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Intro: Chap. 1 Chap. 2 Chap. 3 Chap.4 Chap.5 Chap.6 Chap.7 Chap.8 "In my own words" Ch 9 Chs.9-11 text
Intro: Chap. 1 Chap. 2 Chap. 3 Chap.4 Chap.5 Chap.6 Chap.7 Chap.8 "In my own words" Ch 9 Chs.9-11 text
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1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ: 7To 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. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let (prevented) hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. 20 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: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And 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; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 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. |
Chapter 1: The Gospel of God.
THE GOSPEL CAN BE LIKENED TO A TRAIN.
God is the sole manufacturer of this train. Rom 1:16.. The Gospel is “The Power of God unto Salvation” to everyone who believes. This is the only "train" God has made that rescues man from his present "station of burning wrath" and brings them to their desired terminus called "Salvation" The Name of the train is "Jesus Christ" In the scriptures, we see three states of Salvation- Past, Present and Future.
The Bible says that we have been saved: We are being saved: We will be saved: This is clearly shown in the other fundamental epistle, which is Hebrews. The theme of that epistle is "Salvation" and the Key verse is ch 13:8, which says that Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. If ever you have to run for a train, once you get on the train, you can rest, in the belief that you will get to your desired destination. (even if you are out of breath). This should emphasise the importance of believing the gospel, as soon as you hear it, because you never know, which will be your last breath, and then you will have missed the train. Those who board the train, by putting their trust in Jesus to save them, are saved as soon as they "enter in". If they stay on board, i.e. keep trusting alone in Christ, they remain in the state of, (what the bible calls) "being saved", and if they simply keep resting in Jesus, through all the trials and tribulations of life, then ultimately they "will be saved" Matt 10:22 And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. We all like Good News. Most people like to travel. Air miles are very popular. Exotic destinations are very alluring. FREE TRAVEL is a wonderful gift. God could not have offered a better free ticket to a better Destination. The destination is eternal Salvation. All who show their faith by getting on board, in full commitment, are taken without any more effort on their part, to this eternal terminus. It is free to us, but it cost God everything. He bankrupted heaven to bring us a way of salvation. *************************** The GOSPEL is a revelation of THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD: Ch.1:17. In nature and the Universe we see the POWER of God In the Law of Moses and the Tabernacle we see the HOLINESS of God. In Calvary we see the LOVE of God..................... And in the Gospel ...........we see the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. The Bad News
Before we can appreciate the good news we need to know the bad news.
(If we jump forward to Ch 3 v 9, we read “we have before proved that all are under Sin”. This statement helps us understand why Paul wrote the first two chapters. He is seeking to show that the history of mankind, is the history of sin & rebellion. The Bad News is that the Wrath of God is against all men. War has been declared. If we fear the anger of powerful men, the flash of lightning or the crash of thunder, how much more ought we to fear the wrath of God. In the last book of the Bible, which depicts the coming day when God will eventually pour out his wrath on all who have rejected Jesus, we read that those people will cry for the "rocks to fall on them", rather than continue to endure the wrath of God. How can a righteous God be so "angry"? Because man’s sin is an affront to His nature- it offends HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. This surely should show us just how "Righteous " he is. Is God merely angry because men are unrighteous? No. He is angry because they HOLD THE TRUTH in their unrighteousness. In other words God has revealed himself to man but mankind has refused to walk in, and rebelled against, the light of that Revelation. Question.
Look at our next illustration. What is Righteousness connected with? The answer is on the board. You need "a cross stick" to see it Scales
Righteousness has to do with Justice.
If you are counted righteous after a court case you are said to be justified. Justice is symbolised outside the Old Bailey as a pair of scales, and for things to be just- everything must balance. That is why under the Law the Israelites were told that God hated false weights and measures. They were not "true"- and we know that if the witnesses are not telling the truth there is no way that Justice will be served. Ask a child.
Even children have an inbred awareness of Righteousness.
