(We saw that Paul presented a logical argument in the first eight chapters of the Book of Romans. Then, Chapter 9 documented Paul's presentation, in sermon form, of his premise that God was Right and Just to show mercy to the Jews (and Pharaoh) even though He knew they would not humble themselves and recognize the value within (and obey) God, so that He could show His power when He stopped showing mercy. All of God's actions were in response to the choices of the individual, otherwise God would not be always completely Right and always completely Just. Chapter 10 began where Paul began Chapter 9: Paul's focus on the Jews.)
Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.
(Chapter 9 began with Paul's sorrow for the Jews not being saved. This chapter began with Paul's desire that the Jews be saved.)
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
(Paul stated the Jews had the right attitude/emotion, but it was not based on the correct factual information. Remember, Paul's critical cause in Romans 1:21 was that people did not recognize the value within God, in other words, they did not glorify God. Not having the correct factual information would affect a person's ability to think well of God as a result of recognizing His intrinsic value (glory).)
3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
(The Jews did not know about God's Righteousness by grace, so they focused on righteousness in their own strength.)
4 For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
(Paul's premise: Jesus Christ was the ultimate effect of the Law. Everyone who followed the Law correctly ought to have accepted Jesus as the Messiah.)
5 For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.
(Paul referenced Leviticus 18:5. Paul emphasized the most important thing: doing the Law, not only hearing the Law. Paul showed that doing the Law would have resulted in accepting Jesus as the Messiah.)
6 But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)
7 or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
(Paul referenced Deuteronomy 30:12-14, however, he gave an interpretation of two parts of the scripture in parentheses in verses 6 and 7. The end of the referenced scripture was the first half of verse 8: "...and in thy heart:" Paul then directly gave his interpretation of the third part: The word that Moses spoke of in the believer's mouth and in the heart (because it came out in actions) was the word of faith Paul was writing about. Why?)
9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
(Paul stated that if we allowed the influence from the Holy Spirit through our spirit to come through our hearts (verse 8) when it came out in our actions (verse 9) we would be saved. Again, doing the Law would cause a person to accept Jesus as the Messiah.)
10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Doctrine: Salvation - a choice that resulted in belief in the heart (do, actions) and confession with the mouth (say, words). Notice, the person's do and say would be consistent. This was Paul's premise.)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
(Paul referenced Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 49:23.)
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(Paul referenced Joel 2:32 (and Acts 2:21).)
(Doctrine: Salvation is available to all. This was Paul's premise from the beginning of this letter to the Romans.)
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
(Paul referenced Isaiah 52:7. Since anyone could receive Salvation, everyone needs to be made aware of this good news. If Calvinism were true, there would be no need for Paul (and the scriptures) to encourage people to evangelize. God would just make people believe.)
16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
(Paul referenced Isaiah 53:1. Paul made the point that just because we evangelize to everyone, this did not mean everyone would choose to recognize the value within God and believe.)
17 So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
(The word hearing in this verse meant "understanding." The more we understand the Word of God/Christ, the more we understand God/Christ, the more faith we will have in God. Faith is built on understanding and experience.)
18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
(Paul contrastively asked if the Jews did hear this good news, and then answered that the Jews did hear this good news.)
19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
(Paul contrastively asked why the Jews did not know that God would reach out to the Gentiles. Paul first referenced Deuteronomy 32:21 to show the Jews would have known this if they had known the Law.)
20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.
(Paul referenced Isaiah 65:1.)
21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
(Paul referenced Isaiah 65:2. Paul showed that the Jews ought to have known God would reach out to the Gentiles.)
(Theme of Chapter 10: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter which showed all of God's actions were in response to the choices of the individual, otherwise God would not be always completely Right and always completely Just. Paul showed that the Jews ought to have known accepting Jesus as the Messiah was the ultimate effect of believing the Law. Again, Salvation is the responsibility of the individual.)
Romans 11
1 I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(Paul dealt with a possible incorrect conclusion from the previous chapter: God caused Israel to reject Jesus against Israel's will. This would be the same as saying, "God wanted Israel not to recognize the value within Jesus." Paul believed Israel would be saved if those people chose to live by grace through faith.)
2 God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:
(Paul blatantly stated it was not God's fault and then referenced 1 Kings 19:10-18.)
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
(The remnant of Israel that would be saved would be so as an effect of the individual's choice to live by grace through faith.)
6 But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
(Doctrine: Grace is not of works. Works are an effect of grace. Grace is God flowing through you. God gets the credit; God does the work through you. Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life." Works would be actions initiated by the individual, where the individual is the source of the action, not God. Paul's premise was that Salvation was initiated by God, not by the individual.)
7 What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:
(Paul applied his premise to Israel and the Christians. Israel tried to initiate their Salvation and did not obtain it. Those who chose to accept justification by faith obtained Salvation and those who chose to continue to justify themselves ended up hardening their hearts, and not glorifying God.)
