Romans 5:12-7:6 God's grace is abundantly more!

The consequences of Adam's fall into sin are death for all.

The consequences of Christ's obedience or act of righteousness is justification that brings life for all people.  Many will be made righteous.  

The one is the consequence coming to all.  The latter is the choice taken by some.  Again, we need to recognise the free gift of God's abundant grace.

The four 'reigns' in this passage (5:12-21) are:

Death reigned (5:14)

Reigning in life through Jesus of those who receive God's abundant provision of grace (5:17)

Sin reigned in death (5:21)

Grace reigned through righteousness (5:21)  

Two operate for all people, but the other two are there available as a free gift to those who would choose them.

We are dead to sin & alive to Christ.  We are united with Jesus Christ.

Enjoy & express this position in Christ so as to have a life of victory over sin - 

Count yourselves dead to sin (v11)

Count yourselves alive to God in Christ Jesus (v11)

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body by obeying its evil desires

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin

Rather, offer yourselves to God

Offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness!

6:15-23  2 masters are contrasted:

Sin & God

Sin leads you to death

Obedience leads you to righteousness which leads you to holiness, which ultimately leads you to eternal life.  

Obviously, therefore, we should not continue to sin in any way shape or form!

We have died to the law through Jesus' death on the cross.  Our new husband is Christ - we are united with Him now and so the fruit of this new union is righteousness and living by the Spirit.  

Romans 2:17-3:31 The Gospel for Jews & Gentiles

2:17-20 Privileges on which Jews would self-congratulate themselves

Called a Jew
Reliant on the law

Bragging about their relationship with God

Knowing God’s will

Approving of what is superior because they are instructed by the law

Convinced they are a guide to the blind

Convinced they are a light to the dark
Convinced they are an instructor of the foolish

Convinced they are a teacher of infants
Convinced they have in the law the embodiment of knowledge & truth

Substituting the words ‘Jew’ for ‘Christian’ & ‘Law’ for ‘Word’, shows the danger we potentially face of seeing ourselves in a privileged position whilst snubbing others.

2:25-29 

Jews rested on circumcision as the seal of God’s covenant with them – Paul demonstrates that you need to observe the law – it is not just simply the matters of the outward and physical, but rather the inward heart condition, which he describes as circumcision of the heart. 

As Christians, it’s not just the outward that matters to God, but also the inward – God looks at what we are like on the inside & judges us according to that – not on the ‘bits’ others can see.

4 Objections to the Gospel & their answers:

v1 – There is no value in being a Jew or being circumcised

v2 – Not so – there is much value in every way!  They have been entrusted with the very words of God!

v3 – What about those who did not have faith?  Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

v4 – Not at all!  God is true and every man a liar, which means God will be proved right when He speaks and prevail when He judges. 

v5 – But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what about that?  Doesn’t that mean God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us?

v6 – Not at all.  If that was so, then how could God judge the world?! 

v7 – If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness & so increases His glory, why are we still condemned as sinners?  Shouldn’t we do more evil so good will result? 
v8 – The people who say this deserve their condemnation. 

Throughout, Paul uses the OT Scriptures to back up his argument, he clings to God’s righteousness and justice and strenuously repudiates those who see God’s grace as license to live lawless lives.

3v10-18 

Paul speaks of the general trend of human life (v10-12) – There is no-one who is righteous, not even one.  There is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God, because ALL have turned away from Him.  There is no-one who does good.

He speaks of their speech (v13-14) – saying their throats are open graves, tongues are deceitful and their lips are the poison of vipers, mouths that are full of cursing and bitterness. 

He speaks of their conduct and inner attitude towards God (v15-18)  - they are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery mark their ways, the way of peace they don’t know, they have no fear of God at all.

We see from the early chapters of Romans that Paul is entirely justified in saying that “every mouth may be silenced (before God) and the whole world held accountable to God”. 

It is impossible for anyone by their own efforts or merits to win favour before God, escaping condemnation at the bar of God’s judgment.

