Changing Lives!


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Changing Lives! An Examination of Romans 6-8

Introduction Romans is the longest and most theologically charged book in all of Paul’s letters. Although we are only going to be taking a look at Romans 6-8, we will be drawing from much of the books content. I am very excited to preach this portion of one of the greatest books of the bible (Martin Luther called it “The very purest gospel.”). We are just coming off the first seven chapters of Matthew’s gospel, and there are many who pit Jesus’ theology against that of Paul’s. I believe this to be nonsense, and both of their theologies line up beautifully. In Romans Paul gives us a beautiful explanation of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached. It’s a gospel of grace and freedom, and one that when understood, should transform our hearts and minds forever to live by God’s glorious will and intention for our life. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 28:20, that part of the saving “Formula” was to teach the disciples “to observe all that I have commanded you.” With that we are reminded that those things we are taught come from the teachings of Jesus’ apostles, which is the foundation of our faith (Ephesians 2:20). It’s also important to realize that Romans is one of the earlier books written in the New Testament, and pre-dates the gospels by 1020 years. It is in the writings of the apostles that we are taught everything Jesus commanded and taught. The gospels were written to preserve Jesus’ story, so there are no contradictions in Paul’s teaching, and if we really want to live like Jesus, we need to learn from men like Paul, who learned directly from Jesus. So, I am excited about this segment, because it provides the rich theological data that Romans gives us in regard to how we are transformed by the power of the gospel, and how we are to live in light of it’s power. Date Around 57-58 CE. Author There has never been much opposition to the fact that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans. It is believed that Paul wrote Romans as part of the 13 books he wrote in the New Testament. His dramatic conversion from a murderer of Christians to Christianity’s foremost missionary to the nations is well documented in Acts 7-9. He clearly was very religious (Philippians 3:4-11) making his conversion remarkable and radical. Paul was not born in the more Jewish setting of Palestine, but was born in Asia Minor (Modern Turkey) in a place called Tarsus (SE Turkey), which was a pagan, Hellenistic city run by Romans at the time of his birth, giving him the ability to speak Latin and Greek fluently. Paul was then educated in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3) most likely giving him the ability to speak Hebrew and Aramaic too. He studied under the preeminent Rabbi

Gamaliel, and had an unbelievable grasp on the Old Testament, which was the book Paul used the most in his teachings. Most likely the fact that he was born in Asia Minor, as a Roman citizen who lived and was educated in Palestine, shaped him to become the power apostle that he was. It also shaped him to be the apostle to the gentiles, which with others, helped explode the gospel across the vast Roman Empire. It is not sure if Paul had personal connections with Jesus during Jesus’ life, but it is clear that he encountered the risen Jesus at his conversion (Acts 9:1-2). Paul was unique and intense, and a studied man, making him a vital cog in the planting of churches across the modern world. Paul was certainly a master church planter, and I do believe he has left us with a legacy of teachings and example for the modern church to follow for the continued expansion of the gospel through church planting. To Whom Was It Written “To all of those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be His Saints.” He is writing this letter to all of God’s people (Both Jew and gentile). Rome At the Time of Paul The Roman Republic and then Empire has a long history of Imperial rule. The Empire was officially created around the year 49 BCE at Julius Caesar’s Crossing of the Rubicon. According to one historian, “The exact date of the transition to the Roman Empire can be a matter of interpretation. Historians have variously proposed Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River in 49 BC, Caesar's appointment as dictator for life in 44 BC, and the defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Most, however, use the same date as did the ancient Romans themselves, the Roman Senate's grant of extraordinary powers to Octavian and his adopting the title Augustus in 27 BC, as the defining event ending the Republic.” The first two centuries of the Roman Empire known as the “Pax Romana” (The Peace of Rome) saw great prosperity and stability, reaching its zenith under Emperor Trajan (98117 CE). For the most part the Roman Empire allowed for tolerance of all religion, as part of their Pax Romana, as long as the adherences to that religion gave their allegiance to Rome and to Caesar as their ultimate lord and god. Because many of the early Christians denied Caesar of being a god and their lord, there were definitely instances of persecution throughout the early days in the Roman Empire. Much of the persecution came as a result of the Emperor Nero burning down the city for political reasons and then blaming the Christians. Some of the persecution in Rome, under Nero was extreme, as there are many stories of dissidents (Mostly Christian) being dipped in wax and used as human torches. Others were thrown to the wild animals in the Coliseum, and others died at the hands of the Roman Gladiators, though

