Week 36

Romans 16

Discussion question: Why does Paul take some time out to commend certain brothers and sisters in Christ? Why does God record this in His written Word?

Leader: for your review:
This is the practice that we, today, call an introduction or a reference letter. You can see examples of this everywhere in business, academia, relationships, etc. Paul is saying to the church at Rome that if they should meet these people, to welcome them, to make them feel at home. We are blessed that God has recorded this as part of the Scriptures for a few reasons. It makes us feel like we are part of a larger, catholic, body, reaching across not only geographic locations but also time. We know a little more about Phoebe, that she was helpful to Paul and the church, and we can relate to her. We also have examples to follow, we see that Mary was a hard worker and we can strive to be like her, we see that Prisca and Aquila saw past their own lives and focused on Christ’s church and we can seek that same perspective. We can see that those in the early church cared for one another, that they desired to serve the people in the church and that they desired relationships with those in the church. We also get a glimpse of the workings of the early church; Prisca and Aquila are first mentioned in Acts 18 and now we see them again here and also in 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Timothy 4, so we see that people traveled and continued serving the church even if they were away from their home church.

Leader: for your review:
Commentators have done a lot of research into the actual names mentioned here by Paul, for instance, Rufus might be the son of Simon from Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross according to Mark 15:21 since Mark’s gospel is commonly thought of as being written to the Romans and Simon was from a Roman province, the believers probably would have known of his household. Mark mentions Simon as being the father of Rufus, usually when a father is described in terms of who his sons are, the sons have greater importance or they are more well-known than the father, so it is possible that this Rufus was the same mentioned in Mark. Leaders are encouraged to pick up a few commentaries and read through some of the possible stories of who these people were.

Discussion question: Why is Paul so careful to admonish his readers to watch out for people who would seek to turn away from the teachings they had already heard in vv17,18? What does this tell us about the importance of proper teaching in the church?

Discussion question: Paul says that the God of peace will soon crush Satan. How does the description of God as “God of peace” match the fact that God will soon crush Satan?

Discussion question: Do you think there is any reason that Tertius put in his own greeting as this isn’t found in Paul’s other letters?

Discussion question: Why does Paul end his letter with a doxology? What is a doxology?

Discussion question: How does this point our hearts and minds towards our Lord Jesus Christ?

Week 27

Romans 11:1-15

Discussion question: Why does Paul ask the question in v1 hasn’t he already shown and proven this point back in chapter 9?

Leader: for your review:
Not necessarily, the question is different. In chapter 9, Paul showed that God’s word had not failed because not all Israel is the true Israel as was shown through Isaac/Ishmael, Jacob/Esau. Paul showed that God chose His own people on a person by person basis and not as an entire nation/people group. Now he is answering the next human question that would come up, if God has chosen His people on a person by person basis and the Jews have rejected Christ, does that mean that God has now moved on from Israel and gone to the Gentiles and rejected the Jews?

Discussion question: Why does Paul bring up the fact that he is a Jew in v1, is it only to prove his point that God has not rejected His people?

Discussion question: Now that we know why Paul asked the question in v1, how exactly does he answer it? What is the answer and the explanation?

Leader: for your review:
Paul shows that God always keeps His remnant of people and uses the story of Elijah as an example. He shows that God will keep His people even when others have turned away. He is implying, without stating, that God will keep His remnant amongst the Jews while He brings the message of salvation to the Gentiles even though many Jews may reject it. This brings up the idea of Israel verses the Church. Are the two separate, is the church today what Israel was in the OT, are Jews who know Christ part of the church, will Israel be joined in with the church? This question will come up again at the end of chapter 11.

Discussion question: Who/What is the remnant during the present time in v5?

Leader: for your review
The question seems to be a continuation of what was said back at the end of chapter 9 when Paul quotes Isaiah. It may be that chapter 10 was a “tangent” that Paul took and then he brings it back in the beginning of chapter 11. Paul is also setting up the discussion for Israel which he concludes at the end of chapter 11. This idea of a remnant has been around since God began His work of creation/redemption. We saw it in the story of Noah, then Abraham’s descendants, then those that followed Moses, then those who would find the book of the Law during the kings of Israel, then God’s prophets during the captivity, in Acts when Jews would come to a knowledge of Christ. Now we are seeing it during our times, the Reformation, etc. It is an amazing story and testimony. God always has His remnant who follow after Him even when everyone else turns. Look up 1 Kings 18-19 for the story of Elijah.

