Bible Study Notes - How are They to Hear? - Romans 10:1-17

Bible Study Notes 

How are They to Hear? – Romans 10:1-17

Introduction

 Try to recall the zeal you had when you first accepted salvation by faith in Christ.  Can you remember your eagerness to learn more about Christ and experience God’s power in your life?  Did your enthusiasm lead you into daily meditation, prayer and study? Maybe, you became active in Bible Study, Sunday school or other spiritual growth group. At the very least, perhaps you became more committed to weekly church attendance.  Or, did you soon become complacent; satisfied that being a “good” person was enough?

  The Apostle Paul cautions against this last response.  He traces it to a misplaced zeal that is not firmly rooted in a developing knowledge of God.  Paul challenges believers to get to know God. He teaches that we are to call on Christ out of a heartfelt faith that causes us to desire a vital relationship with God.

 

 Lesson Setting

  Paul’s personal experience with God and Christ moves him to dedicate his life to teaching the gospel to all people.  In fact, over the course of his ministry he becomes known as someone who can persuade persons from every walk of life to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  However, in this passage we focus on Paul’s deep concern and frustration for his Jewish brothers and sisters. These are his people, so quite naturally Paul desires that they too experience the new life he has found in Christ Jesus. 

  The Israelites were a minority in the church.  This was in part because of their personal conflict over the role of the law in God’s plan for salvation and righteousness.  The reluctance of the Jews to release themselves from the constraints of the law to embrace the freedom Christ purchased with his death offended the majority of Gentiles.  In an ongoing struggle between the two groups, some Jews even attempted to impose the laws, particularly those concerning circumcision, diet and holy days on Gentile converts.

  Paul settles the dispute over the law by putting its role in Godly perspective.  He teaches that faith in Christ surpasses obedience to the law because Christ redeems the life of the believer in a way the law cannot.   Paul also makes it clear that God is not a respecter of persons.  Therefore, God extends the gift of salvation by faith in Christ to all people whether Jew or Gentile.  Everyone who believes that Christ is equally welcome into the family of God.  In addition, Paul teaches that God calls believers to pass on the great news of salvation in Christ so others may hear and be saved.

Exposition

I.                   Paul desires the salvation of his Jewish brothers and sisters  (Romans 10:1-4)

 

  Paul writes that it is his fervent prayer that the Israelites will accept the truth of God’s loving offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul respectfully acknowledges that the Jewish people have a longstanding zeal for God.  Nevertheless, he maintains that their zeal is misplaced because it does not arise out of a personal knowledge God. 

  According to Paul, the religious fervor of the Israelites was motivated by a desire to achieve righteousness.  Paul explains that this quest for righteousness led the Jewish people to do good works under the law in the hope of gaining favor with God.  To this end, the Jews lived as though they believed that God was keeping a balance sheet of sorts on each person.  In line with this thinking, God posted a credit or debit entry to memorialize each act of obedience or disobedience to the law. 

  Paul teaches that the Jews completely missed the point.  They did not see that righteousness comes from God.  Paul asserts that the Israelites were blind to God’s righteousness because they did not really know Him.  Rather than cultivate a relationship with God the Jews chose to embrace the law. 

  This is because the adherence to the law involved little thought.  You either behaved in a manner that satisfied the law or you did not.  On the other hand, a mature relationship with God required continuous study, prayer and meditation to achieve a greater understanding of God’s will and ways.  It also required self-reflection and conscious changes in behavior flowing from a deepening appreciation of God’s love.  These were some of the challenges of developing a real relationship with God. Rather than rise to these challenges, the Jews chose to focus on the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law, which is rooted in God’s love and righteousness.  Consequently, the Israelites unwittingly attempted to achieve righteousness by their own actions. 

  However, Paul teaches that Christ is the culmination of the law.  The Savior’s act of obedience to God’s will unto death was the ultimate fulfillment of the law.  Christ’s ministry through his life, death and resurrection offers the world the greatest revelation of God.   We experience God in Christ’s words as well as his actions.  Through Christ we know that God is love.  Christ confirms the significance of love when he is asked which is the most important of the commandments.  Jesus answers, “Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength… Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

II.                Paul explains why faith in Christ surpasses obedience to the law (Romans 10:5-10)

 God gave the Israelites the law to direct them in the right way to relate to others as well as to Him. Therefore, the law provided an orderly system of acceptable behavior authorized by God. Likewise, the law made us more conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20) Yet, the law proved insufficient in that it failed to impart a greater understanding of God or to draw people closer to Him despite its potential to do so. In practice, the Israelites found it difficult to resist the pull of sin to satisfy God’s laws.

 As a result, some people attempted to pick and choose the laws that applied to their lives.  Others tried to manipulate the law to find a way to fit their behavior within its context.  Both approaches wrongly focused on the letter of the law rather than its spirit, which was to help us to appreciate and live within God’s will for us.  Paul reasons that the Israelites chose the law over the work of developing a vital relationship with God because the law seemed to offer the less challenging way of life.

  However, in reality the law proved to be as great a burden as it was a help.  The Jewish people became so engrossed by the law that it became their master.  Ironically, in their efforts to adhere to every nuance of the law in pursuit of personal righteousness the Israelites actually lost sight of God who alone is righteous.  In this passage, Paul instructs the Jews about faith based righteousness by reminding them of God’s offer of life and prosperity as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:12-14.  Paul’s message is that righteousness by faith in Christ is as readily accessible as it is available.

  If we have faith in Christ we need not look outside of ourselves in an unending quest for righteousness.  Rather, the word of faith is within us because as Paul explains “… it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” This is the essence of the Christian faith, the belief that Christ is the Lord who died in atonement of our sins, but rose from the dead in accord with God’s divine plan for the salvation of humankind. 

  When Paul says that if we confess that Jesus is Lord we will be saved he alludes to the completion of our redemption at the time of Christ’s return.  Faith surpasses obedience to the law because Christ, the living Lord, is the supreme priest who continuously intercedes to redeem our lives on earth and in heaven. God’s sacrificial gift of Christ and its assurance of eternal life, frees humankind from the tight reigns of the law.  For as we come to know God through Christ we conform to His will and ways out of love rather than fear of condemnation.

