Commentary on Romans.

[justbyfaith]

In v.4, we find that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. I have mentioned why to a certain extent in my commentary on the previous verse. We receive the love of God through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5); we receive the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14); and love is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law within us.

Gal 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Rom 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Rom 13:8, Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9, For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10, Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Gal 5:14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1Jo 5:3, For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

2Jo 1:6, And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

In v.5, those who are of the flesh will mind the things of the flesh; and those who are of the Spirit will mind the things of the Spirit. You are either regenerated or unregenerated. If you are regenerated (born again of the Holy Spirit), then the normal bent of your thinking will be towards the things of the Spirit, towards the things that are pleasing to the Lord, towards those things that are righteous. If you are unregenerated, then your thought life will be focused on things that aren't pleasing to the Lord.

In v.6, If your thought life is not towards what is righteous and pleasing to God, then you are headed towards spiritual death and may even be steeped in it. If your thought life is towards righteousness and what is pleasing to the Lord, then you are headed for life and are very likely already a recipient of everlasting life.

In v.7, If you are carnally-minded, then you are an enemy of the Lord, because you are not subject in your mind to the things that He says are righteous in His law. If you are spiritually-minded, then you are subject in your mind to God's law and cannot be otherwise.

I want to qualify this by saying that as believers in Christ we are not bound to the letter of the law but are obedient to the spirit of the law. For example, we do not have to wear phylacteries around our heads. But this is fulfilled in us in that the word is nigh us in our heart and in our mouth (Romans 10:8). It is not the specific details of what the law requires that matter, but we are to be obedient to the intent of the law that God has for us. It amounts to "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and, your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said that on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

That being said, the law is the specifics of God's love; and therefore it operates as a good gauge of sin and is an excellent schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

Once faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster; thus the definition for sin is changed. It is no longer defined for us as the transgression of the law, but as "whatsoever is not of faith" (Romans 14:23).

Before we came to the fulness of faith, however, sin was indeed defined for us by the law.

Matthew chapters 5-7 and Luke 6:20-49 show us what is Jesus' New Testament estimation of what the law requires.

We are told that if we walk in obedience to those things, we will have a foundation for the house that we are building; so that when the storms of life come, our house will not be destroyed. But if we don't obey, we are building our house on sand; and when the storms come our house will fall and its fall will be great.

Therefore the schoolmaster teaches us how to live and when we graduate from its jurisdiction we will never forget the lessons that it taught us; for they are wisdom by which we can live our lives more faithfully.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 8:8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom 8:10, And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Rom 8:11, But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Rom 8:12, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Rom 8:13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

In v.8, Being in the flesh; or walking according to the flesh, is not pleasing to the Lord.

In v.9, If the Holy Spirit dwells in you then you are not in the flesh and will not walk according to the flesh. Having the Spirit means walking according to the Spirit. If you do not have the Spirit you do not belong to Christ; and therefore if you do not walk according to the Spirit you very likely don't belong to Christ.

In v.10, If Christ is in you, your body is literally dead because of sin. There is a literal death of the body that takes place; and in v.11, the dead body is raised from the dead. It has been said that a corpse cannot be tempted. One preacher said, that there was a great alcoholic who died, and he could not be tempted with the best whiskey after he was dead. Our body being dead means that we cannot be tempted; we are dead and will be unresponsive to the temptation of sin.

In v.11, The Spirit of Christ raises us from the dead; and if we are raised by the Spirit of Christ, we are not raised to the old way of life; but we are raised to walk in newness of life. The body continues to be dead indeed unto sin (Romans 6:11) so that there is no response to the temptation to sin; you may as well be trying to tempt a corpse.

In v.12, Because of these things two things are basically true:

1) We are not obligated to walk according to the flesh; and,

2) We are obligated to not obey the flesh.