Discussion question: Why does Paul add v6, it seems out of place?

Leader: for your review
This could be a reminder or a setup for v7-10 to show again why the Jews have not attained salvation.

Leader: for your review
The greek word used in v7 for hardened is a very strong word, only used in a few other places in the NT (when the disciples argued over what Jesus meant when he said beware of the leaven of the Pharisees). It means to grow over calloused, or petrify. An example would be, when a bone breaks and it is not set properly, the bone will grow back connected but will grow this extra layer of hard material to harden the bone. Paul is using it to show how strong the hardening is.

Discussion question: In v8-10 it seems God causes those whom He hardens to have a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not and this again brings up the question of God’s sovereignty but this time we see in v4 that God’s chosen people were those who haven’t bowed the knee to Baal, implying God chose them based on something they did (or in this case didn’t do), how do we reconcile this? Can we reconcile this?

Discussion question: What is the application of this in our lives?

Leader: for your review
The application question of this might be held off until the end of chapter 11 when we see God’s place for Israel to be grafted in. But, this should give us hope in that God’s plan will be carried out (Isaiah 55:11) and that He was gracious to allow those who aren’t Jews to be a part of His plan.

Week 25

Romans 10:1-13

Discussion question: What does it look like to have a zeal for God but not in accordance with knowledge, v2?

Discussion question: What does it mean when Paul says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes? Is this similar to the questions he asked in Chapter 6:15

Discussion question: How does the OT passage quoted in verses 6-7 relate to what Paul says in verse 6, that the righteousness based on faith speaks as those OT passages say it does?

Discussion question: Verse 9 is often used as an overall summary of how one is saved, that if you believe and confess, you will be saved. Do you agree that it can be summed up as such?

Discussion question: What are your thoughts on verses 11-13, are they comforting to you?

Week 26

Romans 10:13-21

This may be a good time for a very frank question: Have you called on the name of the LORD? verse 13. 1 Cor 1:2 – seems to imply we should call on the LORD continually, not just once. Not that we need to be saved every day or anything like that, but rather than our prayers indicate an absolute reliance on God.

Leader: for your review
Joel 2 is an amazing chapter that discusses God’s plan for Israel as a people and His plan for all mankind. This topic of Israel in comparison with the Church is going to come up again in chapter 11, it’s good to start thinking about it now. For instance, in Joel 2, God talks about His plan of redemption for Israel in v21-27 and then in v28 He says He will pour out His Spirit on all mankind…does the all in v28 really mean all or does it mean all of one people group or does it mean all humans but only some of them (the elect)?

Leader: for your review
v14,15 Should really be read together with no breaks, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”"
c.f. Is 52:7

Discussion question: Is this section a tangent of Paul’s to tell us that we need to send people so they can preach to those who have not heard so that they can believe?

Leader: for your review:
It helps his argument that even though some Jews have not believed, it doesn’t not nullify the Word of God (9:6) He quotes Isaiah when he says the good news has been brought to captive Israel and then quotes him again (Is 53:1) that some have not believe their report. So by spelling out the steps of belief, Paul shows that we must hear the entire gospel being preached to us by sent preachers and that we must believe in what we hear and we must call on Him according to what we have heard.

Now that Paul has listed the steps, he can go back to his argument that some have heard and have not believed and this does not mean the Word of God has failed in the case of the Jews.

The great thing about this section is that Paul uses an argument and at the same time shows us how we are to see and perform evangelism.

Discussion question: What does this lead us to do in terms of evangelism?

Discussion question: What is your role in evangelism today?

Discussion question: What is the “word of Christ”?
Col 3:16 – Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Eph 5:26 – so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
John 15:3 – you are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Eph 6:17 – …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
1 John 1:1-2 – What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life–and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us–
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of go 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 righteousness man shall live by faith”

Leader: these are the OT quotes given in the following verses:

v18 – Ps 19:4
v19 – Deut 32:21
v20 – Is 65:1
v21 – Is 65:2

Leader: for your review
v18-20 Show the other side of the great mystery: God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We see in ch9 that God hardens some and softens others and in ch10 that He holds out His hand all day long to a disobedient people (1 Tim 2:4 “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth). We cannot know or understand how this is, we simply rest in the fact that it is God’s way as the following verses tell us: Matt 11:25, John 6:35-37, Acts 13:38-48

John Stott on Evangelism

Here is a good post on Romans 10-11.