that was a rare occasion. It was also during this time that many of the Christians met in under ground catacombs outside of the city. It was during this time (Around 64 CE) that both Paul and Peter were imprisoned (Most likely in the Mamertine Prison; see insert below), and were later executed for their insubordination and treason to the Roman government. In October 28th 312, Constantine had a dream that he would be successful in the battle of the Milvian Bridge if they took the Chi-Rho symbol (2 Greek words that were the first two letters of Christ’s name) into battle. They were successful, and this marks Constantine’s conversion toward Christianity, and favor toward Christians in the Empire. Shortly after, in 313 CE, Emperor Constantine and Licinius (Governor of the Balkans) agreed to treat Christians well. This is known as the “Edict of Milan” since they met in Milan to discuss this possibility. It wasn’t however until 380 CE that Emperor Theodosius 1st made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire officially ended September 4th 476 CE, when Emperor Romulus Augustus was overthrown by the German King Odoacer (though some historians date the end as 480 CE with the death of Julius Nepos). There are many reason posed by hundreds of books as to what brought this great Empire to its knees, but there is no one issue that can be pointed to as the “Magic Bullet.”

Roman Chi-Rho Symbol Main Theme In spite of many attempts to examine other themes in this great book, it seems clear that Paul is concerned about the gospel (Romans 1:16-17).

The Occasion and Purpose For The Letter Most likely Paul is writing on his third missionary journey from Corinth. Paul spent at least 3 months in Greece (See Acts 20:3). Paul also commends a woman who lived in Cenchrea, a neighboring town of Corinth (Romans 16:2). Also Gaius sends greetings (Romans 16:23) is probably the same Gaius who Paul baptized in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14). While Paul’s purpose is debated it seems likely that he is addressing some issues that he had previously addressed (See Romans 15:15). There is no doubt Paul’s desire is to get to Spain via Rome (Romans 15:24). This verse alludes to Paul’s desire to gain support for his journeys. Paul is a church planter and according to Romans 15:18-19 he had fulfilled his ministry up to that region, and desired to continue on where no one had gone through Rome to Spain (Romans 15:18-29). Preaching the gospel was important to Paul. While this letter has some of Paul’s lofty theological treatises, Paul most likely wrote this letter to address the issues the Roman church was facing, especially the issues that the Jews and Gentiles were experiencing. It is unclear how the church at Rome began, but it most likely began as a Jewish church founded by Jews from Pentecost (Acts 2). Roman historian Seutonius recorded that Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE) expelled the Jews from Rome because of their “Strife over Christos (Christ).” That is confirmed in Acts 18:2. This had given some years for the church to become more gentile, and as the Jews came back to Rome, there was increased tension building over proper ways to worship and what markers of the faith (Circumcision/Baptism) would define the new faith. It seems clear that in spite of the obvious cultural tensions, Paul wanted both Jew and Gentile to unite under the “Power of the Gospel” (Romans 1:16-17). While these issues were specific to the time and occasion of the 1st century, the applications for moving the gospel into different cultures is invaluable. The Gospel The Gospel is God’s in-breaking into human culture in order to redeem it for His purposes and His glory, through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, resulting in the expression of the supremacy of God and the joy of all peoples throughout the whole world. The gospel is God's story from Genesis to Revelation. It His meta-narrative reminding us that we were created by God for His glory and our enjoyment. The gospel is not our own testimonies, which is the result of the gospel's transforming work in the individuals life, not is it a moralistic, therapeutic attempt to better oneself, it is God’s work in the person of Jesus Christ that headlines the gospel. In spite of the fact that God provided for all of our needs at creation, humanity felt it was our right and need to become like Him, and to tell our own stories for our own fame, so we rejected His story and truth and created our own versions, and worshiped the