III.             Paul teaches that salvation is available to all who have faith in Christ (Romans 10:11-13)

  Paul teaches that God freely extends the gift of salvation to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, age or other wordly classifications. As a result, God’s gift of salvation is as universal as the love that purchased it.  God’s singular requirement for salvation is faith in Christ.   “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all… Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 This is because God is impartial.  The Creator looks straight to the heart and is in no way influenced by our outward appearance. Therefore, it is fitting that faith in Christ must be rooted in the heart. Proverbs 4:23 declares that the heart is the “wellspring” of life. The Bible also teaches that what is in our heart determines our character.  (Matthew 6:18) Likewise our heart controls our words, which generally direct our actions. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) On that account, Paul teaches that a person must first believe in his or her heart that Christ is God’s chosen Messiah then confess by mouth that Jesus is, in deed, Lord.

 

IV.             Paul insists that the good news of salvation in Christ must be shared so others may believe (Romans 10:14-17)

  In this final passage of our focal scripture, Paul teaches that believers must spread the gospel message so that others may hear of the gift of salvation in Christ and believe. Since this segment of the letter is primarily directed to the Jews, Paul is responding to the assertion that they were not given a real chance to hear and accept the gospel prior to this. 

  True to his legal training, Paul makes his argument for evangelism through a series of rhetorical questions that establish the requirements of God’s gift of salvation in Christ.  Though Paul’s questions present these in reverse order, the requirements are (1) God sends messengers, (2) they declare the gospel, (3) the good news is heard and (4) the message of salvation is believed.  For as Paul teaches, to call on Christ and be saved a person must first believe in him.

  In verse 16, Paul highlights the requirement of heartfelt belief.  He does this by recalling that Isaiah foretold the gift of salvation in Christ.  Accordingly, the Israelites were the first to hear God’s plan to redeem humanity through Christ.  “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.”

  As a result, Paul concludes that faith only comes from hearing the message through the word of Christ.  To this end, it is up to Christ’s messengers to lead others to God. Therefore, Paul teaches that God is honored when Christians share the good news of salvation by faith so that others may hear and believe.

The Main Thought Explained

  “And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?  And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14-15

 

 Here Paul utilizes a series of rhetorical questions to state his position in support of the spread of the gospel of salvation in Christ. This method evidences Paul’s legal training.  In the Rabbinical technique, Paul’s inquiries present the main point first then each sub-issue follows in logical order.

  When we consider the second question in our focal scripture we may be tempted to think it applies only to the ordained clergy.  We must take care not to accept this interpretation although it quite graciously lets us off the hook.  This is because the Bible clearly teaches that believers are to follow Christ’s example and continue his work of redeeming lost souls to the Creator.  Particularly as Christians who have chosen the Baptist tradition, we ascribe to the priesthood of all believers. (1 Peter 2:9) 

  God wants each of us whether lay person or ordained and regardless of our role or title to share the message of salvation in Christ.  However, to do this to God’s honor and glory we must first develop a vital personal relationship with Him.  Accordingly, with the help of the Holy Spirit we should earnestly study the Word and yield ourselves to God’s guidance so that our testimony will lead others to Him rather than astray. 

Bible Study Notes - Living the Gospel - Romans 12:1-21

Bible Study Notes 

Living the Gospel – Romans 12:1-21

Introduction

Jesus teaches the two highest laws require that we (1) love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and (2) our neighbors as ourselves.  Those laws crystallize the teachings of the books of the law and the prophets.  They also summarize the gospel.  But, they can easily remain lofty ideals in the life of believers.

The gospel commands us to demonstrate the love of Christ to all persons, particularly fellow Christians.  Jesus says the world will know that we are His followers by the love that we show each other.  Visitors to our churches and newcomers to the faith should marvel at the genuinely shared love which they observe amongst believers.  Moreover, not only should they feel this love but also they ought to be amazed at our willingness to share it with others.

How do we love each other as instructed by our Lord?  We merely follow His example.  Yet, this seems so idyllic to the average believer that it remains a lofty goal.  In today’s lesson, the Apostle Paul rescues us from the doldrums of thinking this purpose as impractical and unattainable.  Through his teachings to the Romans, Paul details very practical and helpful changes that we make in order to express the love of Christ.

First, Paul insists we begin with a wholesale change of our minds.  We abandon the world’s outlook on relationships, as we strengthen our knowledge and commitment to the Lord’s teachings and example.  As recipients of grace and mercy, we offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices, willing vessels set apart to share His love and fulfill His mission.  In resisting the “pattern of this world,” we are poised for mental renewal.  Our new perspective empowers us to discern, verify and accomplish “God’s will - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Second, this mental transformation equips us to practically establish the love of Christ between believers.  Otherwise, the self-seeking of the secular world will permeate the body of Christ.  Each day, we renew our commitment to the teachings of Christ.  We learn new and practical ways to show our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and humankind.  From “blessing those who persecute you” to “overcome evil with good,” we practiced the principles Paul teaches.

Lesson Setting

The Romans prided themselves giving the gift of law to the world.  Whereas Africa delights of the anthropologist and the philosopher resides in Greece, Rome enchanted the legally minded.  Generally, we think of the Romans when we ponder law and order.  More than military might, law and order held that vast empire together.  That stability allowed the Pax Romana, the two hundred-year periods in which Rome enjoyed peace and rest from warfare.  During that time, neither internal rebellion nor civil disturbance did occur because of the legal code.

There were stringent requirements for handling the legal affairs of Roman citizens.  Paul appeals to these rights upon his arrest in Acts 22:22-29. In fact, Roman civility laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights of Anglo-American law.  Beyond the letter, the principles of individual rights and good citizenship maintained an orderly society and established justice.

