THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS (Part 1)

b) Romans 1:16-17
The only way to arrest ‘decline’ into extremes of human depravity or give a breathing space in any generational confusion is the Gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation.

c) Romans 1:18,24,26,28
The neglect of the evidence of the Godhead through their own creation by God, and proof provided by other creatures has the sequelae of the revelation of the wrath of God (Vs. 18). When they continue to wax worse in their evil willfulness, in His response God gave them up to uncleanliness (Vs. 24). This is the next step in their descent into the abyss. Just as in our contemporary world today you can see men change the truth of God into a lie and they call the righteous homophobes, God gave them up to vile affections (Vs. 26). And when God saw (and He still sees) that they enjoyed their depravity, God gave them over to a reprobate mind (Vs. 28).

From that point of depravity, Biblical and Church history show that, such a generation is on the last step into the abyss. No generation ever recovered from that. The Scriptures we just read were written in the setting of Nero’s Rome and natural history will tell us, as the word of God stated that Roman Empire from that point irretrievably and irrevocably descended into disintegration (Verses 28-30).

Take a careful look at the above textual passages and you will agree that our work of evangelism has to be carried out first within the Church (globally); at the same time as we reach out to the sinners out there. How can the Church show that it does not have pleasure in them that do evil (Vs. 30)?

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ROMANS CHAPTER 2
Both the religious (Jew) Church member who has not received the Gospel, and the unrepentant (Gentile) sinner are headed for the same eternal destination.

a) Romans 2:1,5, 11
The consequential behaviour of sin and sinfulness leading from iniquity unto iniquity should be a subject of sober reflection for us rather than passing triumphalist judgements on others as the religious ‘believers’ did to the Romans. There is a complex relationship between religious zeal practiced in unrighteousness as exemplified by the religious sinner, compared to the defiant atheism of the Romans (Romans 1:18,24,26,28). These can be highlighted by the two different attitudes of the two groups but with identical results; as we can see in the following sections:

c) Romans 2:17, 24-29
A Gentile who truly believes and lives according to the law of righteousness is more profitable to God than a religious Jew. God makes clear to the religious man, that external piety and religious zeal that expresses itself in unrighteousness is blasphemy. And that sanctification is of the heart not of the skin.

Religion, Church membership or sanctimonious piety are of little or no consequence, if the work of the Cross has not first sanctified the soul through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Circumcision of the flesh avails nothing but sanctification of the spirit avails much.

WORKSHOP — 2

1. “Holier than thou” bold-face will not carry any man anywhere far with God. Discuss.
2. What about this question: “What happens to people who died, but never had the opportunity of hearing the Gospel; will they be spared hell fire if they never acknowledged God?” (See Romans 2:12-15)
3. What matters most to you? Christian Religion, Church membership or New Creation Life in Christ and follower-ship of Jesus Christ?

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ROMANS CHAPTER 3
(Romans 3:9-12, 20-23, 28, 31 KJV)
Both the religious Church goer and the sinner who hope in eternal salvation through ‘good deeds’ are condemned under sin. For there is none righteous, no not one!

a) Romans 3:9-12
The first chapter proved that Gentile sinners are under sin while the second chapter condemned religious Jews under sin, because they are unable to keep the very Law they taught to others and prided themselves in. Therefore, we conclude, there is none righteous, no not one.

b) Romans 3:20-23
The Bible here establishes that seeking righteousness through the deeds of the Law by the flesh will only lead to eternal damnation.

Verse 22 emphasizes that the Righteousness which God offers comes only by the faith of Jesus Christ upon those that believe. 

This chapter can be summed by Verse 23 “…. all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”

c) Romans 3:28, 31
We are justified by faith not by the Law (Vs. 28), yet there is a mystery which makes us fulfil the Law and establish it, when we come to Jesus Christ by faith. We will soon see this mystery in Chapter 6.

WORKSHOP — 3

1. Religion can still end a man up in the wrong place. ‘Selah’
2. With or without religion, man is doomed if one is without Jesus Christ. Review, reflect and respond as appropriate.
3. The Law is good, but it is a schoolmaster to show us one weaknesses and flaws. However, it is only in Christ that the power and grace to obey the Laws of God are available. (Do you understand this?)