Romans Overview

I found this posting from a guy preaching through Romans, I thought you might find it useful.

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 14

Romans 6:14-23

Leader: Lookup the following verses to discuss v14 “for sin SHALL NOT BE master over you”:

Phil 2:12-13 – work out your own salvation for God is at work in you. Phil 3:12
1 Peter 4:11 – serve in the power of God for the glory of God.

Discussion question: What is the argument or fallacy that Paul is trying to defeat in v15?
It’s not a serious argument, it’s another attempt to prove Paul wrong.

Discussion question: Why does Paul assume in v16 that we will be either slaves to sin or righteousness?

Leader: look up the following verses:

Peter 2:19, for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved
John 8:31-36 – slaves of a house
Gal 5 – been freed from the flesh, walk by the Spirit and YOU WILL NOT carry out the desires of the flesh
Gal 4 – one son born by the flesh, Ismael, one by the promise, Isaac
Matt 6:24 – either you will serve one master of another
1 Kings 18:21 – Elijah vs Baal
James 4:4 – can’t be friends with the world and with God
Rev 3:16 – the lukewarm church

Leader: for your review:

Paul uses the word slaves in v16. 2 Peter 2, esp v19 speaks of false prophets who will come preaching “freedom” in fleshly desires, which is really just bondage to corruption, “for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved” . 2 Peter 2:4-16 talks about how God has given us plenty examples of His destruction of those who are corrupt, but He also gives us examples of those who He has brought through the destruction. This is another one of God’s promises, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Deut 31:6/Heb 13:5

Discussion question: What else about slavery to either sin or righteousness is important in defeating sin in our lives?

Discussion question: v19 implies that we should go about righteousness in the same way we went about sin……what would that look like?

wages of sin=death=hell EDWARDS
free gift=life=God HOW GOOD IT IS IN CONTRAST

Discussion question: Do you think the fact that salvation is a free gift from God implies that we owe Him something? If so, what does that make works?
Rom 4:4-5
Matt 7:7-12

Leader: the following comes from Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. It would be good to read or listen to it. (Note: the audio version is done by Cloud Audio check out their other dramatic readings of Spurgeon and Edwards they are incredible).

O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. — And consider here more particularly,

1. Whose wrath it is: it is the wrath of the infinite God. If it were only the wrath of man, though it were of the most potent prince, it would be comparatively little to be regarded. The wrath of kings is very much dreaded, especially of absolute monarchs, who have the possessions and lives of their subjects wholly in their power, to be disposed of at their mere will. Prov. 20:2. “The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul.” The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater. Luke 12:4,5. “And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him.“
2. It is the fierceness of his wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the fury of God; as in Isa. 59:18. “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries.” So Isa. 66:15. “For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” And in many other places. So, Rev. 19:15, we read of “the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” The words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, “the wrath of God,” the words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: but it is “the fierceness and wrath of God.” The fury of God! the fierceness of Jehovah! Oh, how dreadful that must be! Who can utter or conceive what such expressions carry in them! But it is also “the fierceness and wrath of almighty God.” As though there would be a very great manifestation of his almighty power in what the fierceness of his wrath should inflict, as though omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as men are wont to exert their strength in the fierceness of their wrath. Oh! then, what will be the consequence! What will become of the poor worms that shall suffer it! Whose hands can be strong? And whose heart can endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable depth of misery must the poor creature be sunk who shall be the subject of this! Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires. Nothing shall be withheld, because it is so hard for you to bear. Ezek. 8:18. “Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them.” Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God, as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery; you shall be continued in being to no other end; for you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel, but to be filled full of wrath. God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that it is said he will only “laugh and mock,” Prov. 1:25,26,&c.How awful are those words, Isa. 63:3, which are the words of the great God. “I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” It is perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, viz. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation. If you cry to God to pity you, he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour, that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment. He will not only hate you, but he will have you in the utmost contempt: no place shall be thought fit for you, but under his feet to be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
3. The misery you are exposed to is that which God will inflict to that end, that he might show what that wrath of Jehovah is. God hath had it on his heart to show to angels and men, both how excellent his love is, and also how terrible his wrath is. Sometimes earthly kings have a mind to show how terrible their wrath is, by the extreme punishments they would execute on those that would provoke them. Nebuchadnezzar, that mighty and haughty monarch of the Chaldean empire, was willing to show his wrath when enraged with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and accordingly gave orders that the burning fiery furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was before; doubtless, it was raised to the utmost degree of fierceness that human art could raise it. But the great God is also willing to show his wrath, and magnify his awful majesty and mighty power in the extreme sufferings of his enemies. Rom. 9:22. “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?” And seeing this is his design, and what he has determined, even to show how terrible the unrestrained wrath, the fury and fierceness of Jehovah is, he will do it to effect. There will be something accomplished and brought to pass that will be dreadful with a witness. When the great and angry God hath risen up and executed his awful vengeance on the poor sinner, and the wretch is actually suffering the infinite weight and power of his indignation, then will God call upon the whole universe to behold that awful majesty and mighty power that is to be seen in it. Isa. 33:12-14. “And the people shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire. Hear ye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites,” &c. Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. Isa. 66:23,24. “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.“
4. It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For “who knows the power of God’s anger?“

