mingled with the methods of man

XXVII. One should not apologize for its message or seek to quench its fire .

A. Is a show of unbelief to think that the gospel alone is not sufficient to turn th e

1. hearts of men and women to God God doesn’t want numbers or lip-servers but tru e
2. obedient servants who listen to Him and not themselves. Be Proud! (v . 16)
3. Reveals The Righteousness Of God (Romans 1 :17)

B. Revelation 12:10 - The devil accuses us.

C. Job 1:8-10; 2:3-5 -The example of his accusation .

D. Satan will rightly accuse us of sin.

1. 0 . Through Jesus, revealed by the gospel, we can have salvation (1 John 1 :9-2:2;
2. Romans 3,21-24).

XXVIII. Reveals The Wrath Of God

A. To those who do not believe (Romans 116 )

B. To those who suppress the truth

C. Against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men because in them is manifeste d

1. a law of God (Romans 2:14-15) Gods basic law : Love God and Love your neighbor .

XXIX. Did not love Go d

• They knew Him but in a spirit of ” wisdom’ they did not glorify Him .
• They became idolatrous (Romans 1 :23: Acts 17:29)

1. Made God like the animals
2. Made Godlike man
3. Therefore made God like part of the creation
   • Exalted themselves as God (Romans 1 :24-25)
4. Served themselves
5. Made themselves like animals
   • Therefore God gave them up to their passions and their own way .

XXX. Did not love their neighbo r

• Became unclean and unnatural (Romans 1:26-27)
• I Corinthians 6:18
• In elevating self they went against the nature of worship (creatur e

1. serving creator) and against the natural order, creation itself, to thei r
2. own degeneration .
   • Professing to be wise in their own sight their thoughts were on futility .

XXXI. Let us not ;

• Recognize their worldly teaching as wisdom (Psalm 1:1)
• Become self-serving as well (” The me generation” )

1. The gospel includes more than the teaching of the death and resurrection of Christ . It include s
2. His instructions to holiness, obedience to faith and the warnings of forsaking the grace of Go d
3. The scripture does not designate it as being different from the traditions of the apostles or th e
4. Obedience to the gospel necessitates an obedience to all that Jesus taught and th e
5. instructions His inspired apostles taught . Will you obey the glorious gospel or will you choos e
6. instead to serve your self?

XXXII.

1. Romans 1 :20-32 : God Gave Them U p
2. Man, when following hisown way, practices that which is destructive to himself, hi s
3. society and because of his disobedience to God . God made man ” good”, put him in a
4. ” good” place and gave him a law that is geared only for his improvement . Yet man in hi s
5. pride pursues the futility and base things of life that yield not permanent satisfaction .
6. Several times in the scriptures God has gotten so displeased with man that he brough t
7. punishment upon him.
8. `~- The flood : Genesis 6:5-8
9. r~ Sodom and Gomorrah : Genesis 18 :17-19 :29 (Note 18 :17-19 ; 19:12-13 )
10. • Nations of the Land of Canaan: Exodus 23 :20-24
11. The nation of Judah : Jeremiah 15 :1-8
12. In the first chapter of Romans God was so displeased with the sinfulness of the Gentile s
13. that he gave them up to their passions .
14. Romans 1 :19-3 2
15. Their Decline Began With An Irreverent Attitude Towards God

A. They did not glorify Him as God .

XXXIII. Did not give Him the honor praise and adoration He deserve s

XXXIV. He held no special, exalted place in their hearts .

1. B They were not thankful .
2. “

XXXV. There is nothing we have that was not given freely by God . Lti

1. ~2. We are like spoiled children when we do not give God thanks for all`that H e
2. has given and has done, but rather complain about what we think He shoul d
3. have acted.
4. It Continued With A Pursuit Of What They Considered Wisdom
5. Their thoughts became futile .

XXXVI. instead of meditating on God and how to please Him their thoughts rested o n

1. how to please self and with the baser things of the world..
2. The futility of man’s thought is expressed in his exaltation of the petty and T
3. base things: Pornography, gossip, empty chatter, io ence, spiritual enligh-_.tetenment without God, etc.

A. Their foolish hearts were darkened .

1. 1 The only true light is from God .
   • John 1:4-5, 9-10
   • Psalm 119,98-105

XXXVII. Professing to be wise they became fools .

• Man’s wisdom falls far short of God’s. (1 Corinthians 1:21-25)
• Jeremiah 10:23
• They lacked a sense of the reality of the world around them and thei r

1. place in it. i4, . ,, .
3. x cl-ALۥ,,_
4. ti”
5. _
   • • , % ~
   • They became idolatrous in their foolishness making the Creator lik e
6. the creature in appearance (and in thought ie . Kthoiogy )

XXXVIII. God Gave Them Up To Serve The Uncleaness Of Their Futile Thought s

A. Instead of bringing their bodies under the subjection of the spirit they let their bodie s

1. dictate actions and taught their spirit to conform to and worship the flesh .

