Exposition of Romans - Chapter 3 - Part 1

Exposition on Romans
written by Andy (edited and organized by Melissa)

Introduction

As chapter three begins, Paul has explained in the first two chapters basic foundational truths that he builds upon as the book unfolds. The first chapter illustrated how sinful we are by listing several examples of how we consistently, consciously break God’s commands. Following that, Paul makes the case that since we are so sinful, God’s judgment is very reasonable. Now Paul, in anticipation of the arguments that his opposition might bring forth, embarks on his defense of God’s judgment.

God’s Judgment Defended – Romans 3:1-8

Paul starts chapter three by illuminating the fact that the Jews of the day had a tremendous advantage over the Gentiles because they had the Old Testament, which in numerous parts taught its readers who God was (i.e. His attributes), how salvation was to occur, and pointed to the coming Messiah, which Jesus embodied (v.2). This is to what Paul referred when he said the Jews were given God’s sayings. However, in order for anyone to inherit God’s promises, they have to have a proper relationship with Him. That goes for the Jews of Paul’s day as well as for us today. The Jews thought they had that proper relationship with God, simply because God had called them “His chosen people.” The fact remained that in order for anyone to inherit God’s promises, they still had to exercise saving faith and live it out. If the proper belief was not there, they could not inherit God’s promises and neither can we. Verse 4 says that God would still be true even if we all thought that he wasn’t, then we would all be made out to be liars and liars will not inherit anything.

Romans 3:5-6 says, “But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?” Because all of humanity is so sinful and so regularly breaks God’s laws and has the flippant attitude toward God and His law that it does, it shows humanity how separate it is from the nature and will of God. It shows how far “up there” God is and how far “down here” we are in relation. God’s standard is perfection and is embodied in the Ten Commandments. We fall miserably short of that standard, as Paul will illustrate later in the chapter.

God has this standard so He can thoroughly judge the world. Without the standard, judgment would seem unreasonable and God would have no logical basis for sending anyone to hell (v. 6) and even people like Hitler and Hussein would be in heaven. I am sure my reader can agree that they do not expect to see either of those two in heaven.

I will go out on a limb here in verse seven. When Paul says, “For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory,…” I am thinking that Paul is referring to his lifestyle practice of persecuting and killing Christians in the name of God (Acts 8:3) prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). These acts that Paul performed actually worked to bring God glory through the salvation of Paul. So Paul says, “why am I also still judged a sinner (vs. 7)? Paul anticipated that his objectors would say that since God saved Paul despite his outright rebellion toward God (Acts 8:3) leading up to Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) to show God’s amazing work of grace in Paul’s life, why should Paul still be deemed a sinner? (Romans 3:7). Verse 8 says, “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?...” Why not do things so God will have to do some remarkable work and show His power and glory through the intentional sin of others? Paul is explaining that this is the wrong attitude to have toward sin and it will result in final condemnation.

All Have Sinned – Romans 3:9-20

Now Paul shows that all groups, Jews and Gentiles alike, are all subject to sin (Romans 3:9-18). In one of the most recognizable New Testament portions of Scripture, Paul uses the Psalms and the book of Isaiah to support his thesis that we are all under sin. This portion of Scripture indict man in three ways: man’s character (v. 10-12), conversation (v. 13-14), and conduct (v. 15-17). He uses terms like “all” and “none” to show how universal sin and rebellion is in all humanity.

Roman 3:10-18 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Starting in the beginning: “every intent of the thoughts of his (man’s) heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Notice how sin begins in the thoughts. Before sin can become an action it has to take form in the thoughts. Shortly thereafter it says “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). Parents, have you had to teach your kids to lie to you? Have you had to teach your kids to disobey you or did it not come naturally? Modern psychology will give you a ton of other reasons for kids disobedience but they fail to realize sin is there from birth. Ask yourself, which was here first, the Bible or modern psychology? If the Bible tells us things that psychology figured out later on its own, which of the two do you suppose has more authority? The obvious answer should be the Bible.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” On the “deceitful” point, has anyone ever had to teach you to lie? Did you not have the tendency to do it already? From where did that tendency come? It seems obvious that the tendency was there all along, even from conception. Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”

Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous…” This refers to the fact that no one lives in accordance with God standards. “Understands” is synonymous with the word “comprehends.” This refers to the fact that the carnally-minded man cannot understand God and His standard of righteousness. Romans 8:7, I think, supports this statement when it says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Minds who have not been transformed and renewed by the process of regeneration cannot understand the things of God. These minds are not influenced by God’s law. They say things like, “The Ten Commandments are a guide” and think that they do not have to be kept today. They seem to forget, that Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21). How does Jesus manifest Himself to us? It seems clear that the answer to this question is by having His commands, the Word written on our hearts (Romans 2:15).