Week 13

Romans 5:20-6:14

Leader: sometimes it is helpful for difficult passages to try and summarize the passage, here is one example:

OVERVIEW
If grace increases because transgressions increased, should we sin more to increase grace? Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, how can we who died to sin still live in it? Let me expand on this, all who have joined with Christ have joined in His death by our baptism into him so just as Christ was raised from the dead, we will too, we get both sides. So, if we have died, then we must be a new creation. That old self must have died along with Christ so that we wouldn’t be slaves to sin any longer. So, we believe that we have died with Christ and also that we will live with him, since Christ will never die again because he defeated death. He died to sin for all men and now He lives for God. So take this example and think of yourselves as a new creation, dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus. So don’t let sin control your fleshly desires any longer and don’t let sin use your body to carry out its evil, but give your body to God and use it for righteousness. You can’t continue in sin, because grace is reigns over you now.

Discussion question: What does it mean in v3 when Paul says we are baptized into Christ Jesus?

Leader: look up the following verses:

Gal 3:27 – those who have been baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ
Matt 3:11 – John baptized for repentance with water, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire
John 3:5,6 – one cannot see the Kingdom of God unless he be born of water and the Spirit
Col 2:12 – buried with Him in baptism and raised up with Him by God.
1 Cor 6:17 – the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Cor 10:2 – baptized into Moses….
Ez 36:26 – I will give you a new heart and remove your heart of stone.
2 Cor 5:17 – If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.
Eph 4:22-24 – lay aside your old self, put on the new self, which is in the likeness of God, created in righteousness and holiness
Gal 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live, I live in faith for God who gave himself up for me
Gal 5:24 – those in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
Gal 6:14 – I have been crucified to the world
2 Cor 5:14-15 – one died for all, therefore all died, so that those who live might live for him.
Eph 2:10 – we are created in Him for good works.

Discussion question: How is it that he who has died is free from sin? (v7)

Leader: look up the following verses:

Peter 4:1-2 - Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Rev 1:17-18 – Jesus has the keys to death and Hades
Greek word free is actually justified or acquited
So, the guilt is taken away by being united to Christ in His death -> Romans 8:1

Discussion question: What does Paul mean when he says that Christ died TO sin in v10? Is this parallel to how we die to sin?

Leader: look up the following verses:

Rev 3:21 – I overcame and sat down with my Father on His Throne
John 16:33 – take care, I have overcome the world.
Rev 17:4 – These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
Rom 6:23 – wages of sin is death

Christ had no payment due to His sin…..we are sinners therefore we are indebted.

1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. -> Matt 4 – Jesus resists temptation by the Word of God.

Rev 12:10-11 – And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Discussion question: What is Paul’s main reasoning as to why we shouldn’t sin any more?

Because we are a new creation, the old self has died with Christ in His death and a new self has been created in God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of Spirit, is Spirit.

Discussion question: How does Christ’s death and resurrection help us kill sin?

