The Power Of God
RomansBy Edward (Les) MiddletonThomas Nelson
Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson, Inc.
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4185-0611-7Contents
Introduction.................................................................11 Beginnings (1:1–17).................................................182 Our Need for Righteousness (1:18–3:20)..............................253 How God Imputes Righteousness to Us (3:21–5:21).....................374 How We Achieve Righteousness (6:1–8:39).............................535 The Triumph of Righteousness (9:1–11:36)............................746 Righteousness in Daily Living (12:1–15:13)..........................867 Final Considerations (15:14–16:27)..................................1028 Coming to a Close..........................................................110How to Build Your Reference Library..........................................113
Chapter One
Beginnings Romans 1:1–17
Before We Begin ...
What do you believe was Paul's purpose in writing the book of Romans? What was he trying to accomplish?
Romans has been called one of the greatest doctrinal books in the Bible. Why do you think this might be so?
This short section of Romans includes a classic Pauline introduction to one of his letters, with one minor exception—he did not specifically name any of his intended recipients. Why this is true cannot be known with any degree of certainty, but many scholars believe it might have happened that way because Paul was not writing to any specific, single congregation—but instead, to "all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints" (Rom. 1:7 NKJV), exactly as he said.
Romans Chapter 1
From a Bondservant of Jesus Christ
Read the first seventeen verses of chapter 1, and then answer the following questions.
What is your conception of a "bondservant of Jesus Christ"? What did Paul mean by this expression?
What did Paul say he was called to be, in verse 1?
What did Paul say that God promised "through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures," in verse 2?
Paul said that Jesus Christ was "born of the seed of David according to the flesh," in verse 3. What does this mean?
In verse 4, Paul speaks of the "Spirit of holiness." Some commentators have suggested that this refers to Christ's own human spirit, but most scholars agree that it means the Holy Spirit. What does Paul then refer to as the means by which we know that Christ is the Son of God? In other words, in addition to the witness of the Holy Spirit, what is the physical proof we also have?
What are the two things that Paul then said we have received, in verse 5?
Why have we received these two things?
In verses 5 and 6, Paul makes it clear that he was called as an apostle to the Gentiles, "among all nations." In verse 6 he also explains that the individuals in the Roman congregation, as the recipients of his letter, were "also ... the called of Jesus Christ," but not necessarily in the same way that he himself was. That is, Paul was called as an apostle; the members of the church at Rome were called by Christ to be believers in Him and to "be saints" on His behalf, as explained in verse 7.
This opening section then ends with the classic phrase, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:7b NKJV).
Paul's Desire to Visit Rome
Next, Paul indicated that the faith of the members of the Roman congregation had already spread "throughout the whole world," which, in the reality of his day, probably included only the Roman Empire. This is a typical example showing how Paul established rapport with his readers, by including a testimony to their faith and a clear indication that he was faithful and diligent in praying for them.
In verse 9, how did he say that he made mention of them in his prayers—without what?
Next, in verse 10, what did Paul say that he would like to do, if he could "find a way in the will of God"?
In verses 11–12, for what two reasons did he say that he longed to do so?
1.
2.
What additional reason did Paul give, in verse 13, for wishing to visit the church at Rome?
Who did he say that he was a debtor to, in verse 14? And, how did he then characterize each of the two groups he mentioned?
What did he say, in verse 15, that he was ready to do when he got to Rome?
The Just Shall Live By Faith
The first half of chapter 1 ends with one of the most familiar of Paul's writings. This passage is shown below, with ten empty blank spaces replacing various words. Before you look them up, see how many you can fill in from memory, without referring to your Bible.
For I am not __________ of the __________ of Christ, for it is the __________ of God to __________ for everyone who believes, for the __________ first and also for the __________. For in it the __________ of God is revealed from faith to __________; as it is written, "The __________ shall live by __________." (Rom. 1:16–17 NKJV)
This particular passage also provides a brilliant illustration of something we have already mentioned back in the introduction to this study guide. In the ancient Hebrew language, Paul was known as a gaon, a "Torah genius," which essentially means that he had memorized the entire tanakh (Old Testament). Therefore he was able to quote from it at will as he often did while writing from prison without access to a written copy.
Here is the text from one of the less-familiar prophets, Habakkuk, from which Paul pulled the "quintessential quote" above:
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
"Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
"Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
(Hab. 2:1–4 NKJV)
Pulling It All Together ...
• Paul began the book of Romans with what would have been a classic introduction to a letter in that era. He identified himself, his recipients (although not by name), and then offered a brief salutation.