3:21-26  The Righteousness of God:

It is from God

It is apart from the law

It has been made known

The Law and the Prophets testify to it

It comes through faith in Jesus Christ

It comes to all who believe

There is no difference in anyone – all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory
All are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood

He did this to demonstrate His justice

In His forbearance, he had left the sins committed before the cross unpunished

He did this to demonstrate His justice at the current time (of Paul’s writing)

He therefore was both just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus

The two inferences that follow are:

v27-28  There are no grounds for boasting – it is excluded.  Not on the grounds of observing the law, but on that of faith.  We maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 

v29-30  Is God the God of the Jews only?  Isn’t He God of the Gentiles too?  Yes – He is God of both – there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 

It is because of Jesus that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, our only boast is in the Lord!  (1 Cor 1:29-31)  There is now no division – we are all one in Christ Jesus!  (Galatians 3:28) 

Paul’s answer to those who would therefore argue that the Gospel nullifies the law is “Not at all!  Rather we uphold the law!”

Romans 1:1-2:16 The gospel & our response

Paul describes himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, a recipient of grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

He also says he serves God with all his heart in preaching the gospel of Jesus, he prays for the believers in Rome and longs to see them to impart a spiritual gift and mutually encourage each other.  He is bound to the Greeks and non-Greeks, not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God.

We are those entrusted with the gospel of God, and so he is compelled to preach the gospel.  When we preach the gospel, we are simply discharging the trust given to us.

Paul teaches that the gospel is God's - He promised it before through His prophets in the Scriptures, regarding His Son.  Paul preaches it and is unashamed of it, because it is the power of God for everyone who believes - first the Jew, then the Gentile.  In it, a righteousness from God is revealed - by faith from first to last.

Paul's argument is that the sin of humans is deliberate, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain.

They deliberately choose to not glorify Him or give thanks to Him.  Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - His eternal power & divine nature have been clearly seen and understood from creation, so we are without excuse.

The sin of humans is spiritual - a deliberate throwing off of God's rule, mental - it is about our thinking and affects our hearts, moral - it means that they do things that are unnatural and don't serve God, and therefore the physical effects will come upon them.

God's wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of humans who suppress the truth by their wickedness.  v24 shows that God gives them over to their sinful desires, v26 God gives them over to shameful lusts, v28 God gives them over to a depraved mind.

God promises there will be judgment for the sins of the world.

Four things said about God's judgment (2:1-16)

It is based on truth (v2)
God will give to each person according to what they have done (v6)
God does not show favouritism (v11)
The day is coming when God will judge people's secrets through Jesus, as the gospel declares (v16)

God's judgment is just and very real - it is coming one day to all.

2v7-10

We will be judged according to the way we live.  Do we seek glory, honour & immortality (for God)?  We will receive eternal life.  Are we self-seeking, rejecting the truth and following evil?  There will be wrath and anger, trouble & distress.

The day of wrath is delayed so that we may be judged through Jesus Christ -

"Because the sinless Saviour died

For God the just is satisfied

My sinful soul is counted free.

To look on Him and pardon me."

Proverbs 28-31 Upright living before the Lord

Keep the law - 28:2 - a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order, 28:4 - those who keep the law resist the wicked, 28:7 - He who keeps the law is a discerning son, 28:9 if you turn a deaf ear to the law, you prayers are detestable
Keep a right attitude to the poor -   28:22 - Don't be stingy, 28:27 Give to the poor & you will lack nothing, 29:7 - The righteous care about justice for the poor, 29:13 - The Lord gives sight to the eyrs of the poor & the oppressor

Ch 30:11-14

Those who have no respect for their parents
Those who are pure in their own eyes - not cleansed of their filth
Those with haughty eyes
Those who are of malicious intent devouring the poor and needy

Four lessons from v24-28

Ants - work hard ahead of time
Conies - make their home in tough places
Locust - no king, but work together
Lizards - small, but can get into royal places

Ch 31

v1-9
3 Virtues:

Be temperate
Be generous
Be just and fair

v10-31  The ideal wife

Noble character
Trustworthy
Hardworking
Multi-talented
Early-riser
Provider
Business-minded
Caring
Respected husband
Strong
Dignified
Wise
Fears the Lord

Proverbs 24-27 How to live a godly life

24:11-12  The missionary call is heard to take the gospel to those being led away to death, those heading to slaughter knowing nothing of the gospel.  It therefore leads us to the responsibility of sharing the gospel to those who have never heard.

The challenge of neighbourly love comes in behaving towards those around us as Christ would - to love our neighbours as ourselves.