The carnally minded seem to forget that Jesus said that in order to be called great in the kingdom of heaven we should keep His commands and teach others to do so (Matthew 5:19). What’s more, in perhaps His most famous teaching exposition ever recorded, in the following Sermon on the Mount, Jesus opened up the Law and taught on adultery (Seventh Commandment), murder (Sixth Commandment), divorce (Seventh Commandment), our attitude toward wealth (Second and tenth Commandment references). In Matthew 15:19-20 Jesus said that the things that defile us are when we break His commands and He lists six Commandments in those verses alone. I am counting "fornications" as a reference to the Seventh Commandment. Jesus taught about divorce and adultery and gave the rich young ruler six Commandments either in letter or in essence (Matthew 19:18-19). This is not exhaustive, but the point remains, God’s Law still has its place under the new covenant.

Romans 3:11 says, “There is none who seeks after God.” There are many religions out there. Every one of them thinks theirs is the only true one. In fact, all religions, with the exception of Biblical Christianity have all tried to escape the one true God. Philippians 2:21 tells us that “all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Unregenerate minds do not even search out the things of God. Ephesians 4:18 shows us that unregenerate sinners have “their understanding darkened… because of the blindness of their heart.” Unregenerate humanity tries to satisfy themselves in other religions and unless God seeks them first, they will perish. Unless the Father calls sinners, sinners cannot be saved. God has to seek us before we can seek Him. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus says, “Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” We cannot and will not know God the Father unless Jesus the Son reveals the Father to us. In John 6:37, Jesus says, “All that the Father gives Me I will by no means cast out.” So, the Father does the selecting, not us. The Father gives us to Christ. In John 6:44, Jesus plainly says that the Father draws sinners to Jesus. Only then do we get saved. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” We are not even able to seek God and His kingdom unless God first works in our hearts.

Romans 3: 12 says, “They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one.” Becoming “unprofitable” (v. 12) refers to being worthless, or becoming depraved. So before coming to God, God sees sinners as “worthless or “depraved.” The fact that none of us do good before coming to God can be supported by how God views our deeds before coming to Him. If we look at Isaiah 64:6, we can glean several characteristics about ourselves and How God reacts to us. It says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”
This is clear. You and I are unclean. Our righteousnesses/good deeds are pointless, futile and a waste of God’s time before we get saved by Him. It goes on to say, “We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” What happens if our iniquities rule over us? They separate us further and further from God. Before long, we can never be saved by God. We can also explain “There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12) using the same logic.

Now we switch focus from man’s character issues to those things that proceed from the mouth. “Their throat is an open tomb” (v. 13). What is housed in tombs? Dead things! How do dead things usually feel after a while? (Cold!) Do you like to touch dead things? (Hopefully not!) How do dead things smell after a while if they have not been to the undertaker and drenched in formaldehyde? (They stink!) Under normal circumstances are these things that you would gravitate toward or away from? (Hopefully away from!) What should God do with us if our mouths have these characteristics? Is it any wonder why God says in His Word why the mouth can have such a negative impact? Verse 13 goes on to say, “With their tongues they have practiced deceit.” This is an ongoing attribute of a lifestyle. From time to time we can expect to slip up, but if we consistently mess up with no remorse with no signs of growing in holiness, we can be sure this applies to us (see 1 John 1:6).

“The poison of asps is under their lips” (v. 13). An asp, for those of us who were not already aware (like I was not until I just looked it up) is synonymous in the Greek with a viper or cobra, two venomous snakes. So what comes out of their mouths? Poison. Do you watch your mouth? Is God convicting you if you swear? If not, there might be cause for concern for you because genuine Christians should have sensitivity to grandiose sins such as cussing. Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Mourning here refers to mourning over sin by Holy Spirit conviction and comfort comes by the Holy Spirit as well. Verse fourteen is basically a repetition of thirteen.

We have addressed the mouths of the depraved, now this section of Old Testament quotes concludes with a discussion on how we conduct ourselves. Verse 15 says, “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” This seems to speak to having a violent temperament, wanting to address conflict by violence, rather than more peacefully, when Jesus did clearly speak to the importance of being a peacemaker (See Matthew 5:9). This idea is consistent with loving one’s enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). We are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who persecute us and use us. Can we say we always keep that command? I surely cannot.