In v.13, spiritual death is the result of walking after the flesh; and spiritual life is the result of putting the deeds of the body to death in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In v.14, If we are led by the Spirit of God, we are the sons of God. We must, perhaps, learn what it means to listen to and heed and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. A scripture that comes to mind is Psalms 123:2:

Psa 123:2, Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

This would indicate that being led by the Spirit of the Lord means that we are continually looking to Him for direction. I do believe that He speaks to us through His word; and not necessarily through any voices that we might hear in our minds. For I have found that for the most part, voices that speak to the mind are not of the Lord; but that when the Lord speaks through His word you can know unmistakably that it is the direction of the Lord. He also knows how to confirm His word through people in the body of Christ.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 8:15, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom 8:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom 8:17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom 8:18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom 8:19, For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom 8:20, For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Rom 8:21, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom 8:22, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Rom 8:23, And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

In v.15,We have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear so that we are bound by sin. In Hebrews 2:14-15 it is written, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." The fear of death puts people in bondage to sin; but Jesus has promised us everlasting life: and this truth is able to set you free from sin. You will no longer be subject to bondage the moment you conquer the fear of death through the understanding that you are forgiven of your sins and therefore death has lost its sting. We have also received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. This means that if you are born again, you have a Spirit that sees God the Father as your Daddy: you have a love relationship with Him that is likened to that of a father to his infant child. He will take care of you. It is written,

Psa 131:1, [[A Song of degrees of David.]] LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Psa 131:2, Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Psa 131:3, Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

We can have this attitude of a weaned child if we have the Spirit of the Lord dwelling in us.

In v.16, His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, if we are children of God. Some deceive themselves into thinking that they are the children of God when in all reality they are not. But if you are a child of God, you can know that you have eternal life, 1 John 5:13.

In v.17, If you are a child of God, then you are a joint-heir with Christ of everything that the Lord created for His pleasure; it will also bring you pleasure when you enter the kingdom to partake of all that the Lord has created for you.

In v.18, We all go through suffering in this life; but if you are a child of God, the sufferings that you experience is nothing compared to the great reward that you will receive in heaven for being faithful. It is also written (2 Corinthians 4:17), "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." This life is like only a blip on the radar screen; it is but a vapour. But if you look to what is eternal and seek that which is of the eternal reward, then the length of eternity will far outweigh the temporary suffering that you may experience on this earth.

In v.19, The sons of God will be manifested some day; and it will be unto glorious liberty.

In v.20, We know that when we look at creation, the fact that animals are created to be predators indicates to us that God anticipated things like death. This verse says that God created things in such a way as to be subject to vain things like death in order that He might accomplish a greater purpose.

In v.21, The creation is going to be changed from being subject to the bondage of corruption and will be conformed to the liberty of the Holy Spirit: for it is written, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

In v.22, The whole creation is groaning because of the vanity that it has been subjected to; and we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves; because we are waiting for a transformation.

In v.23, This transformation that we are looking for is the adoption; which is defined as the redemption of our body. Now in Galatians 4:5-7, Paul states that the Galatians had already received this benefit called the adoption; their bodies were redeemed. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Hebrews 9:13-14, and Ephesians 5:30-32, all speak of this blessing. It is called the second benefit in 2 Corinthians 1:15. Other verses to keep in mind are Hebrews 10:14, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:3, 1 John 2:6, Jude 1:24, 2 Peter 1:10, and 1 John 2:10.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 8:23, And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:24, For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Rom 8:25, But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In v.23, the adoption is the redemption of the body. This can be accomplished in this life; as the Galatians were said in Galatians 4:5-7 to have the adoption accomplished within them.

In v.24, we find that we are saved by hope. If you think that you have no faith to save you, put your hope in God and you will be saved by it. Also, hope is something that by definition is not seen. Now in Hebrews 11:1, it is written, Heb 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In v.25, it is clear that we wait with patience for the redemption of the body, because we hope for what we see not. But faith is the substance of what we are hoping for; and the evidence of what is not seen. Therefore, we can have the substance of and the evidence of the redemption of the body even while we patiently wait for it. It should be clear that when we see Jesus, we will be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is; but that everyone who has this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure; i.e. the redemption of the body. This is being sanctified wholly in the spirit and the soul and the body, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. This is being purified in the flesh, Hebrews 9:13b-14a. This is being made one flesh with Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:30-32. And there is no sin in Him; and we are also in Him.