creation instead of the creator! To this day we are still substituting our stories and our ways while rejecting His story and His way. Because of that initial rebellion and every human's subsequent rebellion toward a holy God, God righteously demanded justice for this cosmic rebellion, and therefore we are in need of being saved from His righteous justice. In spite of God's righteous anger, by grace, He immediately promised redemption through the seed of a woman. Even though redemption was promised, man once again rejected salvation at the hand of God, and continues to develop many idols and religious systems to mitigate the guilt of sin and to once again bring fame to his own name. Man's nature and deepest desire is to be his/her own god and savior, and we are blinded to the truth of God's story. In spite of mankind's attempt at religion and other means to appease themselves, humanity is a broken wreck in need of a solution to its incessant wars, prejudice, hatred, greed and arrogance. We continually tell ourselves that the next generation will be better, but other than advances in comfort there are limited advances in mitigating hatred, depression, arrogance, greed and hopelessness. Man's desire for power and pleasure, as well as moralistic self-righteousness will never take away our sin, shame, and God's righteous judgment on our head. In spite of our continued rebellion toward God, manifested as religious or anti-religious, the seed of a woman was born 2000 years ago. Emmanuel ("God with Us") came to earth for the purpose to "Seek and save the lost." As a result of God’s great love for His people, Christ came, not to show us the way, as many religious leaders had done before, but to be the way, as the perfect sacrifice to demonstrate God's righteous justice, because beforehand in His mercy and grace, he allowed men and women who died into His presence, without the payment of justice for their part in the brokenness of humanity; since all men everywhere have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Christ, however paid the just penalty for all sin, and gave us His righteousness, so that God would be justified, and we could be saved to restore the relationship with our heavenly Father that was broken when we sinned through Adam, and in our own actions. In Christ, the exile was over, and all of mankind could rejoice in one voice in Christ Jesus. His Kingdom was established through the covenant He made with His people, and was to be fully realized when he returned. Christ's cross is the place that all justice, pain and righteousness meet God's perfect love, grace and mercy. While we were His enemies, He died for us, so that we could be redeemed and restored to a loving relationship with the father and His purposes for us, which was to glorify Him by enjoying Him forever, while we care for His creation here on earth, and in eternity to come. In order to be restored to God through the power of His Holy Spirit, we need to first repent of our sins, acknowledging that He is truly God and we are not, and then believe

(Trust) that He is who He said He is, and that His work on the cross is sufficient for us to live again, and to love Him and others as he has loved us. We trust His righteousness as the means by which we are redeemed. We also trust His work and His will to be our guide to life and godliness! Theological Significance Romans has much in the realm of theological significance. It reminds us of the greatness and glory of God our creator, and our great fall from that same glory. It shows us the human need for salvation, and the only way to achieve that salvation, through the glorious Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We find in Romans the incredible truth that Christ’s atoning death on a Roman cross, and subsequent resurrection is central to humanity’s redemption. Romans also gives us a very Trinitarian view of salvation. We not only learn about the Father, and His nature as our creator, God and “Daddy,” and the high Christology of Jesus as the executor of our salvation, we learn of the power of the Holy Spirit in applying God’s salvation toward those who Elect who believe. Romans also has much of the theological grist for the Calvin/Arminian debate. Who chose whom? What is election and predestination (Both words used in Romans)? Most of this information is found in Romans 8-11, and has been debated from the 4th century on when Pelagius and Augustine scuffled over the nature of sin within the human heart, and the ability to save oneself. If God is in control, then what is sin, and what responsibility does humanity have toward God? If we are fully depraved, then how can we be saved? Does everyone have the same chance, or are some predestined from the “Foundation of the World?” What does Paul mean when he writes, “Jacob I loved, Esau I hated?” These are questions that Romans dives into, and has given theologians something to do for 1600 years. Romans also has some very rich things to say about God, the Holy Spirit and His power to really, truly change our lives to honor and please God through His sanctifying power, working through His word into our hearts! Rethinking Romans For centuries since the Reformation Romans has been seen as a way a sinful human can get right with a holy and just God. In other words, how can one be saved and justified before a Holy and Righteous God? This reading of Romans is attributed to the Reformers (Especially Martin Luther), and is justified, given Martin Luther’s struggle with guilt prior to his conversion, and his subsequent struggle with the Catholic Church in relation to works and justification. There are some influential 20th Century scholars who have suggested that this reading is too individualistic, concocted by a more modern, western lens. Among other notions in regard to Romans there is a gaining consensus that, ‘Romans is not basically about how an individual human being can get right with God; it’s about how gentiles can be added into God’s people without disenfranchising God’s ‘original’ people, the Jews.”1                                                                                                                 1  Douglas  I.  Moo,  Encountering  the  Book  of  Romans,  Location  312  (Kindle)  

