Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

The first 11 chapters of the book of Romans cover amazing truths about the foundation of our faith. In these chapters Paul shows God’s faithfulness to His Word and that He has a saving purpose that will not fail! He has a gracious purpose in election, and choosing a remnant of Jews. He also has a sovereign plan for the inclusion of Gentiles in His saving purpose! In last week’s study we saw how God in His sovereignty allowed the rejection of Jesus by the Jews become an avenue for the rest of the world to be saved. Interestingly, we saw that He is ready to allow the hearts of the Jews continue to be hardened until all the Gentiles He’s determined to be saved are; and then He will release the grace for salivation to the Jew so that all the Jews will be saved! The point of all the deep doctrinal truths of Romans Chapters 1-11; and the knowledge of God’s sovereignty; how He designed and carried out His plan for salvation history is one that should instinctively bring a person to the place of awe and worship. It is the proper response to God and His sovereign purposes. And so Paul begins verse 33 with the exclamation, “Oh!”

Verse 33: God Is Beyond Comprehension – A Trigger of Delight and Worship

“33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

“Oh the depth of the riches . . .” Here, Paul runs out of words to express the greatness of God. “Both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” God’s knowledge is His active involvement in the affairs of men. Not merely knowledge about, but making it happen. God’s wisdom is the execution of that knowledge in the world.

God’s judgments are unsearchable and His ways are incomprehensible! Here Paul gives praise to God, not just for what he knows of God, but also because of what he doesn’t know! For the apostle Paul, not being able to understand what God is doing was not a reason to abandon the faith. Instead it was a reason for praise.  This is what God declares of Himself in Isaiah 55:8-9,

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God is far greater than we can ever comprehend. His riches, wisdom, knowledge, judgments and ways are beyond comprehension! Matter of fact, we can never know Him completely on this side of eternity!

This awareness triggered in Paul a level of delight in worship that he expressed by starting off with “Oh!” It should have the same impact on us too!

Verses 34-35 God Is Above All – A Trigger of Silent Amazement in Worship

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counsellor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?”

Not only was Paul filled with awe at the greatness of God’s plan, he was also speechless at God’s greatness! Who wouldn’t be? In these verses, Paul asks three rhetorical questions; all three have the assumed answer of “No one!” These questions have the effect of silencing all who hear them. Habakkuk 2:20 says “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

These questions serve to shut the mouths of all those who might seek to boast in God’s presence. In verse 34, the apostle uses the language of Isaiah 40:12-17 (which in its context is dealing with the return of the nation of Israel from the Babylonian captivity). The implication is that no one could have foreseen God’s deliverance of the nation of Israel from their Babylonian captivity. No human could have devised this plan. In a similar way, Paul uses this verse in Romans 11 to highlight that no human could have devised the plan for God to turn again to the nation of Israel in the last days and remove their blindness that they might experience salvation, but this is exactly what God has done.

Also, in Job 38:2, God begins by asking Job: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” He proceeds to hammer Job with question after rhetorical question, such as (38:4-5), “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?” In the verses just before Job 41:11 (cited in Rom. 11:35), God continues pounding Job by asking whether he can draw out Leviathan with a fishhook. God taunts him (41:8), “If you so much as lay a hand on him, you won’t live to tell the story.” If neither Job nor anyone else cares to tangle with the Leviathan, God concludes (Job 41:10b), “Who then is he that can stand before Me?” In verse 35, the same question God asked Job in Job 41:11 is repeated - “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.”

The question is who gave first to God, tell us and He’ll pay you back! Silence! There in the context of chapters 40-42, God questions Job and Job is reduced to silence! See Job 40-42.

Silence is usually the response of those who have encountered the greatness of God. They are silenced at His majesty! It should have the same impact on us too!

Verse 36a God Is All in All – A Trigger of Exalted Praise and Glory

“36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Finally, in verse 36, Paul was struck by the centrality of God in all things! This is the basis of doxology, God Himself! God is shown here to be the source of all things, the means of all things, and the goal of all things!

• Everything comes from Him (James 1:17): God created everything out of nothing by speaking the word (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, etc.; Ps. 33:6, 9; John 1:3).
• Everything happens through Him (1 Chronicles 29:14): He “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). He works all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28). This includes our trials, which are from God’s loving hand for our discipline and for His glory.
• Everything ends up in Him: (1 Corinthians 15:24-28): All things exist because of God’s purpose and for His glory 

Verse 36b CONCLUSION

To whom be the glory forever. Amen. Only God deserves the glory. Psalm 115: 1 says “We don’t deserve praise! The Lord alone deserves all of the praise, because of his love and faithfulness.” Also see Revelation 4:9-11

The primary desire for anything and everything we do and seek to have should be so that God is glorified. Whether it is in the rearing of godly children, or succeeding in our careers or to any other goal. Our main aim should be that Christ would be exalted through us, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:20). It should all end up in Him and for His glory!

In concluding this I will like to read these four verses in the MSG version

“Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favour that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION

We had previously studied how the Gentiles became saved and became ingrafted into the body of Christ (Romans 11:11-24). The lesson reminded us of how Israel’s rejection of salvation paved way for the gospel to spread to the Gentiles who received the word of God with the fullness of salvation. Paul also considered his ministry to the Gentiles as an opportunity to spread the gospel to other nations but more so to his Jewish people. Although the Gentiles were not originally of Abraham but have now been engrafted as partakers of the blessings of Abraham through the salvation in Christ Jesus. Our focus on today’s study is on  Romans 11:25-32 with emphasis on “All Israel Shall Be Saved”. The rejection of Christ by the Jews was a mystery itself (John 11:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”) but this didn’t change God’s promise to Israel as His chosen (Isaiah 41:8 But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend). Therefore, as we progress in this study, we will understand that God’s prerogative is for all Israel to be saved is certain and unchanged despite their initial rejection of Christ.