In v.26, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray when we don't know how to pray. This can be either tongues or it can also be Him helping you in your mind to know what to pray; or it can be the Lord praying through you with groanings of the Spirit that cannot be uttered in human language.

In v.27, Jesus the Son is the One who searches hearts; and He knows the mind of the Spirit because both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are of like mind; both of them make intercession for the saints according to the will of the Lord.

In v.28, we know that because God makes intercession for us to God, that He works all things out for our good; because we love Him and are called according to His purpose.

 

[Joseph77]

Therefore the only One who can accurately claim to be without sin is God.

Is there a Scripture about those in the life to come, being without sin then ?(since no sin is allowed in heaven - no abortion, no divorce, no greed, no tats, no idolatry, no other gods, no gays, no politics, etc etc etc )

 

[Joseph77]

That being said, the law is the specifics of God's love; and therefore it operates as a good gauge of sin and is an excellent schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

COOL!

 

[justbyfaith]

Is there a Scripture about those in the life to come, being without sin then ?(since no sin is allowed in heaven - no abortion, no divorce, no greed, no tats, no idolatry, no other gods, no gays, no politics, etc etc etc )

Those who believe in Christ are in Christ.

And Christ is God.

 

[Joseph77]

Those who believe in Christ are in Christ.

And Christ is God.

but even the demons believe. (and shudder in terror because they know their judgment is soon).
and in the life to come, they are not permitted in heaven, having already been thrown in the lake of fire prepared for them.

 

[justbyfaith]

but even the demons believe. (and shudder in terror because they know their judgment is soon).
and in the life to come, they are not permitted in heaven, having already been thrown in the lake of fire prepared for them.

Yes, this is true. There is a living and saving faith; and there is a nominal, lukewarm, and shallow faith that will not save anyone: in the latter the person may endure for a season but will in time of temptation fall away (Luke 8:13).

Living and saving faith is a heart faith that produces righteousness (Romans 10:10); and this righteousness is always practical (1 John 3:7, Romans 5:19, Matthew 5:6). Such a faith results in everlasting life, most verily (John 6:47).

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom 8:31, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:32, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

In v.29, predestination is according to foreknowledge. Those of us who are redeemed are already seated in the heavenlies worshipping the Lord; we are present in eternity as the redeemed. And God sees us there. So the Lord, in determining who He will exert the proper energy in seeking the redemption of people, chose to exert the perfect amount of energy towards those whom He knows will be redeemed. This may be part of the reason why we overcome the accuser of the brethren by the word of our testimony among other things. From our secure place in heaven where we will be, we relate to the Lord what it took in our lives for us to be redeemed; and the Lord accordingly works those things into our lives. Whereas those who decline to give testimony do not have that advantage.

Now we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within us that is ongoing and currently active in our lives. To have this accomplished in us does not necessarily mean that we will be immediately taken home to heaven; the Lord may indeed still have work for us to do once entire sanctification is accomplished in us.

Jesus is the firstborn (Greek: prototype) of those who come after Him. See Ephesians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Ephesians 5:30-32. We are all sons of God; and we are even begotten (1 Peter 1:3).

In v. 30, whom God predestinated, He also called; and whom He called, He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified. A few things. We have not yet been glorified, yet this is declared in past tense; it is as good as done. Also, if you were predestinated you will be called, yet this does not preclude that if you are called you have been predestinated. Likewise, if you are called you will be justified, yet this does not preclude that if you are justified you have also been called.

In v.31, If God be for us, who can be against us? He is the Almighty. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

In v.32, God the Father sacrificed His only begotten Son, and that is the ultimate sacrifice; therefore there is nothing else that He would even hold back from us since He has already given all.