B. They exchanged the truth they had for a lie

1. 1 Similar to 2 Thessalonians 2 :9-12: Only those who pursue the truth will kno w
2. what is the lie and what is the truth.
3. 2 . The lie is the same of Genesis 3 :3-5
5. God gave them up to their vile passions so much that they went against the natural
6. order itself.
   • Manifested in the debase pursuit of homosexual pleasures .
   • Recieved the penalty due for their unnatural lusts : The pursuit of this lifesyl e
7. leads to disease (such as venereal disease and AIDS), premature decay o f
8. the body and the degeneration of the thoughts and values of the participant .
9. God gave them a mind focused on the base things, their actions should have brough t
10. shame but they were too hardened.
    • They did not like to think of God and godly things (lest they be convicted i n
11. their hearts of what was right).
    • Their actions were not fitting those of what man should be .
12. Their actions reflected a neglect of the basic foundation of God’s laws for the Jew s
13. and Gentiles: Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself .
14. No love for the things that are right, the things of Go d
15. An elevation of self’s desires above God’s command s
16. An elevation of self’s thoughts above the holy thing s
17. An elevation of self’s desires over other’s posession s
18. Injuring others in spite or ill will . self’s lack of regard for others
19. Selfish pain aroused because of anothers percieved superiorit y
20. Lack of love for another to the point of maliciously taking their lif e
21. Trying to create tension and division, not seeking for the truth,., . -
22. Defrauding others directly or by leaving a false impressio n
23. Vine: Puts the worst construction on everything . Not looking for th e
24. best in others.c- c-,4 Vv, 11 `
25. Secretly slandering others
26. Openly slandering others
27. Hate God, everything about Him and the thougl4of His intrusio n
28. their lives
29. No concern for the safety of others, actively harming others
30. Regarding one’s self as higher than others
31. Speaking one’s pride and even debasing others to elevate self .
32. Devising new ways of spreading evil influence . Pornography, evi l
33. humor (as in ” entertainment”), torture, etc. A negative gospe l
34. Elevating one’s evaluation of self even above parents, shows disdai n
35. Rejecting the truth of God and pursuing the illusion of what life is about
36. Due to exaltation of self and its motives, the person can’t be trusted
37. Has only love for self, uses illusion of love to satisfy desire s
38. Due to exaltation of self will not allow for forgiveness for shortcomings ,
39. probably expects forgiveness
40. Will not show concern for others
41. Also condemned are those who approve (Romans 1:32)
42. ” I wouldn’t do it, but it’s their life…”
43. ” I count them as heroes for coming out.”
44. Listening to the backbiting; turning head from violence ..
45. Supporting sexual immorality and inventors of evil things by consent . (Movies, T .V.
46. shows, music, literature, bars, etc) Philippians 4 :8-9
47. Many other ways of showing approval.
48. ” A ship is safe as long as it is in the ocean and the ocean is not in it . A Christian is safe as lon g
49. as he is in the world and the world is not in him.”
50. I Peter 2 :11-12 - Be sojurners not residents
53. E
54. Unrighteousness
55. Sexual Immorality
56. Wickedness
57. Coveteousness
58. Maliciousness
59. Full of envy
60. Murder
61. Strife
62. Deceit
63. Evil-mindedness
64. Whisperers
65. Backbiters
66. Haters of God
67. Violent
68. Proud
69. Boasters
70. Inventors of evil things
71. Disobedient to parents
72. Undiscerning
73. Untrustworthy
74. Unloving
75. Unforgiving
76. Unmerciful in need or sacrifice to help them
77. nto
78. Romans 2 : Comment s
79. It is foolish for men to desire the just judgments of God . It is God’s justice that mus t
80. be feared for ” the wages of sin are death” and ” there is none righteous, no not one” . God’s
81. justice demands death for sin but His mercy allows Christ to be our scapegoat for death .
82. The chosen people of God must always remember their humble beginnings .
83. Sometimes we forget that we were sinners and harshly judge those who have not obeye d
84. Christ . Worse than this is the tendency to explain away one’s sinful actions whil e
85. condemning similar actions in others . We fail to see that the knowledge we use i n
86. condemning others is that which condemns us . We forget that the truth that commends o r
87. condemns is external to us, that we discovered it, not originated it .
88. It is only through the grace and longsuffering of God that we are not immediatel y
89. punished in our failings . It is His goodness that gives opportunity for repentance from evi l
90. deeds . The judgment of God is not an arbitrary feeling the Father has towards an d
91. individual . The free moral agency that allows man to serve or reject God without outsid e
