Grace Harbor

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Romans verse by verse lesson 13

Romans 13 is a practical application chapter; Grace has been established and the goodness of God proclaimed we are encouraged to walk in divine influence in every area of our life.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

This covenant of grace comes into our life with direction for victory. Last week we ended with blessing and not cursing our enemies. Grace empowers us to live in as the newly created creature God has made us. Grace calls us to submit to the governing authorities. The instruction is clear, the authorities that exist are appointed by God. To resist the governing authority is to walk outside of God’s divine order! To resist the governing authority is to bring judgment from them.

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Governing authorities are a terror for evil. This is the God stated purpose for them. Do what is good and you will have praise from them. God calls the governing authority His minister for our good. The governing authority does not bear the sword in vain; the governing authority is to avenge and execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Romans 13:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

God is always concerned our about our motives. Being subject to the governing authority should be for conscience’ sake. Give taxes to whom taxes is due; customs to whom customs is due! Respect to whom respect is due. This includes respecting the one in office even if you disagree with they way they govern. One trick of the enemy is to get us to complain about the leadership and come away from divine order. Many believers have given the devil a foothold in this area.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

We are called to live from the motive of love. If love is the motive of our actions, submitting to leadership will not be hard. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

When our actions are motivated from the love of God it is the fulfillment of the law. We have been called to know the time! It is time to awake out of sleep and walk in the fullness of God’s divine influence in our lives. It is time to walk as the newly created being God has made us; our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

There is no time to walk in darkness the hour is late. The call is great, put on the armor of light and walk in the day!

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. The struggle can be won with victory over the flesh. We must remember all we have learned in the building blocks of Romans. We are freed from sin by the power of One man’s obedience. Reckon yourself dead indeed to sin and alive unto God. Present yourself as alive unto God.

Romans 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

We skip to Romans 16 and will pick up in Romans 14 next week. We see Paul begins to close his letter with instruction to help Phoebe a sister who was doing the work of the ministry. Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila a husband and wife pastor team.

Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul begins to give some last minute instructions to the church warning them to note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine. Avoid them is the instruction!

Paul also instructs the church to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. What a great promise, the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly; Grace be with you!

Romans 16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith; 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

The heart of God being revealed in the closing lines of Romans 16. God wants the hearts of every believer established in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel message has been revealed for obedience to the faith! To God be the glory…

Monday, October 12, 2015

Romans Verse by Verse lesson 12

A living sacrifice with a transformed mind is a Christian in pursuit and fulfilling the destiny God has for them.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

I can hear the heartbeat of Paul as he is pleading with the believers in Rome. His passionate plea was, in view of God’s mercy present your bodies. When you put the mercies of God in the forefront does it change what you do? Does it change the motive and the way that you do it? Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is the call of God to every believer. Romans has established that one is save by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; in view of the magnitude of the truth, present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.

Grace has been given so your life is an expression of worship; the Father is seeking the one who will worship Him. The sign the believer has a full revelation of grace is the believer presents their body as a living sacrifice to God.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Don’t be conformed be transformed. Transformation of the mind comes by receiving the truths found in God’s word. It is by trusting wholly in the good news of the gospel. Our mind is renewed by exalting the truth of gospel above anything we believed before. It is the Spirit of truth changing our mind and bringing our thought life unto the obedience of Jesus Christ. Some believers walk in bondage and the only resolution is to renew their mind. We will prove the good, the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Your thought life is so important! Grace makes all equal at the foot of the cross. We have been called to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one the measure of faith. I love to say it “There is nothing wrong with your faith. God has given the measure of faith.

Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

One body and many members; the heart of God is for the unity of the body!

Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let us use the gifts to minister to one another. Grace teaches, grace gives, and grace ministers to the body. The purpose of God’s grace is fulfilled when the body begins to minister to one another through the gifts of the Spirit. God’s desire is for the whole of the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

This life of faith is practical. Love what God loves and abhor the evil. When your thought life gets in agreement with the truth found in Jesus Christ victory is being unveiled. Every line is practical application for the believer. We must be sure we see this truth from the grace perspective; that is the only way it is life giving. What a procession of direction, affectionate, honoring, diligence, fervent, serving, rejoicing, patient, steadfast, giving, and hospitable. Only the renewed mind can live up to it!