If we are short-changed in a store we know it is not right and we justifiably protest. If an artist paints a picture and another receives the glory or reward, that is patently not right. If a child receives a gift and refuses to say thank you, any responsible (and just) parent will insist that they do. If we don't pay what is owing, that is not fair on the person who was kind enough, and trusting enough, to lend. If an innocent person is found guilty or a guilty person is found innocent, we know that is not right and that certain witnesses have not told the TRUTH. If the evidence is untrue the verdict will be untrue. We know that God is Righteous and just and speaks only the truth. In chapter three we read “Let God be true and every man a liar.” If God said one thing and the whole world said another – It would be God who would be speaking the truth. For example, If the whole world democratically says that fornication is lawful and God says it is not, then God is right-teous and the world unrighteous, and His verdict is "Guilty" The Indictment
God has revealed himself in four ways;
through NATURE, CONSCIENCE, THE LAW OF MOSES, and JESUS In the chart, we call them "Laws." They are as light that God has sent to mankind, but the "laws" are only fulfilled when mankind walks in the light. Failure to fulfil the purpose of these "laws", registers mankind as guilty of "full-filling" them, or "coming short" of their purpose. Everything God has done is within Laws.
On all counts man has refused to walk in the light provided.
So let's consider the first indictment. The Law of Nature.V.20. tells us that “the invisible things of God are CLEARLY SEEN” What a strange expression. How can something invisible be clearly seen. There must be something wrong with our language. Years ago there was a programme on TV called the “Invisible Man”. If ever you asked children if they had seen the invisible man they would all answer “Yes”. Then with a certain degree of chagrin, they would realise what they had just said. In the TV programme it was obvious when the invisible man was to be “seen”, because doors opened and books moved, apparently by themselves. But we all know that such things don’t happen by themselves. There has to be a force. In the earlier films you could sometimes spot the string or thread pulling the moving objects. People who do not want to believe, say things such as "where is He? I can't see him". Well ch 1 explodes that silly nonsense. Such people obviously can't see wood for trees. The most classic illustration of this fact is that of a watch. No intelligent person would argue that such a wonderful piece of workmanship, came about by millions of explosions in a scrap yard. Yet the universe is just a bigger and more wonderful clock. Those who study the stars and planets can predict exactly where every one of them will be at 2.30 pm on July 6th 3001. God declares that nature is clear evidence of his existence and HIS CHARACTER. It reveals that He is GREAT and HE is GOOD. If He is Good to us then it is RIGHT that we say thanks and LOVE him If He is great and there is no greater being in the universe than the one who created it all, then it is RIGHT that we WORSHIP him. Man is happy when he worships and praises. (note sport's crowds) He was made to worship. Man is incurably religious and if he does not worship the God of the Bible he will worship some other form of god- and augment that belief by happily sacrificing to Him. Is it not true that What- or-whoever we put first in our lives, we will devote our lives and our money to. Man's condemnation is that he has neither, given the amount of thanks or love, which is RIGHTLY due, nor worshipped (put first) to the degree that God RIGHTLY deserves.- That is unRIGHTeousness. If the Law of Nature was the only revelation of God to man, on this one count alone, God would still be able to say "You are inexusable O man!" (ch 2 v 1) For you hold the truth in unrighteousness." However this chapter tells us that because men do not want to “contain God in their knowledge”, they have “turned the truth of God into a lie,” and turned the lie of man into a truth. We could be talking here of Evolution. It is a lie of enormous proportions. May be this is the lie prophesied about in 2.Thess 2:11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” One does not have to live in the Lake District to marvel at the wonder of Creation. From a single tiny creature, to the biggest star in the universe, between which is placed the miracle of the human body, with its millions of miracles operating daily, there is more than enough evidence of a good and great Creator. Yet still we have to endure so called clever people, such as a university professor on the open University saying “Everything in evolution is an accident”. Why the whole world doesn’t scream back at him in anger one would never know. It is an insult to our intelligence. There is not the time and space to debate the issue in full here. More and better answers will be found on other sites (www.answersingenesis.org/) but here we can mention a few questions and remarks, some of which have come from children. The bible says that God created every species separate- “after their kind”. So if that is untrue and Evolution is correct let’s ponder on the following; 1. Why are ALL the links missing? there surely must be multi-trillions of them. 2. How is it we can recognise the fossil of a frog, which is 60 million years old? Because it is exactly the same today as it was 60 million years ago. 3. Why has no-one taken up the challenge from a website which offers £250.000 to anyone who can produce one piece of provable evidence that Evolution is true. Yet almost every school child will tell you that “scientists have proved it to be true” 4. Some years ago, the head of the British Museum addressed a startled audience of evolutionists by posing the question regarding Creation, “Who has all the evidence? Let’s be honest” he continued “it’s the Creationists”. Any six year old sent out to examine all forms of life in the world will come back with evidence that that all species are separate. Evolutionists refute Noah's flood because it is the key to understanding fossils and rock formations. 5. How did the human eye or the ear evolve? - or the knee or the brain , or the major systems...... ?????