92. force also places man’s eternal destiny squarely on his shoulders . For God ” will render t o
93. each one according to his deeds” .
94. Jesus taught His disciples to render to Caesar the things of Caesar and to God th e
95. things of God . To ” render” is to give back . Caesar, in his sovereignty, provided protectio n
96. from outside forces, many societal benefits and the means of commerce, that is, the money .
97. Although one might ” earn” money by working, the aforementioned benefits demanded tha t
98. he give back a portion of his earnings to support the state that allowed it . Without Caesa r
99. the money would be practically worthless . Although a man earned money, it all essentiall y
100. belonged to Rome. Higher than that realm, God is the sovereign possessor of all things . Al l
101. things should be viewed as His and our lives should be ” given back” to Him . He allows us t o
102. determine our actions with our lives yet as Supreme Owner He will do what He will as a
103. result of our choices . Therefore, we should always render ourselves to God . God will, in th e
104. judgment, give something back (render) to us . The choice of what God gives is determine d
105. by our deeds, not the whims of our Lord .
106. It is a true statement that we do not earn our salvation, but Romans 2 clearl y
107. teaches that our deeds will be exchanged for something . Our actions, whether good or evil ,
108. will count for something .
109. God will impartially exchange our deeds for our pay . There will be no curving o f
110. grades or points for one’s status in life---only the impartial evaluation of one’s deed s
111. (including deeds of obedience to salvation) . Therefore, let us not pride ourselves i n
112. condemning others but realize that if we, the people of God, are guilty of the same actions ,
113. we will be ” given back ” the same judgment .
114. Although four segments are associated with the rendering they boil down to tw o
115. main destinies : eternal life and eternal anguish .
116. One can be rendered eternal life . The state of glory, honor and peace is enjoyed b y
117. this reward . A prerequisite of eternal life to come is patient continuance in the present life .
118. The idea of patient continuance implies an adherence to a prescribed plan no matter th e
119. frustrations, obstacles or length of waiting . The seeking of glory and honor (v .7) will be
120. realized (v .10) despite whatever shame and dishonor we endure as we live in the body o f
121. Christ . The glory and honor of the world fades to quickly to be appreciated but to b e
122. glorified by God and honored by Him is to blessed by the Creator of all things and is no t
123. transitory . It abides through our immortality . Although all are immortal, only those wh o
124. love God can rejoice in continued existence . Patient continuance will be rewarded by eterna l
125. rest from labors, not deathless sleep . Patient continuance is found in working that which i s
126. One must not just do good things but the things that are good . Evil action will b e
127. recompensed with tribulation and anguish . No peace will be found .
128. • Through Jesus’ sacrifice and His grace, we are able to have access to the Tree of Lif e
129. even though we, like Adam, are sinners .
130. • Jesus made possible a way to be in harmony again with God . Romans 6 :1-4 tells us t o
131. bury the man of death in baptism and be raised a man of life . We can’t turn back t o
132. death (Hebrews 10 :26-31).
133. The Bible begins with man being separated from the Tree of Life and the introduction o f
134. death into the world . In Revelation 21 :22-22:5 we see a figure of heaven where Paradise i s
135. restored . How can we get there? John 14 :6, 10:9, Romans 6 :5-$, 1 John 3 :4-9.
136. ` ..
137. Romans 2: Self-Trust and False-Trust
138. The Jews had a problem with putting their trust in the wrong place . Jeremiah condemn s
139. them in Jeremiah chapter seven for trusting that they would not be destroyed since th e
140. temple of the Lord was in their city . Jeremiah tells them that they will be destroye d
141. because they should have trusted in God instead . In the New Testament we find th e
142. multitudes coming to hear John the Baptist, yet John rebuked the Pharisees an d
143. Sadducees saying, ” Do not say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our fattier .’ For I
144. say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Mat -
145. thew 3 :9). They trusted in their physical heritage . Jesus uses a parable of a ta x
146. collector and a Pharisee praying to teach a lesson to those who trusted in themselve s
147. that they were righteous (Luke 18 :9-14) . Jesus, in Matthew 23 :24-28 condemns th e
148. Pharisees for having an appearance of righteousness but on the inside being full o f
149. extortion and self-indulgence . The Jews were well known for trusting in themselves or i n
150. the wrong things .