1. Israel’s Rejection of Christ Is Temporal & The Gentile’s Salvation Is Timely (Verse 25).

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (NKJV)

Paul admonishes the believers about how God revealed His salvation to the Gentiles by temporarily hardening the hearts of the Jews should not be taken for granted at all. The Jews’ current blindness to the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ is but temporary because they are not even aware of their ignorance. The salvation of Gentiles came at this time so that they could also preach to the Jews’. The hardness of the heart of the Jews is not permanent but that the same message of Christ rejected by the Jews will now be preached back to the Jews by the Gentiles. This means that since Israel who is the chosen elect rejected God’s salvation, then God’s grace was also made available to the Gentile nations to receive the vastness of His salvation, and at the fullness of time, the Jews will eventually realize the magnitude of God’s salvation.

2. All Israel Shall Be Saved (Verses 26-27).

“26 And so all Israel will be [b]saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (NKJV)

At this point, it seems as if it is only the Gentiles that are getting saved but the salvation of Israel is God part of God’s covenant to Israel and so Israel shall be saved as it was written. See also Isaiah 59:20 - ”The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the Lord”.Ezekiel 34:30 ^“Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God”. But at this point, all Israel is a combination of both the true Jews and those by adoption provided they all believe in Jesus Christ. Note, after a while, God will release the grace for faith to the Jews receive Christ Jesus (in verses 23) because God has a covenant to take away their sins and if they repent from their unbelief, they will be engrafted in like the Gentiles as one people of God. For now, the gospel will continue to spread far and wide to all nations of the world until Christ’s coming when He will banish ungodliness from the house of Israel. See also  Mathew 23:39 “I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.

3. For the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance (Verses 28-29).

“28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (NKJV)

At this point, Israel is described as a people who rejected the gospel of Christ and became an enemy against God’s salvation but we must still realize that according to God’s covenant with Abraham they are still His beloved. Now it may seem as if the Jews are God’s enemies but their rejection of the Christ resulted in the persecution of the early church which propelled the gospel of Christ to other parts of the world. This became an opportunity for us Gentiles to receive the gospel but regardless of this, the Jews are still a people loved by God, and His promise of salvation to Israel cannot be revoked.

4. Man’s Disobedience and the Show of God’s Mercy (Verses 30-32).

“30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has [c]committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” (NKJV)

It is important to realize that we Gentiles who have received the salvation of Christ were not different from the Jews who reject Christ while we are still in ignorance. Both the Jews and Gentiles were both disobedient to God and now God’s mercy is available to us to repent from our sins and to receive Jesus as our Lord and saviour. This also calls for reflection to the Gentiles who are believers to appreciate the salvation of God upon their lives and that is why Apostle Paul often rebuked the Gentile churches who started compromising their salvation in sinful conducts such as in Galatians 3: 1, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 11:18, etc. At this point, God has decided to be merciful to all people either Jews or Gentiles so that we all can have the opportunity of eternal salvation.

CONCLUSION

The second coming of Christ is real and God desires that we who have already received Christ live a rapturable life so that we can go with the rapture. This is because the reign of the antichrist will begin after the rapture (This is also known as the Great Tribulation ) and it would be more difficult for people to receive the salvation of Jesus Christ but God’s mercy unto salvation would still be opened to the Jews. See also Revelation 7:4  And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. This is because God’s covenant to save Israel as His chosen people cannot be revoked (Romans 11:28). More so, all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Contributor: Peter Folikwe

INTRODUCTION

Review of last week’s study: The remnant of Israel.

• Israel as a nation rejected the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus.
• They became hardened in their unbelief by reason of their rejection of the Gospel.
• God however kept a remnant (reserve) who still believe. Paul himself being an example.
• By reason of their rejection however, the gospel was preached to Gentiles who believed.
• Finally, we learnt that God’s ultimate plan was to save more people – Jews and Gentiles. As the number of believing Gentiles increased, the Jews will become envious and ultimately turn around to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

In today’s study Paul takes us through how the Gentiles became saved by grace and were ingrafted into the body of Christ. This brings untold blessings to Gentiles that will make the Jews envious and come to accept Christ as Messiah. Ultimately, God’s originally purpose to save the whole world – Jews and Gentiles will become fulfilled.  

VERSE 11

“Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” NIV

Here Apostle Paul refers to the notion within the body of Christ whereby some believe that God no longer regard the Jews as His chosen people, that the Christian church is now the Israel of God. Paul here says that is not the case.

In V11b Paul says that salvation came to the rest of the world (the Gentiles) because the Jews rejected the Messiah. That is true till date. Majority in Israelites hold the strong belief that the Messiah is yet to come. It was part of God’s plan for the Jews to reject salvation, so that God bring even more people to the saving faith in Jesus.

VERSE 12

“Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it” NLT

Paul here is asking if the failure of the Jews to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah brought riches, blessing & salvation in particular to us - Gentiles, it is therefore unimaginable the blessings and riches the Gentiles will receive when the Jews eventually acknowledge Jesus as Messiah.

VERSES 13-14

“13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.” NLT

Paul considers his ministry to the Gentiles as a way of indirectly reaching out to his own people - the Jews. In pursuant of his ministry as an Apostle to the Gentiles, his belief is that the more the Gentiles believers, the better the chances of saving the unbelieving Jews.

Remember, Paul was not part of the original 12 Apostles selected by Jesus, until Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus.

Paul’s objective is to make Israelites jealous of the blessings of the Gentiles which should have been for the Jews, if not for their sheer disobedience and rejection of the Messiah. By this action Paul believes that the Jews will be won back to Christ which is God’s original plan for saving the world. Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

VERSES 15-17

“15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,” NIV

Paul here drives the point home that if their rejection of Jesus Christ brought salvation and blessings to Gentiles, it connotes that their acceptance of Christ as the Messiah would bring untold blessings to the word, when they eventually do. That so many more people will be gained into the faith if the Jews believe the gospel.

Since Jesus (offered as firstfruit) the root/source of Salvation is holy, therefore all who accept Him as Lord and Saviour will be counted as holy – Jew and Gentile. Paul also metaphorically used the root of a tree (Abraham in this case) is holy, it means the branches (the children) of Abraham should also be holy (saints/sanctified). 1Pet 1:16 reminds us: “…. Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Paul declared that some of the branches (Abraham’s offsprings) have been broken off from their source.

In V17 the Bible says “And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in”.

So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.”