Romans 3:16 says, “Destruction and misery are in their ways.” Think of the catastrophe of 9/11. That was a day that was totally characterized by destruction and misery. Think of the people behind the attacks. Think of people doing similar things (maybe on a smaller scale) constantly. Think of the perpetrators in the recent high school shootings in Colorado. Think of the suicide bombers in the Middle East. Think of the horrific things people like Hitler and Hussein did to their fellow countrymen. These illustrations were designed to make you think of something miserable and destructive. These acts or thoughts of performing these types of acts characterize the style of life here. The scary thing is that if it were not for God’s common grace, these tales of destruction could have been even worse than they were. What’s more, even you and I could be capable of things even more vile than these.

“And the way of peace they have not known” (v. 17). This seems to speak of our tendency to always have some sort of conflict, whether inner or outer, going on. This can happen externally between individuals, groups, and nations. Verse 18 says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Why is there no fear? Because we have forsaken God’s law. The summation of God’s law, the Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20. If people were aware of the penalty of lying (Revelation 21:8), stealing (1 Corinthians 6:10), blasphemy (Exodus 20:7), adultery/fornication (1 Corinthians 6:9), idolatry (1 Corinthians 6:9), and covetousness (1 Corinthians 6:10), for example, they might flee the wrath to come.

Why use the law? Because it “stops the mouth” (Romans 3:19). It shows us our guilt. It teaches us why we need Christ (Galatians 3:24). It converts the soul (Psalm 19:7). Jesus used it in His witnessing (Luke 18, Matthew 19, Matthew 5-6). It shows us our sin (Romans 7:7, 9). It is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). It makes sin “exceedingly sinful” (Romans 7:13). It keeps us from justifying ourselves because that will not work with God (Romans 3:20). We cannot keep the law perfectly. Since we cannot, we need to know what it says so we can know that we are guilty before God, flee the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7), and embrace the Savior. There are other reasons, too, but you get the idea.

Exposition of Romans - Chapter 3 - Part 2

Exposition on Romans
written by Andy (edited and organized by Melissa)

God’s Righteousness Through Faith – Romans 3:21-26

Beginning in verse 21, Paul changes his focus. He has finished proving that man can in no way attain his own righteousness, so the only righteousness that remains is that which can only be found in Christ. This righteousness can only be provided by God (Isaiah 45:8) when God starts the process of salvation convicting us of our sin, God’s righteousness, and God’s judgment by the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). How is righteousness provided to us? Through faith in Christ (Romans 3:22). Notice that it says nothing about works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says the same thing. It cannot be about works, because no matter how many good works any of us have done, it does not matter because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our sins are what send us to hell. The glory of God is His sinless perfection, embodied in the life that Christ lived. None of us can ever hope to attain that. That is why it is necessary to put faith in Christ. He kept the law perfectly for us (See 2 Corinthians 5:21). Since we come to the Father through Him (See John 14:6), we can trust in His perfect work on the cross.
We are justified (v. 24) when we repent and put our faith in Him. The penalty we deserve, death and eternal torment in hell for breaking God’s law, was paid for us in Jesus’ sinless life and atoning work on the cross. Justification, an essential doctrine of the faith, in addition to containing our forgiveness, also imputes Christ’s righteousness on believers, as an ink stamp imputes its stamp on an envelope. This stamp is what God sees that allows Him to forgive us and allow us to enter heaven. Only because Christ was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21) can we be declared righteous. If He had sinned, His sacrifice would contain no validity. Because He did not sin, His perfection is “stamped” on us and we are allowed to enter the celestial city.

We are justified through Christ’s grace (v. 24) when we repent of our sins and realize that there is nothing that we can do to earn eternal life. It is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 3:24 says “freely,” also indicating that God’s grace supplied through Christ is a gift, because gifts are free. This supernatural gift is only given when God does a work in the heart of a sinner, whereby the Holy Spirit convicts the depraved sinner of sin, producing Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) before repentance.

Christ redeemed sinners (v. 24). What if you had been guilty of a heinous crime that called for a fifty thousand dollar fine or imprisonment until the fine could be paid, and you could not pay it. Wouldn’t you feel redeemed if a total stranger, whom you did not even know paid your fine for you? Well, that is, in essence, the very thing that is exemplified in Christ’s work on the cross. We are all guilty (Romans 3:19, 23). We deserve punishment (hell for eternity), Christ, Whom we did not know before conversion came in and paid our fine for us in His perfect obedience to God’s law and death and resurrection. If our faith is in Him, we are redeemed.

Romans 3:25 says, “whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed” It was God’s decision to send Christ. He would have been totally just if He never sent Christ. He would have been totally just if He let us all perish and suffer eternally in hell, because that is what we all deserve. But God did not want to let that happen (See Romans 5:8). So, He sent His son to live in our place.