Paul exhorts the church in Rome to exceed the laws and practices of the larger society.  Living the dictates of the gospel surpasses the letter of the law.  The requirements of the love of God in Christ demand more from us than the state’s legal code.  Believers are charged with the responsibility of demonstrating adherence to these higher laws.  Instead of merely reciting and memorizing the gospel, we must live it.

The gospel is the story of God’s love for humankind through the sacrifice of his Son.  Acceptance of this love necessitates sharing it with others.  If people truly extended themselves to others as Christ gave Himself for us, then many of the laws governing relationships would not be needed.  Crime and civil lawsuits would decrease significantly.  Additionally, poverty, homelessness, epidemics, hunger, and illiteracy would be resolved in record time.  This vision of a new world order begins in the church as Christians live the gospel.

Exposition

I. A Total Change (Romans 12:1-3)

Metamorphosis is the Greek word used to describe the change that Paul recommends to the Romans.  It equals the transformation that a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly.  Similarly, the Roman Christians should resist the licentiousness of their day.  They could successfully achieve this objective by a complete renewal of their minds.  As they reoriented their thinking, then they would redirect their purposes in life.  Rather than living to satisfy their passions and desires, they would live to please God.  Living to the glory of God was nothing less than a conversion of one’s being.

Paul cites God’s mercy as the basis of his appeal.  Full appreciation for the pardoning of our sins should urge us to lead a life of gratitude.  “In view of God’s mercy” toward us, we embrace self-denial.  We offer our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”  In lieu of paying the atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16), the sin offering (Leviticus 4), the guilt offering (Leviticus 7:1-11) or other required sacrifices, we give the ultimate service.  We worship God with words and deeds that are acceptable in His sight.

A life of holiness, to be clearly set apart for divine service, can only be sustained through a renewal of the mind.  Naturally, we are not programmed to live a holy life.  We instinctually and socially pursue personal happiness and satisfaction.  Accomplishing a divine plan and serving others generally do not rank as priorities.  The pattern of this world tells us that we can make ourselves in anyone we choose to be.  As rugged individuals, we determine our destinies and leave others to pursue their goals.  Thus, a change in the course of our lives requires a redirection of our purposes.  We first make a fundamental shift in our behavior to move toward holiness.  We can only continue this way of life as we make equal transitions in our thinking.

In order to separate from the world’s pattern, a thorough self-evaluation is necessary.  Paul asks the Roman Christians to honestly examine themselves, utilizing the faith God had given them.  Pride is a residual of the world’s philosophy.  By discarding self-importance, believers separate themselves from the world’s perspective.  They use “sober judgment” to see their worth in the eyes of God.  This in turn allows them to progress toward a relationship with God grounded in the holiness of His character.  As that bond grows, believers desire to know the will of God, accept the will of God and live within the will of God.  Since God’s will runs directly opposite to the world, then the believer’s purpose in life is completely different.  The French have a phrase, raison de `tre, which means reason for being.  Paul admonishes the Romans that their reason for being was living out the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.  As they rigorously appraised themselves, they would conclude that living for God surpasses anything the patterns of this world offer.

II. Love in Action (Romans 12:9-13)

Putting love into action is the essence of the gospel.  God loved the world so much that He gave His Son.  Earlier in the letter, Paul reminds the Romans that God demonstrates His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Therefore, the clearest indication that we comprehend the depth of God’s love for us is to put it into action.  As living sacrifices, we live a life of appreciation.  We live so that we can justly relate to a holy and loving God.  The words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts should be pleasing in His sight.  We live to honor and glorify Him.  Moreover, His love is not reserved for a select few.  He loves us equally.  As a consequence, we also demonstrate our love for Him by sharing it with others in words and deeds.  Love is most clearly known by our actions rather than out words.

Paul gives the Roman Christians a list of ways to live their faith in relationship to God and their fellow believers.  In fact, this love extended to everyone, even those persons who persecuted the church.  In this passage (Romans 12:9-13), he begins with a list of directions for the treatment of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  “Love must be sincere.”  Caring for God’s people cannot be done with ulterior motives.  Otherwise, it will nor be done with the faithfulness that He requires.  Also, it will not touch people in the way God intends.  Recipients of the genuine love of Christ are converted by that love. In return, they share it with others so that they may be changed.  However, none of this transformation will occur if people since they are a charity project or a community service assignment.  Even the criminal courts sentence people to hours of community service.  Nonetheless, God’s love arises from a changed heart.  In addition, the love of the gospel despises evil and seeks justice.  Love is not an effeminate and weak position.  It insists upon an arrangement in which all persons can become whole persons before God.  Accordingly, the sincerity of our love for each other requires an unwavering devotion.  It parallels that found in the love shared between siblings in a close nuclear family.  When we implement that model and practice in the church, we esteem others above ourselves.  In essence, brotherly and sisterly love involves putting the needs of others above our selfish desires.

Stoking the fires of enthusiasm helps us maintain our devotion to the service of the Lord and each other.  Paul encourages the Romans to maintain a high energy level.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  As we progress in the Christian life and face its concomitant challenges, it is very easy to become dull and experience a loss of excitement.  This decrease in eagerness will translate into a loss of commitment to the ministry of our Lord.  Whereas we always met the needs of others, we will begin to do occasionally.  Faithfulness, duty and reliability will no longer be our stronger attributes.  Instead, Paul says “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Joy, patience and faithfulness are the spiritual disciplines most central to service.  Despite our circumstances, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”  Our immeasurable gratitude for God’s love in Christ fuels our efforts to share it with others.  Converting others with the love of Christ requires patience in the face of rejection.  Prayer is the ultimate source of power to love and minister.  Attempting these deeds without prayer is virtually meaningless.  Prayer, time in the presence of God, empowers us with spiritual zeal so that we can effectively serve the church and the world.

Service to God equals meeting the needs of others.  We are His chosen instruments of love, healing, grace, and mercy.  Those attributes translate into day-to-day needs of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, employment, and education.  We live the gospel by sharing our resources of time, money, talent, and connections, with others who need them.  Paul instructs them, “practice hospitality.”  Living the gospel is not a theory.  It is action which must be done consistently.  Just as athletes practice each day to refine and strengthen their skills, believers should live the gospel through practicing deeds of kindness and love.