The Israelites were the natural branches, but we were grafted branches (e.g. Implantation of a donor tissue into another body). We were supernaturally grafted as branches to the root by God. Paul uses the olive tree here to represent God’s kingdom and those of us connected to it are like branches connected to a tree.

The root represents the good news (Gospel of Jesus) that feeds the branches (believers). Therefore, the branches do not support the root to survive but the other way round. The branches cannot survive without the root.

VERSE 18

“18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”

Paul admonishes us - Gentiles not to be swollen headed because we replaced the original branches and enjoy the benefits accruing; just because they rejected Christ and we accepted Him. Paul warmed us to jealousy guard our salvation with humility, because verse 21 says “For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.”

We need to constantly remember as grafted branches that the Israelites (the original) branches were cut off because of unbelief. It calls for us to guide our faith (salvation) with fear and trembling. Phil 2:12b “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

VERSES 19-21

“19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”

Paul warns the Gentiles that it is possible to lose your faith when as a believer your cut yourself off from the gospel. Worship, prayer & fasting, the Word of God and the Holy communion are unique avenues through which believers’ faith are fed regularly, therefore you cannot afford to cut yourself from these sources of spiritual nourishment.

The branches can be broken from the root could also mean; believers cutting themselves off from the gospel all the time. It is the gospel that nourishes & sustains believers’ faith in Jesus. Just like a river do not cut itself form its source; otherwise it dries off.

VERSES 22-24

“22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” NIV

Paul reminds us that God has shown kindness to us by reason of our faith - accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord & Saviour. He urges us to continue in the forgiveness message in Christ lest we harden our heart against God’s words and lose our faith. That God will not hesitate to cut us off as branches if we misbehave “And if the Jews do not persist in unbelief, they will ultimately be grafted in, for God is able to graft them back again to the original root.

Paul here reiterates that nobody is beyond salvation. Paul himself was saved. If Israel turns around to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, they have another opportunity to be grafted back to the original root.

CONCLUSION

Finally, Paul says if God could graft us - Gentiles (wild olives) to the original olive tree, God can graft the original branches back to the original olive tree with ease. God bless you.

Contributor: Clem Roberts

INTRODUCTION

We have been able to ascertain that the law cannot redeem us, and that our righteousness is like filthy rags before God and only Christ can save us. We have also seen Paul’s eagerness for everyone to be saved.  Bringing to light God’s ultimate desire for us all.

VERSES 14 – 15

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!

The sequence here is:

Sent => Preach => hear => believe

“Preach,” means “to be a herald, to announce,” and this is not limited to declaration from a pulpit! Paul quotes from Isa 52:7. Where the messenger announced to Judah that God had hath brought to end their Exile in Babylon

What Paul was doing here was applying Isaiah 52:7 using words and scriptures that the Jews of his day to whom the gospel was being given would understand.

This tell us how accurate and knowledgeable Paul is with reference to the scriptures.

VERSE 16

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

If we focus on the word “Obeyed”: it means:

• to listen;
• to harken;
• to harken to a command;
• be obedient to,
• submit to.

Again, Paul is quoting the introductory part of Isaiah 53. He is also giving them a reminder of the prophecies.  Paul was enthusiastic in letting them know that they really do not have any excuse regarding their rejection of the Gospel.  He pointed consistently that in all of the scriptures The Jews, you and I have been told that about the Messiah.

VERSE 17

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

Our God speaks and still does to his people and the world. We only need incline our ear to Him and He will speak.  When speaks, He expects obedience

VERSES 18 – 21

“18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Understanding the message of Christ is the next step after hearing it. So Paul's logical question concerning Israel was; did they not understand this message? Israel was given the law and had the prophets and patriarchs as their guide. Israel had understanding of these things and lived daily by them. However, they were so indoctrinated by the letter of the law they missed the fact that this was a type or shadow of Jesus (Hebrews 10:1)

Isaiah foretold this. He saw that Gentiles would come to Jesus and accept the gospel message and Israel would reject it.

This has implications for us today. We can start out through faith in Jesus only to be yoked once again to the rules (or "law"). It is important to understand the truth of Jesus and what he did for you as a basis of how to live. We have died to the law through faith in Christ so we are free to live by the Spirit. Paul said in Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:20-21).

If we go back to religion, to the rules and doctrines of men, after we accept this marvellous grace then Christ died for nothing.  We can nullify the word of God in our hearts by living according to man's rules and regulations. What a harsh reality.

CONCLUSION

In summary, Paul’s argument or conclusion is that Israel had plenty, sufficient, adequate and abundant opportunity, by all-purpose and distinctive revelation, to embrace God. For you and I, everything we see or hear has already been orchestrated for our benefit.  God is giving us His Son and the one and only instrument of salvation.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

Two weeks ago we looked at Paul's Anguish over Israel in verses 1-15 of Chapter 9. It was not enough for Paul to feel sorry for Israel. He wished he could demonstrate his love in an even more active way. Being ready to, like Christ, sacrifice himself for the salvation of his fellow Jews. In today’s study we will be considering how the Jews jeopardized their enviable position and what God, in His mercy offered His chosen people.

PART 1: THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAYS TO GOD (CHAPTER 9, VERSES 30-33)

“30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (NIV)

There is a right and wrong way to come to God. If we pursue the righteousness that we need to stand before God by our works, we will fail. If we come to God by faith in Christ, we attain righteousness, even if we were not previously pursuing it.

The Jews were trying to approach God through their works built on faith in their abilities to obey the commands; this wrong approach caused them to stumble over the stumbling stone, which is Christ. Romans 9:32b-33.

The reason the true Gospel offends is that it confronts our sinful pride (1 Cor. 1:29).

• We should not boast in our intellect, because it would keep us from trusting in Christ.
• We should not boast in our morality, because if we could see each other’s hearts, we would see that they are not morally pure, but rotten.
• We should not boast in our good works, because we only do them to look good to others.  

So God deliberately put Christ and Him crucified at the centre of salvation to humble our pride, which is the root of all of our sins. To come in faith to Christ, God must humble our pride. That leads us to the right way to come to Him: because salvation by human righteousness always falls short. We need God’s righteousness, imputed to us; this refers to justification, where God declares the believing sinner blameless and imputes (assigns) the very righteousness of Christ to that sinner’s account.

