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  PROLOGUE TO PRISON PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
  by Richard C. Halverson
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Halverson's commentary on Paul's Epistle to the Romans, examining the apostle's
teaching on apostolic authority, sound doctrine, and the transformative nature
of Christ's grace. He explores the profound influence Romans has had on Western
civilization and Christian theology.

  Chapters: 25

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS
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    1. 00.4 - Introduction
    2. 01 - Prologue to Prison
    3. 02 - The Power of God
    4. 03 - The Wrath of God
    5. 04 - But We Are Different
    6. 05 - Who is a Real Jew?
    7. 06 - The Faithfulness of God
    8. 07 - The Light of the Law
    9. 08 - The Righteousness of God
   10. 09 - Abraham Believed God
   11. 10 - Peace With God
   12. 11 - The New Race
   13. 12 - The Free Gift of God
   14. 13 - The Bankruptcy of Man's Best
   15. 14 - The Law of Life
   16. 15 - History's Painful Waiting
   17. 16 - Unshakeable Foundations
   18. 17 - Justice and Mercy
   19. 18 - The Way of Salvation
   20. 19 - The Unsearchable Judgments of God
   21. 20 - The Christian Ethic
   22. 21 - The Christian and the State
   23. 22 - Our Duty To Those Who Disagree
   24. 23 - Harmony in the Household of God
   25. 24 - The Heart of an Apostle

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  CHAPTER 1: 00.4 - INTRODUCTION
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Introduction -

ROME IN THE DAYS OF PAUL

The Setting for the Epistle The sun’s rays, slanting up over the Campius
Martius, had just slightly warmed the marble slabs, and another day in the rule
of the Roman Emperor Nero promised fair and radiant skies.

Already the market-place was droning with the prattle and gossip which had need
to be dispatched before the day’s business began. The chatter grew more
strident, and the air became filled with the smells of plucked fowl and the
butchers’ offerings. While a vendor of fruit feverishly polished and arrayed the
crimson and golden orbs, his neighbor with equal bustle filled earthenware jars
with ointments sweet and thick.

The rumblings and movement and sound in the palace chambers were hushed and
subdued. The handmaidens, their diaphonous gowns the color of sunburst oranges
whispering about their bare ankles, prepared their mistress’ bath. Yawning they
liberally poured oils scented with lemon and vertivent into the warmed sea water
which filled the golden-crested pool.

Soon a rising crescendo of activity broke alive. The senators, clad in white and
magenta coming together in groups of three or more - a bold one, by chance,
alone - walked and talked and made their way to the Senate House. Some were
given to coarse laughter and ribaldry. Others, in serious vein, were engaged in
heated argument. The curses were many; slanderous and contemptuous the insults
that were bandied in the warm morning air.

A few hours passed; and the midday resting period was pierced by the sound of
chariot wheels, the drivers sporting a private race and subsequent wager. One
could hear the thundering and pounding of the blooded horses, the shrieks of
excitement from the women who looked on, and the derisive calls driver to
driver.

Scarcely could be heard the piteous wail of a newborn infant girl left on the
street to die. A wheel of one of the chariots had scudded over the frail little
body. The blood ran red over the rough cobblestones and settled into the dirty
cracks. A young woman moaned, and covering her head with a grayish shawl and
with head bent low, pushed her way through the gathering spectators.

Yet the excited babble of the crowds spoke of this day as one of unusual
vitality, for the Great Festivals had been proclaimed by the Emperor.
Speculation was rife.

"Would there really be a chariot race of four camels each?" "Who was this famous
knight brave enough to ride an elephant down a sloping tightrope?"

Gleeful was the crowd’s anticipation of Nero’s generosities - the thousands of
birds of bright plumage, the quantities of food parcels, the vouchers for corn,
clothes, gold, silver, precious stones, even slaves and trained wild beasts!

The afternoon in Rome pasted amid the spectacles, the gladiatorial shows. To
those who preferred the participant sports, the huge gymnasiums and adjacent
baths stood invitingly open.

Night, ominous and dark with only a tiny handful of stars, settled over the
great city. The streets were almost barren now save for an occasional weary
peddler on his way home or a claque of young guardsmen, their bushy hair and
splendid dress tell-tale of their positions as applauders for Nero and his
beloved lyre-playing.