In v.33, no one can lay any charge against the Lord's elect; because the Lord has already justified them through His precious blood. His blood covers all of our sin; and therefore nothing will be held against us on the day of judgment.

In v.34, it should be clear that the crucified Christ is the one who condemns; and it is also true that the risen Christ stands at the right hand of God and always makes intercession for us. How then shall we be condemned? Since the one who condemns is also the One praying that we will not be condemned?

 

[farouk]

@justbyfaith What a great chapter is Romans 8!

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 8:35, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36, As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8:37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:38, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In v.35, no one can separate us from the love of Christ; and neither can any circumstance. Neither tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, peril, nor sword, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In v.36, those who are truly born again are killed all the day long and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. This may not be from physical death; but in today's world Christians are subjected to spiritual death by being imprisoned in mental hospitals and injected with soul-killing drugs. They are conditioned to take them ever afterwards; if they don't they will be re-subjected to imprisonment in the mental health system. The way around this is to pray that Jesus will transmute the substance of the medications as He transmuted the water into wine; for He is certainly able to do this; and it is a more likely thing that this would take place than for the satanic mental health system to release someone that is under its grip by giving them a clean bill of mental health.

In v.37, we are more than conquerors even in the midst of our trials. The plans of the enemy will not prevail against us; and in the midst of our suffering we are a witness of the reality of Jesus Christ; so that those who see how we react to our suffering become convinced of the reality of the gospel and Christ's resurrection power.

In v.38-39, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. A few things. This is saying that either we will not sin as believers in the present or the future or else us is saying that present and/or future sin will not separate us from the love of God.

Also, the love of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord; and I believe that this in itself defeats morningstar doctrine.

If you don't know what that is, it's probably a good thing. Because it is one of the most destructive heresies in existence.

 

[justbyfaith]

@justbyfaith What a great chapter is Romans 8!

Indeed!

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:1, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Rom 9:2, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. Rom 9:3, For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Rom 9:4, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Rom 9:5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

In v.1, Paul is needing to qualify his next statements by making certain that his hearers understand that he is telling the truth, so he says, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. if anyone says these words in order to substantiate their words, you can be certain that if they then go about lying that they will be the subjects of the Lord's judgment.

In v.2 Paul had great heaviness and sorrow in his heart concerning what he is about to speak of.

In v.3, It is his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh that he is concerned about. He could even wish that he were accursed from Christ (not saved) if it would mean that they could be saved.

In my own life I read these scriptures and at the time I had a real issue with the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints; especially as it is purported in its greasy-grace equivalent, Once-Saved-Always-Saved (OSAS). I felt that it was dangerous to the body of Christ; in that it took away the fear of the LORD that would act as a keeping influence in the lives of many Christians concerning walking in freedom from sin, if they had it. I felt that the doctrine of OSAS minimizes the fear of the LORD at its very core.

So, I asked the Lord to make me an example of someone who had fallen away from the faith in order that OSAS might be defeated. And for approximately 30 years I backslid while going to church and reading my Bible...in fact I think that I have not even yet fully recovered from the willful sin that I committed that caused me to believe that I had permanently lost my salvation. I would read Hebrews 6:1-8 and Hebrews 10:26-31 and be driven to despair.

But certain other verses have now given me hope. Among them are Psalms 31:22, Job 14:7-11, Luke 1:37, Acts of the Apostles 27:20-24, and a few others.

But it was the height of folly to be willing to lose my salvation over the proving of a doctrine. As it turned out, I have needed that doctrine in order to keep my sanity since the day that I felt that I had lost my salvation.

Verses that substantiate it are John 5:24, John 6:47, John 10:27-30, and Jeremiah 32:38-40 w/ Psalms 19:9.

I have considered that I was walking as a Romans 8 believer for approximately one year; and that in this I was living on the 3rd story of a building. When I fell into sin, I fell down to the 2nd story of the building; beginning to live a Romans 7:14-25 lifestyle. If I had fallen from the 3rd story to the 1st story (complete unbelief towards Christ), I would have been a goner...dead on the floor.