Leader: This next section comes from a sermon John Piper gave:

Recognize the battle ground
v12-14 – Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and 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. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
reign implies a kingdom or throne is at stake
mortal bodies is the castle
sin is the challenger to the throne
lusts is the agents of sin
obey is the surrendering
members of the body are weapons
God is the true King
grace is the constitutional authority

So, we see the picture of the battle. God reigns, but sin wants to overthrow God, the battle ground is our body and our members are the weapons that can be used against God if they are overtaken by the enemy by sins agents (lusts) when we surrender, the weapons can also be used for God if the desires are carried out in how they were designed (eating, talking, sex, work, etc.)
v11 says to consider yourselves dead to sin, this means taking on a whole new perspective, but it is something we have to do, we must reckon ourselves as dead to sin. But the only reason we choose this, is because of what Christ did and our union to that. And because God says we are new creatures and that our minds have been renewed, our new nature should be to desire to reckon ourselves as dead to sin, our renewed minds should begin to prefer God to sin.
Hope – 1 Cor 6:9-11 – sinners won’t inherit the Kingdom of God, but those justified will, we are washed clean and justified by Jesus. Romans 8:35-39
Promise of real life John 10:10 – I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Eph 5:14 – awake or sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
1 Peter 1:14 – the desires of your former ignorance

v14 – c.f. 5:21

• …the power of death is broken, and the root of bondage, the fear of death is severed and we can be freed.
• …you don’t need to get to the top in order to get to be a success.
• …you don’t need to run away from trouble and live in fear that he who has the most toys wins.
• …you can rejoice in persecution for righteousness sake for great is your reward in heaven.
• …every loss you endured for the kingdom will be made up to you a thousand-fold.
• …there is no ultimate risk in the cause of truth and love; nothing can defeat you.
• …the decay of your body is prelude to glory.
• …you will be made completely whole with no impurity and no struggle with lust or greed or covetousness or fear or inferiority or cowardice or painful memories or paralyzing shame.
• …there will be no mourning or crying or tears or pain for the former things will pass away.
• …swords will be turned into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks and war will be no more.
• …every injustice will be rectified and every evil will be recompensed and every wrong made right.
• …and those who are in Christ will rise with him never to die again, and God will be our God and we will be his people, and the glory of the Lord will be our light and our joy for ever.

Week 12

Leader: This discussion came about after reading through Romans 5:11-21 and discussing God’s views on man verses woman. This is not a direct discussion of the text but was a great sidetrack discussion.

“AT THE HEART OF MATURE MASCULINITY IS A SENSEOF BENEVOLENT RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD, PROVIDE FOR ANDPROTECT WOMEN IN WAYS APPROPRIATE TO A MAN’SDIFFERING RELATIONSHIPS. AT THE HEART OF MATURE FEMININITY IS A FREEINGDISPOSITION TO AFFIRM, RECEIVE AND NURTURE STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP FROM WORTHY MEN IN WAYS APPROPRIATE TO A WOMAN’S DIFFERING RELATIONSHIPS”

Quote from John Piper, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Why are we created:
Is 43:7 – we are called by His Name and for His glory, we are made in His image, Gen 1:26
Ps 8:4-8 – men are called to rule over the works of God’s hands Gen 1:26

Why did God create man and woman differently?
Gen 2:18 – woman was created after man as a helper for man ( c.f. 1 Cor 11:8-9)
Eph 5:22-33 – to give us an example of the relationship to Christ and His Church

What is man’s role/relationship to women?
Gen 3:16, Eph 5:23 – God commands man to rule over women
This is not just wives, this is all women, this is evident because we don’t become men when we marry (Man will leave his parents and cleave to his wife….he is already a man)
Matt 20:25-28 – servant leaders

What is man’s role in life?
Deut 10:12 – our duty is to fear God, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him
Gen 2:15 – God put man in the Garden to work it
1 Thess 4:1,11-12 lead a quiet life and work with your hands
Col 3:23-24 – work heartily for the Lord
Matt 4:4 – man doesn’t live on bread alone but on the Word of God
Prov 6:20,1:8 – teach our children

How can we serve God?
Lev 19:18 – love our neighbors
Is 58:7 – help the poor
James 1:27 – widows and orphans
2 Cor 5:20 – ambassadors for Christ
1 Tim 6:11 – pursue God
Is 61:6 – ministers of God
1 Tim 2 – men should be prayer warriors, men should teach and exercise authority over women

What does God call us to do?
Luke 14:27-33 – sacrafice
James 1:22-24 – be doers not just hearers, like a man who looks in a mirror