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ROMANS CHAPTER 4
(Romans 4:1-3; 9, 15-16; 21-25)
Righteousness was imputed to Abraham by faith, not through any work which he did. So also, does our believe in Jesus Christ, His crucifixion and Resurrection result in imputed justification and Divine Righteousness.

a) Romans 4:1-3, 9
There is no work we might do, no sacrifice we might offer, even if we give ourselves to be burnt, by which we can buy our salvation. The Scriptures gave us the example of Abraham as a co-founder of Judaism, whose “being made right with God” has nothing to do with anything that he did, but simply by believing in God’s Word.

Similarly, we too can never earn our salvation or God’s righteousness. “…. Faith was credited to Abraham as God’s righteousness! (Rom. 4:9 TPT)”

b) Romans 4:15-16
There can be no transgression of the law where there is no law. The law however condemns the receiver of the law, when he has no power to keep the law. The receiver of the law becomes a transgressor. Trying to satisfy the letters of the law is vain.

Our only way out is “the righteousness transferred by faith (TPT)”.

c) Romans 4:21-25
We can only be made right with God if we only believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We then have forgiveness of sins and justification through imputed righteousness, which we receive by faith and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

WORKSHOP — 4

1. Faith into righteousness is Divine credit when we believe God’s Word.
2. The Law is our school master to lead us to run in desperation to Christ. Discuss.
3. What do you understand by the term “justification by faith that is in Christ Jesus?”

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ROMANS CHAPTER 5
(Romans 5 :1-2; 12-18; 20-21)
In Christ we have our “Paradise Regained”. Where death has reigned over human experience and life; grace is given unto us now to “Reign in Life” through Christ Jesus.

a) Romans 5 :1-2
We are saved by grace through faith. Yet our justification and access to grace is by faith. This is because we come to God first by voluntary act of “believe” in God and His saving grace. Then the faith that is of Christ comes to settle in our hearts and we know it is done: in the present perfect. Verses 3-5 following only buttress the growth in grace through faith that works by love.

b) Romans 5 :12-18
Because of the sin of Adam in the garden of Eden, even an innocent newborn child who has never sinned in a similar way to Adam, inherits the penalty of death from Adam. No choice in the matter: that child has inherited a nature from Adam (spiritual death) and eventually dust will go to dust (physical death). Thus, death has reigned over humanity even before Moses brought the Law. The Law was only given to pronounce us, “Guilty!”

But in Christ, the gift far outweighs the crime and the penalty for the crime of Adam. The abundant outflow of grace and excellence of the gift of God through the obedience of One (Jesus Christ); overrules the guilty verdict from the blunder of the former one (Adam). Thus, shall the believers continue to reign as kings in life!

c) Romans 5 :20-21
Therefore, wherever sin had reigned and held sway, the supply of God’s sin-conquering grace triumphs all the more! This sin-conquering grace reigns as king through righteousness and imparts eternal life through Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!

WORKSHOP — 5

1. We are saved by grace through faith. Yet our justification and access to grace is by faith. Discuss. 
2. What does it mean to “reign in life by One, Jesus Christ”
3. “Sin-conquering-grace” (TPT). Is that your Christian experience?

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ROMANS CHAPTER 6
(Romans 6 :1-6, 11, 14, 16-23)
Here lies the total and complete triumph of Grace at the Cross of Calvary through Christ Jesus. Our baptism into His death and burial as well as our walk in the New Life through appropriation of the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

a) Romans 6 :1-6
It is a terrible thought to suggest that we should continue to sin, so that God keeps on forgiving! It is an abuse and frustration of the grace of God.

How can we who have been packed out for good and left and have been spatially translated away from our former address where sin is sovereign continue to live therein? On the other hand, we have been brought into the Kingdom of Light, brethren!.