What the inherents to the “New Perspective on Paul” say is that the word “Justification” in Paul’s writing does not mean, “How someone enters the community of the true people of God, but how you tell who belongs to that community.”2 Another more complicated aspect of this “view of justification and the book of Romans is the fact that Paul was not combatting a works based pharisaical religion3, but was dealing with Judaizers who were forcing ceremonial law of the gentiles. It is claimed by inherents of this “new” view that the Jews of Paul’s day did not hold to a works/law based salvation, but believed they were saved through the covenant that God made with His people. Works based Judaism was a problem of 2nd century Judaism, and possibly later Catholicism, but reading this back into 2nd Temple Judaism is an anachronism. Their view of the law (Dubbed by one prominent theologian as “Covenant Nomism”), was for their continued sanctification, and covenant faithfulness to the Sinaitic law as given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Thus what many New Perspective scholars say is that Romans 3:20 has nothing to do with justification, but the Jews insistence that Gentiles’ justification would be demonstrated through identity in the law. Thus Paul’s problem with the Jews was not “Works” based salvation, but forcing their identity markers on the Gentiles. Paul then was demonstrating by writing Romans that being justified was no longer tied to the Jewish covenant and all its nuances, but was now freely to all the nations. Then how should we read Romans? Through the Reformed lens of Justification, or through the “New Perspective” lens of inclusion of the Gentiles? While these two ideas continue to be dialogued and worked through, there are still many scholars that feel that a modified Reformed view is still the best way to read the letter to the Romans. As we have seen under the Main Theme, the “Gospel” seems to take center place in this letter, and while it is true that many theologians and commentators have all but ignored the Jew/Gentile tension that occupies much of this letter, it is not the central story. Theologian Douglas J. Moo offers some helpful guidelines to read this letter with confidence. He notes that criticism of the Reformation view from the “New Perspective” on Paul are one, that there is too much of an emphasis on the individual versus the “People of God,” and secondly, “they wrongly assume that first-century Judaism was a “Legalistic” religion”.4 The fact is, God did promise His salvation to a people group; the nations (Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 67:3). Much of Romans needs to be read through this lens, and put away our western, individualistic lens that often accompanies all of our reading of the bible. The problem Paul is facing and trying to answer in Romans is how can the gentiles be the people of God when the Jews were the ones promised and given the law (See Romans 9). This is a legitimate question, especially for the Jewish believers, and Paul is answering this question in Romans and Galatians. This Jew/Gentile issue is seen in the theme verse of Romans 1:16-17.                                                                                                                 2  N.T.  Wright,  What  Paul  Really  Said,  pg.  118   3  Those  that  teach  this  view  of  Paul  say  that  the  reformers  (Especially  Luther)  read  their  own  struggles   inwardly,  and  their  struggles  with  the  Medieval  Catholic  Church  back  into  Paul’s  theology.    