III.  God’s love for all (Romans 12:14-21)

Christianity was considered an illegal religion in the Roman Empire at the time that Paul writes.  Hence, Christians were severely persecuted by the emperors and authorities because believers pledged a higher allegiance to Christ than they did the government.  Nero and Caligula were the worst persecutors of Christians.  Yet, Paul urges the church to show the love of God to all people even those who mistreat believers.  In this final section, Romans 12:12-21, Paul offers rules for Christian living which would make society a just place if everyone followed them.  Though deemed illicit, Christianity possessed the power to create a more peaceful society than the laws of the empire.

There are several major principles articulated in these verses.  Forgiveness of those who harm us is necessary for us to lead fruitful lives.  Empathy means rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.  Harmonious living starts with a personal intention to dwell peacefully with all people.  Willingness to associate with average people should forever remain a distinction of the church.  Our churches cannot become social clubs that mimics the class divisions of the dominant society.  From its inception, Christianity has always welcomed people from all strands of life.  The future of the church depends upon our willingness to affirm the worth of all persons regardless of their education, job, genealogy, neighborhood, etc.  Furthermore, God best handles revenge.  “The Lord will repay.”  If believers seek the destruction of others, then it is difficult to share God’s love with them.  If our tactics parallel the dominant society, then what separates us?  More significantly, Christians must maintain integrity in all our affairs.  As we “do right in the eyes of everybody,” we glorify God and open doors for the gospel message.  Rather than vengeance, our approach is to feed our hungry enemy and give him water when he is thirsty.  Thereby, we transform him with the love of the gospel.

The Main Thought Explained

Whereas we may come to Christ through a dramatic incident similar to Paul’s conversion on the Damascus road, we fundamentally sustain  this experience through the transformation of our minds.  The exuberance will not last forever.  It is likely to evaporate when the first test of faith comes.  However, if we have strengthen ourselves with a new way of thinking, then we will be able to face all challenges.  Furthermore, we continually separate ourselves from the world’s philosophy as we are reoriented toward God’s will.

Bible Study Notes - We are the Lord's - Romans 14:1-13

Bible Study Notes 

We Are The Lord’s – Romans 14:1-13

Introduction

As society generally and the church specifically undergoes a major generational shift, today’s lesson is very instructive.  Older believers face the challenge of accepting the new believers who have no knowledge of Christ and the institutional church.  These “unchurched” persons come sincerity and zeal.  Yet, they also have a lot of the social mores of the world.  In some instances, they have not cleaned-up their language.  Some of them have a very liberal outlook on sexuality.  Others do not want to dress-up to attend church.  Still, others do not have anything wrong with living together before marriage.  Some new believers do not see any conflicts between the Christian faith and abortion, capital punishment, physician-assisted suicide and other major moral and political issues of today.  In contrast, mature believers have settled positions on all these issues.  They have long since established a set of Christian beliefs and behaviors.  Older believers fail to understand why “generation x” and those who follow them do not radically change upon their baptisms.  This serious and provocative generational conflict also plagued the church at Rome.

In the church at Rome, there were those who were considered as “strong” believers because their understanding of Christian liberty allowed them to eat meet, drink wine and forego certain Sabbaths and holiday festivals.  They did not consider these activities as central to determining their faith.  Also, there were those who were labeled as “weak” believers because they insisted upon vegetarianism, observing all Sabbaths and other aspects of the law.  Maintaining those behaviors was significant to demonstrating the Christian faith, in their estimation.  Yet, these two groups had to worship and serve the Lord together as one body.  The Apostle Paul wrote his letter, our book of Romans, to them to aid them in resolving these conflicts.  Today’s passage is a document designed for the purposes of reconciling these warring camps of believers.

Contemporary Christians face similar conflicts.  The pressures of the surrounding secular and humanistic society have infiltrated the church.  Newcomers bring many of those values with them.  Moreover, their ignorance of the culture and mores of the institutional church exacerbates this problem.   The process of transformation into a Christian belief system tends to be slow.  In fact, it seems glacial in some instances.  Consequently, mature believers become rather impatient with “generation x” Christians and the “unchurched.”  Unfortunately, their impatience turns into judgmentalism as they insist that new believers must begin to mimic them.  Then, the question arises as to how these two groups of believers will accept each other, as children equally loved of God. 

The answers are found in Paul’s wise and enduring recommendations to the church at Rome.  He straightforwardly defines the controversy.  Paul practically describes the issues.  More significantly, he addresses the attitudinal adjustments necessary to bring harmony among the believers.  Essentially, each side must meet halfway.  Acceptance will be mutually beneficial.  Personal behavior is not foundational to the Christian faith.  The example of Christ’s life is.  Therefore, believers should not unduly involve themselves in “disputable matters”, which remain open to interpretation and cannot be finally resolved.  Thus, all believers should avoid putting unnecessary stumbling blocks in the paths of their brothers and sisters. 

Christians in the U.S. currently confront the same predicament.  The emphasis on holiness alienates a lot of believers.  It repels possible converts to the faith.  Some believers evangelize as if new believers must be perfect and holy upon baptism.  These roadblocks prevent many from entering the highway of abundant and eternal life.  In removing them, we should join hands and travel together toward the New Jerusalem.

Lesson Setting

The phrase, “when in Rome, do as the Romans,” speaks to the sin and licentiousness that were so prevalent in the society.  Despite order and structure that law gave Roman society, civil liberties were extended to the maximum to indulge the physical passions.  In fact, people’s behavior was so base that the word debauchery was used to describe it.  There was a cult of prostitution in which religion was utilized to sanction this practice.  Secular historians and Christian theologians agree that the depravity of the society contributed to its demise and the ultimate fall of the great empire.

