Week 24

Romans 9:6-33

Leader: for your review:

This passage deals with some of the great mysteries of the Bible. A look at the previous week’s topics are a good place to begin your study but much more time and research should be done on this topic. While this discussion is grouped as one week, in all reality it should take about 6 weeks to get through.

Discussion question: Why does Paul go through some of the fathers of the faith to discuss how God’s Word has not failed?

Discussion question: What is the outcome knowing that some who were descendants of Abraham were not children of the promise?

Discussion question: Verse 11 is a difficult verse with lots of different interpretations, what is the meaning of “God’s choice” and “Him who calls”?

Discussion question: Verse 14 is another human question that Paul rhetorically asks knowing that that is the human response to what he has just discussed, but how do vv15-18 actually answer this question?

Discussion question: What can we draw from verse 18?

Discussion question: Summarize or put into your own words what question is being asked in v19.

Discussion question: Summarize the answer given in vv20-29.

Discussion question: What should our attitude and response be after reading through vv20-29?

Discussion question: What is one of the common threads that seems to run throughout the book of Romans? See v32.

Reformed References

Leader: This is meant to be a reference for your benefit and the benefit of the group. These topics have already come up during the study and they will come up in greater detail in your study of Romans 9. Some of my thoughts are listed below but have a look through Monergism.com’s page titled Doctrines of Grace, it’s an excellent resource for some deep topics.

What was the first covenant?

Genesis 1:16-17 – Do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Hosea 6:7)

Genesis 8:21 – God’s covenant between Noah and God, and indirectly all men and God.

Gen 17:7 – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Gen 28:15 – I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Rev 21:3-4 – And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Is the first covenant still valid?

In Romans 9:6 what does Paul mean by “it is not as though the Word of God has failed?”

In Romans 9:11, “for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” What is the tangential statement Paul adds “so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls” mean? There was discussion that it could mean two things:
1) Paul is alluding to what he will elaborate on in verses 9:14-29, essentially that it is God who chooses and calls His elect not because of the works they committed in the past or works they will commit once they are saved, but for His purposes according to His choice.
2) Paul is proving his point that people are saved by faith and not by race or who their father was, so he is completing his argument that even though the twins were grandsons of Abraham, only one was of the promised lineage.

choice: 1 Th 1:4, 2 Peter 1:10: variation to choice: Acts 9:15, Romans 11:5
purpose: Ephesians 1:11, 3:11
works: Gal 2:16, 3:2, 5,10, James 2:18-26
calls: Rom 4:17, Gal 1:6, 15, 5:8, 13, 1 Th 2:12,

Election/predestination
Ephesians 1:4-14
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Ephesians 2:10
Col 1:25-27, 3:12
2 Thes 2:13
2 Tim 1:9

Free-will:
1) The will of man seems only to be described in the Scriptures as being in bondage to sin or a slave to the Spirit
2) Philemon 14 states a free will in terms of giving an offering without being forced to
3) We came to God one way, we ask that others would come to God in a different way
4) It seems to exist that we are chosen, but we are called to live out a holy life. There is a mystery here, we cannot bind ourselves to one doctrinal system or another if it causes us to disbelieve one of these truths. Romans 12:1,2 Col 3:12, 1 Peter 1:2

This then raises the question that must be nailed down:
How are we saved? What is the process?

We confess that “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) to such an extent that “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God;” (Romans 3:10,11) therefore, God says to us that “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;” (John 6:44) and we have confidence in His drawing because Christ tells us “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (John 6:37) “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes” (John 5:21) “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined…and those whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified” (Romans 8:29,30) therefore “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20a) . So we believe that “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) “and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) and praise God “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3)

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, the He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” (Acts 1:8)

“And it shall be in the last days, God says, That I will pour forth of my Spirit on all mankind;” (Acts 2:17)

“blessed are you, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven” (Matt 16:17)

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27)

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 – sovereignty of God

Deuteronomy 32:39

Psalm 33:11

Election:
Psalm 65:4 – “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple”
Matt 24:24 – “Even the elect”
John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me”
John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit”
Acts 13:48 – “and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed”
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
1 Thess 1:4 – “His choice of you”
1 Thess 5:9 – destined for salvation

Non-election:
1 Peter 2:8 – “to this doom they were also appointed”

Week 21

Romans 8:28-30

Discussion question: v28: what are the implications of this verse?
Genesis 50:20 – Joseph and his brothers
David’s adultery and murder lead to Solomon’s kingship and the line of Jesus
Even the fall of mankind lead to the greatest gift ever given (Christ Jesus)