“Propitiation” in verse 25 refers to the fact that the brutal murder and crucifixion of Christ on Calvary satisfied God’s righteous requirement of wrath to be leashed upon sinners. If God had not poured out His wrath on Christ to such a point that while He was on the cross the Father had to look away and forsake His Son(Matthew 27:46), He would have saved it for us. We would not be able to handle it. Imagine the worst possible way to die. Now imagine something infinitely worse. You probably still would not adequately characterize the feeling of God’s wrath. The only other way God’s justice could be served if someone’s faith is not in Christ, is if the sinner spends eternity in hell. Those are the only two ways God’s judgment can be satisfied.

The propitiation is only effective when we put our faith in Christ (v. 25) and repent of our sins. This faith is not a one-time ordeal. It goes on over a believer’s entire life. Only God can give faith to believers (Ephesians 2:8) and it’s the only way that believers show they are righteous in the sight of God (Romans 3:22, 25; among others). In order to have saving faith, we need to understand the complete Gospel, experience sorrow over our sin (2 Corinthians 7:10), experience joy over what God has done for us (Romans 6:17, 15:13), and trust Christ implicitly for everything from that point forward. This type of faith will result in an overarching characteristic of obedience to the nature and will of God.

Romans 3:25-26 speak of God demonstrating His righteousness. This basically was accomplished in the entirety of Christ’s earthly existence. Christ demonstrated God’s righteousness by not sinning (2 Corinthians 5:21). God cares for what is right. It is not right to sin against God. It would be right of God to slaughter every one of us and send every one of us to hell for eternity for sinning against Him. Instead, all our sins, past, present, and future, fell on Christ’s shoulders on the cross, provided that we respond to the Gospel. All the while, God is patient with us, exercising His forbearance (v. 25). He could annihilate us any time He wants since we are so sinful. Instead, he holds back His wrath, giving sinful humanity the chance to get right with Him. What are you waiting for?

Verse 26 says, “That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” By slaughtering His own Son instead of us, God is just. Justice is satisfied because the penalty we deserve all fell on Christ at Calvary. Either we will put our faith in Christ and accept His payment for our sins on His behalf (being justified), or we will pay for our sins eternally in hell. Either way, God is just.

Boasting Excluded – Romans 3:27-31

Since our salvation has nothing to do with us and everything to do with what Christ did for us, we have nothing to boast in, except to boast in Christ. Salvation has nothing to do with us keeping a law. None of us can keep the law and nobody ever will keep the law. Since sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), we will always be guilty from that standpoint. No amount of good works can outweigh all the sins we have committed. The only thing we can trust in is Christ to save us (Romans 3:27-28). That is our only hope.

Lastly, verse 31 says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” The law still serves very important roles to the Christian. The law helps us see why we need saving in the first place (Galatians 3:24, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:13, Romans 3:19, Psalm 19:7). The law makes grace amazing and the law is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:15). The believer has an inborn capacity to obey the law since one of their Christian characteristics is sensitivity to sin (1 John 2:3-5) (Romans 8:3-4).

This concludes chapter three. This will be the last one of these for a while. I want to try to read through more of the New Testament. Taking the time to prepare these, while beneficial in educating myself, is keeping me in Romans for too long a chunk of time. I need to spend time in the rest of the New Testament as well. If God allows, I plan on resuming this series one day, but I have yet do determine if or when that will be. I hope this has been of benefit. God bless!

Exposition of Romans - Chapter 2

Exposition of Romans
written by Andy (edited and organized by Melissa)

Introduction

When we read Romans chapter two, it becomes important to read it in light of chapter one, otherwise chapter two won’t make sense. Chapter one finished by talking about man’s unrighteousness and the things that characterize that unrighteous lifestyle. See verses 18 to 32. Chapter two starts by making a case for God’s righteous judgment of sinners, which is quite reasonable when taken in lieu of chapter one. Let’s begin.

God’s Righteous Judgment – Romans 2:1-16

Romans 2:1 says, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man whoever you are who judge for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” Who is there who is reading this who can honestly say that they are completely innocent in the sight of God? That they have not broken any of God’s commands themselves? There is not a single person (Romans 3:9-18 explains this principle in greater detail). Romans 1:18-32 shows the specific things Paul listed to show us our guilt. They are defined in the previous blog. Paul is saying that if we are going to point out others’ sins, according to that standard, we must realize that we are guilty ourselves of violating the same commands. It goes back to the principle that Jesus outlined in Matthew 7:1-5 about “judge not, lest ye be judged”. We should not think ourselves to be morally superior to other Christians or non Christians. If we are going to look at others as sinful, we need to be willing to look at ourselves in the same way. If we justify ourselves by saying things like, “My sins are nowhere near as serious as that person’s,” I feel we miss Paul’s point. In Romans 2:3, Paul clearly states that we all will be judged by the same standard, so we had better be willing to look at ourselves.