XXXIX. It would have been easy for the Jews reading the condemnation of the Gentiles i n

1. chapter one to have a condescending attitude .

A. Yet Paul condemns their hypocrisy (Romans 2 :1-5).

B. The judgment of man is faulty .

XXXX. It condemns oneself.

XXXXI. It does not account for the longsuffering of God.

XXXXII. Its blindness leads to wrath.

A. It is easy to discount one’s own sins while being harsh on others for the same sins .

XXXXIII. ” How often should I forgive?” (Matthew 18 :22)

XXXXIV. The question is never asked, ” How often should I be forgiven? “

XXXXV. Man judges according to self, yet God judges according to the truth (Romans 2 :6-11).

A. Renders (literally : gives back) according to one’s deeds .

XXXXVI. Eternal life to those who in patient continuance seek for glory.

XXXXVII. Eternal tribulation, anguish and wrath to those who are self-seekers,

1. disobedient, and who do evil.

A. It is an impartial judgmen t

XXXXVIII. How are they judged according to the truth? (Romans 2 :12-16)

A. The doers not the hearers will be justified.

B. The very secrets will be judged.

C. How would the Jews be judged by the truth?

XXXXIX. By accepting or rejecting the Law.

XXXXX. By obeying or disobeying the Law.

XXXXXI. Since the Law led to Christ, obeying or disobeying Jesus .

1. D, How would the Gentiles be judged by the truth ?

XXXXXII. Doing by nature (innate) the things of the law .

• How it was before Christ.
• Basis: Love God and neighbor .
• Justified by not practicing the things condemned in chapter one :

1. idolatry and immorality.

XXXXXIII. They show by action and their conscience is their witness .

XXXXXIV. Now they are judged by obedience to Christ .

XXXXXV. Jews also put their trust in the wrong things.

A. Put their trust in having the law (Romans 2 :17-24).

XXXXXVI. They were disobedient to the Law .

XXXXXVII. They were hypocritical.

XXXXXVIII. They had a form of knowledge and truth (Romans 2:20)

• Illusion of religion but God knew the truth .
• Without spirit, they focused on the letter at the exclusion of the spirit .
• They didn’t practice what they preached .
• We must realize that others judge the church by us and our actions .

A. They put their trust in their circumcision (Romans 225-27) .

XXXXXIX. Sign of the covenant relationship between them and God, yet the covenan t

1. demanded obedience,
   • A Gentile (not circumcised) but obedient would be justified .
   • A Jew (circumcised) but not obedient would not be justified .
   • Therefore, God wanted more than a covenant sign, He wanted

XXXXXX. We should not share this attitude that condemned the Jews .

• We should not say, ” Well, I’ve been baptized …” then not be obedient .
• Our baptism will be as not being baptized (Hebrews 10 :26-31).
• Do not say, ” Well, I go to church…” or any other thing that we ca n

1. wrongly put our trust in .

A. The only place we can put our trust is in God (Romans 2 :28-29).

XXXXXXI. Conclusion: Let us not trust in ourselves that we are righteous for ifwe are honest, we will

1. condemn ourselves. Let us not place our trust in the wrong things. If we are not obedient and
2. worship God in spirit and in truth anything that we trust in will fail us. Let us truly be converted to
3. God, and not some religion or church. We are added to the church when we are converted to
4. Christ, not the other way around. God’s true people are not those who are Jews according to the
5. flesh but those whose hearts show the marks of the convenant and seek for praise from God, not
6. from men.
7. Romans 3: The Righteousness of God
8. Throuqh Faith In Jesus
9. Chapter one showed that the Gentiles were under sin because they knew God but did
10. not glorify Him as God.
11. Chapter two showed that the Jews were under sin because although they had receive d
12. the Law, the promises of God and circumcision, they were disobedient.
13. Chapter two concluded with this argument on justification:
14. A circumcised Jew who was disobedient would be viewed by God as if he were
15. Yet an uncircumcised Gentile who was obedient would be viewed b y
16. God as if he were circumcised. The important thing was not circumcision but obedience .
17. Thus : God will justify the obedient of the Jews and Gentiles not just those who had bee n
18. -AND- God will condemn some of those who were circumcised.
19. Chapter three addresses some of the arguments the Jews might make to thes e
20. conclusions and defends the righteousness in the judgment of God .
21. The Arguments of the Jews
22. What then was the advantage of circumcision or of even being a Jew ?
23. • There was much advantage to being a Jew. To them were committed the very words of God,
24. a great blessing indeed. They were also his covenant people as shown by circumcision.
25. Is not God’s promise to His covenant people worthless since some of those of th e
26. covenant would not be saved from destruction?
27. Assumes: That one could be saved just because he physically was a Jew.
28. See Luke 3:8; John 8:33-40
29. Neglects: That God’s promises to His people were conditional on their obedience.
30. See Deuteronomy 28:1, 15f
31. • If thereis a questionof God’s faithfulnesslet the argument beseen as a lie. God is always
32. true to His promises. More study shows that their assumption and its argument were false.
33. It isentirelyconsistent with the faithfulness of God that some of the Jews would be found
34. unfaithful (Romans 10:16-11:5).
35. Since the glory of God in His righteousness is shown more glorious by m y
36. unrighteousness why then am 1 condemned? How can God condemn me for something
37. that resulted in glorifying Him?
38. • God’s judgmentwill come upon allthe world. Some will bejustified, some will be
39. God will not judge man for the good or evilthat resultedfrom the actions but
40. will judge the actions themselves, whether they are right or wrong.
41. EXAMPLE:
42. If a parent tells a child not to play in the street yet the child does and is almost injured, is the
43. child not to be punished because the rule about not playing in the street or even the parent is
44. shown to be good? Of course not. The child will be punished for the disobedience.
45. Why am 1 condemned when myfalsehoodincreases the truth of God to His glory? Afte r
46. all, His glorification will result from judging thatmy actions are false. Why am l
47. condemned, have 1 not glorified God?
48. This is yet another attempt to call what is evil good .
49. The argument is based on faulty reasoning. The person did not set out to do good but to d o
50. Any glorification of God is incidental to the action itself . Barnes : ” It is the restraining o r
51. overcoming evil that directly results in the glorification of God” . Note also 1 Peter 4 :14-16.
52. They will be judged righteous who overcome evil. Any good that results from evil will no t
53. sanctify it.
54. Since we, the Jews, have the oraclesof God are we not betterthan the Gentiles ?
55. Not at all. As far as justification is concerned the Jews and Gentiles are equally guilty of sin :
56. ” There is none righteous, no not one .” The advantages the Jews had did not make them an y
57. more justified in the sight of God.
58. Romans 3:10-18 shows the sad debased state of those who have turned from God . We have al l
59. fallen into this category at one time . As seen from God, the prevailing picture is that o f
60. wickedness and rebellion. There is none, who by his own actions, is seen as righteous .
61. Therefore a righteousness apart from the Law is witnessed by the Law. Righteousness throug h
62. faith in Jesus . (See Chart)
63. ` .
64. Means of Justification
65. Works
66. Faith
67. Put on Christ
68. Requirement:
69. Keep the Law
70. completely
71. (After Christ)
72. Leave the Law/
73. Follow Jesus
74. Romans 3:22,24,26
75. Galatians 3:26-27
76. Cursed
77. Galatians 3:10
78. SUCCEED
79. (Before Christ)
80. Fail but strive to keep the
81. Law and living by faith .
82. Romans 4:12
83. SIN
84. WILLFULLY
85. Wrath
86. Hebrews 10:26-27
87. REPENT
88. 1 John 1:9-2:1
89. Justified by
90. Debt
91. Galatians 3:12
92. Romans 4:4
93. BUT: Romans 3:20,23
94. Hebrews 8:7-9
95. Justified by
96. Adoption
97. Romans 4:16
98. Galatians 3:26
99. Romans 4: Abraham Shows Ho w
100. We Are Justified By Faith
101. Chapter one : The Gentiles are under sin .
102. Chapter two : The Jews are under si n
103. Chapter three : All are under sin . Justification is by faith apart from the deeds of the law .
104. The Jews believed they would be saved regardless of their actions because :
105. They had the law .
106. They had the circumcision .
107. Abraham was told by God to leave his land and go to a land that God would show him .
108. He chose to obey and went . When he arrived in the land of Canaan, God promised tha t
109. his descendants would inherit the land he was in, his descendants would be a grea t
110. nation and through his seed all nations would be blessed . These promises were mad e
111. while he and his wife Sarah were old and childless . Yet, ” He believed God and it wa s
112. accounted (or reckoned) to him for righteousness .”