Discussion question: v28: How specific can we get with this verse, can we say something like God causes a leaf to fall from a tree so that I stop and look at it so that I’m off by a split second and don’t get hit by a car? or does this only mean the big stuff like God causes a famine so that an entire race of people move down to another nation so that God rescues them from that nation? Does the all mean all? See the following verses for some examples of “all”

Mark 1:5 – all the nation was going out to John?
Titus 2:11 – the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men
James 1:21 – put aside all filthiness and all wickedness

Discussion question: What are the qualifications for all things working together for good?
they love God
they are called according to His purpose

Leader: for your reference

Called:
1 Pet 2:9
1 Cor 1:9
1 Thess 2:21
Eph 1:18
John 6:44,12:32,18:10,21:6

Foreknew:
Acts 2:23
1 Peter 1:2

Discussion question: What did God foreknow? Either that we will accept or that He knew His own plan of salvation?
Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:2
1 Peter 1:20 – Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the World
Rom 11:2
God chose Israel for His own purposes: Deut 7:7-8, 10:15

Discussion question: What does it mean for God to know us?
Jer 1:5
Matt 7:23
John 10:14
1 Cor 8:3

Predestination – why the controversy? because if God predestined us, we didn’t choose but if God didn’t predestine us, something is out of God’s control
Acts 4:27-28
1 Cor 2:7
Eph 1:5,11
Predetermined
Luke 22:22
Acts 2:23

Called – see above

Justified – see Romans 3-5

Glorified – are we glorified?
Col 3:4
Rom 8:17
1 Thess 2:20
2 Tim 2:10

Week 17

Romans 8:1

Leader: This week should be spent discussing the first seven chapters of Romans and bringing up issues that were good discussions or were helpful or difficult to get through. Romans 8:1 is such an important verse and it is a great place to just pause for a week and dwell on.

Overview of Romans Chapters 1-7

Chapter 1

1-15 Paul introduces himself because he did not start the church at Rome, gives background to the Gospel, gives thanks for them at Rome, says he is writing to the believers at Rome, probably mostly Jewish converts at Rome.

16-17 Thesis statement is made, this theme is seen almost everywhere in the letter to the Romans. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”

18-32 God has made Himself known to all men, but man has exchanged what is Glorious for what is corrupted and so God has given them over to their degrading passions.

Chapter 2

1-16 There is no partiality with God, Jews and Gentiles alike will be judged for their deeds

17-29 Even the Jews, who follow the Law to the letter, have not understood the spirit of the Law, for it is not outward circumcision that saves, but rather inward circumcision.

Chapter 3

1-2 So what advantage is there to being a Jew? Jews were entrusted with the knowledge of God.

3-4 But the Jewish religion is built upon this law, if some don’t believe in Jesus, wouldn’t that nullify God’s promise to save them? Never! Let an entire religion be found false, let every man be found to be a liar and God be found true.

5-8 But if man needs to be so evil that God may be seen as good, is God wrong for judging us? Or, put another way, if we have to sin so God has something to save us from, why not go on sinning even more so that good may come from it? It’s not even worth refuting such nonsense.

9-31 So, are some then better than others? Not at all, for there is not one who is just, not one seeks after God, all have turned away from God. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. But God has looked over the sins of the past knowing that Christ would come and be the justifier of all who believe. So there is no boasting in works, for man is justified apart from the works of the Law. Therefore, we don’t nullify the Law by our faith, but rather, we establish it.

Chapter 4

1-25 Take Abraham, for example, he did not have the Law, but it was written, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Just like when you work, your wage is not a favor, but is due to you for your work. But to the one who believes, his faith is credited as righteousness. So Abraham believed and the promise was made to him that his descendants would reign while he was uncircumcised, and circumcision was given to seal the promise.

Chapter 5

1-11 So we have been justified and from this we gain our hope, our hope comes from the fact that it is not our doing but God’s, just look at the example He gave us, while we were completely helpless, Christ died for us. God sent His son to die for us while we were even enemies of God, this is our hope!

12-21 Look at how powerful Christ’s death was, sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and it spread to all men so that all are guilty just because they are men, now there is another event, Christ’s death, that came into the world and saved the world from the consequences of sin. So one act had the power to count all men as guilty, and one act had the power to forgive guilt. So the Law is given to show our guilt, but because of our guilt, grace is made all the more powerful.

Chapter 6

1-23 So if our sins bring about grace, shouldn’t we sin more to bring about more grace? No, don’t you see that you have died to sin? To gain this life that Christ promises us, we have to be baptized into His death so that we can be baptized into His life and being baptized into His death shows us that we are no longer who we once were. Our old selves are dead, let your old ways die as well. Don’t go on in your old ways, for you have died and are now in Christ. You don’t want to be enslaved to sin again do you? The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 7

1-13 Take the example of the law of marriage. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, if she joins with another while her husband is alive, she is found guilty of adultery, but if he dies she is free to join another. So you were made to die to one, sin, so that you can be joined to another, Jesus. We see that the law seems to arouse sin in our lives, but the law is not sin, rather it is the way we can know what sin is. Sin uses the law to deceive us, it uses what is good to make us do evil. But it is not the law that is the cause of evil and death, but rather it is sin working through the law.