We cannot bring our best efforts and combine them with the righteousness of Christ. That muddies the pure water of His righteousness and it robs Him of glory. To follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves, especially deny our self-righteousness and good deeds as the basis for right standing with God. Salvation is not a joint project, where we try hard and let God do the rest. It is all of God.

PART 2: WHY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE MISS SALVATION (CHAPTER 10, VERSES 1-4)

“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

Once again, Paul starts off by expressing his desire and prayers for the salvation of the Israelites. He testifies of their zeal for God and then proceeds to answer the questions that would have been bothering the Romans. “If the Jews are God’s chosen people, why are most of them rejecting Christ?”

In his answer, he revealed that the Jews and all religious people often miss salvation

1. In spite of their zeal for God, because they possess zeal not based on knowledge (10:2).

Israel failed to attain righteousness because they did not pursue the law by faith, but as if it could be attained by works. In so doing, they were only seeking to establish their own righteousness (10:3), which always falls short.

All roads do not lead to the top; being sincere or zealous is not enough. Good intentions are not good enough if they are mistaken about the truth of the Gospel. Religious zeal must always be tested against the core truth of the unchanging Gospel.

The Jews did not understand God’s saving righteousness, namely, that He imputes righteousness to the one who believes in His appointed substitute.

2. Because they fail to trust in Christ as their righteousness (10:4).

Verse 4 says: “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

This is a wonderful verse, but unfortunately it is one of the most disputed verses in all of Paul’s letters. The problem is that the word “end” (Greek, telos) has different nuances of meaning. It can mean “termination,” it can mean “goal,” (Gal. 3:23-25), and it can mean “fulfilment” or “culmination,” (Matt. 5:17). To understand what Paul was referring to here, we must combine verse 3 & 4. Verses 3 & 4 are saying that either you are seeking to be right with God by establishing your own righteousness through good deeds and morality (10:3), in which case you will miss God’s salvation, because all such attempts fall short. Or, you will recognize that you need perfect righteousness to stand before God. Thus you will abandon your own attempts to establish your righteousness and trust in Christ alone to be your righteousness (10:4). His perfect righteousness is credited to your account, so that God declares you to be righteous or justified. In other words, “Christ came to fulfil the law so as to make righteousness available for everyone who believes.”

PART 3: HOW TO BE SAVED (CHAPTER 10, VERSES 5-10)

“5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

In these verses, Paul contrasts the righteousness based on the law (verse 5) with the righteousness that comes through faith (verses 6-10). To be saved by keeping the law, you must keep it perfectly. But to be saved by faith, you trust in what God has done in sending His Son to die for your sins and raising Him from the dead. Salvation is not by keeping the law, but by faith in Christ.

1. To be saved, you must recognize firstly, that you cannot save yourself by keeping God’s law (Verse 5).
2. To be saved, you must recognize that Christ has done for you what you could never do for yourself (Verses 6-8).

So Paul’s point is that human effort is not necessary to procure God’s righteousness. God has done it all: He sent Christ. Christ died for our sins. God raised Him from the dead. All that we must do is to believe in this word that Paul was preaching. The fact that this word “is near you” (10:8) means that you don’t have to go through some difficult or impossible process like (ascending into heaven or descending into the abyss) to find Christ and be saved. Rather, you can believe in Him at this moment and be saved.

3. To be saved, you must truly believe in Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord and Saviour (Verses 9-10)

• True faith is a matter of your heart believing Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord and Saviour.
• True faith confesses openly that Jesus is the risen Lord and Saviour.
• Faith is the root; confession is the fruit. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, but if our faith is genuine, it will always bear the fruit of salvation (Eph. 2:8-10).

PART 4: GOOD NEWS FOR ALL (CHAPTER 10, VERSES 11-13)

“As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Verse 11 means that the Gospel is good news for all. Good news is only good news for you when you hear it and act on it. So we must preach it to one and all!

1. All people have one primary need: To be saved before they die and face judgment.
2. All people need one message: The Good news that whoever believes in Jesus will not be put to shame.
3. All people need to hear that there is one way to be saved: To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION

We have learnt why the Jews for the most part were rejecting Christ: they were trying to be saved by their own good works so that they stumbled over Christ. They missed God’s way of righteousness through faith in Christ. So the emphasis is on human responsibility and sin. We will see in future studies that although Israel rejected Christ because they were disobedient and obstinate (10:21); God’s sovereignty is still present. It is God’s sovereign plan to use the salvation of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy, so that eventually they will turn to Christ (10:19; 11:11, 14).

Parts of this study was culled from https://bible.org (lessons 62-65)

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION: In the conclusion of last week’s study, we touched on the mercy of God. Where the Apostle Paul quoted Exodus 33:19 “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” In today’s study we shall be looking further into God’s mercy. God’s mercy is a gift; seen when He shows compassion or forgiveness towards someone who deserved to be punished.

Verse 16: Mercy is God’s Sovereign Gift

¹⁶ So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift]. AMP

God’s mercy is not given to us because of what we wish to do (human will), or because of what we actually do (human effort), but simply out of His desire to show mercy. A gift is usually undeserved; it is at the other end of the spectrum of a prize; which is earned.

Verses 17-18: Mercy is at God’s Disposal; He Chooses When and How to Dispense It

17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.” (NLT)

These two verses spell out a concept that has confused many. So let’s dig a little deeper.

Firstly, people interpret verse 17 to mean that God created Pharaoh for the purpose of destroying him; so that He could glorify Himself; but that was not the case. Paul was quoting Exodus 9:16. But to understand that verse we must read both verses 15&16 (AMP)

“15 For by now I could have put out My hand and struck you and your people with a pestilence, and you would then have been cut off (obliterated) from the earth. 16 But indeed for this very reason I have allowed you to live, in order to show you My power and in order that My name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth.”

See how different a passage becomes when it is read in context? Does this passage not therefore show God’s mercy on Pharaoh howbeit momentarily?