4  Douglas  J.  Moo,  Encountering  the  Book  of  Romans,  Location  381,  Kindle  

Another theme that we must keep in mind is Paul’s use of the law (Which is surely his Jewish understanding of the “Torah,” which is the law given by God to Moses on Sinai. Ultimately however the main theme of the gospel takes center stage and cannot give way to the tertiary theme of people and nations. As Dr. Moo says, “The horizontal dimension, Jew versus Gentile, is subordinate to the vertical dimension, human beings versus god.”5 Romans therefore is about salvation for the individual and the new people of God. It’s not an either or, but a both/and. The Reformers definitely ignored the latter, whereas the critique and corrective of the New Perspective have tended to drop the former altogether. Lastly, while the Judaism of Paul’s day was not the harder legalism (Works Based Salvation) of later Pelagianism and the Medieval Catholic Church, the New Testament taken as a whole seem to paint a picture that there was a form of legalism, which is not just a “Jewish” problem, but a very human problem. At the heart of every human is their desire to be their own saviors. A cursory study of man’s religions reflect this tendency to want to earn our own salvation so as not to bow down too low to anyone else, and sense a feeling of control in our lives. Romans does its best to destroy this notion that salvation can come from anything else than the grace of God in a persons life. Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection take center stage in this drama, and fulfill the Old Testament promise of salvation for the nations. Why This Series? This series is born out of a lot of questions in regard to the believer’s role in our spiritual growth. If we are saved by grace, and not by our own works, then what do our works have to do with anything? Are we saved, and then waiting out the return of Christ or death to enjoy our life in Christ? There is no doubt that Paul teaches that we are saved solely by God’s grace and mercy, and not our own works (Titus 3:5). However, he also teaches that we are to “Walk worthy of the calling by which we are called” (Ephesians 4:1). How can we “Walk Worthy?” I sin, so am I not really saved? These are deep questions that affect us as believers, and this series is a look at how we are “Sanctified” (Changed) in Jesus Christ. How we can overcome the sins that so frustrate us as humans, so we can truly love others without having to gain their approval, so that we can have healthy relationships, because we are truly real children in Christ, and the power of sin does not have “Dominion” over us any more. Romans 6-8 is all about these questions and more! I hope you enjoy the study! Pastor Mike

                                                                                                                5  IBID,  Location  423,  Kindle  

Outline 1. The Gospel as the Revelation of the Righteousness of God (1:1–17) 1. Salutation: the gospel concerning God’s Son (1:1–7) 2. Thanksgiving: prayer for an apostolic visit (1:8–15) 3. Theme: the gospel of the righteousness of God (1:16–17) 2. God’s Righteousness in His Wrath against Sinners (1:18–3:20) 1. The unrighteousness of the Gentiles (1:18–32) 2. The unrighteousness of the Jews (2:1–3:8) 3. The unrighteousness of all people (3:9–20) 3. The Saving Righteousness of God (3:21–4:25) 1. God’s righteousness in the death of Jesus (3:21–26) 2. Righteousness by faith for Jews and Gentiles (3:27–31) 3. Abraham as the father of Jews and Gentiles (4:1–25) 4. Hope as a Result of Righteousness by Faith (5:1–8:39) 1. Assurance of hope (5:1–11) 2. Hope in Christ’s triumph over Adam’s sin (5:12–21) 3. The triumph of grace over the power of sin (6:1–23) 4. The triumph of grace over the power of the law (7:1–6) 5. The law and sin (7:7–25) 6. Life in the Spirit (8:1–17) 7. Assurance of hope (8:18–39) 5. God’s Righteousness to Israel and to the Gentiles (9:1–11:36) 1. God’s saving promises to Israel (9:1–29) 2. Israel’s rejection of God’s saving promises (9:30–11:10) 3. God’s righteousness in his plan for Jews and Gentiles (11:11–32) 4. Concluding doxology (11:33–36) 6. God’s Righteousness in Everyday Life (12:1–15:13) 1. Paradigm for exhortations: total dedication to God (12:1–2) 2. Marks of the Christian community (12:3–13:14) 3. A call for mutual acceptance between the strong and the weak (14:1– 15:13) 7. The Extension of God’s Righteousness through the Pauline Mission (15:14–16:23) 1. The establishment of churches among the Gentiles (15:14–33) 2. Appreciation and greetings to coworkers in the gospel (16:1–23) 8. Final Summary of the Gospel of the Righteousness of God (16:25–27)

Mamertine Prison (Where Paul and Peter Were Held In Rome. Notice Upside Down Cross On the Altar In Honor of Peter’s Refusal to Be Crucified Right-Side Up like His Lord and Savior)

Devotional Study and Questions Week #1 (Intro on Freedom + Holiness) Galatians 5:1-13 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Summary Freedom takes on many different forms and connotations. Many oppressive regimes use the idea of “Freedom” to oppress millions. The fact is, humans will serve some master, whether we see that or not. We are either enslaved to our own passions and desires, which we deem honorable, or we are enslaved to God, who loves us and has our best interest in mind. It is often hard for us to believe that truth, but God’s laws and desires are good for us, and will help us flourish in this life and the life to come. True biblical freedom brings forth joy and peace, while our own versions of freedom often bring forth mitigated pleasures and often oppression.