Against this background, the Apostle Paul taught the church about the new freedom that Christ offers.  He tells the Corinthian church that everything is permissible but not necessarily beneficial.  To the Galatian church, he says walk in the freedom in which Christ has made you free.  This teaching evidently alarmed the older believers in the Roman church.  They probably still adhered to the customs of the Jewish law, which they knew from childhood.  They perceive Paul’s stress on liberty as presenting a real danger to the new Christian movement.  The older believers wondered whether the teaching on freedom would lead a pervasive permissiveness in the church.

They responded by establishing requirements for new believers early on.  They thought that people should most clearly come to Christ through the law.  As they followed the law, then they would not lapse into the licentiousness of the Roman society.  These restrictions resulted in the formation of two camps within the church at Rome.  The “strong” believers’ faith allowed them to enjoy the freedom of Christ without violating any of the essentials ethics.  The “weak” members needed the quantitative adherence to the law to validate their Christian faith.  Tensions between the camps rose to a boiling point as they began to judge and admonish each other.

Exposition

I.  Avoid Useless Arguments Over Opinions (Romans 14:1-4)

Believers should welcome newcomers to the faith.  In so doing, they should free accept their weaknesses without judging their behavior.  Since a person’s actions do not verify their Christian faith, “proper” behavior is definitely debatable.  These “disputable matters,” as Paul refers to them, must not supercede the importance of welcoming all believers to the church.

Furthermore, when believers disagree, they should resist condemning each other.  Paul uses eating meat as an example of a possible disagreement.  Whether you eat meat or are a vegetarian, you still should accept all members of the church.  All believers are God’s servants; fundamentally, we are answerable only to Him.  We are not required to justify ourselves to anyone, within or without of the church.  Regardless of your dietary preferences, you must recognize and respect all of your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul asks “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?”  As workers for God, he will judge us.  We need not judge each other, particularly over petty issues, which do not significantly determine our faith.  God will empower us to persevere in the faith.  Our fallacious attempts at self-righteousness and self-justification will earn us absolutely nothing.  Therefore, we are called to love each other in mutual respect as we fulfill the Lord’s commands.

II.  Personal Practices Should Glorify God (Romans 14:5-6)

Believers who choose to observe special days and abstain from meat must ensure that they do so with integrity and as a personal witness to the glory of God.  Otherwise, they will be guilty of hypocrisy and may fall into self-righteousness.  Even those who consider each day as a gift from God and who eat meat must strive for integrity.  Each person must be fully convinced in his mind.  That personal resolution allows our actions to glorify God rather than ourselves.  All that we do as believers, whether observing rituals or not, must be done to the honor and glory of the Lord.  As we eat meat or adhere to a vegetarian diet, we do giving thanks to Almighty God for the food we receive.  We should have equal gratitude for the daily spiritual practices and disciplines that we observe.  In His infinite mercy, God has called us into a new way of life.  His grace allows us to resist the ways of the world and live to His glory.  Whether that translates into dietary restrictions, special observances or a certain dress code, we thank Him for the spiritual guidance that enables us to live with integrity before Him.

III.  Accountable to God (Romans 14:7-12)

As believers, we belong to the Lord and thus are accountable to Him.  Christ’s death and resurrection made Him Lord of all, the living and the dead.  Therefore, whether dead or alive, we are the Lord’s and remain accountable to Him for our choices and actions.  Ultimately, we will explain ourselves to the Lord at His judgment seat.  Faithfulness to our witness of Him as evidenced in the integrity of our actions will be a major consideration. 

Because the Lord will eventually judge us on the basis of our beliefs and adherence to them, others need not and should not judge us.  Believers must avoid the temptation to judge others by the yardstick of their personal behavior.  The Lord will be the better judge given that He knows all of the facts and circumstances in a given situation.  Moreover, since the Lord made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, only He is qualified to judge.

IV.  Don’t Hinder the Walk of Others (Romans 14:13)

Rather than hindering the spiritual development of others, we should resolve to respect and support each on this Christian journey.  First, we stop passing judgment on each other.  We tolerate differences in beliefs and actions.  Second, we accept those with whom we differ for their personal contributions.  Third, we resolve to refuse to place any stumbling blocks in their paths.  For those who are weak, we cease requiring others to follow our behavior.  Those who are strong cannot fling their freedom in the face of others.  A strong believer cannot have a glass of wine in front of a weak believer who has a drinking problem.  As believers grow in their understanding of the love of Christ and the patience, which it fosters, we find a mutually respectable common ground of tolerance toward each as we journey together.

Lesson Overview

Ironically, the gift of freedom can lead to the bondage of self.  Some people utilize their freedom for the purposes of self indulgence.  They take a “foot loose and fancy free” attitude toward life.  This approach is not acceptable for liberated believers in Christ.  Individual freedom is interwoven with collective free.  As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “No one is free until everyone is free.”  Such is the case in the body of Christ.  Therefore, no one can exercise his personal freedom to the extreme of inhibiting someone else’s liberty.  Christ calls us to a freedom of loving each other.  Sometimes that love requires that we purposefully limit the use of our freedom so that others may know blessings and joys of liberty in Christ.  If the collective body of believers is not free then the individual persons are not either.

The Main Thought Explained

Our freedom in Christ should not result in the meaningless comparison of who is more or less mature in the Lord.  We must resolve to “no longer pass judgment on one another.”  Degrees of liberty ultimately determine nothing.  What counts in the eyes of the Lord is how we utilize the gift of freedom to share His love with all of His children.  We have been liberated to love out of appreciation of the gift of God’s love in Christ.  Accordingly, we “resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.”  Loving as free persons means that we direct our freedom to the objective of ensuring that all believers share in this magnificent gift of love.

Bible Study Notes - is There Hope? -Romans 8:18-39

Bible Study Notes - Is There Hope?

Romans 8:18-39

Introduction

  Illness, loss, disappointment, confusion, disillusionment and a myriad of other challenges are a reality of life.  Christians do not escape these rough patches in the road.  Rather, our faith in God equips us to face life’s obstacles and detours.  This is because our personal relationships with God give true purpose to our lives. 

  Consequently, when we view our hardships through the prism of faith we experience them in proper perspective. No matter how desperate the times seem, we know our God is the creator of all things. Ultimately, He will restore the universe to righteousness.  God has promised that those who live in Christ shall know the glory of this future time.