Secondly. It is not that God forced an “unwilling”, “kind-hearted” Pharaoh to be hard towards Him and Israel. What God simply did was allow Pharaoh’s heart to pursue its natural inclination. Initially, God did not harden Pharaoh’s heart; he was given the opportunity to choose freely to obey God time and time again. Instead, he and the Egyptians freely rejected God’s command to let Israel go. If God had created Pharaoh initially as a vessel for destruction, there would have been no need to harden him later. Hardening only makes sense, if the clay was first soft in the first place. Here is what 1 Samuel 6:6a says:

“Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did?”

Under God’s longsuffering and patience, He allowed Pharaoh additional opportunity to repent and to let Israel go; but Pharaoh decided (himself) not to. This can be seen in Exodus 7:13 (Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened) 7:22 (so Pharaoh’s heart was hardened), 8:15 (he hardened his heart), 8:19 (But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened), 8:32 (But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also), 9:7 (But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened), and 9:34 (he sinned again and hardened his heart).

However, it was after much longsuffering; after 7 plagues before God finally hardened Pharaoh’s heart; freezing it in its rebellious state. In other words, God made sure Pharaoh could no longer change his mind even if he wanted to. Because, due to the suffering of the next two plagues, he could have let Israel go but it would not have been because he wanted to obey God willingly. Exodus 10:1 (And the Lord said unto Moses, go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart), 10:20 (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart), 10:27 (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart), 11:10 (yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart)

Verses 19-21: God’s Decisions Are Unquestionable

“19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honourable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]?” (AMP)

Paul imagines someone asking, “If it is all a matter of God’s choice, then how can God find fault with me? How can anyone go against God’s choice?” Paul replies by showing how arrogant and disrespectful such a question is. Just as the clay cannot (not even should not) question the potter so we cannot question God! Does God not have the same right that any Creator has over his creation?

Verses 22-24: God’s Mercy is a Declaration of His Glory

 “22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.” (NLT)

In verse 22, Paul draws our attention to the riches of God’s mercy! He is still very patient with those who deserve His wrath. That is what we saw with Pharaoh (Exodus 9:15&16)

Verse 23 reveals an interesting concept: “He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.”

When you see what could have happened to you and compare it with what God’s mercy did instead, it simply makes the riches of His glory shine brighter! And if God wants to show mercy to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, who can oppose Him? The Jews were inclined to think that God could not make them anything other than vessels of honour. Paul rejects this view and points out that God does what He wills; making us part of those He selected.

Verses 25-26: Conclusion

^“25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” 26 And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.” (NLT)

Verse 25 is a magnificent message of hope and joy concerning you and I! Those who were not original God’s people, He now calls us His people! He also now loves us! But this promise also covers Israel. The prophecy of Hosea in Hosea 1:10 says: “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.”

Contributor: Leye Olayiwola

INTRODUCTION

In our last in-depth study of the concluding verses of Romans Chapter 8 we considered the depth and intensity of God’s love for us. We were reminded that as long as God is for us, no one can be against us; If He justifies us, then no one can condemn us. How fulfilling and refreshing to be reminded that no matter what we go through, nothing can alienate us from Christ’s love. In Romans chapters one through eight, Paul thoroughly convinced us about man’s need and God’s glorious provision in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Now, in Romans 9 through 11, Paul deals with the problem associated with the condition of Israel. What does it mean that Israel has missed its Messiah? What does this say about God? Or about Israel? What does it say about our present position in God? Some of these questions will be addressed in today’s lesson.

Romans 9: 1-3

“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,”

• Paul solemnly testifies that what he is about to say is the truth. He is not lying. While one’s conscience can be hardened or deceived (Titus 1:15) the Christian’s conscience can be cleansed, so that the Holy Spirit bears witness through our conscience (1 Timothy 1:5)
• With all honesty, Paul can say in verse 2 that his response to Israel’s unbelief and very real peril is that of sorrow and grief. These are the responses of love, not of bitterness or vengeance. In spite of all the Jews have done against Paul, he still loves them and finds no joy in their downfall.
• Paul’s love goes far deeper than this as he tells us in verse 3. It is not enough for Paul to feel sorry for his people. He wishes he could demonstrate his love in an even more active way. If it were possible, he would wish to be like Christ, sacrificing himself for the salvation of his fellow-Jews. This great passion for souls gave Paul’s perspective. Lesser things did not trouble him because he was troubled by a great thing – the souls of men. “Get love for the souls of men – then you will not be whining about a want yet to be met and the little disturbances that people may make by their idle talk. You will be delivered from petty worries (I need not further describe them) if you are concerned about the souls of men… Get your soul full of a great grief, and your little griefs will be driven out.” (Spurgeon)

Romans 9: 4-5

“Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; ⁵ of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

The pain Paul feels for his lost brethren is all the more severe when he considers how God has blessed them with all the privileges of being His own special people.

• The glory speaks of God’s Shekinah glory, the visible “cloud of glory” showing God’s presence among His people.
• Paul also considers the human legacy of being God’s chosen people. Israel not only gave us the great fathers of the Old Testament, but Jesus Himself came from Israel. This entire spiritual legacy makes Israel’s unbelief all the more problematic.
• “Christ… who is over all, the eternally blessed God, Amen”: This is one of Paul’s clear statements that Jesus is God.

Romans 9: 6-9

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, ⁷ nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” ⁸ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”

• Paul thinks of someone looking at Israel and saying, “God’s word didn’t come through for them. He didn’t fulfill His promise for them because they missed their Messiah and now seem cursed. How do I know that He will come through for me?” Paul answers the question by asserting that it is not that the word of God has taken no effect.
• For they are not all Israel who are of Israel: One meaning of the name Israel is “governed by God.” “Paul tells us that no one is truly Israel unless he is governed by God. We have a parallel situation with the word ‘Christian.’ Not everyone who is called a Christian is truly a follower of Christ.”
• The children of the promise are counted as the seed: God’s word didn’t fail, because God still reaches His children of the promise, which may or may not be the same as physical Israel (but also Believers in Christ). Paul shows that merely being the descendant of Abraham saves no one. For example, Ishmael was just as much a son of Abraham as Isaac was; but Ishmael was a son according to the flesh, and Isaac was a son according to the promise. One was the heir of God’s covenant of salvation, and one was not. Isaac stands for the children of the promise and Ishmael stands for the children of the flesh.