Study Question 1. How do you define Freedom? 2. How has freedom been used negatively? 3. In what way(s) do you desire to be the authors of your own freedom? 4. How does a desire for control affect someone’s walk with God? Week #2 Romans 6:1-14 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Summary Paul has made a case throughout the first five chapters that humanity is in dire need of salvation from someone else, rather than from themselves. Paul has been teaching that we are saved by God’s grace alone through faith, and that our righteousness is not according to our own deeds, but according to Jesus’ deeds on the cross. In Romans 5:20 Paul wrote, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” leading some people to the mistaken notion that we ought to continue to sin, so that Grace would be clearly seen. Romans 6:1 starts out with the rhetorical question, “Should we sin that grace may abound?” Which Paul answers in a emphatic No! His reasoning in these verses is because we are regenerated people in Christ. Our sin nature has been crushed and we are no longer enslaved to the sin that at one time gripped our lives. Our problem is moving from a slave mentality to one of royalty and privilege. We have all the riches of the kingdom available to us in Christ Jesus, and Paul exhorts us to then live worthy of that truth.

Study Question 1. In what way are we in union with Christ? 2. What does our union with Jesus matter? 3. Do you feel united in Christ? 4. What does it mean that we are dead and raised with Jesus? 5. What is our identity in Christ? Week #3 Romans 6:15-23 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Summary Paul continues his reasoning for us to live differently than we did before our hearts were changed in Christ. It is hard for us to realize that sin is enslaving, because we have been tutored to believe the opposite. Sin contains momentary pleasure, and our faith is often couched in pain and suffering. It is counter-intuitive for us to realize the truth of the gospel, and to realize the enslaving nature of our sin and addictions. Being “Enslaved” to God is the only truly freeing thing in this world. In Christ, we are able to to break free of the bondage that we are in, and live a pleasing life toward our creator. Study Question 1. What does it mean to be “Under Grace?” 2. In what way are we enslaved in sin? 3. What is “Obedience from the heart?” 4. Why does this matter? 5. What “Gift” does God promise us?

Week #4 Romans 7:1-6 1 Or do you not know, brothers for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. 4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. Summary The law is a good thing, and obedience to the law of God is life giving, but the law in its totality was given us to show the holiness of God, not intended to be kept to earn salvation. The Jews were saved by faith in God’s ability to deliver them from their own sin by grace. Nothing has changed in that matter, but the Jews were told to “Keep” the law as it was given to them to gain national blessings under a Theocracy (God’s Rule) of Yahweh. When Christ came, He put to death any notion of earning one’s salvation, because the law could only show us where we erred, but it did not bring forth life and regeneration as Christ’s act did through His Holy Spirit. Study Question 1. What is the purpose of the law? 2. Is the law good or bad? Explain. 3. What is the benefit and weakness of the law? 4. How does grace eclipse he law as given to Moses and the Jewish people?

Week #5 Romans 7:7-12 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Summary Once again Paul is rhetorically anticipating push back on what he previously wrote. Since Paul had said that the law causes him to sin, he is now answering the question “Is the law sin?” His answer is once again quick, “By no means!” Paul is explaining that the law is good, but since it exists to show us God’s holiness and our own inability to keep the law, it acts as a condemning agent. Paul is not saying the law causes sin, but he is saying the law defines it and condemns it, and brings forth death, not life. Study Question 1. How does the law define sin? 2. How does the law define God’s holy nature? 3. How is the law good if it ultimately kills us? 4. Why can’t law give us life?