And now the market-place was closed and filled with the stench of spoiling meat
and fruits.

Yet the palace was astir with guests, the women in gowns of purple and gold,
sapphire-blue and green, the hue of the tree-dappled hills surrounding the city.
The men were resplendent in plummaged helmets and robes embroidered and
bespangled.

Nero’s palace was a structure awesome and wonderful - the long pillared arcade
which ran almost a mile, the enormous pool so vast and blue that it resembled an
indoor sea and surrounded by buildings built to look like miniature cities. Many
parts of these were overlaid with gold and studded with precious stones and
nacre from the far seas.

The guests were dutifully awed and chattered amiably as the vain Nero childishly
and pompously displayed the dining-room ceiling which rained down flowers and
perfume, or the larger circular roof which revolved slowly day and night in
synchronous timing with the heavens.

Grandiose and opulent entertainment was the forte of this ostentatious young
emperor; and as surely as the wine was poured into the golden goblets, the
passions grew more tumultuous.

Nero waved a slender arm and dancing girls in scant and vivid attirement writhed
to the plaintive sounds of stringed music. Every sense and every desire gave
portent of being fulfilled.

Great and magnificent were the trays of food and delicacies - hens roasted on
spits to a crackling golden-brown, suckling pigs their snouts agape with crimson
apples - viands from far and near to tempt gourmet and gourmand alike.

Gorging and feasting and pleasures of all kinds occupied the night until dawn.

Outside on the blackened sea, only an occasional burst of raucous laughter could
be heard in accompaniment to the steady slap-slap of the water against the royal
barge. Pillars of fire sent out spurts of gold-red flames into the darkness.

Another day ended in the Roman Empire, an empire whose magnificence before many
years, would be relegated to the descriptive passages and odes of the historians
and bards.

Now there was across the Adriatic Sea down the craggy, thorny coastline of the
provinces of Macedonia and Achaia, down through the ragged Isthmus of Corinth,
the city of the same name.

There in the house of the hospitable Gaius, a short, stocky man sat at a table
writing in haste. Indeed his hands, worn and calloused with the results of his
trade of tent-making, seemed almost in frenzied haste so filled were his heart
and mind with the concern for his beloved friends who also believed in JESUS
CHRIST as the SON of GOD.

Now his special feelings of apprehension were for those Christians in the
decaying city of Rome. He felt chafed with frustration; he wanted so to express
his pent-up feeling with as much clarity as he could command.

Nero had just made one of his spectacular visits to the city of Corinth. The
Emperor had arrived reclining on his sumptuous barge, the red of the sails
contrasting with the brown-ebony backs of the oarsmen who moved with monotonous
but wondrous precision.

Indeed, the Roman Emperor held special fondness for those Greek subjects who so
diplomatically lauded his playing of the lyre. He had even, with great
beneficence, staged a naval engagement on an artificial lake of salt water with
sea monsters swimming in it and a ballet of certain young Greeks.

After Nero’s revelry, more than ever Paul was anxious to strengthen and
encourage the Christians in Rome.

The door opened and Timothy entered, quietly mindful of the task before the
fiery Apostle. His own shabby brown robe was dust-laden, and his feet in their
thonged sandals were pricked and grimy. Yet his arms were laden with prizes for
his friends - crusty fragrant loaves of bread, sweet ripe peaches offered to him
by a shy young girl in an orchard, a silvery string of bass.

Hidden away in the folds of his garment was a small jar of ointment. Tonight he
would rub Paul’s hands which surely would be aching from long hours of writing.

They would talk tonight - talk that lifted the heart and soothed the spirit.
There might be news of fellow Christians - if good, they could rejoice together;
if not, they could pray together - Paul, Timothy, Gaius, Lucius, Jason,
Sosipater; and perhaps even Erastus would be there.

Paul looked up, his frown of concentration smoothing as he saw his friend. "I’ve
finished this epistle, Timothy. See I’ve ended it with these words, "To God only
wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen" (Romans 16:27).