Paul points out this truth on which I have just commented in Romans 2:2 where he says, “But we know that the judgment of God is according to the truth against those who practice such things.” “Truth” in this verse refers to what is right. In other words, God is going to judge all humanity according to what He deems as right, whether we agree with His standard or not. In addition, God is going to condemn those who make their lifestyle practice match up with the sins listed in 1:18-32 (see Romans ch.1 exposition).

Non Christians live their lives consistently in a way that does not grow in conformity to God’s standards. That said, verse two says God’s judgment is against them. Also this principle can be applied to church-goers who do not “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) like those John refers to in 1 John 1:6. These people ignore the constant warnings of the Spirit, and eventually God leaves them alone. Jude and Hebrews talk about the unpardonable state. When they ignore God, they ignore the common grace of God, briefly described by Paul in Romans 2:4. God blesses non Christians to a point so that they can see His goodness and His patience with them in their sin for an extended period of time. This is in the hope that sinners will realize these attributes of God’s character, see how patient God is being with them while they continue to live in rebellion toward Him, and eventually lead them to repentance. The response to God all boils down to repentance (Matthew 4:17, Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30-31). If there is no repentance, there is no salvation.

Paul clearly explains in verse five that unrepentant hearts earn God’s wrath and judgment. Having our sins shown to us is actually a tremendous blessing from God, even though it is not all that pleasant. If we have to repent from our sins in order to be saved from God’s wrath and eternity in hell, and to continue to repent to have a sign that we actually have been saved (1 John 1:9), we need to know how sinful we are. So, when we consistently try to mask our sins, this truth is nearly impossible to realize. When we remove all references to sin like most American Christian churches these days, this has a devastating effect on sinners. They cannot be saved if they do not realize what they need to be saved from.

Verse six explains that all peoples, whether in Christ or not will be judged or rewarded based on their deeds. Those who are in Christ will be rewarded in proportion to their deeds. The greater the amount of deeds, the greater the reward in heaven. The lesser the amount of deeds, the lesser the reward in heaven. It must be stated that deeds DO NOT earn salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” However, the good deeds should be an overflowing of our hearts that represent the work God has done in us. Our deeds will show the evidence of our true hearts.

Romans 2:7-8 goes on to say, “eternal life to those who…doing good (deeds) seek for (God’s)glory, (God’s) honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth (1 John 1:6), but obey unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-32) – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil…” (in parentheses added) If we consistently seek God’s glory, honor, and an increasingly Godly lifestyle, we will be saved in the end. If, however, we live unrighteously and lacking conformity to the Word of God, then we deserve God’s indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish.

The Greek meaning for “glory” in the verse 7 can mean splendor, brilliance, or giving God the highest status. The Greek meaning for “honor” in this passage refers to value, respect, nobility, or specialness. The Greek meaning for “immortality” refers to imperishableness and incorruption. In verse 8, the Greek meaning for “indignation” refers to wrath, fury, anger, rage, a state of intense displeasure based in some real or perceived wrong. In verse 9, the Greek meaning for “tribulation” refers to trouble, distress, and oppression. The Greek meaning for “anguish” refers to hardship and difficulty. Romans 2:11 says, “For there is no partiality with God.” God does not show preferential treatment based on any circumstances. So, from all this, we reasonably conclude that faith and deeds go hand in hand. Anyone who says any differently is terribly mistaken. James 2:14-26 is an important passage which is summed up in the statement, “Faith without works is dead.”

Some of us do not have as much knowledge about God as do others. The next section illustrates how we all will be judged based on what we do know. Later on, we will see that this fact still leaves us all guilty. Verse 12 says, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.” Chapter one explained how we have things like creation that surround us that tells us enough about God to leave us “without excuse” (1:20).