XXXXXXII. Abraham’s faith was a working faith .

A. Hebrews 11:8-16 tells that he trusted then obeyed.

B. James 2:20-24 tells us that he offered his son in faith. Note the same verse is show n

1. to show Abraham’s perfect faith, yet this verse is not in that account.

C. This is similar to the faith of Phineas in Psalm 106 :28-31

D. Therefore, the righteousness was not reckoned to him for idle belief but because he

1. lived a life of trust in God and obedience to Him .

E. Romans 4:17-22 illustrates this principle.

XXXXXXIII. Abraham was not justified by circumcision .

A. He had to be circumcised according to God’s command (Genesis 17:10-14).

B. He was justified by faith before he was circumcised.

XXXXXXIV. ” Abraham believed God…” occurs in Genesis chapter 15 .

XXXXXXV. Abraham is circumcised later, recorded in chapter 17 .

A. This shows that he is the father of the circumcised and the uncircumcised who wal k

1. in the steps of faith (Romans 4:12).
2. D, So Abraham taught the Jew that justification was not by circumcision .
3. Abraham was not justified by the Law .

B. Abraham lived about 400 years before the Law .

C. The seed of Abraham that was to receive the blessing was not those of the law onl y

1. but also those who were outside the Law but living by faith . (Romans 4:16;
2. Galatians 3:26-29)

D. Therefore the seed of Abraham was not limited to being the Jews only, as they ha d

1. assumed, but included the Gentiles who lived by faith .

XXXXXXVI. We can be justified by faith the same as Abraham.

A. Romans 4:23-5:2

B. If we put our trust in God and not in our actions but are obedient to His laws, we too

1. can be found righteous.

C. Even though we are sinners God will justify us (Romans 4:5-8).

XXXXXXVII. Apart from our works - not obedience (Romans 4:12).

XXXXXXVIII. But apart from our works that are sinful acts (Psalm 32:1-5).

XXXXXXIX. Literally, ” Blessed is the man whom God imputes righteousness, despite what

1. he has done.”

XXXXXXX. In Psalm 32 note:

• He acknowledged his sin (v .5),
• He confessed his sin (v,5).
• Then God forgave him (v.5).
• There was something under the old law he had to do to be forgiven .