The wise man learned from the sluggard not to sit back and do nothing, but rather to be proactive, working hard to achieve all that needs doing.

Jesus takes the teaching of Prov 25:6-7 and adapts it into one of His own parables.

25:8-28 show the importance of words for good or evil.
They can be used for betraying confidences, or for speaking aptly.  They can be a good rebuke or a refreshing word.  They can be gently used to 'break a bone' or be false testimony that causes harm like a club or a sword, they can bring angry looks or cause difficulty in a marriage.  Be careful!

26:1-12  Don't be a fool -

Because honour is not fitting for you
Because it is foolish behaviour!
Because you won't know how to handle a proverb

For Jesus, the fools are those who hear God's words and don't put them into practice.

Wrong speech exposed  (26:18-27:2)

Joking that can't be serious
Gossip and quarreling
Fervent lips of an evil heart (hypocrisy)
Lying
Boasting about the future
Praise of oneself

Wisdom for living  (27:5-22)

Open rebuke is better than hidden love
Earnest counsel is good from a friend
Loyalty as a friend is good
Sharpen each other as friends
Look after your master

The Reward of Dilligence  (27:23-27)

You will receive reward in due season - you won't be chasing fantasies. (28:19)  Keep your spiritual fervour - be diligent for God.

Proverbs 19-23 The importance of godliness

Our love must be unfailing and utterly faithful.

The Lord is present and so we allow our lives to be shaped by Him.  We fear Him and this brings life.  We remember that He has made us exactly as we are.

Principles for wise living that stand out: 

* Avoid those who talk too much

* Wait for God's deliverance, rather than paying back vengeance yourself

* God knows our inmost being

* Things may seem right on the outside, but only God knows & judges the heart

* It's not good to live with a quarrelsome wife

* Everyone has this in common - God made them

* Humility & fear of the Lord are the most desirable characteristics

* Discipline will drive a child away from folly

20:17-25  Different Kinds of Action that Ought to be Avoided

Fraud

Gossip

Cursing your parents

Paying back vengeance rather than waiting for God's deliverance

Dishonesty

Dedicating something rashly without thinking about it

20:24 shows God's Sovereignty in all things.  20:27  shows our responsibility to Him.  We hold these two in careful balance, remembering ultimately, God is Sovereign, although He gives us responsibility to look after ourselves and make our own choices.  

22:17-21  The steps involved in a full reception of God's Word

Pay attention

Listen

Apply

Keep them in your heart

Have all of them ready on your lips

Use them as your answers

The marks of a wise son (23:15)  

Avoiding envying sinners, joining those who drink too much wine or gorging too much on meat, selling the truth, 

Ensuring he is zealous for the fear of the Lord, listening to his father and mother, buying the truth, getting wisdom, discipline and understanding

23:29-35  The Effects of Too Much Indulgence in Wine

Woe, sorrow, strife, complaints, needless bruises, bloodshot eyes, having been 'bitten by a 'snake', poisoned by a 'viper', seeing strange things, imagining confusing things', behaving strangely.  

Proverbs 14:22-18 More wisdom

The beneficent effects of right words:
They turn away wrath, commend knowledge, bring healing and are a tree of life and spread knowledge.

If we fear the Lord, we have a secure fortress, as fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.  His eyes are everywhere, He detests the sacrifice of the wicked and the way of the wicked, death & destruction lie before Him, and it is better for us to have only a little but fear the Lord.

The four things that make satisfaction (15:13-17):

A happy and discerning heart that seeks knowledge
A cheerful heart
Fear of the Lord
Love

15:24-33  'The sanity of religion'

Following Jesus is a path of life, THE path of life.  If we fear the Lord, He teaches us wisdom and humility comes before honour.

16:27-30  The different kinds of evil carried out by evil men:

Evil plotting
Dissension & gossip
Violence
Corruption
Impatience and temper

Sins condemned in Ch 17:

Wicked men & evil lips
Liars & malicious tongues
Mocking the poor
Gloating over disaster
Repeating offences to others
Rebellion
Lack of mercy
Paying back evil for good
Starting a quarrel
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent
Loving a quarrel
Accepting a bribe
Punishing the innocent

Ch 18
Watch the 'door of your lips' as they can prove your undoing and a snare.  Listen before speaking.

Remember the Lord is a fortress and a strong tower.  We can run in to it and are safe.