Romans: Lesson 7 of 12

Lesson 7

The Key to God’s Sovereign Choice: Universal Opportunity (Romans 10)

And The Responsibility to Remain in God’s Righteousness (Romans 11)

Audio of this lesson: http://www.box.net/shared/pui5tv8k38

Printer friendly version of these notes: http://www.box.net/shared/ozvgg7a9z1

PART I – Unlocking the trap of God’s Sovereign Choice

Read Romans 10:1-7

Reminder of the 3 areas of Sovereignty and the 5 issues at odds with Sovereignty from above

Three areas of God’s Sovereignty

I. Creation

II. Human History

III. Redemption

Six issues that are apparently at odds with God’s Sovereignty

· Evil

· Free Will

· Universal availability of salvation

· Human Responsibility

· Evangelism

· Prayer

Yes, God is sovereign.

Yes, God chose the nation Israel, but not all Israelites will be saved

Why? Because Jesus put an end to the law and righteousness comes by faith, not the law

Paul’s answer to God’s Sovereign Choice is simple:

God has the right to choose whomever he wants and whatever method he wants and his choice was universal opportunity for everyone who responds in faith to his calling.

I. The Response to God’s call to righteousness (Romans 10:8-10)

What Paul paints here is a picture of absolute surrender.

A. Confession - A response by Mouth (Matthew 10:32-33)

Question: What do we confess?

Answer: Jesus is Lord

Question: What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?

The Hebrew concept of Lord (adoni) means one possessed of absolute control

· Master over slaves

· Ruler over subjects

· (in Hebrew culture) Husband over wives

The Greek concept (Kyrios) was very similar – absolute master

Question: Can a slave live his/her life any way they wish?

If we are living our lives the way we want to based upon our own desires and wishes… Jesus is NOT lord of our lives.

“With mouths we confess and are saved”

B. Belief - A response by Heart

Question: What do we believe?

Questions I ask people when they are ready to accept Jesus as Lord

1. Do you believe that Jesus was the son of God

2. Do you believe that he lived a perfect life

3. Do you believe that he died for your sins

4. Do you believe that he was raised from the dead

5. Do you believe he has the power to forgive you and give you eternal life

This is not just a mental assent, but a life changing faith that comes from the heart

“With our hearts we believe and are justified”

Question: Is there a conflict between the totality of God’s work in salvation and the concept of Man’s responsibility to receive, confess, and believe?
Answer: No. See Romans 10:13; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:14-16

God has always planned for mankind to be redeemed by faith.

Global Theme of Scripture: God will create for himself and for his glory a people who have been redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ.

Now we are getting to where we can finally begin to reconcile God’s Sovereignty with Man’s Responsibiity… This same Paul who in chapter 9 told us that God could save or reject anyone he wants because he is the only Sovereign God says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How do we reconcile this?

First, let’s remind ourselves of God’s work in salvation: Romans 8:30

III. The Method of God’s call to righteousness (Romans 10:14-17)

A. To confess, one must first have called

B. To call, one must first have believed

C. To believe, one must first hear

D. To hear, someone must first preach

E. To preach, one must first be sent

Blessed are those who go…

This is evangelism.

The relationship between God’s Sovereignty (Romans 8) and Man’s Responsibility (Romans 10)

		Confession
Foreknowledge	Predestination	Calling	Justification	Glorification
		Believing
		Hearing
		Preaching
		Sending

The place where God’s Sovereignty meets Man’s Responsibility is the call

God Calls Us; We Call on God

See Psalm 14:2.

Conclusion: There is a mysterious relationship between God’s Sovereignty and our salvation. However, we are given clear instructions regarding

1. The universal availability of salvation

2. The required Human Response necessary to receive salvation

3. The mandate to share the gospel to all the world

And to conclude chapter 10 and lead into chapter 11…

IV. The Rejection of God’s call to righteousness (by Israel) (Romans 10:18-21)

1. Israel heard

2. Israel Understood

3. Israel chose not to believe

SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID NOT REMAIN IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

Hosea 1:9

PART II – Remaining in God’s Righteousness

Chapter 11 of Romans now brings everything together in a final charge that reminds us of our responsibility to remain in God’s righteousness.