Nevertheless, if you find that you yourself have fallen from the 3rd story to a state of unbelief, a story (no pun intended) that might do you good is found in Acts of the Apostles 20:7-12. A young man named Eutychus fell from the 3rd story of a building to the ground; and was taken up dead. Paul laid his entire body over him and then proclaimed him to be alive. He did in fact raise him from the dead with a simple declaration of faith. If you have fallen from the 3rd story of the building to the ground, I proclaim that your life is still in you; get up and begin walking the walk and talking the talk; and you will find that you are in fact alive in the Spirit.

In v.4, the people that Paul could have wished that he might have been accursed (notice he did not actually wish it; very likely because he knew that God would not answer such a request in the affirmative) for were the Israelites, the Jewish people; to whom pertain the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

In v.5, of the Israelites, whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Now some people think that this is saying that Christ is eternally blessed by God; but some translations translate this, of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is the eternally blessed God. Therefore this verse is an evidence, while not a proof text, for the Deity of Christ. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for some Jehovah's Witness, Christadelphian, or Unitarian; and therefore it would not be a bad thing to share it; as long as you don't present it as a proof-text but as an evidentiary text.

Amen.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:6, Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Rom 9:7, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Rom 9:8, That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Rom 9:9, For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Rom 9:10, And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; Rom 9:11, (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; ) Rom 9:12, It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. Rom 9:13, As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

In v. 6, not everyone who is of the seed of Jacob is spiritual Israel; and also, spiritual Israel consists of more than the seed of Jacob.

Now we do not want to go so far as to promote Replacement Theology here; for it should be clear that there are certain promises to Israel in the Old Testament and that these belong to the seed of Jacob and not to anyone in the Gentile church. Nevertheless it will be clear when we get to Romans 11 that there are Gentiles who are graffed into the olive tree which is Israel and that this Israel is in fact the New Testament church in holy scripture. There will come a day when all the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and then Israel shall be graffed back in to its own olive tree of faith. And this will happen when they come to faith in their own Messiah, Jesus Christ; whom they have rejected for many centuries; while there has always been a remnant out of those descended from Jacob who have believed.

In v.7, It is not the seed of Abraham who will be called, but it is the seed of Isaac who will be called. This is on two counts: 1) It is the seed of Isaac physically who will establish the promised seed of Messiah and He will not come through Ishmael; and 2) we will see that the seed of Isaac is reminiscent of the seed of promise rather than the seed of the flesh.

In v.8, The children of the flesh are not counted as the children of God. We saw in Romans 8:12-13 that we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after it. For if we live after the flesh, we shall die; but if through the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. The children of promise are therefore the spiritual offspring which are of faith and who walk according to the Spirit. As it is written in Galatians 4:28, we are the children of promise, because we believe in Jesus and have received His Spirit, and because we walk according to His Spirit.

In v.9, the word of promise is that Sara shall have a son. This son came about by faith. See Romans 4:18-21, Hebrews 11:11-12.

In v.10, Rebecca also bore a child of faith and predestination; actually twins: one of whom was predestinated to favour with God and the other who was predestinated to disfavour.

In v.11-12, when the children had not yet done any good or evil, it was said of them, that the elder should serve the younger, and this was by predestination of the Lord. Predestination is both by foreknowledge (Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:2) and by the predetermined counsel of God's will and purpose (Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11).

In v.13, God loved Jacob but hated Esau; even before the two were born the Lord had a predetermined liking for Jacob and a hatred for Esau; while the scripture that declares the Lord's love and hatred is written many years after Jacob and Esau lived their lives, yet the context here in Romans places it as being a statement that the Lord makes concerning God's estimation of them both before the foundations of the world. God saw from the beginning the instance where Esau sold his birthright and blessing for a bowl of stew and was very displeased with Esau. It can also be said that the Lord wrote the story out to make an example of Esau so that men would thereafter see him as a bad example not to be followed. It is written in the book of Proverbs,