• Paul made it very clear that he was a dedicated servant of Jesus Christ, whose divinity as the Son of God is beyond question. Paul considered himself an apostle, sent to the Gentiles.
• Paul had not yet visited the church at Rome, but longed to do so.
• Paul ended this section with one of the most familiar of all Christian doctrinal statements: "The just shall live by faith." But this was not original with Paul—it can be found in the Old Testament, in Habakkuk 2:4.
Chapter Two
Our Need For Righteousness 2 Romans 1:18–3:20
Before We Begin ...
In this section of Romans, Paul makes it clear that he considers God's omnipotence, His omniscience, His majesty—indeed, His very existence itself—to be self-evident to all people via the obvious wonders of His creation. Do you agree with this assessment?
Based on everything we have written so far, and on your own understanding prior to reading this study guide, what is your understanding of the "need for righteousness" on our part? Why is this so important to God?
Romans Chapter 1:18–32 God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
Paul began this section with a statement that harkens back to Moses' own words to the children of Israel, when he summarized all that God had given them just before he climbed his last mountain and was gathered to his fathers:
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deut. 30:11–14 NKJV)
Compare what Moses said with what Paul wrote in the first four verses of this section:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Rom. 1:18–21 NKJV)
What did Moses say about what God expected of them—for example, was what He wanted too hard for them to understand?
Was it too "remote" or inaccessible to them?
What did Paul say about these very same things—was he in agreement with Moses, or not?
What did Paul specifically say about God's own attributes?
What did Paul then say that man could not claim in his own defense when he insists that God is neither "known" nor "knowable"?
What do you think is the basic message that both Moses and Paul were trying to get across?
Now read the remainder of chapter 1, starting with verse 22, and answer the questions below.
In verse 23, Paul spoke about "an image made like corruptible man." What was he really saying here—that is, what does humanity always seem to do, in almost all times and places, rather than simply worshiping the one true God?
What did Paul tell us that people "professing to be wise" often become, instead?
When that happens, what did Paul tell us that God then gives them up to, in verse 24?
What "exchange" did he tell us that such people have made?
What kind of passions did Paul speak about in verse 26?
In verse 27, how did Paul characterize the practices of men who burn "in their lust for one another"—that is, they are committing something that is ... what?
To conclude this section, in verses 29–31, list all the things that Paul said both men and women who do what he spoke about previously would be filled with and/or would become.
Finally, do you believe Paul was right?
Romans Chapter 2 Is God's Judgment Fair?
By what action did Paul say we often condemn ourselves, in verse 1?
In verse 2, did Paul say that the judgment of God works for or against those who "practice such things"?
What does the expression "such things" refer to?
In verse 3, Paul asked a question of "man"—but not just of any man. What words did Paul use to describe the man who will not escape the judgment of God?
In verse 4, Paul asked another question of "man," although he does not address him by name this time. What was Paul saying here about anyone who despises the "riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering"? Or, to put it another way, what did Paul say that such a person does not understand?
In verse 5, what are the two things that Paul said the same person is "treasuring up" for himself? Fill in the blanks below for the complete answers:
__________ in the day of wrath and __________ of the righteous __________ of God ... (from Rom. 2:5 NKJV)
What did he say that God will do in response, in verse 6?
Following the above, what did Paul say that God will render, and to whom, in verses 7–10?
Fill in the blank in this well-known quote, from verse 11:
For there is no __________ with God. (Rom. 2:11 NKJV)
Verses 12–16 can be understood to support some of what was included in the introduction to this study guide. Verse 13, for example, gives us the familiar "not hearers but doers" concept whereby Paul says it is not enough only to hear what is right, but that we must do what is right as well.
Then, in verse 14, Paul makes it clear that "Gentiles, who do not have the law" can still "by nature do the things in the law." In other words, even though a Gentile might not have been specifically taught to show respect to an older person as a matter of law (to reference the earlier example), such basic concepts are still written in their hearts and are the proper, righteous things to do for Gentiles as well as for Jews.
Jews Are as Guilty as Gentiles
Fill in the blanks in the passage below, to see what Paul says to those who claim to be righteous "in the law" but do not necessarily do what they know they should do.
Indeed you are called a __________, and rest on the __________, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are __________, being instructed out of the law, and are __________ that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in __________, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of __________ and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who __________ that a man should not steal, do you __________? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who __________ idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For "the name of God is __________ among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written. (Rom. 2:17–24 NKJV)
Circumcision of No Avail
In verses 25–29, Paul presented another of his better-known arguments in favor of what's in our hearts and not what we claim with our lips as the deciding factors in terms of what makes us true followers of Christ. The "circumcision of the heart" concept has been extracted many times, and used in many ways, to illustrate his point. Please read these verses carefully and answer the questions below.