6. Any “progression” in created species is evidence that all came from one mind. 7. Should any "believer" be carried away with this asinine theory, let them ask themselves how long will it take for God to resurrect to new bodies, the millions who have died in Jesus? - Bible Answer.- "In the twinkling of an eye." 8. Did it take millions of years for Jesus to re create by evolution the thousands of dead brain cells in Lazarus, or to create an arm which was withered or create bread to feed 5000. He did it by His word. That is exactly how scripture says God created the world. 9. Why when scientists speak of Evolution they continually use words like "we think", "could possibly", "probably" "not sure" "might" and any other unscientific words that fill their fancy. Furthermore, while they speak freely of "design" in nature, they seem to go out of their way to deny a designer. This is Romans ch 1 in the 21st century. 10. Isn't it wonderful and amazing, how sheep decided it need a woolly coat and the cow decided to produce loads of milk. Woolly headed scientists ponder on why the Zebra developed stripes. Their suggested reasons are as daft as the child who suggested they spent a million years sitting in the sun leaning against railings? All that without a mention the wonder of how the whole universe which seems to cater for tiny, tiny, man-'s every need- even fish and chips. Because if you want to make fish and chips from scratch, you first have to make the universe. We all live happily on a tiny ball in a vast universe and amazingly everything man needs or has "created" has come from what he has found inside the ball. Amazing provision and forethought, or pure luck? Finally, if it is true that we can't have time without light, then the Bible says that God created light. This would have been the beginning of time. In the last book in the Bible we read that God will bring time to an end. So time is something God created. God exists in eternity (a circle) so there was not necessarily a "time" 600 million years ago, and there certainly will not exist 600 million years in the future. Scientists seem to be clever enough to know what the weather and light conditions were millions of years ago but often fail miserably in forecasting the weather the next day. Little wonder that God counts the wisdom of man to be foolishness, in comparison to his wisdom and knowledge. Walking proudly in invisible clothes comes to mind. 
The Atheists Doxology:
Once I was a polyglot, Beginning to begin. Then I was a slimy toad, With tail tucked in. Then I was a monkey, Up a banyan tree Now I am a surgeon, With FRCS degree. A polyglot, a slimy toad, a monkey and a man All glory be to no-one, for such a planless plan. Sheep.
Man was made to Worship. Man’s rejection of God's revelation of Himself in Nature, resulted in man worshipping the things of nature, animals, trees (wooden idols) etc. God's reaction was to respect man's sovereignty and let him go his own way, which resulted in man doing the things mentioned in chapter 1, which are opposed to nature in sexual practices. In chapter one we also read of man’s perversion to immoral ways. This abounds today as much as it ever did, and brings great confusion to some very loving and understanding people. It is true that none can point the finger in judgment at others, for we all commit sins of one kind or another but it is not our finger here. It is God’s finger. That finger points to all of us. If we deny our sin, we are denying God's righteousness. God points at those things that ruin his creation and bring unhappiness to his creatures. The scriptures are not slow to list some of these things, common in this world. People think the world is in a mess when the economy fails, but God sees things differently. This is the "mess we have gotten ourselves in" |
Rom 1:29-31
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Note the reference to those who have pleasure in the evil done by others. Who can plead "not guilty" to this charge? Almost every movie on our TV screens, has a recipe of common evils among mankind. Indeed I guess that if one could invent a new sin, a fortune would be made in books and movies.