Pro 16:4, The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

and again,

Pro 28:5, Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:13, As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Rom 9:14, What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. Rom 9:15, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Rom 9:16, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Rom 9:17, For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Rom 9:18, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

In v.13, Paul quotes from Malachi 1:2-3, wherein God says that He loved Jacob but hated Esau. In scripture it becomes clear that God love Jacob and hated Esau before they were even born. On what basis? On the basis of His foreknowledge of their behaviour. God is angry with the wicked every day; and it is clear from holy scripture that Esau was wicked. But God exists outside of time; and therefore He is angry with the wicked from the perspective of Him dwelling in eternity. Therefore He is always angry with those whom He knows will never receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; and He always has favour towards those whom He knows will eventually come to Him for salvation.

In v.14, the fact that God has angry emotions against the wicked does not make God unrighteous. It is, in fact, the exact opposite. It is His righteousness that makes Him angry with wicked behaviour.

In v.15, God reserves the right to show compassion to whom He wills; and to show mercy to whom He wills. He has His reasons for redeeming every person who will be redeemed; and we are not to question His choices.

In v.16, We can run, and we can will ourselves to be saved; but our willing and our running is not what is going to save us. God is in fact a God of grace and He gives salvation to many as a free gift. So, if there are those who, in an attempt to earn their salvation, run hard and will hard to enter into the kingdom; and if God says, no, you will not enter into the kingdom, then God is just to exclude them from the kingdom because it is not of him who runs or of him who wills but of God who shows mercy. That being said, I would bring up a specific scripture that tells us that if we come to Him on the basis of His mercy, he will not reject us: Jhn 6:37, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

In v.17, We know that God hardened Pharaoh's heart in order to bring about a greater purpose of making His power and glory known to the world. God sacrificed Pharaoh in that Pharaoh could not be saved because God had hardened his heart; but it was for a greater purpose; that men may understand that God is sovereign and Omnipotent and in control; and that He is greater than all other gods.

In v.18, God has mercy on whom He wills; and whom He wills He also hardens. This only goes to show that God is God and we are not. God gives every man a choice as concerning whether they will come to faith in Jesus Christ; but ultimately God is in control of our decisions in that love never fails and those whom He loves, He will not fail to bring into the kingdom. He also sees us worshipping Him in eternity from before the foundation of the world, before He created us; and so He has chosen to single out certain souls for salvation who have been foreknown and therefore predestinated unto salvation.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:19, Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Rom 9:20, Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Rom 9:21, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Rom 9:22, What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. Rom 9:23, And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Rom 9:24, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

In v.19, in response to the thought that God sheweth mercy to whom he wills; Paul now deals with the objection in the mind of the sinner; why does God find fault with me if everything is predestinated according to His will? If He predetermined for me to be a sinner and condemned, then how can he blame me for being a sinner? It was His predetermined choice, after all...

What the objector is not seeing is that it has always been the Lord's will that they should come to repentance; and that the Lord predestinated them to salvation or damnation according to foreknowledge of the decisions that they would make. Time and chance happen to everything (Ecclesiastes 9:11) and if God looked forward into history and foreknew who would most easily choose Him; and then put forth the utmost effort to save as many as possible by principally loving those whom He knew would be redeemed unto salvation (for it is written that love never fails), then God is actually doing all He can to make sure as many people as possible will enter in to the kingdom. Psalms 49:7-9 is tantamount to this.

In v.20, The answer is simple: you are the one who is formed by God; and if God created you with a specific purpose in mind, who are you to answer back to God? Now here is the thing: when the potter chooses his clay, it can be said that each lump of clay cries out for a specific thing to be done to it from within itself. The potter merely forms out of the clay the thing that the clay was intended to be by its general makeup and demeanor. A lump of clay may cry out to be something wonderful; but in the process of working the clay, the clay becomes marred in the potter's hand; because the clay didn't really know what it wanted. It wanted the glory of being a wonderful piece but did not want to face the suffering of being molded and shaped into it. So the potter has to make it into a less wonderful piece because it is marred in the potter's hand; it responded to the working of the clay in such a manner that the original intended purpose cannot now be achieved.