Next comes a statement that supports the thesis of the previous paragraph: “doers of the law will be justified” (2:13). If we have limited knowledge, then, why are we still without excuse? Verse fifteen answers this question. Despite the fact that we might not know a great deal, the law is still “written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men…” (2:15-16). So, since God has written His law on our hearts, we know when we do wrong. We know when we lie, steal, blaspheme, or break any of the other Ten Commandments that it is wrong. Despite the fact that we know it is wrong, we still do it anyway. This shows our blatant disregard for God at times. When we think of it this way, it is remarkable that God remains patient with us. Every day, many times without realizing it, we violate God’s standard in our thoughts, attitudes, and deeds, yet we still get the chance to live, because God remains patient with us (2:4). This should make God’s common grace to us amazing and lead us to continuous confession of our sins. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Jews Guilty as Gentiles – Romans 2:17-24

Paul goes on to address the Jews in Rome. The Jews had the Law and were taught the effect the Law should have (2:15-16). Since the Jews knew the Law they knew more about God’s will, which meant that they were accountable for more. It has already been stated that we will be judged based on what we already know, not what we do not know. This principle meant that the Jews in Rome were in danger of harsher judgment if they chose to spurn God. Verses 19 and 20 show that they had become conceited since they knew more about God than the Gentiles. They taught those who appeared to be younger and weaker in the faith the Law. The problem is, they failed to look at themselves (2:21-24). Isn’t it funny how we are quick to point out others’ faults yet have difficulty looking at our own sins? Even as I write this, I see areas in which I am sinning. Jesus talked about hypocritical behavior like this in Matthew 7:1-5.

Circumcision to No Avail – Romans 2:25-29

Paul concludes the second chapter by talking about how Jewish circumcision is meaningless if there is no inward reality of the Christian life. I liken Jewish circumcision to contemporary baptism. Across most Baptist schools of thought with which I am familiar, it seems that it is not baptism that saves you, rather it is the changed heart and lifestyle. The act of baptism is looked at as an outward public expression of the changed life. If there is no inward reality (2:29) of a changed heart as a result of God having saved someone, then no salvation took place, even if a ritual like circumcision or baptism took place. If there is little to no difference in style of life after someone says they have been saved compared to before they say they got saved, chances are, nothing actually happened. No salvation took place. It is the obedient lifestyle that grows over time with respect to God’s Word that shows evidence that salvation occurred. 1 John talks a great deal about evidences of salvation. Paul makes the case that if someone does not even get circumcised but lives an obedient lifestyle, God will look at them as if they had been circumcised and count them righteous (2:26). What’s more, if someone does get circumcised, but are a perpetual law breaker, their circumcision is worthless (2:25).

Again, it is the inward reality, not the external observance of religious rituals that shows someone is saved. I have heard of people trusting in “having made their decision” or having been baptized, but these people miss Paul’s point here at the end of Romans 2. These people did their rituals, yet they continue to live as immorally as ever. No salvation took place in these people. At least no salvation can take place until God shows people their sin, so they can look to Jesus on the cross and see how He took the punishment they deserve for all their unrighteousness. They need to repent (turn from sin), trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, and grow in the things of God over a long time. This will show whether God has done a work of saving grace in someone’s life, not whether they got circumcised or baptized.

This concludes my exposition on chapter two. Keep a look out for chapter three. Please leave me comments sharing what you agree or disagree with. The purpose of these is to impart what I am learning, and to learn more myself. Thank you for reading this. If God is convicting you, please let Him. Humble yourself and repent of your sins. You may not have tomorrow! God bless!

Exposition of Romans - Chapter 1

Exposition of Romans
written by Andy (edited and organized by Melissa)

Introduction

The book of Romans might be the most significant non-Gospel book in the entire New Testament. Romans has such a wealth of sound theology for practical application to the Christian’s life. I plan on sharing what I have learned through a detailed study of the book over a series of blogs. This first blog is dedicated to covering chapter one. You might wonder how thirty-two verses can contain this much commentary, but I believe that God’s word has so much truth within its lines that what I have shared here only scratches the surface with what is actually here. In no way is this complete. I pray this is a blessing to whoever reads this. Please feel free to comment, compliment, criticize, etc. I want feedback. Thank you for considering this. I plan on doing chapter two in subsequent blogs. Keep a look out! God Bless!

Greeting – Romans 1:1-15

Paul starts Romans off by introducing the letter and sharing his intent for writing it. He is writing it to the members in the church in Rome with the purpose of teaching them the great truths of the gospel of grace to those who had never received it. He also had an obligation to God to minister to the Gentiles.

The Just Live by Faith - Romans 1:16-17

The gospel is power of God unto salvation for all peoples, regardless of ethnicity, or religious affiliation. It is totally done by God, not by us at all. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, God saves us “by His (His not in text) grace, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (God gives it to us as His gift; we do not obtain it by ourselves), not of works (His work, not ours; not by us repeating a simple prayer-that would be our work). The righteousness of God is revealed through Gospel. In Exodus 20, God shows us His righteous standard, the Law.