If a huge notice was posted outside a church, advertising the sermon for the following Sunday as "SECRET SINS". I doubt if many would be attracted, BUT if the same poster was placed outside the local cinema, without question, many would be attracted, and what is more, would pay far more than they might be tempted to put on the collection plate. It is said that £20 spent at the theatre becomes like £200 when put on the church offering plate.
Much more is written of God's assessment of mankind's evils;
1 Tim 1:9-10
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Rev 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Each one of us can plead that we are "like that by nature". Some would say "but this is how God made me"
What a lie! What blasphemy! Does God make the child born with no arms or enlarged head? Do we accept that as right and normal? Of course not, (even the most ardent evolutionist would not suggest that man is evolving in this way) We all know something has gone wrong. We only know that i tis wrong because we see that the vast majority are right. Certainly sin and Satan has ensured that something has gone wrong in nature and by inherited genes, some people are born liars, others born adulterers, we could all blame our actions on our hormone levels.
Man is without excuse, (Rom 2:1) he can only plead guilty to God's judgement, and God's standard of righteousness. Not until we accept the bad news will we feel the need to be forgiven and cleansed from our sin. All are guilty, but all can receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life-
Without any judgmentalism, which is a very PC word today, we must all accept condemnation even from this first revelation of God in nature.
All must admit that on this one level alone we come far short of what is right. For what we have received in the natural world, will anyone ever be able to balance God’s giving with their thanks?
It would be right if every human being spent every breath thanking God; It is a sobering thought of the aged, that for the same human beings who stride the world in pride, announcing that they are the greatest, will one day be stripped of all their gifts in old age and reduced to the nothingness that they really are, without God's grace.
There is much shouting about human rights and animal rights, but what about God's rights.
Someone has said that if we all actually got our rights, we would all be in Hell.
Note in chap 1 man’s rebellion has been expressed in his mind, his heart and his will( verses 21-24.)
The human soul comprises the mind, heart and will.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Note the reference to those who have pleasure in the evil done by others. Who can plead "not guilty" to this charge? Almost every movie on our TV screens, has a recipe of common evils among mankind. Indeed I guess that if one could invent a new sin, a fortune would be made in books and movies.
If a huge notice was posted outside a church, advertising the sermon for the following Sunday as "SECRET SINS". I doubt if many would be attracted, BUT if the same poster was placed outside the local cinema, without question, many would be attracted, and what is more, would pay far more than they might be tempted to put on the collection plate. It is said that £20 spent at the theatre becomes like £200 when put on the church offering plate.
Much more is written of God's assessment of mankind's evils;
1 Tim 1:9-10
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Rev 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Each one of us can plead that we are "like that by nature". Some would say "but this is how God made me"
What a lie! What blasphemy! Does God make the child born with no arms or enlarged head? Do we accept that as right and normal? Of course not, (even the most ardent evolutionist would not suggest that man is evolving in this way) We all know something has gone wrong. We only know that i tis wrong because we see that the vast majority are right. Certainly sin and Satan has ensured that something has gone wrong in nature and by inherited genes, some people are born liars, others born adulterers, we could all blame our actions on our hormone levels.
Man is without excuse, (Rom 2:1) he can only plead guilty to God's judgement, and God's standard of righteousness. Not until we accept the bad news will we feel the need to be forgiven and cleansed from our sin. All are guilty, but all can receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life-
Without any judgmentalism, which is a very PC word today, we must all accept condemnation even from this first revelation of God in nature.
All must admit that on this one level alone we come far short of what is right. For what we have received in the natural world, will anyone ever be able to balance God’s giving with their thanks?
It would be right if every human being spent every breath thanking God; It is a sobering thought of the aged, that for the same human beings who stride the world in pride, announcing that they are the greatest, will one day be stripped of all their gifts in old age and reduced to the nothingness that they really are, without God's grace.
There is much shouting about human rights and animal rights, but what about God's rights.
Someone has said that if we all actually got our rights, we would all be in Hell.
Note in chap 1 man’s rebellion has been expressed in his mind, his heart and his will( verses 21-24.)
The human soul comprises the mind, heart and will.
Study the above chart carefully before moving on.