8 according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.
(Paul supported this premise with Isaiah 29:10.)
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.
(Paul also supported this premise with Psalm 69:22-23. Both verses spoke to people getting what they justly deserve as an effect of their choices.)
11 I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
(Paul referenced Deuteronomy 32:21 to show that the purpose of God going to the Gentiles was not so that the Jews would be prevented from ever attaining Salvation. Everyone is able to attain Salvation by accepting justification by faith. God's purpose for reaching out to the Gentiles was to cause the Jews to pursue God more.)
12 Now if their fall, is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.
(Paul wanted the Jews to see his ministry to the Gentiles so they would be provoked to jealousy. Again, Paul wanted Salvation coming to the Gentiles to cause the Jews ("them that are my flesh") to pursue God and be saved, to recognize the value within God because of the good things He was doing for the Gentiles.)
15 For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
(Causality: If the "firstfruit" and "root" (cause) is holy, the "lump" and "branches" (effect) will be holy. If you have holy causes within you (grace), you will have holy effects come out of you, which are good works.)
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;
18 glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.
(Our dispensation (Christians) was grafted into the Dispensation of the Law (Jews). When our dispensation ends with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, the Dispensation of the Law will return for seven years.)
19 Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.
(Christians have no reason to be proud because if God broke off the original natural branch (Jews) because they chose not to believe, He will more willingly break off the grafted branch (Christians) if we choose not to believe.)
22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
(Doctrine: Our choice to humble ourselves and continue in God's goodness (by grace) would be the cause of the branches also being good.)
23 And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
(Paul reinforced the fact that the Jews were still able to attain Salvation by accepting justification by faith.)
25 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
(Paul stated he wanted us to understand this mystery. Our dispensation came about in response to Israel rejecting God, and there was an appointed time when our dispensation would end so that God would then bring back the Dispensation of the Law so that the nation of Israel would accept Jesus as the Messiah.)
26 and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.
(Paul supported his explanation of this mystery by referencing Isaiah 27:9.)
28 As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.
(Gifts and callings of God are "not repented of." This meant that an unrepentant person could still flow in their gift or calling. If we could only benefit from these gifts and callings through perfect people, we would never experience the benefit of these gifts.)
30 For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
31 even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.
32 For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
(Paul returned to his premise from the end of chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2: all of us are sinners. However, Paul's presentation since those chapters added the following fact: God is able to have mercy on all by offering Salvation to all, and our choice to respond to this mercy determines whether we humble ourselves, recognize the value in God, and attain Salvation.)
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
(This did not mean we cannot know God's wisdom and knowledge, and especially did not mean we were justified in not pursuing God's wisdom and knowledge. God will always have more wisdom and knowledge than us, which meant we should always pursue God's wisdom and knowledge, which would cause us recognize God's value even more.)
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.
(Theme of Chapter 11: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter which showed the Jews ought to have known accepting Jesus as the Messiah was the ultimate effect of believing the Law. Paul showed that the Jews ought to have realized God would reach out to the Gentiles. In fact, God reaching out to the Gentiles was intended to cause the Jews to pursue God more. Again, Salvation is the responsibility of the individual. Salvation is available to all.)
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
(We are to be a living sacrifice. The word "sacrifice" meant "to kill flesh." This implied progress in being led by the Spirit.)
2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(We are our Mind/Soul. This showed the topic dealt with who the person is, not their office/position. We ought to be conformed to God, not the world. We ought to think well of God, not think well of the world. Transforming ourselves by the renewing of our minds comes by using these five behaviors:
1) Non-Contradiction
2) Causality
3) Contrastive Thinking
4) Growth
5) Fellowship
The result of all of this would be humility, not pride.)
3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
(Paul's premise: We ought to see others as more excellent than ourselves, and they ought to see us as more excellent than themselves. This is humility. We ought to think well of others instead of thinking well of ourselves. How can we do this? By uniqueness. We can see everyone as better than ourselves in what God made them to be, and everyone can see us as more excellent in what God made us to be. Without valuing uniqueness, someone will be more excellent and someone will be less excellent, which opens the door to pride. Notice how this topic is built on the foundation of everything that came before it: people ought to think well of God because they recognize His intrinsic value. THAT is really the First Command. The effect of doing the First Command is the Second Command: that we think well of others. Paul then presented a physical example that valued uniqueness.)
4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.
(Verses 6-8: the Seven Motivational Gifts. In the Bible there are three different types of spiritual gifts each given by a different Member of the Trinity:
-Manifestational,
-Positional, and
-Motivational.
Paul's explanation of the Manifestational Gifts from the Holy Spirit was in the twelfth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul's explanation of the Positional Gifts from Jesus was in the fourth chapter of his letter to the Ephesians. Next, we will see everyone has a Motivational Gift that was given by God the Father when they were formed in their mother's womb. Your Motivational Gift is who you are without any effort.)