Romans 9: 10-13

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

• Our father Isaac: God’s choice between Ishmael and Isaac seems somewhat logical to us. It’s a lot harder to understand why God chose Jacob to be the heir of God’s covenant of salvation instead of Esau. We might not understand it as easily, but God’s choice is just as valid.
• Not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil: Paul points out that God’s choice was not based on the performance of Jacob or Esau. The choice was made before they were born.
• That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls: So we do not think that God chose Jacob over Esau because He knew their works in advance, Paul points out that it was not of works. Instead, the reason for choosing was found in Him who calls.
• The older shall serve the younger: God announced these intentions to Rebecca before the children were born, and He repeated His verdict long after Jacob and Esau had both passed from the earth (Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated

1. We should regard the love and the hate as regarding His purpose in choosing one to become the heir of the covenant of Abraham. In that regard, God’s preference could rightly be regarded as a display of love (accepted/ loved more) towards Jacob and hate (rejected/ loved less) towards Esau – Gen.29:31, 33; Matt.6:24; John 12:25.
2. All in all, we see that Esau was a blessed man (Genesis 33:8-16, Genesis 36). God hated Esau in regard to inheriting the covenant, not in regard to blessing in this life or the next.
3. “A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’” (Newell)
4. Our greatest error in considering the choices of God is to think that God chooses for arbitrary reasons, as if He chooses in an “eeny-meeny-miny-moe” way. We may not be able to fathom God’s reasons for choosing, and they are reasons He alone knows and answers to, but God’s choices are not capricious. He has a plan and a reason.

CONCLUSION: Romans 9:14-15

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”

• Is there unrighteousness with God? Paul answers this question strongly: Certainly not! God clearly explains His right to give mercy to whomever He pleases in Exodus 33:19.
• I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy: Remember what mercy is. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. God is never less than fair with anyone, but fully reserves the right to be more than fair with individuals as He chooses. 
• Jesus spoke of this right of God in the parable of the landowner in Matthew 20:1-16.
• We are in a dangerous place when we regard God’s mercy towards us as our right. If God is obliged to show mercy, then it is not mercy – it is obligation. No one is ever unfair for not giving mercy.

This study is culled from https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-9/

Contributor: Alex Alajiki

INTRODUCTION:

In our last lesson, we considered the present suffering and the future glory for all believers from Rom. 8:18-30. What is considered as suffering is simply our battles against the flesh and the kingdom of darkness. We are encouraged to stand our ground by focusing on the glory ahead which surpasses any challenge of the present time. Jesus is still our best example according to Heb. 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”

Romans chapter 8 actually holds the central theme of the 16 chapters of the entire book.

The chapter begins with the message ‘no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (vs. 1) which only makes sense to those who have grasped that without Christ we are and must be condemned. The chapter ends with ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus’ (vs 39). Within this chapter, Paul highlighted the works of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.

We shall be focusing on the last nine verses to see how apostle Paul concluded this interesting chapter.

1. If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom. 8:31-32

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

We must never doubt if God is on our side according to Jer.29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

If then God is pleased with us and so is willing to work on our behalf, Paul asks what does it matter who opposes us or is displeased with us? Of course, many people may in fact oppose us. Satan will surely oppose us. But if the omnipotent, all-wise, loving God of the universe is pleased with us, no one else really matters! Compare Psalms 118:6; Matth. 10:28. Far too often we are much too concerned about how others view us. We let them hinder our service to God, because we want people on our side. We must love God above all others (Matth. 6:33; 10:34-37). Though parents, spouse, children, friends, and enemies all oppose us, we should still serve God, since His attitude toward us is all that matters in the end. See also Gala. 1:10; Matt. 6:1-18; 23:5; 2 Corin. 10:12,18; 1 Thess. 2:4: John 12:42,43; 5:44.

Vs 32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Paul here offers the supreme proof of God’s love and of His desire to give us all that we need in His service. He did not spare even His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. This was God’s supreme sacrifice (John 3:16; Rom. 5:5-8; 1 John 4:9-11). If God is willing to make such a sacrifice, how can we doubt His love and His ability to meet all our needs?

We should rest assured that God will always give us everything we need to serve Him: all the blessings mentioned here and even things we may not realize that we need (Eph. 1:3; James 1:17). Why would we ever doubt His wisdom, love, or provisions for us? Why would we question Him for allowing problems to come? This is surely Paul’s point in context

2. If God justifies us, who can condemn us? Rom.8:33-34

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Paul here asks who can cause us to stand condemned if God has justified us? If God is pleased to forgive our sins, who has the power to defeat His purpose and election? Who can bring such a charge against us as to cause us to stand condemned? The obvious implied answer is that no one can

do so (compare verses 31,32). We are assured of our blessings under the gospel by the fact that Christ died for us and arose, so that He is now at God’s right hand to make intercession for us according to Heb. 7:25. He is also our advocate with the Father according to 1 John 2:1.

3) What problems in life can separate us from Christ’s love? Rom. 8:35-36

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Paul here listed specific suffering that Christian can likely go through because of our faith in Christ;

Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword. Then he asks whether or not any of these particulars can hinder our relationship with God. The answer in each case must be “No!”. Separation from the “love of Christ” can refer either to our love for Christ or His love for us’. God can never cease loving us because of our suffering or persecution, but we must decide that none of these problems can force us to stop loving Him like Job did according to Job 2:9.

If within ourselves we lose our commitment to God’s service, we surely will die spiritually and be separated from God. We must keep ourselves in the love of God – Jude 21

Can anybody relate how their love for God was tested under pressure or persecution.

Vs 36, As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Here, Paul quoted Ps.44:22. He suffered intense persecution in the process of bringing the gospel to others. God’s people do suffer in this life. Doctrines that teach otherwise simply cause despair when hardship and persecution continue even for those who are faithful according to 2 Tim.3:12.

4) We are more than conquerors; Rom. 8:37-39

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In all these trials, God will always be there to help us endure the hardship and overcome. But in what sense are we “more than conquerors” through these trials? If we allow suffering to lead us to sin, then we are separated from God. This is what Satan hopes suffering will produce, as he hoped in the case of Job. But if we use God’s provisions so that we remain faithful, then we defeat the trials; they do not defeat us. Jesus already gave us the victory even before any trial according to John 16:33, Phil.4:13.