~ end of introduction ~


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  CHAPTER 2: 01 - PROLOGUE TO PRISON
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Chapter One -

Prologue to Prison (Romans 1:1-15) In a very basic sense Western civilization is
a by-product of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Therefore, at a time when
civilization’s disintegration and incineration is a possibility, a study of its
spiritual and theological roots is certainly in order.

Indisputably Paul’s letter to the Romans is one of the most influential pieces
of literature ever composed. Nothing written by man has had a greater impact
upon modern history than this Epistle written approximately 60 A.D. Augustine,
who lived in the fourth century after CHRIST, was a profligate son of a godly
mother until he was thirty years of age, at which time he was converted to JESUS
CHRIST and became one of the most well-known theologians of all times in the
Christian church. Paul’s letter to the Romans had a most profound effect upon
the life of Augustine.

It was Paul’s letter to Rome which liberated the soul of Martin Luther and
triggered the Reformation. In his preface to Romans, Martin Luther writes, "This
epistle represents the fundamental teachings of the New Testament and is the
very purest Gospel, well worth not only to be memorized verbatim but also to be
used daily by every Christian as the daily bread of his soul. For no one could
ever exhaust this Epistle by study and meditation. The better one becomes
acquainted with it, the higher one will treasure it and all the more delight in
it."

One has but to contrast those nations which were influenced only by the
Renaissance with those nations of Europe which were influenced also by the
Reformation to appreciate the incalculable impact of Paul’s letter to the Romans
upon our modern world.

John Wesley, an Anglican priest and founder of worldwide Methodism, in his
Journal for May 24, 1738, recorded these words:

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street where
one was reading Luther’s preface to the Romans. About a quarter before nine
while he was describing the change which GOD works in the heart through faith in
CHRIST, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in CHRIST - CHRIST
alone for salvation, and assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins,
even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. I began to pray with all
my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and
persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now felt for the
first time in my heart.

Wesley’s preaching not only gave birth to worldwide Methodism, but it broke the
back of corruption in England and transformed the empire.

Here is a little episode, sixteen chapters long, which has profoundly affected
the culture and civilization which you and I now enjoy, and unfortunately which
we are inclined to take for granted. One reason for the rapid decline of the
Western world, in spite of all that man is able to do to "shore up" its ethical
and moral standards, is that we have forgotten that the benefits of our culture
are the fruit of which the Hebrew Christian tradition, and more specifically
what Paul teaches in Romans, are the root. Obviously, if you forsake the root,
the loss of the fruit is inevitable. Flowers are lovely for decorations; but
having been cut from their roots, life span is fleeting. We can preserve the
beauty, the fragrance for a little while, but soon they will begin to stink and
be consigned to the trash heap because they have no roots. Our Western
civilization has its roots in the Word of GOD, in that which Paul teaches in
Romans; and if we ignore the root, we cannot hope to preserve the fruit.

The letter is typical of ancient Rome. Had you been living in Paul’s time and
written a letter to personal friends, you would have used this style. However,
this Epistle is more nearly a theological treatise than any other the great
apostle wrote. When Paul wrote to Corinth or Philippi or Thessalonica or
Colosse, or to Ephesus, he was addressing himself to some specific need at that
time in that place; and therefore the content of his letter in general was
limited to that particular subject. Hence, his other Epistles contain only
fragments of the Christian message whereas Romans contains what might be termed
more accurately the Christian philosophy, the Christian world view. Beginning
with the human predicament in history, Paul gives the divine diagnosis, GOD’s
cure, its application to life here and now, and the ultimate prognosis. No
portion of the Bible is more perennially relevant.

The first fifteen verses divide nicely into three parts suggested by three words
- the man, the message, and the motive. Who is this man who is writing? "Paul =
a servant (slave, bondslave) of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle." His was
one of the greatest minds, one of the sharpest intellects the human race has
ever produced. Nineteen hundred years after Paul wrote Romans, the Book is still
accepted as one of the masterpieces of logic in human literature.