Week #6 Romans 7:13-25 13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Summary Here Paul seems to be clear that it is not the law that produces sin and ultimately death in us, but it is our own sin nature that produces death in us. Paul illustrates the frustration that many believers experience; the desire to live a pleasing life to God, but the seemingly uncontrollable urge to pleasure ourselves. The problem with us is not a split nature, but a new heart controlled by the Spirit and an old flesh that has been under another master for too long. This is the real struggle we all have. The desire to do what God wants, fighting against our flesh’s desire to do what it wants. It’s a fight between our old master (Flesh) and our new master (God). This is not a fight between two natures! WE have been changed, and have a new nature and identity, but we fail when we obey our old master and its desires, rather than giving our life to Christ in that area. Paul is talking as a believer here. As we begin our walk with God through Christ, we will have our sins revealed to us, and we need to continue to repent for our attitudes and desires that are not in alignment with the Gospel, and appropriate God’s loving forgiveness on a regular basis. Study Question 1. Do you ever find yourself wanting to do right, but struggling with it? 2. How does repentance and appropriation of forgiveness affect this issue in our lives? 3. What does struggling against sin mean? 4. How can we serve the law of God more consistently?

Week #7 Romans 8:1-11 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Summary The only way we can consistently live according to God’s will in our lives is to realize that we are made anew in Christ, and empowered by His Holy Spirit! We have been set free, and empowered to change, but that only happens when we use the Spirit’s power to live the Christian life. We cannot live the Christian life on our own power. Living under our own power and control produces death, while living under the Spirit’s control produces joy and life. We cannot live a pleasing life to God without His Spirit. God has not left us alone, but has given us the power of the resurrection within us, to live according to His will. Study Question 1. How does recognizing that we have the power of the resurrection living in us change us? 2. What does it mean to walk according to the Flesh/Spirit? 3. How can we “Walk” according to the Spirit? 4. Do you believe you have the power to change?

Week #8 Romans 8:12-17 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Summary Paul continues to remind us that the Spirit of God is the power that transforms us, and that we are exhorted to trust the Spirit, and His will for us rather than our desire to do what our passions tell us to. Our passions produce anxiety and ultimately death, while the Spirit produces life in us. Since we have the Spirit, we ought not to fall back into slavery and fear, but freedom and joy, since we have a God we can call Dad! We are adopted sons and daughters, and have an intimate knowledge of God through the Spirit of God, and therefore are His children, and heirs of everything that He has available to Him. Study Question 1. What does Paul mean, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God?” 2. What doe sit mean to be “Led by the Spirit?” 3. What is the significance of being able to call God “Abba Father?” 4. What does “Adoption” mean?

Week #9 Romans 8:18-30 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Summary The world is a broken place, racked with sin and futility. It lacks life and meaning, in spite of our best effort to create both. No matter what we do, life ends tragically, and suffering is a reality for most of the world. Apart from god, life has no real meaning; only meaning(s) that we create to help us feel that our life matters, but if God doesn’t exist, there is no foundation for real meaning or ultimate meaning; we truly are chemicals and atoms randomly trying to exist in a cold, dark, broken world. In Christ however, God is working out His plan for His glory and the joy of His people, and He will bring to fruition His promise to heal the land and bring prosperity to His people. When we are in dire straights, and can’t understand His plan, the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf, so we can cry out to our God in pain and be heard because of the Spirit in our life. Study Question 1. How should the believer look at suffering? Why? 2. How does knowing God change our perspective? 3. What does it mean that, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose?” 4. What does being “Glorified” mean?

Week #10 Romans 8:31-39 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Summary Paul ends chapter eight with a great reminder that God loves us, and there is nothing that can separate us from His love for us. In spite of persecution, trials, accusations, or anything else, God’s love will not be taken away from us. Our sin will not end our relationship with God, nor does our sin cause God to “Punish” us. He loves us and nothing can stop that, not even our sin. We can certainly grieve God, but we cannot make Him stop loving us. Study Question 1. How is the love of God a comfort to our souls? 2. How does God’s love and suffering co-exist? 3. Does God punish us for sin? 4. How does God’s love motivate us toward holiness?

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