In v.21, The potter has power over each lump of clay to make it unto honour or dishonour. If a piece of clay wants to be made unto honour, it must endure the process of being molded and shaped in the hands of the potter. The potter ultimately decides whether a lump of clay is worthy to be made into an honourable vessel; based on how it responds to the potter's touch.

In v.22, The potter may be enduring the different intricacies of how the clay is on the inside of itself before he decides to make it into a dishonourable vessel. God is always wanting to make an honourable vessel out of every lump of clay; but certain lumps may not respond properly to the potter's touch and so the final decision for that lump of clay is that it becomes a dishonourable vessel. Consider what is written in Hebrews 3:12-13:

Heb 3:12, Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13, But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

In v.23, it appears that God prepared the lumps of clay that are predesitned unto glory before He began to mold them and shape them; so that they not only cry out to be made into honourable vessels; but they are created in such a way that they will respond in a proper manner to the potter's touch.

Other vessels, He simply did not prepare for glory; and He is fully aware beforehand that they will very likely not respond properly to the potter's hand; while there is always hope that an unprepared vessel might be able to be made into something honourable. But unprepared vessels generally do not want to be an honourable vessel; it is their inclination to want to form themselves into what they want to be apart from the potter's touch. So they rebel against the molding and shaping of the potter.

In v.24, Paul is hopeful that the ones he is writing to are among those who will be molded and shaped into honourable vessels.

In all of this, I believe that it is expedient for us to ask the Lord on a regular basis to make us into an honourable vessel; and also to not buck it when He is forming us into something that perhaps we don't want to be.

If we ask to be made into an honourable vessel and are also moldable in the potter's hands, we can rest assured that we will be made into an honourable vessel. For it is written,

Mat 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8, For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If we attempt to will our own salvation into being, we will surely fail to produce salvation in ourselves (John 1:13, Romans 9:16); but if we cast ourselves upon the mercy of the Lord, we can be certain that He will be faithful to hear us; for it is also written,

Jhn 6:37, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:25, As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. Rom 9:26, And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Rom 9:27, Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: Rom 9:28, For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. Rom 9:29, And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

In v.25, God is a God of love and He seeks out to save that which was lost. Here He is referring to the Gentiles in saying that they were not His people and are now being called His people; but in the original quotation (in Hosea 1:10) God is saying to Israel that they are not His people but that they will again be called His people.

In v.26, those who were told that they were not His people, in the very same place where they were told this, they shall be called children of God.

1Jo 3:1, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jo 3:2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jo 3:3, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

In v.27, A remnant of Israel will be saved in the times of the Gentiles; but when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, all of Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26); and they will be saved by nothing other than faith in Jesus Christ. As it is written,

Act 4:10, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11, This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

In v.28, the Lord is going to cut the work short in righteousness. The history of the world is not going to be a long one. The return of Jesus Christ to rapture His church is always imminent.

In v.29, This is speaking of the remnant of Israel that will come to Christ during the times of the Gentiles; there is a remnant that is left as a seed. If the Lord had not done this, Israel would have been made like Sodom and Gommorha.

It was relatively short today, and I apologize. The next teaching is one of my favorites; it has to do with the righteousness of faith and how salvation is not attained through the righteousness of the law but through faith.

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 9:30, What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. Rom 9:31, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Rom 9:32, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Rom 10:2, For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Rom 10:3, For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Rom 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

In 9:30, the Gentiles obtained the righteousness which is of God by faith, even though they didn't seek after righteousness. The Lord sought them out.

In 9:31, Israel, which sought after righteousness as though it were by the law, did not obtain righteousness.

In 9:32, the Gentiles obtained righteousness because they believed by faith when the gospel was presented to them; but Israel could not obtain righteousness because they did not seek it through God's prescribed method: by faith. They sought to obtain it by keeping the law and they missed the boat as a result.