Even though Israel rejected Jesus and so Gentiles have been included into salvation doesn’t mean that God had rejected Israel. A remnant of Israel has always been faithful.

I. A Remnant of Israel has been faithful (Romans 11:1-10)

A. God’s rejection was limited to those who did not believe

1. Eyes blinded

2. Hearts hardened

B. God retained a remnant who are saved by grace

1. God has always retained a remnant

2. God will always retain a remnant

II. The Salvation of Israel is still the Goal (Romans 11:11-24)

The question is: Who is Israel?

Israel is: All those who call place their faith in Jesus; some are the natural vines; some are grafted in.

A. The Gentile Church is not a replacement of Israel (Replacement Theology)

B. The Gentile Church is not a temporary sidebar in Israeli history (Dispensationalism)

C. The Gentile Church is an unnatural grafting of wild branches into Israel

Zechariah 2:10-11; John 10:16

When you understand this, it changes everything…

The Theology of the Vine

1. God planted his vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-4)

2. The unbelieving branches of the natural vine were cut off (Isaiah 5:5-7)

3. Jesus is the vine (Jeremiah 23:5; John 15:1-2)

4. The believing branches of the wild vine (gentiles) were grafted in (Romans 11:17)

5. Branches that remain in Jesus will bear fruit (John 15:4-5)

6. Branches that do not remain in Jesus will be thrown away (John 15:6; Romans 11:19-21)

7. The original branches will be grafted back in when they believe (Romans 11:23-24)

We need to be very careful here not to interpret this to mean that you can lose your salvation. This passage is talking about groups of people who claim to be Christians but don’t live in obedience to Jesus.

Read Revelation 2:1-5

Paul’s theological conclusion from Romans chapters 1-11:

III. God desires to show Mercy on all people (Romans 11:25-36)

A. Gentiles were disobedient and so have received mercy

B. The Jews became disobedient so that they may receive mercy

C. All must be disobedient so that all must receive mercy

Question: Why is it important that we all become disobedient so that we all receive mercy?

Answer: Because there is no religion in the world that is sufficient to make us righteous before God. This is precisely the point that Paul has been making now for 11 chapters.

Conclusion: God has made his mercy available to all of us

It is all about the mercy of God, so that no one can brag about their own merit.

Therefore - God deserves all the glory

Because God deserves all the glory, it is only fitting that Paul end’s this section of his letter with a Doxology… which is intended to turn our focus to God…

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans: Lesson 6 of 12

Lesson 6

Trapped by God’s Sovereign Choice (Romans 9)

For audio of lesson, click here: http://www.box.net/shared/tn9qsz74us

For printer friendly version of these notes, click here: http://www.box.net/shared/gy06hynfve

Lesson Theme: God is Sovereign to do as He Wills

Lesson Objective: To understand God’s Sovereignty

Question: What is Sovereignty?

Answer: Supreme independence and authority to do as one pleases: accountable to no one but themselves

Sovereignty is still an unsolved mystery of scripture – not that there is any question that God is sovereign, but just what exactly does that mean? There is huge theological diversity as to the meaning and extent of God’s Sovereignty. In general, though, there is agreement regarding the three primary areas of his sovereignty

Three areas of God’s Sovereignty

I. Creation

God has repeatedly demonstrated his sovereignty over creation

What are some examples?

II. Human History

God has repeatedly intervened in human history in order to accomplish his purposes

What are some examples?

III. Redemption

Perhaps the area of greatest debate, how much sovereignty does God have – or rather how much Sovereignty does God exercise – in the area of salvation

Six issues that are apparently at odds with God’s Sovereignty

· Evil - If God is sovereign, isn’t he responsible for evil?

· Free Will - If God is sovereign, how can I have free will if God can over rule my will at his discretion?