  Until then, God has given believers the Holy Spirit as a sign of our adoption.  The Spirit draws us to God and to Christ.  It can reveal to each of us the proper application of God’s Word to our particular situation.  In this way, the Holy Spirit enables us to fully embrace the hope we have in God. Today’s lesson provides an opportunity to focus on the sustaining hope God gives us for both our present and our future.  

Lesson Setting

  The Apostle Paul is the accepted author of the letter to the Romans.  The historical references and doctrinal arguments presented in this letter concur with Paul’s other writings.  It is generally thought that Paul most likely wrote the letter to the Romans while on his third missionary journey during the first quarter of A.D. 57. Although Paul was eager to minister to the Roman church, he felt compelled to return to Jerusalem to deliver the missionary offering he had collected for the needy believers there.

  As a result, a primary purpose of this letter was to prepare the Christians in Rome for Paul’s planned visit.  The letter is a well thought out presentation of Paul’s intended ministry in Rome.  For a church that had not yet received the gospel message from one of Christ’s apostles, this letter provided a practical outline of God’s plan for salvation. Paul takes care to specifically address the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers in teaching about God’s universal plan for the redemption of humankind.  This was important because there were mounting tensions between Gentiles and Jews in the church.  The main source of contention was the Jewish followers continued adherence to religious laws including those pertaining to circumcision, dietary restrictions and observance of sacred days. 

  Paul tackled the role of the law in relation to the freedom that Christ secured for believers by his death and resurrection.  Paul explained that all people, Jew and Gentile, fell short of righteousness before God. Therefore, Paul urged believers to put their whole faith in Christ rather than rely on their own works in the hope of gaining favor with God.  Paul assured the recipients of his letter that God’s love for them and the divine gift of salvation in Christ that came from it was the source of hope to face every adversity.

  The focus of today’s lesson,  “Is there Hope?”, is a significant theme addressed throughout Paul’s letter.  It was a critical concern because the early Christians to whom Paul wrote faced seemingly endless persecution as a direct result of their faith.  In fact, Christianity was illegal until the reign of Constantine. So the suffering that Paul speaks of in our focal scripture is that associated with the religious oppression that he and his fellow believers faced.  He speaks authoritatively because he personally endured physical and emotional pain because of his commitment to Christ and his teachings.

  Paul is widely noted for his ability to effectively preach the gospel message to all types of people regardless of religious background or socio-economic status.  Perhaps, his personal suffering for the cause of Christ prepared him for this far-reaching ministry.  Paul himself declared, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) Furthermore, Paul explained that he humbly set aside the worldly prestige of his lineage in the tribe of Benjamin, his educational achievements and his career status as a Pharisee.  Viewed in proper perspective, Paul considered these assets “rubbish” compared to the riches of knowing God through Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Philippians 3:4-8)

Exposition

I.                   There is Hope for the End of Suffering  (Romans 8:18-21)

  Paul teaches that in the future Kingdom of the Lord the creation will return to perfect order as in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, the pain and suffering Christians experience now will pass. Under Christ’s righteous reign we will be completely free of all pain whether physical, psychological or spiritual. Paul maintains that the depth of the suffering we now know cannot compare to that of the joy we will experience when we see the glory God will reveal to us.

 Paul also states that apart from humankind, all creation – both animate and inanimate - awaits the glorious future. As a result of Adam’s sin, creation was forced to experience disorder and decay together with humankind.  Consequently, the creation eagerly awaits the revelation of God’s children.  The hope of creation is that it will share the future freedom of the children of God just as it shared their bondage.

II.                There is Hope for the Full Benefits of our Spiritual Adoption (Romans 8:22-25)

 

  When we consider God’s future glory and his desire that we experience it with Him, we cannot help but hold to our faith.  We are encouraged because we know at that time God will identify His true sons and daughters and completely restore all creation. In fact, our love for God sometimes makes us eager for our Lord’s magnificent reign. 

  However, Christ has not abandoned us until that time.  Rather, the Savior promised the Holy Spirit. God gives believers this gift as a seal of spiritual adoption. Therefore, we hope for the glorious future when we will enjoy the full benefits of God’s parenthood, but we wait without anxiety.  For we know that God is already redeeming us by restoring purpose to our lives. 

  As we wait, we look to mature in our relationship with God secured by our savior Christ Jesus.  We are thankful that the Kingdom presently resides in our hearts.  Accordingly, we ask God to prepare, guide and use us to accomplish His work here and now.

III.             There is Hope in the Intercession of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)

 

  God also gave believers the Holy Spirit to help us through difficult and confusing times.  Even when our very faith is so tested that we are unable to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes.  At these times when we feel most wretched, the Holy Spirit can draw us to God with groans that communicate what is on our hearts in a way words cannot.  In so doing, the Holy Spirit helps us to realign ourselves with God’s will.

IV.             There is Hope in the Justification that Christ Offers (Romans 8:31-34)

  When we are distressed by the chaos of this world, believers can find some relief in the knowledge that God forgives.  Out of love, God designed the intricate plan that sustains the believer’s reconciliation with Him.  According to this plan: (a) Christ died; (b) he rose again to assume the position of authority at the right hand of God; and (c) now he continually mediates on our behalf.

  Since God made the ultimate sacrifice of His Son to save us, surely He will do whatever else is necessary to complete the work of the Kingdom.  At the cross, Christ paid the price for humankind’s sin once and for all.  Those who accept Christ as Savior are justified in him.  Because of God’s grace believers are free of condemnation to rightly relate to Him and to do His work. 

V.                There is Hope in the Endurance of God’s Love (Romans 8:38-39)

  Paul was convinced that God’s love is steadfast.  Paul’s maturing relationship with God enabled him to appreciate the enduring nature of His love.  Paul was drawn to God’s love even from the time of his misguided persecution of Christians, to his conversion and his call to gospel ministry. 