In 9:33, What I have posted above is called the stumbling stone of holy scripture. The Jews stumble over the law because those who are truly redeemed do not violate the law for that they have the righteousness of faith. They have obtained the Holy Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:14) and as a result they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) against which there is no law. Jewish people and others see this righteous lifestyle which is attested to by the law and the prophets (Romans 3:21); and they think that it has been obtained by the attempt of meeting the requirement. So they seek to justify themselves by attempting to keep the requirement; not realizing that the righteousness of God is obtained apart from the law through faith.

In 10:1, Paul desires that Israel might be saved, though they have indeed stumbled over this stumbling stone.

In 10:2, Israel has a definite zeal for the Lord; but they are mistaken as to how a man is to obtain righteousness; they think that it is through attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts.

In 10:3, They are ignorant of God's righteousness, which comes by faith; and are seeking to establish their own righteousness, through their own self-effort, in seeking to obey the requirement. Again, they have stumbled at that stumbling stone

In 10:4, It is clear that the system of obtaining righteousness by keeping a set of do's and don'ts has ended in Christ. Now, we walk in righteousness by living according to the love that has been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5). We obey the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit (Psalms 123:2); and the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us as the sure result (Romans 8:4).

 

[justbyfaith]

Rom 10:5, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Rom 10:6, But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: ) Rom 10:7, Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

In v.5, there is a righteousness which is of the law, and there is a righteousness which is of God by faith. The righteousness which is of the law is by what you do...you stay alive spiritually by keeping the requirement. Unfortunately, the scripture declares that all who seek to live this way are under the curse: they must keep everything in the book of the law from conception into eternity if they are going to live through the righteousness which is of the law. The righteousness of the law, also, is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6); while the righteousness which is of God by faith is fine linen, clean and white (Revelation 19:8 (kjv)).

In v.6, the righteousness which is of God by faith speaketh on a certain wise; and we wills see what wise it speaketh on when we look at v.8. But first, in these verses, we must look at what it is not. It is not to say in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven (that is, to bring Christ down from above)? If I were to ascend into heaven, that very operation would bring Christ down from heaven. There would be an exchange in that my ascending would bring Him down from heaven.

In v.7, And if I were to then descend into the deep (into hell) such a thing would bring Christ back up from the dead. There would be an exchange of myself for Christ in that my descending would bring Him back up.

These things apply only if I am not personally in Christ. His death on the Cross places me in heaven and His resurrection places me in hell if I am not in Him.

So, it is important to be in Him so that I am identified with His death and burial (in baptism) and therefore when He rises from the dead, I also am raised up with Him.

This is why it is so important to receive Christ and to be in Christ. Jesus said that when He died on the Cross, the world would rejoice but that the disciples would have sorrow; but that when He rose from the dead, the disciples would rejoice and no one would ever be able to take away their joy from them again.

There is more of an application.

I will say that there is a doctrine out there which I will identify as "usurper doctrine". It states that satan actually usurped the throne of God when Jesus descended.

However, when God descended to become a Man, because He was dwelling in eternity, He continued to dwell in eternity because it is the nature of eternity that if someone is dwelling in eternity, they are there eternally. So, then, when Jesus descended to become a Man, He did not cease to dwell in eternity as the everlasting Father. So then, if in Jesus descending, the devil also ascended to the throne of God to take the place of the Father, the Father would in all reality still be in the place of the Father and the devil would not be able to usurp that position. But it may be that the devil thinks that he ascended and then told Jesus to go down and die and that he has full reign in heaven as a result. Nevertheless, when Jesus rose from the dead, it brought the devil back down and in Jesus coming out of hell (after a mere three days and three nights) He put the devil into hell.

But this could explain why the devil seems to be so omnipotent at times (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9). However, the fact of the matter is that Jesus is also Omnipotent (Matthew 28:18) and He keeps the devil's plans at bay concerning His church so that the people of Christ are preserved from much of what the enemy would do to bring them down.

Scriptures that speak to me on this are Psalms 121:7 and Psalms 125:2-4. God preserves the souls of His saints and the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.