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Bless and do not curse; have a heart for one another. Some wonder why they don’t walk in victory. However when it comes to applying the work of grace practically they do not follow the call of the Spirit. The renewed mind can live in the instruction.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Mere men cannot live this way; however those living as a new creation. The renewed mind does not repay evil for evil, it has regard for good things, and pursue peace.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We have not left the subject matter from verse one. We have been called to be a living sacrifice. God is calling us to walk through the stages and mature from the good, the acceptable, to the perfect will of God for our lives.

Giving place to wrath is not a popular message; it is a powerful message! We can trust in God. As a living sacrifice we can do good to our enemies; God will take care of the rest. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Romans Verse by Verse lesson 11

The life of faith in Jesus Christ is what we are called to! If Romans 10 is a call to righteousness exclusively through faith then Romans 11 is a warning to exclusive trust in the divine influence and hold on to that confession of faith. Jesus is the root that the branch must be connected to. All other connections are outside of God's divine order.

Romans 11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Paul is affirming that God has not completely cast away His people the Jews. However, they must come in through faith in Jesus Christ just is Paul did. Like Elijah, walking in righteousness can seem like a lonely road. It is a scheme of the enemy to make you feel isolated and alone. There is a divine response that says you are not alone. We can look at the wicked society and feel what Elijah felt but God has a divine response; God has a people who have not caved into the wickedness of the world. This is a people who have responded the grace found in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 11:5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

The Jews can come in but it must be through grace. If one can make it into covenant by works then it is not grace. If one can make it into covenant with God by grace it cannot be works. It is by grace alone!

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day." 9 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always."

A spirit of stupor came because the way of faith was rejected. Remember the Election according to God’s foreknowledge principle. They stumbled at the cornerstone Jesus Christ. God allowed their eyes to be darkened.

Romans 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

God’s heart is still toward Israel. Now He is using their fall to provoke them into jealousy. It is God’s will they see those who have relationship with God so great, it stirs up desire on their part to return to a fullness of relationship with God. Prophetic utterance is here! If their fall resulted in our blessing, how much more will their fullness of relationship bring blessing.

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

The Jewish nation being cast away was the reconciling of the world through Jesus Christ. How much the more shall their acceptance be. Here is a prophetic word declaring a greater manifestation of Jesus Christ at the reconciling of Israel to God.

Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

The firstfruit is Jesus! Jesus Christ Himself is the root of this tree! The cornerstone indeed. We were grafted into the tree through Jesus Christ; we became a partaker of the root and the fatness of the olive tree.

Romans 11:18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."

Do not boast against the branches! Careful what you speak. The word of wisdom is we do not support the root, but the root supports us! Israel was broken off so the church could be grafted in; no room for boasting!

Romans 11:20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

Faith or unbelief is the defining factor; we stand by faith, being properly placed, in Jesus Christ being our righteousness. If one walks away from faith , like the natural branch, that one will not be spared.

Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

The fullness of grace teaching declare the truth; consider the goodness and severity of God. We must continue in His goodness. If the object of ones faith is taken away from being in Christ that one will be cut off.

Romans 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

If Israel does not continue in unbelief God will graft them in again. This is a prophetic promise to all Israel.

Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

The blindness of Israel was only in part; God’s heart is still toward them. Can you hear the heart beat of the heavenly Father to graft in Israel at the fullness of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."

Jesus will come out of Zion; He Himself will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Jesus brings the covenant that takes away their sins! The Father has brought us the blood of the everlasting covenant. Jesus will accomplish what the law of Moses could not.

Romans 11:28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

The time of the Gentiles will conclude and the Father will turn His heart back to Israel. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable! God’s gifts are given without repentance.