1. Y

A. Our access into this grace is by faith (Romans 5 :2)

1. v

XXXXXXXI. We did not deserve it (Romans 5 :6).

XXXXXXXII. The sacrifice was made while we were sinners (Romans 5:8-9)

XXXXXXXIII. The justification is by His blood (Romans 5 :9; 6:6).

XXXXXXXIV. We did not earn it but the opportunity to become Christians was granted b y

XXXXXXXV. We are saved by faith because we have put on Christ in baptis m

1. (Galatians 3:26-27).

A. We can be sons of Abraham if we have a working faith like his that does not trust i n

1. external factors but trusts in God.
2. L
3. Romans 9: The Sovereignty of Go d
4. The holy scriptures begin with the words, ” In the beginning, God created the heavens and th e
5. earth ”. This simple statement goes beyond the mere facts of the origins of the universe . I t
6. tells us whose universe this is . The first chapter of Genesis clearly portrays God as th e
7. divine creator of all that is in existence . Since He is the divine creator their are certai n
8. conclusions that we must draw .
9. Jehovah has sole ownership of all creatio n
10. Since God created the universe, He has ultimate possession of all that it contains . As th e
11. sole owner He can treat it as He pleases . If I were to go into the Louvre museum and tak e
12. the Mona Lisa painting off of the wall and proceed to walk across it, then burn it, I woul d
13. rightfully be arrested and punished for the crime . However, if Da Vinci were alive, he coul d
14. commit the above mentioned acts with no repercussions because he brought the work of ar t
15. into existence in the first place . The painting was a result of his efforts and vision . H e
16. ultimately has the say in its existence . God, likewise, cannot be condemned for bringing a
17. flood to punish the inhabitants or destroy it with fire in the end . He created it and can d o
18. with it as He desires . It also follows that He can do with His created beings what He choose s
19. and none can condemn Him .
20. Jehovah has sole authority in all of the universe .
21. God, as creator, has the right to expect complete obedience to His commands . Parents hav e
22. the right to expect obedience and respect to their authority from the children that the y
23. brought into the world . As creator and ultimate authority He deserves respect, thanks an d
24. obedience from His creation . To act otherwise is to act like spoiled children . To not see k
25. Him or His will is to render His greatness and magnificence as common . To not be thankfu l
26. for even the next breath is unthinkable . God has the right to expect this obedience without a
27. reward or pain incentive . The truest love for God would be a love that exists without th e
28. reward of heaven or the pain of hell . However, God in His mercy, has decreed by His sol e
29. authority that those who choose to serve Him will live with Him forever in a heavenly hom e
30. and those who do not choose to serve Him will be left in a place where they won’t have t o
31. serve Him . Without Him they will be in anguish .
32. Romans 9 shows the sovereignty of God in practice through Bible history .
33. God chose those who would be faithful to Him to be His children (Romans 9 :6-8).
34. God chose through whom He would bring the promise of His calling to adoption (Romans 9 :9-
35. . He chose to bring the physical nation of Israel through the seed of Jacob instead of hi s
36. older brother Esau . This was a decision Lhat God made purely by His sovereignty . It wa s
37. not acceptance based on merit or rejection because of some evil, but rather the seed had t o
38. come through someone and He chose Jacob and not Esau or any of the thousands of othe r
39. people on the earth . NOTE : God’s decision to bring the seed through Jacob and not Esa u
40. had no bearing on their spiritual destiny . This is not showing that God chooses some fo r
41. salvation and rejects others, but rather when God is bringing His plan to fruition He choose s
42. some and rejects others . It is much like a director choosing actors to play characters in a
43. play . He has a limited number of character positions to fill and likely many candidates . H e
44. must reject some of the actors who audition because the stage cannot hold them all, this doe s
45. not imply that those rejected are bad actors but they are not needed .
46. God could also use those who were insistent on being disobedient to Him to fulfill Hi s
47. purposes (Romans 9 :17-18). The pharaoh was the king of Egypt . When the nation of Israel
48. L
49. was in its infancy, it was in slavery to the pharaoh . God told Moses to lead these people ou t
50. of bondage into a land that He had for them . The pharaoh was not eager to give up his slav e
51. population as he had many building projects . God worked signs by Moses to persuade th e
52. pharaoh that a higher authority sent him . In Exodus 8 :32 it is said that Pharaoh hardene d
53. his heart . He heard the words of God and saw the signs of testimony but was determined t o
54. keep the people as slaves . In Exodus 9 :12 it is said that God hardened Pharao h’s heart . God
55. used the hard heart of Pharaoh and hardened it more to facilitate His purposes, ” Even fo r
56. this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My
57. name might be declared in all the earth . ” And truly we know that when Israel went to th e
58. land of promise, the people of Jericho and the kings of Canaan had heard of these signs an d
59. feared the Lord . NOTE : This hardening did not affect the pharaoh’s destiny . God used th e
60. pharaoh’s arrogance and stubbornness to give a great deliverance to the Jews .
61. The confrontation between the pharaoh and God is best pictured in the illustration of th e
62. potter and the clay (Romans 9 :19-23). The potter takes a shapeless lump of clay and bring s