14-25 The law is spiritual, it came from God, but we are flesh, in bondage to sin. I can see it at work when I want to do good, but don’t. I agree with what is good, I agree with the law, but the sin that dwells in me is evil and causes me to do evil. I can see then that there is nothing good in me and now there is a struggle because I want to do good, but can’t. Wretched man that I am, who will set me free?? Praise and thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Condensed Overview by Chapter:

1. Introduction, thesis, corruption of man
2. Condemnation of Jews and Greeks
3. All man is evil and deserving of death, but God have forgiven all who believe in Him and not their works
4. Evidence given that this is true
5. Sin came in through one man, and through one man it’s power is broken
6. Consider your old selves dead and the power to live your life to God in Christ
7. Sin no longer has power over us, but it still causes us to struggle

Topics discussed during the study:

• Power of the Gospel
• Do all men know God
• Does the Law save/ if one kept the Law could he be saved
• Is man dead spiritually until God awakens him
• Does anyone know God on his own
• Free will
• Does God deal with men differently than women
• Is there an age of accountability
• What if people have never heard of Christ
• What if people are too young to understand
• Who works first, God or man
• Are we sinners because we sin or do we sin because we’re sinners
• How do we go about santification
• Why does the Gospel, forgiveness of all sins past and future, produce people who don’t want to sin instead of people who say “anything goes now”
• How were OT people saved
• Predestination
• Depravity
• Election

Chapter 8

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Discussion question: Does 8:1 flow logically from 7:25? What is the “therefore” there for?

Leader: for your review:

8:1 seems to be the end of a very long comma separated sentence. Looking at 1:18-3:20 is very condemning, then 21-24 offer the sweetest sound our fallen ears can hear, then a semicolon appears after verse 24 and a long argument is brought up showing proof of faith being counted as righteousness in the old testament (3:25-4:22), then present time is brought back in (4:23-25) to explain our hope and foundation for sanctification (5:1-7:25). Then 8:1 comes back in, which, among other passages in Romans, is so fitting an ending for 3:24.

Leader: the following is an attempt to show how 8:1 seems to be a constant theme that runs throughout the book of Romans. By inserting 8:1 after a series of verses we can see how it is meant to give us comfort, encouragement, and hope as we read the book. All passages are from the book of Romans:

1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2:9-11 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3:20-21 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

4:7-9 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. 8″BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” 9Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

4:20-21 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what God had promised, 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus., He was able also to perform.

5:1 Therefore, having been justified, 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus., we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 5:3-5 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:2 How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6: 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:12-14 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:22-23 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 7:6 now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Discussion question: We are counted as righteous, why are we so unable to grasp this? Why is it that we really don’t believe that we are seen as righteous before God and not just forgiven?

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

Week 11

Romans 5:11-21

Discussion question: Does Adam’s sin get transferred to us?

Leader: investigate the following topics:

Infant sinfulness: Gen 8:21
Universal mortality: 1 Cor 15:22
Genesis 18:25
Ezekiel 33:11
2 Samuel 12:23

Discussion question: Is man born into sin or does man sin and become a sinner? i.e. are humans sinners because we sin or do we sin because we are sinners?

Leader: look up the following verses:
Ps 51:5 – brought forth in iniquity
Ps 58:3 – sinners from the womb
Heb 7:7-10 – in Abraham’s loins

Discussion question: Is this fair?

If it is not fair that by one man’s sin we are all made sinners then it is not fair by one man’s righteousness we are all justified!

Leader: look up the following verses:

Discussion question: Why is Adam blamed here and not Eve?

Conclusion…..men are held to be responsible leaders and keep people from sin?

Leader: look up the following verses for more on how God views man verses woman:

Is 43:7
Ps 8:6-8
Gen 1:26
Matt 20:25-28 – servant leaders
Deut 10:12 – duty
Lev 19:18 – men to man
Is 58:7 – help
2 Cor 5:20 – ambassadors for Christ
1 Tim 6:11 – pursue God
Is 61:6
1 Tim 2:8-15 in church
1 Cor 11:8-9
Gen 2:18

Note: This topic brought about a lot of discussion so we carried this on to another week and discussed what God calls men to do.

Discussion question: What is Paul’s end goal here?

To show that it is possible for one man’s death to provide salvation for all, he does this by showing that it was possible for one man’s sin to affect every single human.