Romans 11:30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

God’s plan has always been to bring mercy to the sinner, mercy o the children of Israel, and mercy to the children of promise. His intent is that none should perish but all should come to repentance.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Consider the goodness of God. Consider His desire to extend to you the specter of righteousness. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! I love these verses! It seems Paul is overwhelmed meditating and declaring the fullness of grace. God is great and is to be glorified and magnified, and indeed is above all!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Romans Verse by Verse Lesson 10

The righteousness of faith defined!

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Israel had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Imagine to be filled with zeal for God and miss the purpose, intent, and the heart of God. Divine order is so important; Israel missed the message the just shall live by faith.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

The dominion of the law can only be ended when the object of one’s faith is in Jesus Christ alone. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes! There is the righteousness of the law which has its focus upon the performance of man. Righteousness derived from the performance of man will leave man deficient of God’s righteousness.

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

However there is the righteousness of faith. Notice faith speaks; put it in your mouth. The word of faith is the word that needs preached. It is not in man ascending to the heights or descending to the depths; it is the object of ones faith being exclusively in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Some have stressed the confession and have set up a whole new system of legalism. They preach the doctrine of confession all by itself. This is unbalanced. Some have only stressed believe in your heart. However, what is in your heart will come from your mouth. Altar services centered around men making a confession of faith without a the heart believing in Jesus, is meaningless. There is the finished work of the cross!

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

When the heart believes in the finished work of the cross there will be a confession unto salvation. Whoever believes on Him… Salvation is God doing a work in the heart. Without a change of the heart there is no salvation. If any man be in Christ he is a new creation the old things are passed away and behold all thing become new.

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

God’s divine influence took out any racial divide; the Lord is rich to all who call upon Him. It not mere words of men, the living word of God declares “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Salvation is exclusively in Jesus Christ alone!

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

God chose preachers to declare the good news of the gospel. Jesus Christ needs preached; His loving kindness is better than life! Hearing the Word preached is part of God’s divine order for our lives.

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Preach the gospel of peace; preach the glad tidings of the good things. Preaching outside the gospel of peace is to be like the opening verses of Romans 10. Preaching with a zeal for God but not according to knowledge results in men trusting in their own performance. It will have men trusting in their doings instead of a steadfast confidence in Jesus Christ’ obedient act.

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Here is one of the God defined ways to have your faith strengthened. It is come by the hearing of the word of God. It is time for the church to turn to the preacher who is under the divine order of preaching the good news of the gospel

Not all will respond to this gospel; who will believe the report of the Lord?

Romans 10:18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." 19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation."

Those who had no God became the people of God; those who had God became estranged from God, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes through faith.

Romans 10:20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." 21 But to Israel he says:

"All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people."

It is the day of grace so we can know the favor of God. God reached out and called us by name and blessed us. He took us in with the Spirit of adoption; abba Father is our cry. The Father made us accepted in the beloved. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. The Father Himself has qualified us through the blood of His Son. Even now by the blood of the everlasting covenant, He is doing a perfecting work in us. He allows the voice of the blood of Jesus to speak contrary to our judgment and bring us peace. In the blood of His Son we are brought near to God; all hostility being put to death at the cross. God the Father is seeking you to worship Him. Jesus says COME!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Romans Verse by Verse lesson 9

The promise came through the seed of Abraham; it has to be by faith in Jesus Christ!

Romans 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

Paul is bearing his heart and is about to share his love for Jewish people who still had not come to accept Jesus as their Messiah. The measure of what weighed his heart down tells us a story of what his pursuit and desires were. Likewise, our heart is a reflection of our pursuits.

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Paul had allowed his heartbeat to be defined by the Spirit of God Himself. There is no hint of self centeredness in Paul. The will of God was in the driver’s seat of Paul’s life. The Jews had so many advantages being the nation who had relationship with the one true God, the God of promise, who brought Jesus the only begotten Son. Yet they rejected the true Messiah and missed their day of visitation; Paul said if himself being cut off from God would bring their salvation he would do it.

Romans 9:6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."

The promise came through the seed of Abraham, but indeed more specifically in Isaac your seed shall be called. It is time for the true children of God to awaken to the God given destiny and calling of God.