 

  Paul’s experience persuaded him that God’s love conquers all things.  After all, it is the Father’s love for us that fueled the divine plan for our redemption.  This love even required God’s unselfish sacrifice of His only Son for the pardon of humankind’s sin.

  According to God’s plan, believers are crucified with Christ and made dead to sin.  Likewise we are resurrected with our Savior and made alive in the Spirit. In the new life we live in the Spirit nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Main Thought Explained

  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.”

 

  Here, Paul assures us that the suffering that Christians experience is only temporary.  In the glorious time to come we will be free of all pain whatever its source - physical, psychological and spiritual.  Under the Lord’s sovereign rule we will want for nothing.

  The glorious future that Paul speaks of is the culmination of God’s plan of reconciliation with humankind. This magnificent reunion in the coming Kingdom of our Lord is the reason for Jesus’ death upon the cross. When we consider this righteous time when we will be free to love and serve God without limitation the weight of our present suffering seems less oppressive.  We know that we will see the glory of our Lord only because of God’s saving grace. 

  

Bible Study Notes - Living by the Truth - Galatians 6:1-9 and 2:1-21

Bible Study Notes 

Living by the Truth – Galatians 6:1-9 & 2:1-21

Introduction

  Quite often when we do things for the wrong reasons we experience an hollow victory. In this lesson we learn that we face a similar outcome when we choose not to live by the truth.  God gave humankind the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  In so doing, God made it clear that Christ is the key. 

  Therefore, Christ’s revelation of God’s character surpasses that of the law.  He is humankind’s supreme guide to eternal life with God.  According to God’s plan, we experience justification through faith in Christ alone - not by our good works regardless of quality or quantity.  The gospel of Christ is the truth by which believers are to live.  This is because God has given us the real victory in Christ, our savior and our Lord. 

Lesson Setting

  Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians to address the criticism of the Gospel raised by a group of Jewish – Christians who fanatically opposed the apparent displacement of the law in the new church.  The “Judaizers”, as they are called, began to infiltrate the Galatian churches soon after Paul’s departure.  They claimed to be the true messengers of Christ because they were the descendants of Abraham and the apprentices of the twelve apostles. 

  These Judaizers further boasted that they had seen and heard Christ teach during his ministry on earth.  On the bases of their heritage as well as their experiences with Christ and his apostles, the Judaizers asserted their superior qualifications to direct the churches of Galatia.  To this end, they sought to discredit Paul and undermine his authority. 

  Specifically, the Judaizers focused on the fact that Paul’s call to ministry came after Christ’s earthly walk.  In deed, it came many years into Paul’s chosen line of work as a highly successful persecutor of the Church of Christ. The Judaizers also noted that Paul’s interaction with Christ’s chosen apostles was limited at best. 

  Accordingly, the Judaizers asserted that Paul’s knowledge and authority regarding Christ was subordinate to their own.  They depicted Paul as a self-anointed religious rebel.  They argued that Paul’s irreverent gospel of justification though faith in Christ alone was precisely calculated to win popularity among the masses by subverting the laws of the Jewish religious system. 

  Paul writes the letter to the Galatian churches to address the Judaizers accusations.  Consequently, the first two chapters of this letter are devoted to Paul’s confident defense of the God given authority of his ministry and his message.

 

Exposition

I.          Paul maintains that he is a true apostle of Christ authorized by God rather than humans (Galatians 1:1-2)

  At the very opening of his letter to the Galatians, Paul launches his defense against the Judaizers accusations that his call to ministry was at best subordinate to their own.  Specifically, Paul identifies himself as “an apostle – sent not from men nor by men, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers with me.” 

 

  Paul’s choice of words imply that the Judaizers who came to preach to the churches of Galatia after him were inspired solely by other human beings.  The exclusive purpose of their self determined call was to hinder the gospel message.  In contrast Paul asserts that his call is of the highest possible character because it comes directly from Christ in accord with the work of God the Father.

  The Judaizers primarily based their challenge to Paul’s apostleship on the fact that he was not one of the twelve who studied under Christ.  Secondarily, these detractors noted that Paul was a vigilant persecutor of Christians prior to his ministry.  However more often than not, God in his omniscience will call a person of faith into service regardless of circumstance.  For instance, the apostles added Matthias to their number by asking God to indicate his pleasure when they cast lots to choose between two candidates. 

  Of course the Judaizers would remark that Christ’s apostles had a hand in Matthias’ appointment.  Nevertheless, Paul maintained a direct call from God on the Demascus road.  Paul’s conversion experience was marked by his receipt of the gospel by divine revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul says that when God revealed Christ to him so that he might preach the good news of salvation by faith to the Gentiles, he accepted his appointment.  Paul did not take time to ponder his call with the apostles or anyone else.  Rather, in faith Paul accepted Christ and the justification that is available through him alone.  (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-17)

  Accordingly, Paul set aside his prior life and immediately embarked on his new life of preaching the gospel that others might be redeemed of God.  Paul makes it clear that the gospel he received from Christ was in no way influenced by man because he was three years into his ministry before he went into Jerusalem and spent time with Peter and James.  Moreover, fourteen more years passed before he was moved to return to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles concerning his ministry. At that time, the apostles accepted Paul and agreed that he should continue preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. (Galatians 1:18-20, 2:1, 9-10)

 

II.        Paul is amazed at how quickly the Galatians stray from the gospel he gave them  (Galatians 1:6-9)

 

   Clearly, Paul’s history lends no credence to the Judaizers’ criticisms.  A generous analysis of the Judaizers’ motivation might disclose a desire to limit God’s gift of salvation to those who observe Jewish religious traditions rather than to discount Christianity on a whole.  This is because the Judiazers remained aligned with their brothers who held tight to the belief that the Israelites, as God’s chosen people, were the exclusive benefactors of his grace in any form. 

  Paul is astonished at how quick the Galatians are to accept the teachings of the Judaizers over the gospel he gave them.  He is amazed in part because the perverted theology of the Judaizers was so burdensome compared to the abundant life afforded by the freedom Christ purchased on the cross.  