The way this happened was that when He drank the cup in garden of Gethsemane, he drank up the nature you and I inherited from Adam. Thus, we were baptized into His death, and subsequently His burial. When He rose up in the Glory and power of Resurrection you and I also rose up in newness of life with Him. That is the reality we ought to continually know and consciously walk in.

b) Romans 6 :11, 14
Our daily walk should be with a reckoning that we are dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.

Verse 14 is the Magna Carta of Christian experience. Hallelujah! Sin’s reign is over!!!

c) Romans 6 :16-23
God freed us from slavery to sin so that we can be enslaved to Righteousness. Our freedom is not unto licentiousness. It is a Liberty of the Holy Spirit over our lives.

WORKSHOP — 6

1. Do you have that inner knowledge, conviction, faith and witness, that in daily reality you are walking in newness of life.
2. Have you exchanged the Old Man away for the New Creation Life?
3. The Wind blows where He likes and you hear the sound but you cannot tell where He comes from or where He is going to; so is every one that is born of the Spirt. Do you understand this?

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ROMANS CHAPTER 7
(Romans 7:5-6, 7-9, 18-20)
Chapter 7 teaches us that although you have a cheque for all the victory won for us at the Cross in chapter 6; there are three banks you must never go to cash the cheque; namely: the bank of the Law, the bank of Self dependence, the bank of Will power.  Chapter 8 on the other hand will show us where to cash it, effortlessly.

Note that this discussion in chapter seven, stemmed from the question in Rom 6:15; therefore both Rom 6:16 and Rom 7:1 started with: “Know ye not…” in order to answer the two segments of issues posed by the question of Rom 6:15.

Secondly, you might have preferred that the contents of the eighth chapter of this epistle come directly after the victory of chapter six. But this sandwich of the seventh chapter between chapters six an eight is very important to give the necessary caveats, if the victory of chapter six will ever find the victorious expression narrated in chapter eight. The three caveats against certain defeat that makes it look as if what happened in chapter six never happened are these:

a) Romans 7:5-6
Reliance on keeping The Law. The Law cannot be the way out of sin because it awakens sinful desires without giving the power for victory over sin.

b) Romans 7:7-9
Reliance on “I” (Self). Because “I” too have an affinity for sin by nature, sin seized this opportunity to build its base of operation in the inside of “I”.

c) Romans 7:18-20
Reliance on Will Power (Self Will). Human will power is powerless in the face of sin’s assault

Romans 7:24-25 therefore encapsulates the inevitable wretched and hopeless cry of everyone who relies of keeping the Law, relying on “I” (Self) or (Self-)Will for their salvation or victorious living.

WORKSHOP — 7

1. Can you give examples of dependence on rules and regulations for salvation or attainment of holiness? (e.g. Taking certain steps and observing some ritual rules and regulations)
2. How can one rely on himself or herself to live the Christian life? (e.g. “I know my natural talents and gifts”)
3. What of reliance on strength of one’s will? Will power? Discuss. (e.g. “I have my New Year Resolutions”)

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ROMANS CHAPTER 8
(Romans 8: 10-11)
LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Chapter started with “There is therefore now no condemnation…” and ends with, nothing “…shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT: We start with no condemnation, and end the chapter with no separation! Below are the blessings of walking after the Spirit:

a) Romans 8:1-4
VICTORY IN CHRIST OVER POWER OF SIN

b) Romans 8:10-11
DIVINE HEALING

c) Romans 8:12-17
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT: grace to walk in the Spirit.

d) Romans 8:19
MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S GLORY: in us and through us.

e) Romans 8:26-29
BECOMING LIKE JESUS. The Holy Spirit continually interceding for us His saints.

f) Romans 8:32
UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES – in Christ

g) Romans 8:35, 37-39
VICTORY OVER PENALTY OF SIN: NO SEPARATION -> ETERNAL SECURITY

• This chapter started with ‘no condemnation” and ended with “no separation”
• Our eternal security is dependent on full salvation, a life in which there is no condemnation
• Don’t play a roulette with your eternity: Walking in the Spirit is the only foundation!

WORKSHOP — 8

1. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
2. “The wind bloweth where it listeth… “Does this describe your lifestyle?
3. What is the fruit of walking after the Spirit and not after the Flesh?