· Universal availability of salvation - If God is sovereign, can he not simply decide that I can’t be saved

· Human Responsibility - How can I be responsible for my actions if God can make me do what he wants me to do?

· Evangelism - If God is directing the course of history, then what purposes does evangelism serve?

· Prayer - If God is independent and not accountable to me and does what he wills and chooses to do, what purpose does prayer serve?

The Old Covenant was being replaced with a New Covenant… what did that mean? Did it mean that God’s plan for the Israelites failed? Is God somehow flawed because Israel, God’s chosen people, rejected his plan?

Paul’s answer is “Absolutely not” – God is doing everything exactly according to his plan – we just didn’t really understand that plan correctly.

So Paul transitions his discussion now to say that God was Sovereign in his election of the people of Israel.

I. God Sovereign election of Israel

Question: Why was Israel chosen?

A. Israel was chosen to bring about redemptive history (Romans 9:1-5)

1. Adoption as Sons

2. The Divine Glory (God chose to manifest himself in their presence)

3. The Covenants

4. The Receipt of the Law

5. The Temple Worship

6. The Promises (of the Messiah)

1. Including Christ’s lineage from the Patriarchs

Paul then makes an astounding pronouncement that ultimately has far reaching ramifications for the entire world. (Romans 9:6)

Not all descendants of Jacob belong to Israel…

B. Not all Abraham’s children were chosen (Romans 9:7-9)

1. Isaac was the child of promise

2. Ishamael was the child of the flesh

Ishmael had 12 sons like Jacob, who became 12 tribes like Israel

3. Abraham had many other children (Genesis 25:1-5)

Of all of Abraham’s children, only Isaac was the child of the promise

C. Not all Isaac’s children were chosen (Romans 9:10-13)

1. Jacob was chosen; Esau was rejected

2. Based on God’s choice; not merit (Malachi 1:2-3)

“Jacob I loved”

“Esau I hated”

The passage referenced in Malachi deals with God’s acceptance of Jacob and rejection of Esau as figurative representatives of nations – not individuals… God was not choosing Jacob for salvation and Esau for judgment, God was choosing Jacob to be the bearer of his covenant and rejecting Esau as the bearer of that covenant.

Just as God, in his sovereignty can choose whomever he wants, he can also reject whomever he wants. Although it may seem like it to us, this is not injustice. (Read Romans 9:14)

II. God’s Sovereign Rejection of Pharaoh (Romans 9:15-18)

A. God hardened him for a purpose

B. God never hardens anyone who hasn’t already hardened themselves

God knew in advance that Pharaoh would not submit and that God did not harden his heart until after Pharaoh had said “no” twice.

Where does that leave us? Why are we then held accountable? Now we can see the Trap of God’s Sovereignty

III. God’s Sovereignty does not excuse us (Romans 9:19-24)

In His Sovereignty, God created each of us for the purpose he created us

Note: Vs. 22: What if God… Not a statement that God did, but a “what if” statement regarding God’s Sovereign ability.

1. What if: Some were prepared in advance for wrath (9:22)

1. To make His power known

2. What if: Some were prepared in advance for glory (9:23)

1. To make His mercy known

These statements are hypothetical, not normative. At most, there may be some cases where God acts in this manner, but God does not always act in this manner. In what manner did God act? Thus, the question of predestination unto salvation.

Five “Official” Views on Predestination

1. God’s Choice – God determines who is, and is not, saved (Calvinist) (see Acts 13:48)

The Calvinistic view has other facets as well, including the fact that if God chooses you to be saved, you cannot say “no” (Irresistible Grace)

2. God’s Foreknowledge of Man’s Choice – God has infinite Foreknowledge of his creation (Arminian) (see Romans 8:29 and 10:13)

The arminian view has other facets as well, including the possibility of the loss of salvation, which we saw last week is just not possible.

3. Open Theism – Man has a choice and God does not know what that choice will be (does not have perfect knowledge of the future)

I personally believe this view is heretical…

4. Double Predestination – individuals are either predetermined for heaven or predetermined for hell (Romans 9)

Many people use Romans chapter 9 as a proof text for this view. In my opinion, it is a very bad interpretation of this chapter.