63. it to a desired shape . Clay, however, sometimes has a hardness that must be worked out . I t
64. must be softened . If the hardness persists either the clay must be made into a vessel that i s
65. suitable for the hardness or it must be thrown out . God did not make the pharaoh have a
66. hard heart, the pharaoh did . God did use that hardness, making it harder, to shape him int o
67. a vessel to be used for His purpose in glorifying His name . God can use the vessels, tha t
68. because of their stubbornness and hardness, will be destroyed instead of destroying the m
69. immediately . Those vessels that submit to His hands and soften their hard parts see Hi s
70. beautiful care and mastery . They become vessels that He will take to His home . The othe r
71. vessels are thrown outside the gate . They didn’t want to yield to the hands of the Maste r
72. Potter and so were discarded .
73. Thus, God’s sovereignty is without fault (Romans 9 :25-29).
74. God chose a remnant, those who would be faithful to Him, to be saved . He gave th e
75. opportunity for salvation to others but they rejected it . Although they rejected God, He stil l
76. used them to bring about His purposes for the sake of the remnant .
77. Do you yield to the hands of the potter? Do you let God show you the better way of life ; a
78. life that serves Him first and esteems others better than self? Do you let Him soften thos e
79. hard stubborn areas of your life that keep you from becoming all that He desires of you ?
80. When His masterful hands try to soften your hate, do you let it burn? Is your hear t
81. hardened against sharing the gospel with others when He would have you to be a vesse l
82. used for evangelism? Study the word of God and yield to His commands . They are no t
83. burdensome but contain the very essence of the most beautiful and fulfilled life in this worl d
84. and the hereafter . When the Bible teaches you to do one thing but your life is characterize d
85. by another, change that behavior . Do not harden your heart lest you miss the true reward s
86. of dedicated service and become a useless vessel for God . If you will submit to His rule, H e
87. will take you, a useful vessel, to a wonderful home prepared for you . He expects obedienc e
88. as the sole owner and authority in the universe . If you do not bow to Him now, there will b e
89. a time when you will bow before Him . By then, it will be too late to say, ” What do you desire ,
90. 0 Lord?”
91. Romans 1041 : The Faithful Remnan t
92. Romans 11:1-5 shows that throughout history God has always had a remnant o f
93. people who would be faithful to Him .
94. Elijah was discouraged when it seemed like all of Israel had turned against God . In fact th e
95. king and queen of Israel were trying to kill him . This was after the great contest on Moun t
96. Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal . Both prepared offerings to their gods bu t
97. only the God of heaven sent fire down to consume His sacrifice . This great sign was followe d
98. by the deaths of the prophets of Baal . Yet, soon after, Elijah is fleeing for his life and is i n
99. despair . Read 1 Kings 19 :1-1$
100. Elijah reflects an attitude we often have when we see people in the world living with n o
101. concern for the God of heaven and even unfaithfulness among church members . We ca n
102. sometimes get the, “…and I alone am left ”. We should receive comfort from the answer Go d
103. gave Elijah, ” I have reserved for my ge1l’7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal We
104. do not know how many people are among God’s remnant but we can be assured that ther e
105. are others .
106. Also note that before God told him about the remnant, He put him to work . He told Elijah t o
107. anoint Jehu as king over Israel, Hazael as king over Syria and Elisha as a prophet in hi s
108. When we are distressed over our apparent isolation and have the ” …and I alone a m
109. left” attitude we ought to get up and get to the Lord’s work. Even if we were the onl y
110. Christian left on the face of the earth we would have no less duties or service than if th e
111. Christians were in the majority . Those in the remnant must be busy about the Lord’s work
112. and not worrying about how many people are on the team .
113. There is a remnant among the Jew s
114. Paul said that not all of the Jews were cast off since He, himself, was a Jew . The Jews ha d
115. the promise of and access to the kingdom but they rejected it (Romans 11 :7-10). The y
116. rejected it out of blindness . They looked to themselves instead of God and their way wa s
117. darkened . In their shallowness they tried to establish their own religion (Romans 10 :3-5).
118. Paul hoped that the expansion of the kingdom into the Gentile world would provoke th e
119. Jews to jealousy and make them desire to enter into that which they had lost . Any of th e
120. Jews that desired to become part of that kingdom had access (Romans 10 :11-13) but most di d
121. not have the desire .
122. The Olive Tree (Romans 11 :16-25).
123. Paul illustrated the new kingdom by use of an olive tree . The olive tree was to give oil tha t
124. was to be used in lamps . The Christians, as light qof the world had to be productive i n
125. producing that oil . The members of the kingdom that did not produce (and thus were no t
126. useful for illumination) were taken out . This is pictured by the breaking of the unfruitfu l
127. branches . Good branches from other good olive trees (the remnant of the Gentiles) were pu t
128. in the place of these bad branches . Paul tells the Gentiles to not be arrogant against th e
129. Jews because (1) they were not part of the original tree, and (2) they too could be broken of f
130. to be replaced by others . That is a sober warning to us today . Let us not quickly condem n
131. the Jews for we can be guilty of the things that caused their downfall .