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness – Romans 1:18-32

Romans 1:18 says, God’s wrath is revealed against all unrighteousness and all ungodliness, and those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. I know of a host of people who call themselves Christians who do not want to look at their sin, its severity, and how it severely offends God. John 3:36 says, God’s wrath abides upon these people, who intentionally find their comfortable idea about God and stay there, not searching out the truth in Scripture for themselves, but only relying upon what they have heard from contemporary Christian pulpits.

Paul goes on to describe what these people are like. They think they know about God, but in reality they have made an image of God that is more acceptable to them. They say, “I don’t want to hear about God’s holiness, justice, and wrath. Give me more of that cushy ‘love, joy, peace, fulfillment and everlasting happiness’ stuff.” What does God do with people like that? Verse 24 says, He gives them over to their “uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts.” 1 John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Instead of worshiping the one true God of the Bible, they worship the image they have made in their minds. God gives them up to pursue their wicked lifestyles, their “vile passions”. This particular pair of verses (vs. 26-27) refers to the specific sin of homosexuality, but I think it is reasonable to infer that the general practice of sin can have the same effect.

Romans 1:28 says, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge…”
When sinners choose not to follow God, they continually reject God’s truth and God’s call on their lives. It goes on to say, “God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things that are not fitting…” What patterns characterize these people who reject God? Verses 29-32 spell it out plainly and we’ve defined the words they list below. These are they who “walk in darkness,” according to 1 John 1:6. I looked up the Greek definitions of these words in the Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and also used Webster’s New World Dictionary.

Definitions of Terms

Unrighteousness – wickedness, evil, wrongdoing, iniquity, unjust, wrong

Fornication – marital unfaithfulness, prostitution, adultery, sexual sin of any kind. When people have sex with someone to whom they are not married, even if it is with someone to whom they will eventually marry, until they marry they commit this sin. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines fornication as “sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons.”

Wickedness – malice (active ill will; desire to harm another; evil intent), iniquities, a negative moral quality opposed to God and his goodness

Covetousness – greediness, avarice (greed for money). We are covetous when we aren’t satisfied with what God has already blessed us with. Always wanting more than what we already have.

Maliciousness – evil, wickedness, depravity. From the time we are born, we do things that aren’t pleasing to God (sin) without being taught to do those things.

Full of envy – goes hand in hand with covetousness. If I am jealous because someone has something I want, but do not yet have, I am not happy with what God has already blessed me with, and I am jealous of that person.

Murder – 1 John 3:15 says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.”

Debate – quarrel, strife, dissension (disagreement), discord. As a Christian, we shouldn’t be seeking to cause dissension among believers. But, we should speak the truth in love, even if it gets other people mad. Many people now won’t speak the truth because they think they’re being divisive if they do so.

Deceit – slyness, trickery, guile, subtilty, craft

Malignity – wicked thoughts, to speak evil of. This usually happens before we act upon our wicked deeds. Basically our mindset before we break any one of the Ten Commandments could be deemed “evil-mindedness.”

Whisperers – gossiper (one who chatters idly about others). Have you ever talked bad about someone behind their back? Gossiped?

Backbiters - slanderers, defamatory (to attack the reputation of someone)

Haters of God – those who, as a pattern of life, break God’s commands without a second thought by “walking in darkness” (1 John 1:6).

Despiteful – insolent (boldly disrespectful) man, injurious (harmful)

Proud – arrogant (having or showing great pride for oneself and contempt for others)

Boasters – braggart (an offensively boastful person)

Inventors of evil things – Constantly trying to find new ways to sin against God and do evil.

Disobedient to parents – It’s amazing how this one finds itself in the same list as murder and adultery. This is, after all the Fifth Commandment. This is very important to God. Ephesians 6:2 says, it’s the “first Commandment with a promise” (of blessing). Yet how can God bestow His blessings on children who willfully disobey Him in this area?

Without understanding – senseless, dull, foolish

Covenantbreakers – faithless, untrustworthy. If we say we are going to do something for somebody, do we follow through with it? Do we regularly keep our word? If not, we are untrustworthy.

Without natural affection – unloving. This is one of the most enigmatic terms in the Bible. I think so many professing Christians mistake “loving” with “condoning.” If you are a professing Christian, you need to be loving to your neighbor by sharing the truth with them about their sins. For example, if I was going for a walk late at night and we lived in the same neighborhood, suppose I walk by your house. I notice that your house is on fire! You are sound asleep (or at least your light is off). If I walk by your house without trying to wake you up because I do not want to awaken you from your peaceful slumber, am I being loving? Wouldn’t it be loving of me to exhaust all my resources to try to wake you up so you can get yourself and your family out of your house before you perish in the flames? Or would you rather I just let you sleep? Letting you sleep would be unloving! If I love you, I will wake you up to save you! I might even break the door down and yank you out of bed myself, trusting that you will thank me later. Even if you do not thank me, if I let you burn, I would be guilty of what the law calls “depraved indifference.” Depraved means corrupt and indifference means I couldn’t care less. So, because I decided to let you die without trying to help you, I would be corrupt because I did not care less. This is what we do if we refuse to share the truth with sinners.