5. Hard Determinism – Every breath and action, including evil, is determined by God (we are essentially automotons) (see Psalm 139)

Additional possibilities…

6. Predestination applies to the group as a whole based upon those who believe, not individuals (Predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, Predestined to be adopted as heirs, etc.)

7. “Elect” are a subset of all believers and are predestined; other believers are added based upon belief (Ephesians 1)

8. Predestination is a mystery we do not understand

1. God’s Sovereign Action plus

2. Our Faithful Response

Predestination is not a new concept nor is it a new problem amongst Judeo-Christian believers

During Jesus’ time:

· Sadducees believed in man’s free will and responsibility (almost Open Theism)

· Pharisees believed in a balance between God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility

· Essenes believed in hard determinism

During the early church:

· Augustine believed in predestination, but it is unclear whether or not he believed in hard determinism

· Pelagius believed in complete free will of man (no original sin) and the ability of man to choose to live a perfect life

What conclusion then, did Paul draw from this?

IV. Paul’s Conclusion Regarding God’s Sovereignty

A. In his Sovereignty, God has called the elect based on Faith (Romans 9:24-29)

1. Not just Jews, Gentiles as well

2. Such was always God’s plan

1. Hosea

2. Isaiah

B. In his Sovereignty, God has rejected the condemned for unbelief (Romans 9:30-33)

1. Not just Gentiles, Jews as well

My conclusion regarding God’s Sovereignty and Romans Chapter 9.

God is Sovereign. He can choose to save us or condemn us at his own pleasure for his own purposes. It may offend my sense of fair play, but in the end, who am I to be offended by any action taken by a Sovereign God?

On the other hand, God has made clear, that righteousness comes by faith. Therefore, the elect believe; the condemned do not. Is this a result of God’s Sovereign action or the result of our faithful response to the gospel or somehow both? Does it really matter? It is irrelevant to our responsibility to respond to God in faith.

We will see that answer more clearly next week when we look at the Key to the Trap of the Sovereignty of God…

Romans: Lesson 5 of 12

Lesson 5

The Key to the Trap of God’s Holiness: Security in Christ (Romans 8)

Link to Audio of Lesson: (Not available: I apologize)

Printer Friendly version of notes: http://www.box.net/shared/ocztojqpeh

Lesson Theme: When we are in Christ, our Sinful Nature can not condemn us

Lesson Objective: To understand our security in Christ

Romans 8 begins with the second of the three big THEREFORE’S…

· Those outside the law are without excuse and condemned

· Those under the law are condemned by the law

· THEREFORE… God demonstrated his love by sending Jesus to make us Righteous

· As a result, we desire to be Holy because God is Holy, but

· We still have within us the Sinful Nature that wages war within us

· So that we fail over and over and over

· THEREFORE… Paul tells us this… There is now, therefore, no condemnation…

I. The Security of Living in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4)

We are set free from the law of sin and death

A. The old law was based upon the power of the flesh

Therefore, the old law was powerless…

B. The new law is based upon the power of the Jesus

Jesus met the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf

II. The Meaning of Living in the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8)

Living by the Sinful Nature vs living in the Spirit

A. What do you desire?

1. Sinful Nature: the desires of the flesh

2. Spirit: the desires of Spirit (or what God desires)

If you are always trying to satisfy self, then you are living in the flesh, not the Spirit. (Philippians 3:19; Colossians 3:2)

B. What is your mindset?

1. Sinful Nature: Death (discontentment; anger; bitterness)

2. Spirit: Life and Peace

If you are discontent and not at peace, then you are living in the flesh, not the Spirit.

C. What is your attitude toward God

1. Sinful Nature

1. Anger towards God

2. Disobedient to God’s Commands

2. Spirit

1. Trusts God

2. Obeys God

If you blame God or are angry about your circumstances or are disobedient to God’s clear call on your life, then you are living in the flesh, not the spirit.