  Paul declares that there is only one true gospel. It is the good news of God’s free grace.  All of humankind is offered new life in Christ because of God’s incomparable love and mercy.  Just as we are with shortcomings both real and perceived, God seeks to redeem us to him.  The key to God’s divine plan to restore us to right relationship with Him is our acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

  Paul cautions that any religious doctrine that seeks to add to or subtract from the promise of salvation through faith in Christ alone is contrary to God’s will.  Therefore, Paul warns the Galatians not to allow themselves to be confused by the Judaizers attempts to “pervert the gospel of Christ.” In deed, Paul calls for the eternal condemnation of anyone who preaches a message other than the good news of Christ previously accepted by the Galatians.  

 

III.             Paul teaches that people are not justified by doing the works of the law but by faith in Christ (Galatians 2:15-16)

 In the latter half of the second chapter of Galatians Paul recalls an encounter in Antioch when he found it necessary to confront the Apostle Peter concerning his refusal to eat with the Gentile converts in the presence of the Judaizers.  Paul identified Peter’s behavior as hypocritical because he had routinely broken bread with the Gentiles prior to the arrival of these representatives of the circumcision camp.

  Paul insisted that Peter as a Jewish convert living in the freedom afforded by Christ’s great sacrifice, knew that his actions were out of sync with the truth of the gospel.  Paul asked Peter how he could choose to exercise the freedom of Christian faith yet require the Gentiles to assume the restrictions of Jewish customs.

  Through this account, Paul teaches that people are justified by faith in Christ alone and not by good works under the law.  Paul’s point is that contrary to the Judaizers’ teaching there is nothing that any man or woman can do to enhance the gospel.  This is because we do not earn God’s love through our actions no matter how well intentioned they may be. 

 

  Rather, we are the recipients of justification through the saving work of Christ on earth and in heaven.  There is simply nothing we can do apart from placing our faith in Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the new life God has given us in him.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

IV.       Paul cautioned that justification by faith does not mean Christ condones sin (Galatians 2:17-18)

  One of the criticisms the Judaizers waged against Paul’s gospel message of justification by faith in Christ was that it condoned sin.  Specifically, the Judaizers asserted that humankind was in need of the full weight of the law to arrest its sinful nature. They alleged that humans would act in willful disregard for each other and the environment in which they live absent the law. The Judaizers further maintained that God gave the law to the Israelites for this very reason. On this basis, the Judaizers argued that Paul’s teachings were in fact contrary to God’s will. 

   In this passage Paul counters this position by explicitly advising that justification by faith does not mean that Christ condones sin.  Paul explains that even if in our effort to experience justification by faith it becomes clear that we are ourselves sinners that does not mean that Christ was the catalyst of our sin.  It is true that before Jesus’ ministry the Israelites knew sin as the violation of the laws God had given them to guide them in relationship with Him and each other. 

   On the other hand, Jesus teaches that the law is no longer the key.  This is not to say the law has no value.  For Christ said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)  God gave us Christ because the law could not redeem humankind. This is because while the law makes us aware of our transgressions, it does not empower us to do what is right by God, our neighbors and ourselves.  In light of this, Jesus directs his followers to look to the essence of the law rather than the letter of the law for guidance regarding God’s will and way. 

  Accordingly, Christians are not to be preoccupied with dietary restrictions, observance of holy days or the ritual of physical circumcision because these regulations do nothing to help us embrace God’s nature. Consequently, the only true circumcision for Christians is of the heart that our faith might dwell there.  We open ourselves in surrender to God’s grace and so accept His incomparable gift of salvation through Christ.  As believers we are guided by God’s character revealed in Jesus Christ.  We know how we are to exist in this world because Christ demonstrates God’s love as well as His holiness.  Surpassing any system of law, Christ is our ultimate guide to right relationship in this world and the next. 

  Yes, Christ suffered, died, and rose again for the pardon of humankind’s sin once and for all.  In obedience to God’s divine plan Christ thereby offers us an opportunity for a new life in him.  Reborn in Christ we are to continuously seek and obey God’s will for us.  On the other hand, Paul counsels that if we choose to resume our sinful patterns of behavior we squander the new life God has granted us.  In so doing we reject God’s will for us and accordingly we lay aside the gift of His saving grace. 

IV.             Paul explains that he died to the law in order to live in God, in recognition of Christ’s death (Galatians 2:19-21)

  In this passage Paul teaches from his personal experience.  Considering Paul’s passion we can well image the great effort he must have exerted to adhere to the law as a devout Jew.  In pursuit of righteousness, Paul must have tried with all his being to meet every requirement of the law.  Paul’s inherent inability to meet this standard forced him to confront his vulnerability to sin.  This revelation caused Paul to recognize that there was nothing he could do attain righteousness.  Paul’s only hope was in God’s mercy.  Paul found this personified in the Son, Jesus Christ.

  Once he encountered Christ, Paul abandoned his former way of life.  Paul’s conversion was so complete that he characterizes himself as dead to the law.  Specifically, Paul describes his experience as crucifixion with Christ.  Paul explains that the person he was died so that the one he became could live in the resurrection of Christ.  In this way, Paul recognizes the redeeming purpose of Christ’s death. 

  Paul’s appreciation of the grace God extended him through faith in Christ prohibits him from returning to the law as the Judaizers advocate.  Paul teaches that a return to a life of good works under the law is a rejection of God’s mercy, “…for if righteous could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”  (Galatians 2:21)

The Main Thought Explained

  “We have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law.” (Galatians 2:16)

 

  In this verse Paul teaches that all people are “justified” or pardoned by God by faith in Christ alone.  Paul wants to make it clear, particularly to his Jewish brothers and sisters, that good works in obedience to the law do not make a person righteous before God.  In accord with God’s plan for humankind’s redemption Christ is the key.

  God sacrificed Christ because the law was not sufficient to lead us to live in right relationship with Him or each another. We repeatedly fell short of adherence to the law both intentionally and unintentionally.  However, when we are reborn in Christ to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, we are empowered by the Spirit to do what is right in accord with His will.