Romans 9:8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son."

God’s plan was worked the children of the promise are counted as the seed! This only excites those who have the revelation that they are the children of promise! That indeed is what all of Romans 8 was trying to accomplish.

Romans 9:10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger."

Some get caught up in a misunderstanding of predestination and election. Understanding the building blocks of Romans is very important so you are not lost in false doctrine. Remember Romans 8 declares predestination is according to foreknowledge.

1 Peter 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Elect according to foreknowledge! God did not say this one is going to hell and this one will be saved. It is not God’s will that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. So see the next verses with God’s foreknowledge in view.

Romans 9:13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."

God is truly a whosoever God; it is His true desire for all to know Him. Why did God hate Esau. Remember God called us to hate father, sister, and love God first. In this same way God used a vessel of disobedience to show the depth of mercy towards the object of His love.

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."

Pharaoh hardened his heart and God helped Pharaoh along in that hardening.

Romans 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

Remember the question of Romans 6? Shall we go on in sin that grace may abound? Like God helping along the hardening of Pharaoh's heart; yet God had sent the man of God Moses to warn Pharaoh.

Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

If the clay marred and resist the work of the potter’s desires, the potter may well reshape the lump of clay to become a lesser vessel. God is God, and will always be God.

Romans 9:24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."

Paul is getting ready to make his point and so many miss it. Hear carefully! “I will call them my people, who were not My people, And her beloved who was not beloved.” Who are these ones? And God’s declaration is “There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Remember the Spirit of adoption? Remember the Holy Spirit’s intercession and the Son’s intercession, along with the Father freely giving us all things?

Romans 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth." 29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah."

God has not forgotten the children of Israel! He indeed will do work in them. It will be a finished work and a short work. God has not separated from them forever. However …

Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Who are those who have the Spirit? Those who have come to the righteousness of faith. God has always responded to men of faith. Now God has built an entire covenant based upon righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ! The stumbling stone has been revealed; yes He is still a rock of offense to those who want to come outside God prescribed order of victory. Whoever believes on Jesus will not be put to shame!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Romans Verse by Verse lesson 8

The covenant that Jesus brought is truly the no condemnation covenant. Faith in Jesus calls us to live in the greater law; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We can walk free from sin with the liberty of living as a slave of righteousness. Yes, we can walk in the new creation that Christ has made us. Christ in me the hope of glory!

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Right now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Verse 9 of this chapter defines those who walk according to the flesh. You are not in the flesh…

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

From chapter 1 to this present verse there has been a comparing and contrasting of the law of Moses and the law of faith. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets the believer free from the law of sin and death. If the Son has set you free you are free indeed. Believers entangled in sin have not applied the building blocks of their freedom found in Romans chapters 4-7.

Righteousness established by faith in Jesus Christ alone, not plus any work. Resting in that righteousness results in no sin being imputed to the believer. It is solely the obedient act of the one Man Jesus Christ that gives us righteousness. His atoning work is so great that where sin abounds grace does much more abound. Like Christ we died to sin once for all and now present our bodies as instruments of righteousness. As the new creation God has made us we have become slaves to righteousness. We died to the law in order to be joined to Jesus Christ; if we go back to trying to serve what we died to, we will find two laws active in us. Both the law of sin and death and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. This will bring terrible turmoil in the believers life. Until one comes and submits to the greater law the victory will be short lived and illusive.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

Jesus completely and fully fulfilled the law. His fulfillment made way for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Jesus condemned sin in the flesh; for the believer the body of sin has been done away with.

Romans 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Because we are alive unto God we cannot walk in the flesh; however, it is possible to walk in the carnal mind and if allowed to continue it will have a finishing work of death.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul’s testimony in Romans 7 spoke of being alive without the law of sin and death. When the commandment came sin revived in Paul life. He was walking with a carnal mind trusting in his own doing under the performance of the law. Now Paul speak of the ultimate freedom living under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. He found his freedom from serving between the two laws. The law of faith wins in the believer.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are not in the flesh. That is why there is no condemnation to the believer. If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Because of what Christ has done we are not debtors to the flesh; free indeed.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Those who live according to the flesh do not have Christ.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

“Abba Father” is the cry of every true believer. Have you heard the witness of the Spirit? Heirs: indeed joint heirs, if indeed you suffer with Him you will be glorified together.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

Glory will be revealed in the believer; the suffering pales in comparison to the greatness of the glory. Creation is longing for the revealing of the sons of God..