We are conquerors, if the trials do not defeat us. But we are more than conquerors, because we actually benefited by that which Satan sent to defeat us. We are actually drawn closer to God. Our weaknesses and impurities are removed. We learn patience and faith, and ultimately receive eternal rewards if we endure to end according to Rev.2:10, Matt.24:13.

In vs 39, “no created thing,” neither those listed nor any other can keep us away from the benefits of Christ’s love. If we take the way of escape (1 Corin. 10:13), we can always defeat

Satan and his power by the armour God provides (Eph. 6:10-18).

Conclusion.

The Holy Spirit is our greatest help or helper in any trial according to Eph.3:16 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man”. He also helps us to pray and show us the way to overcome. Rom. 8:26

Contributor: Alex Kokobili

Introduction
Our last study of Romans 8:1-17 focused on “Life through the Flesh & Life through the Spirit”. The summary of the last three verses helps us to understand that the Spirit of God is not a spirit that ensnares us into slavery, which binds one to fear but that it is through Him we gained adoption as sons and daughters of God. Also, The Holy Spirit confirms that we are now God’s children and by this, we can now share in the glories of God’s kingdom and He calls us sons as long as we keep being led by His Spirit This is because we were adopted as His children not according to the flesh but the Spirit. This means we share in both His sufferings as humans and also share in the fullness of His glory through the Spirit. Our focus now is on Romans 8: 18 -30 with emphasis on the “Present Suffering and the Future Glory”. Suffering is regarded as an unpleasant experience either in the long or short term but we realize that people consider suffering differently based on how a specific situation relates to them. One thing people often say is if God is good, then why do we suffer? But we are encouraged by Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 1:29-28. To define God’s glory is to describe God’s goodness and His wonder as El-Shaddai who is Almighty in all His ways and as believers, we are rewarded with glory each time we prevail in our Christian work and if tarry till the very end, an eternal glory also awaits us.

Verse 18 – A Comparison That Makes Suffering Worth Our While
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Apostle Paul acknowledges the challenges of staying knitted to Christ is likened to one form of suffering or the other. In previous verses, Paul echoed on the struggles of the flesh and the carnal nature of man. The suffering of these present times is nothing if we endured partaking in the incomparable glory ahead. We must accept that the suffering of this present time is real and Christians should not be ignorant of this. For instance; Christians are regularly mocked for openly confessing their faith, while others are persecuted, and the church as a who is often a victim of government legislations to curtail its influence. Also, some other Christians are faced with the temptation for quick wealth, etc. Regardless of all these situations, we were able to endure for the glory ahead to be revealed in us.

Verses 19-22 – The World Eagerly Waits Our Manifestation
“19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Paul makes it clear that the world now eagerly awaits to see us as God’s children because they realize how difficult it is to be consecrated unto God. For the Christians in this generation to partake of the glory of Christ, we must endure the sufferings of Christ and flee from all forms of evil. The world is subject to ungodliness and evil but now all men who turn to Christ can benefit from the glory ahead if they see Christ in us and turn from all unrighteousness. The glory starts from here on earth but it is a glory unto eternity which is the reason why we have to endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ (2Tim 2:3). Be aware, of the silent cry of those
perishing that we cannot hear which is the yearning for help, freedom, and liberty from the corruption of the flesh but who will set them free if we delay the manifestation of God’s glory? (Romans 10:4). But the world around can’t do it by itself because it lost hope in a generation that couldn’t unveil God to them. Part of the challenge of this generation is the unwillingness to serve God, violence, technological arrogance, manipulation of evil, etc., but it now depends on our unveiling to set the people around us from the bondage of this world. Paul likened the expectation from us as God’s sons who are surrounded by a generation that needs direction to be that of groaning and labour pangs (intensive pain during childbirth).

Verses 23-25 – Desiring to manifest God’s Glory
“23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

It is not enough to be a Christian, but we must desire to manifest the Glory of God. This glory is not an imagination, but that our lives portray God’s goodness all the time till the point of the rapture (At this point we are transformed from our carnal nature to glory). We must spiritually see the glory ahead, and endure all the temptations, shame and be unshaken in our faith. Hebrews 12: 1-2, tells us about how Christ despised the earthly humiliation for the glory ahead. Paul himself had to wait in perseverance for glory ahead which is the ultimate reward for all who finish their earthly race in Christ in 2Tim 4: 7-9. This should be the attitude of a Christian soldier who endures all situations (the good, bad, and ugly roads in life) without been dismissed from the Lord’s army and he/she is eventually rewarded here on earth from God’s gloriousness and most importantly with God’s eternal glory which is the ultimate goal

Verses 26-27 – The Holy Spirit Helps Us to Pray
“26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

As sons of God who have been redeemed to reveal God’s glory to this generation, we must embrace God’s will all times because he will make all things beautiful in its season. It’s an irony Christians forget that we are expected to tarry before God till the very end. For instance, 1Peter 5:10, we learn that the Holy Spirit sees the genuineness of our hearts and helps us if we are willing to persevere. Christ our High Priest was also tempted like us as it is written in Hebrews 4:15, but Christ prevailed. Let us always endeavour to ask the Holy Spirit for help, as we cannot overcome the world by motivational words but through a Holy Spirit filled and controlled life. Then, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray in accordance with God's will and gives us the grace to live a victorious life in Christ.

Verses 28-30 – God Makes All Things Work Together
“28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

God is always ready to help us get His best in life and make every aspect of our earthly pilgrimage to work for our good if we love Him and stay in His purpose whether in good or bad times. It’s God's will for us to manifest the image of Jesus here on earth because the world is waiting for us to unveil God’s glory as sons adopted in the similitude of Christ. Therefore, let us not feel discouraged or ashamed in displaying His love when we suffer all sorts as Christians, for God will eventually make it work out for His glory at the end of the day. Paul himself had unpleasant experiences in his apostolic ministry and voyages but he endured at all times. We can be assured that tarrying and discomfort for the sake of holding fast in our salvation will eventually make us perfect unto His glory - James 1:2-4 (2 Count it all joy, my brothers,2 when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing).

