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 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 22

Romans 8:31-39

Reference John Piper’s sermons on these passages, they are a great resource.

Discussion question: Try and summarize what Paul is saying in verses 31-39. What is his purpose in this passage?

Discussion question: Is Paul asking questions rhetorically in this passage or are they meant to be answered, at times they don’t seem to be answered in the passage?

Discussion question: In verse 32, Paul says that God will freely give us all things. What are the “all things” he is talking about?

Discussion question: In verse 33, Paul asks who will bring a charge against God’s elect and answers it that God is the one who justifies. Is this an answer to his question?

Leader: for your review:
His answer here seems to be one step further than the known answer. The answer to who will be a charge against God’s elect is our sin. On the Day of Judgment a record of our deeds will be opened up and looked at but, Christ’s righteousness which has been imputed to us will override this record and God will justify us on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Since nothing is more powerful than God, if God is the one who justifies us, nothing can possibly bring a charge against us that would condemn us. So Paul takes the logical answer and assumes his readers know it and then carries it one step further to focus on God’s power.

Discussion question: There is a similar question in verse 34 and a similar answer which doesn’t seem to answer the question, what is Paul saying here?

Discussion question: Paul says in verse 38 that he is convinced that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How do you think he came to be convinced of this, what led him to this?

Week 18

Romans 8:1-13

Discussion question: What is the main point of this passage?
The Spirit has freed us from the Law by the power of Christ’s work and has allowed the law to be fulfilled in us. God’s Spirit gives us the power to live for God and not for the flesh therefore we are under obligation to live by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the body.

Discussion question: In v3, ” 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,” Does this mean that God’s very Law was too weak to save us?

Gal 3:21 if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on the law.
The Law is not weak, the flesh is weak
An offering for sin: Gen 22:8 God provides His own offering for our sin

Discussion question draws from previous question: If so, why did God give His Law to the Jews if He knew that it wouldn’t save anybody?If not, does this mean that the Law does have the power to save and that modern day Jews don’t have to believe in a Messiah to save them? and does that mean that we are powerful enough to save ourselves?

Discussion question: Is the Law a law of works that can save or a law of faith, by faith we are saved?

• Lev 18:5 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.
• Deut 27: 26‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
• Deut 30:10-14 The Word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
• Is 53:4-7 The suffering servant

Discussion questions: In v4, “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
- What is the requirement of the Law?
Gal 3:23-25
- How do we fulfill the requirement of the Law?
Romans 13:8
- Do WE fulfill the requirement of the Law?
Col 2:14-17
Ex 34:6-7 – God forgives the repentant
2 Corinthians 5:21 – He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Philippians 3:8-9 – More than that, I count all things to be loss . . .so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

Discussion questions: In v5-6,
- This seems very black and white, either our minds are set on the Spirit or the are set on the flesh, as Christians, do we go back and forth between the two or is it a one time thing where we believe and our minds are no longer set on the flesh?
- If we do go back and forth, how is it that verse 6 can say that the mind set on the flesh is death when v2 says we are set free from the law of death?

Discussion questions: In v8, “and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- Does this mean that all the good things going on in the world, for instance the building of a children’s hospital or the charitable donation to the Katrina relief fund, if done by a non-believer, aren’t pleasing to God?
- If so, how can we present this truth to non-believers, how can we tell them that not one thing they do is considered good by the Lord, without having them explode in anger?

Leader: for your review:

1 Cor 6:19-20 – Body is a temple to the Lord, you are not your own, but you have been bought with a price

Eph 6:17 – the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God

Matt 11:12 – violent men take the Kingdom of Heaven by force.
Matt 18 – unless you….you cannot enter into the Kingdom

v.13 – putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit:
- 1 Cor 2:13-14
- Eph 6:17
-2 Tim 3:16-17 – profitable for rebuke
-1 Tim 4:13 – public reading of Scripture
-2 Tim 2:7 – pay attention to what I say
-2 Tim 2:15 – AWANA
-Ps 1:2 – he delights in God’s Law and meditates day and night, Josh 1:8
-Ps 119:11 – treasuring God’s word in our hearts
-1 Tim 4:7-8 – discipline

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 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 6

Romans 3:9-20

Depravity:
Gen 6:5, Jer 13:23, Rom 8:7-9, Eph 2:3, 1 Cor 2:14

Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3
There is none righteous: Man is evil in nature, therefore when faced with a decision, how should this affect our decision making process?
There is none who understands, none who seeks for God: What does this tell us about the world’s religions? What should this help us see regarding false doctrine, or doctrine that places any “faith” in man’s ability?
All have turned aside, together they have become useless: What happens when two sinners get together? Prov 22:24-25
There is none who does good: Psalm 143:2. Does this give us reason to praise God, ref Rom 8:1
Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they deceive: Ps 5:9 Symbolism: An open grave would allow one to look down into the grave and see the decay and feel/smell the stench. If our throat is the open grave, our heart is the thing of decay, as Jesus says in Matt 15:18, 12:34-37.
The poison of asps: Ps 140:3, James 3:8 If our tongue is so poisonous, why do we still use it so often?
Mouth full of cursing: Ps 10:7 People seem to have a bent for wanting the worst to come about, Christians should be different.
Feet swift to shed blood: Is 59:7,8 How does this apply to us, what does our path look like as we look back?
Haven’t know the way of peace: How does this apply to both inner and outer peace for man?
No fear of God: The closing statement, this ends his condemnation of man. What does this say about man’s view of God? Job 28:28, Prov 1:7 Eccl 12:13 Ps 42:1

How should “so that every mouth may be stopped” put fear into our hearts?

What does this passage say about how we are saved?