6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
(Notice, the phrase "gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us" was past tense. These gifts were given by God to everyone, believer and unbeliever. The context here was why we should think well of others and how to make the Body of Christ more profitable. However, this did not mean only believers have these gifts.
Verse 6 named the first gift: prophecy – a perceiver; makes people aware of an issue. Perceivers are the Eyes of the Body. This gift is done with words and is focused on the past.)
7 or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
(Verse 7 named two more gifts: ministry - a minister; fulfills an immediate need. Ministers are the Feet of the Body. This gift is done with actions focused on the future. Teacher – gives understanding; gives a why. Teachers are the Ears of the Body. This gift is done with words focused on the past.)
8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
(Verse 8 named the other four gifts: exhorter - encourages toward the future. Exhorters are the Words/Breath of the Body. This gift is done with words focused on the future. Giver – gives a tangible gift. Givers are the Hands of the Body. This is the only gift done completely in the present. Ruler – an administrator; administrates a group of people towards a common goal. Administrators are the Mouths of the Body. This gift is done with words and focused on the future. Mercy – one who shows compassion; bears emotional pain. Compassion is the Heart of the Body. This gift is an action focused on the past. Compassion lifts someone out of a hole. Exhorter raises up someone who is not in a hole.)
(Another proof that your Motivational Gift is who you are is that each of these gifts was given with a qualifier. ("ruleth, with diligence," "showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.") If these gifts were only done by God's Spirit flowing through you, Paul would not have had to qualify these gifts with the right way to do them. These qualifiers also implied that there is a wrong way to do these gifts, which again showed that these gifts are not necessarily from the Holy Spirit through you. These are the only spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible that come with qualifiers, because the ability to do them is in the control of the individual, which is a continuation of the theme of this letter: Salvation is the responsibility of the individual.)
(The Motivational Spiritual Gifts:
-Perceiver (Prophet),
-Teacher,
-Compassion (Mercy),
-Giver,
-Server (Minister),
-Administrator (Ruler),
-Exhorter.)
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
(Paul wanted each gift to give to the other members of the Body without hypocrisy, having integrity between what a person says and what a person does. Notice, Paul gave qualifiers for love, because it is in the control of the individual. Paul then expanded on the premise he presented at the beginning of this chapter: seeing others as more excellent than ourselves, thinking well of others.)
10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;
11 in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer;
13 communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.
(Doctrine: Bless those who persecute you because through Justice you will have Reward and it proves you are a believer.)
15 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
(From the beginning of this chapter, we saw that humility was the key to valuing uniqueness which would result in unity in the Body.)
17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
(Doctrine: Do not avenge yourself but forgive, which meant "to state your will that you will not equal out your own Justice, even if given the chance." This was humble. From the end of Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2, we saw that we are not supposed to judge. God is supposed to judge because God is Just. God will eventually equal out everything. That ought to cause us to think well of God, to recognize His value. Verse 19 referenced Deuteronomy 32:35.)
20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
(Paul referenced half of Proverbs 25:21-22. Those verses explained two reasons we ought to love our enemies, two reasons why we ought to give to our enemies without expecting them to give back. Paul mentioned one of the reasons. Paul did not mention the other reason (as Jesus did) which stated that an effect of Love was receiving Reward from God through Justice. Jesus actually only mentioned that reason in Luke 6:35.
The reason Paul gave was that loving your enemy brought a heap of coals of fire on his head. Through Justice, your enemy would receive a punishment that moved them further towards a breaking point and hopefully turning to God.
Some have interpreted this verse as a benefit to your enemy because according to middle eastern tradition, live coals were placed on a metal plate and kept on one's head to warm them during their travel through the desert at night. This verse did not reference this "tradition." The word "heap" meant to pile up and completely cover, like when people were stoned. The phrase "coals of fire" meant a coal that was burning, not a live coal. The Bible distinguished between these two types of coals when Isaiah 6:6 spoke of a live coal being taken off of the altar by an angel in order to purify Isaiah's lips. Loving your enemy resulted in your enemy being completely covered with burning coals.)
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Doctrine: Overcome evil with good (love)! Paul just showed that if believers wanted Justice on their enemy, they ought to love (do good to) their enemy, and God would take vengeance on their enemy by heaping burning coals on their head. Forgiving is a statement that you will not take out your own Justice, which removes your enemy out from under mercy and allows God to judge them now for their benefit. How many Christians are humble enough to love their enemy and have faith that God will equal everything out through Justice? This verse was a perfect summary of everything Paul had written.)
(Theme of Chapter 12: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter which showed God reaching out to the Gentiles was intended to cause the Jews to pursue God more. Paul showed us that we ought to choose to love everyone and forgive so that God could equal out Justice for our benefit and the benefit of others who are no longer under mercy. We are not supposed to judge. We are supposed to let God judge which would cause us to think well of Him and see His value at an even greater level.)
Day 325
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