In Conclusion
As Christians, we must strive for the glory ahead, and what a shame if we fail to unveil God’s glory to the world around us. Paul’s love for the glory ahead cared less even to the point of death, sickness, or shame, etc., (Rom 8:35). Let us be aware that the creation is subject to eternal destruction if we don’t manifest God’s glory for them to be saved but if we rather join them to sin, it will be a total loss for us and God could raise another generation that will unveil His glory to His people. Our desire should not be to live on this earth forever but for our bodies to be transformed unto His eternal glory whenever He comes for us and all the other saints (Romans 8:23, Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, redemption of our body).

Contributor: Peter Folikwe

INTRODUCTION

By way of recap, from our previous study of the book of Romans, Apostle Paul focused on the problem of sin as a limitation of the natural man. In the last study of Chapter 7, Apostle Paul emphasized the unending war between the natural flesh and Spirit of man.

For instance, in Rom 7:15 NIV Paul says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” In Verse 24, Paul declared how wretched he was asking who shall deliver his body from death, because of our fleshly desires. He stated that the law is spiritual, but we are carnal because of the lust of the flesh. Since the law is spiritual and we are carnal, we are often condemned by the law. The law, as a mirror, keeps exposing our sins. The law according to Paul, therefore, has a right to condemn us, because we flesh out often. By the end of chapter 7, our condemnation by the law leaves us wondering; who can save us from this condemnation?

VERSE 1: A RAY OF HOPE

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (KJV)

Chapter 8 opens with Paul’s declaration. This opening verse simply gives us that ray of hope that we are not indeed condemned by the law. Why? We shall understand by the time we get to Verse 17.

VERSE 2: NOT CONDEMNED

“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (NIV)

The law Paul refers to here is not the law of Moses (the law of righteousness), but something/natural authority that has “power” over us. For instance, the Taoiseach enacted a law at the beginning of the pandemic that religious houses and some other places of social gathering should be closed. Violation of that law comes with consequences. Eccl 8:4 says “Where the word of a king is, there is power:”

So if you replace “law” in the above verse with “power”, the verse reads “the power of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the power of sin and death”. Therefore, if the ‘power of the Spirit’ dwells in you, it will save you from the ‘power of the law’. In essence we need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the power of the law.

VERSE 3: THE WEAKNESS OF THE LAW

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (KJV)

Paul here switches back to the law of Moses (law of righteousness). This law sets out rules but does not empower anyone to keep it. The weakness in the flesh often weakens the ability of the law to change our lives. God, understanding of our weakness, sent His only begotten son Jesus in likeliness of our sinful flesh, not as a sinner. Jesus was without sin in the flesh and had to be without sin to qualify to pay for our sins. If Jesus had sinned, He would have to pay for His sins and not for you and I. If you lend me money, I can’t be owing you and decide to pay another man’s debt, except only after I have settled my debts. Since Jesus took on our sins, He became condemned for our sins. Going back to the introductory verse, there is therefore no condemnation for them who are in Christ Jesus, why? Simply because Jesus has been condemned for our sins. This however does not give us freedom to continue in sin.

VERSE 4: RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW FULFILLED IN US

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

This verse tells us why Jesus was condemned; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us....... Paul here talks of the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled “in” us, not “by” our own actions of obedience. Because none of us can fulfil the righteousness of the law in our sinful flesh. It will be fulfilled in us, only if we walk after the spirit. Because Jesus (through the power of the Holy Spirit) lives in you & I, therefore He can empower us to live & keep the requirements of the law. It does not mean that we do not occasionally fall (not deliberately) into sin, but Godly sorrow through the Spirit of God that lives within us, we confess & repent of our sins.

VERSE 5: SPIRIT CONTROLLED VS FLESH CONTROLLED

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set (constantly thinking) on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set (constantly thinking) on what the Spirit desires.” (NIV)

Paul clearly distinguishes between those whose minds are inclined towards living a life controlled by the flesh and others whose focus/mindset are focused on spiritual desires. Luke 12:34 says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

VERSES 6-8: THE CONSEQUENCES

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” (NLT)

Paul admonishes us to bring our body under subjection, otherwise our bodies will bring us instead under its control. It is usual for the natural man to run contrary to God’s laws. Adam was instructed not to eat the apple; exactly that he did with eve. Paul says “I find myself doing those things I hate to do”. Caution a child not to touch an object, just look away, your guess is as good as mine. It is impossible to live gratifying the flesh and live a life pleasing to God. It is by the spirit of God that lives within us we are redeemed (born again).

VERSES 9-13: IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD’S SPIRIT IN US

“9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (NIV)

Paul says if the Spirit of God is not in you, then you are not a believer. It is the spirit of God, not our own righteousness that makes us born again children of God. Verse 10 says our physical bodies are subject to physical death because of sin. Jesus however did not die for our physical body, but for our souls. For those who Jesus will meet on earth when He returns in glory will have their physical bodies transformed/changed, not redeemed. Verse 11, talks about the glorification of our bodies at resurrection for as long as we have the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Verse 12 says we are debtors, but not to the flesh anymore because it has been paid by Jesus on the cross. Verse 13 implies you can only put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, not by our own strength.

VERSES 14-15: LED BY THE SPIRIT

“14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (NIV)

God sees us as His children provided, we have His Spirit dwelling in us. Unlike some ‘so-called Christians’ who believe they can only make heaven based on how hard they work for God, but do not have a Spiritual relationship with God through Jesus Christ. For you and I who walk by the Spirit, we can boast of a personal relationship with God; calling Him “Abba Father” - our dear Father.

VERSES 16-17: CONCLUSION

“16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Verse 16 tells us that we are His children only if we do His will enabled by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The Spirit in us testifies/bears witness with us that we are children of God. 2Cor 13:1 says “.... In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” The two witnesses here are the Spirit of God in you and yourself. Verse 17 talks about our inheritance in His heavenly kingdom. This inheritance is however predicated on our sharing in His sufferings (salvation, persecution, putting our bodies under subjection of the Holy Spirit etc). Ultimately, we will also share in His glorification. Jesus explained this inheritance in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats: Matt 25:34 NIV

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. God bless and help us all to abide in His Words. Amen.