Under what condition did Paul say that circumcision is indeed profitable, in verse 25?
What do you believe he meant by this?
What is the contrasting scenario he set up in verse 26?
How can verse 26 be reconciled (i.e., how does it agree or disagree) with what Paul said in verse 25?
What is the meaning of verses 28–29? What was Paul saying here? Can you put it in simpler terms, without losing any of his intended meaning?
Romans Chapter 3 Justification by Faith, Not by Law
When Paul asked "What is the profit of circumcision?" (v. 1), clearly he was not talking about anything physical. What do you think he meant? What did he say, in the next three verses, that helps explain verse 1?
How can our unrighteousness demonstrate the righteousness of God, as Paul said in verse 5?
What was Paul's attitude toward God's right to judge humanity, in verse 6?
In verses 7–8, Paul made a point that can be vastly simplified by a common expression most of us have heard at one time or another. In truth it might also be somewhat of an oversimplification, but read these verses and see if you can fill in the blanks below with that ultra-familiar expression.
"Two __________ do not make a __________."
Do you think this simple expression applies to what Paul was saying in these verses? Why, or why not?
All Have Sinned
The next several verses—many of them quite familiar to students of the Bible—demonstrate once again Paul's mastery of the Scriptures. He quoted verses from several psalms, the book of Isaiah, and at least three of his own epistles, including the book of Romans.
Here is the most familiar portion of these verses. Fill in the blanks in this passage to see what Paul has to say about his contention that everyone ever born—with the exception of Jesus Christ Himself—was literally born into sin.
As it is written: "There is none __________, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who __________ after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become __________; There is none who does __________, no, not one. Their throat is an open __________; With their __________ they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of __________ and bitterness. Their feet are __________ to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of __________ they have not known. There is no __________ of God before their eyes." (Rom. 3:10–18 NKJV)
In verse 20, Paul once again reminded us of one of the major functions of Torah (i.e., the law), meaning both the Ten Commandments and the accompanying guidelines for righteousness that God provided in the Old Testament.
What is that function of those commandments and guidelines, as given to us by God to help us remain righteous in His sight—and also to help us minimize our sins, even though those sins are covered by the sacrifice of Christ?
Pulling It All Together ...
• Paul made it plain that the existence and the attributes of God should all be self-evident, through simple observance of His creation.
• Next, he told us that both God's judgments and, indeed, His very right to judge, are all eminently fair. Who else but the Creator of all things could possibly be qualified to judge His creation?
• Paul also told us that the Jews were just as guilty as the Gentiles, with respect to sinning against God. In that sense, circumcision is not a free ticket to righteousness—by itself it doesn't help.
• All of us, whether Jew or Gentile, are justified before God (i.e., He imputes righteousness to us so that He can look upon us as worthy to stand before Him) by putting our faith in Him, and not by simply following His Laws.
• None of us, in fact, is able to follow His Law so well that God could impute righteousness to us on that basis alone, for all have sinned.
Chapter Three
How God Imputes Righteousness to Us 3 Romans 3:21–5:21
Before We Begin ...
If you have heard the expression "all have sinned," which appears in Romans 3:23, what is your understanding of its meaning? Do you believe it is a true statement?
When you think of Abraham, do you think of him as a Jew or a Gentile? Why?
Romans, Chapter 3:21–31 God's Righteousness Through Faith
Paul began this section by reminding us that no one can earn their salvation (i.e., righteousness) through works, even if those works are based on rigid adherence to Scriptural principles as expressed in the Bible. At the same time, God's own infinite righteousness has already been established. As a result, our own righteousness, as imputed to us by God, can only come by faith in Him—which is the same as faith in Jesus Christ, for they are one and the same God. It can only be maintained by the ongoing forgiveness of our sin through the grace He extends to us by virtue of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.
These basic principles have been given many different-sounding expressions throughout the history of Christianity, but essentially they all rest on the same fundamental truths, which Paul repeatedly reinforced. Read the remainder of chapter 21, and answer the following questions.
In verse 21, what did Paul say about how the righteousness of God is revealed?
Whom did he say, in verse 23, have fallen short of God's glory?
What do you believe Paul meant by "His forbearance" in verse 25?
Who is both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" in verse 26?
Verses 27–31 contain a number of important principles, some that might seem new and others that are clear reinforcements of previously established truths. To clarify this passage, let us break these five verses down into a series of simple statements, with additional explanations added as needed to further illuminate what Paul was saying.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Power Of Godby Edward (Les) Middleton Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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