Reality Check: WE DO NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

III. The Reality of Living in the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11 )

There are three realities about living in the spirit…

A. We are controlled by the Spirit, not the Sinful Nature

1. Although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is Alive because of Righteousness

2. Although the body is dead because of sin, God gives life back to the body (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Question: Why does the sinful nature win?

Answer: Because we choose to allow it to win…

B. We are Obligated to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:12-17)

Question: Why are we obligated?

Answer: We have been adopted as children of God

Paul is describing not the benefits of being adopted as a child of God, but the obligations of being adopted as a child of God – namely, obedience.

Paul is building upon the foundation of his discussion about our security in Christ by ensuring that we are, indeed, a part of Christ.

One of the greatest tragedies in Christendom is the fact that a large number of people sitting in the pews on Sunday will spend eternity in Hell. (Read Matthew 7:21-23)

If Jesus truly is in you, you will be controlled by the Spirit – WE ARE OBLIGATED AS GROWING, MATURING CHRISTIANS TO MOVE FROM ROMANS CHAPTER 7 TO ROMANS CHAPTER 8.

C. We will suffer when we live according the Spirit

If you are not experiencing suffering because of the way you are living for God, then you have to ask yourself whether or not you really are living for God? (Read John 16:33)

III. The Hope of Living in the Spirit

A. Future Glory is greater than Current Sufferings (Romans 8:18)

B. We are not alone in our suffering (Romans 8:19-25)

Question: Who is suffering (and waiting) with us?

Answer: All of creation

C. The Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26-27)

D. God is working all things for the good (Romans 8:28-30)

No matter how bad it gets, we have the comfort of knowing that God is still in control and that he is working his plan out according to his will. Here is that plan:

1. God Foreknew us (Read Psalm 139:1-16)

God has known everything about you since before the creation of the world. He knows you better than you know yourself. As a result, he knew that you would accept him. And as a result,

2. God Predestined Us (To be conformed into Christ’s likeness)

If you are one of the ones that God knew before the foundation of the world would accept him, he locked it down in stone – eventually, you will be conformed to the image of Christ … Essentially, when we are in Christ, we are predestined to eventually become like Christ. And to make sure that happens…

3. God Called us (John 6:44)

We cannot bridge the gap between man and God. We cannot come to God until he closes that gap for us. To make sure that those whom he knows will accept him does accept him, he takes the initiative and calls them.

4. God Justified us

Eventually…

5. God will Glorify us

If God, the creator of the universe, set out this plan for our lives that began way back in ancient history according to his foreknowledge and ends way out in the distant future with our resurrection to our glorified bodies, then how could we possibly be concerned over our apparent inability TODAY to live a perfect Holy life.

IV. The Result of Living in the Spirit (Romans 8:31-38)

Question: If God is for us, who can stand against us?

Question: If God did not spare his own Son, will he not give us all things?

Question: If God has set out this plan for us that ends in our glorification, then who can bring a charge against us?

Question: If God has already justified us (declared us Not Guilty), then who can condemn us

Who is it that condemn? Jesus

And what is Jesus doing? He is arguing on our behalf, not against us

Question: If Christ loves us, who can separate us from that love?

1. Not trouble

2. Not Hardship

3. Not Persecution

4. Not Famine

5. Not Nakedness

6. Not Danger

7. Not Sword

8. Not Death or Life

9. Not angels or demons

10. Not the present nor the future

11. Not height nor depth

12. Not anything in creation

“In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”

The conclusions: Life in the Spirit is our security.

Although we may struggle with sin, we are still justified.

Although we may fail, we are not condemned.

We are called to live a life in the Spirit, and as a result, NOTHING can separate us.

Do you realize what this means? It means I have been set FREE!

I am Free - to live for God

I am Free - to worship God as the Spirit leads

I am Free - to serve God without concern over whether I am worthy or able

I am Free - to not worry when things are not going as I expect

I am Free - to not worry about whether I measure up to expectations

I am Free - to not worry when I fail

I am free!