Romans 8:21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Have you ever groaned within your heart “come Lord Jesus.”? It is a God birthed longing. The mortal shall put on immortality; we shall be like Jesus!

Romans 8:24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Looking for the city whose builder and maker is God; living with eternal perspective.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

This salvation is so great. The Father chose us, the Son shared the inheritance, the Spirit seals us and makes intercession for us.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God is working it out: all things… Predestination is according to the foreknowledge of God. This principle of grace can help clear up misunderstanding of the word. You are predestined, called, justified, and glorified.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

God is on your side; God freely gives us all thing!

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

No one has a right to bring a charge against you. Jesus Christ is making intercession!

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

More than conquerors; nothing can separate us from the love of God!

Romans Verse by Verse lesson 7

Connected to Jesus; freed from the law of sin and death once for all! Freedom can reign!

Romans 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives! It is what makes all men stand guilty before our holy God.

Romans 7:2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

These verses are not put in this passage to teach about marriage between man and woman. It is an allegory being used to teach the relationship between God and man and how connection to God is restored. However, God’s heart about marriage is revealed. From Genesis forward, God’s idea has always been 1 man with 1 woman for life. However if the husband dies the woman is free to marry another; there is practical application to find freedom from the dominion of the law in this teaching.

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

Like it takes a death to end the union of a husband and wife it will take a death to end the dominion with the law. The law remains… it is man that must die to self and the law so there is freedom to come under the dominion of another. At faith in Jesus Christ you have become dead to the law. Your connection to Christ is like the connection to the bride to her groom. This connection is so great that will bear fruit unto God.

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

When the law had dominion in our lives, sinful passions were aroused by the law; it worked in us and caused us to bear fruit unto death. However, now that we are in union with Christ there is the newness of the Spirit we can serve God by. The dominion now belongs to our God. We died to what we were help by so we are free to follow the leading of the Spirit of God.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Paul begins his testimony of how he found complete victory over sin. Apart from law sin was dead. When the law come it identified sin and made guilt be assigned. Sin taking opportunity, by the commandment of the law, stirred up all manner of evil desires The law is holy and the law is not sin; however the law gives sin strength.

Romans 7:9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

Paul was alive without the law; but when the commandment came, sin revived and Paul died. While the law can not bring the sin nature back to life in can give the actions of sin strength.

Romans 7:12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

The law is holy, it is just, and it is good. It was not a problem with the law. The problem is man had a sin nature and the law gives sin strength. Sin through the commandment becomes exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

When Paul came back under the law he seen himself as carnal and found himself sold under sin. Striving to do what was right he ended up doing what he did not want to do and not doing what he wanted.

Romans 7:16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

The law is holy and good but it has no redeeming power in and of itself. If I come back under the law I find myself living in a carnal manner and not having the wherewithal to perform what I will to do. Have I died to sin once for all? Yes, but there is no reckoning myself dead indeed to sin and the law.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Paul begins to find the answers. He understands it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. That which I died to I have given it credence to. There is a perfect work God has done a completed work in our spirit and a progressive work God continues to do in our soul. However there is a waiting for the final redemption of our body.

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

There is two laws. Remember Romans 3:27 comparing the law of Moses and the law of faith. When we come back to looking at our performance to make us right with God we have left the law of faith. The struggle is on; can the struggle come to an end? Yes, indeed it can!

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Paul came to the end of himself… O wretched man that I am! We can’t do it but Jesus Christ can and did do if for us. Praise God with the soul Paul was learning to serve the law of faith (God). However with his flesh (carnality) the law of sin (law of Moses).