Implacable – unforgiving, not reconcilable, trucebreakers. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells the disciples that we should be willing to forgive our brothers and sisters as many times as necessary. We will be severely disciplined if we do not forgive others.

Unmerciful – ruthless, merciless. We should be willing to forgive our brothers and sisters when they come to us in broken humility. If we harden our hearts against them, God could do the same to us.

Romans 1:32 says, “Who knowing the righteous judgment of God…” These people to whom Paul refers know God’s standard because the law is written on their hearts, therefore they know the difference between right and wrong; their conscience bears witness (See Romans 2:15). John 1:9 tells us “That was the true Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world.” In other words, God has given us knowledge of his existence (through creation – see Romans 1:19-20). This is why we are without excuse. Romans 1:32 goes on to say, “that those who practice such things” (all things listed and explained in verses 28-31) “are deserving of death.” This is why we all will die one day – because our depraved hearts could not help but sin against God. “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 18:20). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Romans 1:32 continues, “not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Paul finishes the chapter by saying that all those who make their lifestyle practice conform to all the sin listed in the prior fourteen verses (Romans 1:18-31) deserve death and God’s judgment. What’s more, it’s not just practicing these things, but also condoning others who practice these things. Christians are to hunger for righteous living (See Matthew 5:6). False converts are those who have been described in the prior fourteen verses. Pay particularly close attention to the mindset Paul attributes to these people in Romans 1:28. They turned from the truth to worship the man-made lie (today’s god who condones sin and says not to open our mouths to help show people their sin so they can come to the point of Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), which produces repentance, which is essential for salvation (Luke 13:3, Matthew 4:17, Acts 17:30, 31)). The God of the Bible hates sin, and pours out His wrath upon sinners (John 3:36). This chapter talked about some of God’s penalty against sin.

Practical Application

What good is the Bible if we cannot apply it to our lives practically? Each one of us is born totally in rebellion to the nature and will of God. The Bible says, every intent of man’s heart is only evil continually (Genesis 6:5), the imaginations of our hearts are evil from our youth (Genesis 8:21), our hearts above all things are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus Himself called us evil in Luke 11:13 and Matthew 7:11.

Beginning at verse eighteen through the end of the chapter of Romans 1, Paul lists for us a series of ways how we can be in blatant rebellion toward God. Do any of those in the list specifically apply to you as you read this? Please do not trivialize your sin. God will not do that on Judgment Day. We should not either. Look at your sin for what it is and call it what it is: sin. Realize that it offends a righteous God, Who “hate(s) all workers of iniquity” (Psalm 5:5), Who “has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31, Psalm 9:8), Who has to punish all workers of iniquity (Matthew 7:23), “Who will render to each according to his deeds…to those who do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil...” (Romans 2:6-9).

Please think soberly about your eternal salvation. You only have one chance at this life. Make it count. You are not guaranteed your next breath. Humble yourself now. Cry out to God. Confess and forsake your sins to God. Write a list of each of the Ten Commandments. I plan on explaining why to use the Ten Commandments in future entries. Next to each number write out how many specific instances you can remember in which you broke each of those Commandments. Then realize, you probably could not even remember everything. This should show you how much you need God’s forgiveness. Read the list to God, expressing your sorrow over your offenses directed at Him.

You have broken God’s Law too many times to be able to pay back God to balance the scales. But God, who is full of wrath, as we have discussed, is also “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4). Remember that God sent His son to live in your place. Jesus of Nazareth lived a perfect life. He did not sin a single time. "God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us so we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was brutally beaten and crucified for the sin of the whole world (according to Isaiah 53). “God commends His love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Tell God you want to turn from your sins at this moment, that you want to place your faith in Christ alone to save you. When you do that, and it is genuine, Ezekiel 36:25-27 says, God will “sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; (God) will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. (God) will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; (God) will take the heart of stone” (the one in rebellion toward God) “out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (God) will put (His) Spirit within you and cause you to walk in (His) statutes, and you will keep (His) judgments and do them.” The read your Bible daily and obey it.

Over time, you should notice some changes in your life that show evidences you have been converted. If you do not see God working in your life and changing you, then you should examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Read 1 John and Matthew 5-7 to get an idea of what some of those changes should look like. Thank you for reading this. May God save you, bless you, and keep you.

Andy