132. How small is the remnant ?
133. Ezekiel 5 :1-4 - The remnant from the destruction of Jerusale m
134. Matthew 7 :13-14 - It is a narrow way that leads to life .
135. Do We Inherit Sin ?
136. The theory of inherited sin was heavily supported by John Calvin but its roots reac h
137. as far back as ma ngy•in the Greek culture that believed the flesh vas inherently evil .
138. This teaching is outlined in the Presbyterian Confession of Faith :
139. ” By this sin (eating the forbidden fruit) they (out- first parents) fell from thei r
140. original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin ,
141. and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of the soul and body . The y
142. being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed and the sam e
143. death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity descendin g
144. from them by ordinary generation . From this original corruption, whereb y
145. we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and snake opposite to all good, an d
146. wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions .”
147. Adam’s sin, according to chapter six section one :
148. ” This their sin God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, t o
149. permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory .”
150. Not only did Adam sin and pass the guilt of his sin to his descendants but the si n
151. was unchangeably, ordained by God . These teach that all a man does, including sin ,
152. was ordained by God and the man can do nothing to change it .. ” Adam’s sin wa s
153. caused by God to glorify Himself .”
154. NOTICE THE CONCLUSION :
155. We are robots running a program with no control over our actions or thei r
156. results . Sore people like that because they do not want to feel responsible fo r
157. their actions .
158. Certain passages in the Bible would be absurd .
159. Genesis 6 :5-6 - Why would God grieve over their sinfulness if when h e
160. looked down the thoughts of their hearts were on evil continually . He ,
161. according to the doctrine . made them that way . He unchangeably ordaine d
162. that they would be sinful . Is God not unfair in making a law then makin g
163. them break it ?
164. John 3 :16 - How could God love the world yet make men act in such a wa y
165. that they would be punished eternally with no say so in their destiny .
166. The teaching of inherited sin poses a problem for babies dead at birth .
167. Note the Presbyterian Confession of Faith Chapter 10, Section 3 :
168. ” All infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ, throug h
169. the Spirit .. who N orketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth .”
170. Reference is given to Luke 18 :15-16 but this will not apply :
171. These infants and children are alive .
172. This teaches the opposite, that they are not born in sin, for ” such i s
173. the kindom of God” .
174. Although this is where infant babtisrn started it is unneecesary .
175. What -vas Adam’s Sin ?
176. Genesis 3
177. Adam was placed in the garden to tend it and keep it . It was his home an d
178. truly was paradise . In the garden were two trees : The tree of life . and the tree o f
179. the knowled g e of good and evil . The law was g iven to him regarding the tree of th e
180. knowledge of good and evil . ” In the day you eat of it dying, you shall die .” This wa s
181. a simple law that, like all of God’s law, was in man’s best interest . Eventually, h e
182. slid eat of this forbidden fruit . God punished him by cursing the ground so that onl y
183. through hard labor would it yield its fruit, he would have to fight thorns and thistle s
184. in his farming and he would return to the ground from which he was made . Notic e
185. Genesis 3 :22 . Adam and Eve were forbidden access to the Tree of Life that woul d
186. sustain their lives therefore they would eventually die . Therefore, he wouldn’t
187. have died if he would not have sinned . The Tree of Life preserved his flesh . Sinc e
188. we are born outside the garden of Eden we do not have access to the Tree of Lif e
189. therefore we die . We suffer the consequence of the sin of Adam . However, if we ar e
190. faithful and obedient to God we can live forever with Him again in paradise .
191. If we are not born in a depraved state, as Jesus stated in Luke, how could we bea r
192. the guilt of his sin ?
193. Notice Esekiel 18 :20 - The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father …The sou l
194. that sins IT shall die .
195. Therefore we suffer the consequence of his sin but not the guilt .
196. GUILT - to lay the blame for, to impune .
197. CONSEQUENCE - a result of .
198. A family that loses a loved one to a drunk driver suffers the consequences of tha t
199. person’s sin but not their quilt .
200. The Bible is silent on conversion to remove Adam’s sin but is full of calls t o
201. repentance and being saved from one’s own sins .
202. SUMMARY OF ROMANS 5 :12-2 1

XXXXXXXVI. v.12 - All die because all sin . (not because of Adam’s sin )

XXXXXXXVII. v.14 - Death reigns on those who did not sin according to the likeness o f

1. Adam (cannot then be inherited or it would have been identical) .
2. Through Adam spiritual and physical death was introduced to the world an d
3. became a part of the order . His descendants died because they sinned . But unlik e
4. Adam, who became the father of death, Christ became a father of life . Christ brok e
5. the stranglehold that death held on the world by His resurrection from the dead .
6. The free gift of life is offered to all men just as condemnation for sin was given to al l
7. men . This grace, reigning through Christ, is more powerful than the sin and deat h
8. produced by sin . Therefore we should die to sin and live in the grace of God .
9. How do we die to sin? Romans 6 :3-6 - bury the old man and walk in a new life .