In this man converged the three great cultures of his time. He was a Hebrew, a
fact which he strongly emphasizes in his letter to the Philippians with the
phrase, "an Hebrew of the Hebrews." In all probability Paul was able to trace
his genealogy back to Abraham on both sides of his family and was rightly proud
of his heritage. He was born and reared in the City of Tarsus, a great
university center, the heart of Greek culture, and was, in addition, a freeborn
Roman citizen. Only about one in five persons was a citizen of Rome in Paul’s
day, and many of those purchased this citizenship at great price.

Now this Hebrew, who was a Roman and in a sense a Greek, delighted in calling
himself a slave of JESUS CHRIST. Think of it, the most influential man who ever
lived since JESUS CHRIST voluntarily submitted to the total mastery of CHRIST.
In his Colossian Epistle Paul declares, "All things were created by Him
(Christ), and for Him (Colossians 1:16)."

You and I were made for CHRIST, and life is empty and futile until we are
CHRIST’s. We remain a caricature of the person we can be until we are slaves of
JESUS CHRIST. We remain subhuman, subnormal. Life is an empty shell, no matter
what is put into it until one belongs to JESUS CHRIST. "Made for CHRIST." Paul
knew that a man could be really free only when he was CHRIST’s slave.

William Penn declared that either we shall be governed by GOD or ruled by
tyrants. This is true individually as well as collectively. If JESUS CHRIST is
not our LORD and MASTER, inevitably we shall be mastered by some tyrant, perhaps
the tyrant of self, which is the worst of all. No man is free except the one who
is the slave of JESUS CHRIST.

The story of Paul’s conversion to CHRIST is recorded in the ninth chapter of
Acts. Incidentally, at the moment CHRIST claimed Paul, he would hardly have been
considered a candidate for conversion. As a matter of fact, his opposition to
the Gospel, his hostility to CHRIST and the Church had reached its explosive
zenith.

Sometimes in your love for a friend or a relative, you are burdened for his
salvation and inclined mistakenly to measure how near or far he is from CHRIST
in terms of his reaction to the truth. Imagine, for example, being concerned for
Saul’s conversion; this would have seemed the least propitious time to speak to
him about trusting CHRIST. "Breathing out threatenings (Acts 9:1)," Doctor Luke
records, he was on his way to Damascus to imprison Christians, and at that
unexpected moment he was apprehended by the Son of GOD!"

Hostility may be an encouraging sign. Recall JESUS’ word to Saul as he lay on
the road blinded? "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:5)."
Inexorably the SPIRIT of GOD was dealing inwardly with this man, wooing him; and
the more he felt the inward working of the HOLY SPIRIT, the more he rebelled
outwardly. This is often the way people react to the working of the SPIRIT of
GOD through our witness and our love. Therefore, despair of another’s salvation
is never justified, we must always reckon on the faithfulness of GOD.

In the 22nd and 26th chapters of Acts is recorded Paul’s testimony when he was
making his own defense. It is found also in Galatians chapter 1 and Philippians
chapter 3. What does Paul say about himself? First he reminds his hearers of his
blind allegiance to his race and religion. A "Hebrew of the Hebrews (Php 3:5),"
he was a Pharisee, the strictest sect of the Jews. They were the separatists. In
fact, the word Pharisee stands for separation. Then, he declares that he was
more zealous for his religion than any of his contemporaries. He makes the
amazing claim, as "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless
(Php 3:6)," and, incredibly, dares to say "If any other man thinketh that he
hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more" (Php 3:4). Think of it! Here
was one who had exceeded all his contemporaries in zeal and enthusiasm and
commitment for his religion, who now says I count all of this as dung, or
garbage, because it was in opposition to JESUS CHRIST.

***Please note that while the word Pharisee does have a connection with
separatism, remember that the Pharisee is also a lost man. Biblical separation
is a most important doctrine of our faith in light of our Christian
distinctives. The Pharisee was separated from GOD because of unforgiven sin,
while the Christian is to be separated from the world and its evil philosophy
(as well as those that embrace it even if they are themselves brothers in
CHRIST)*** BBB

It was Paul’s very religious zeal which made him GOD’s enemy. The supreme
expression in history of man’s rebellion against GOD is religion, whatever you
call that religion - Buddhism, Shintoism, Islam, Hinduism, or Christianity.
Christianity is not the hope of the world-JESUS CHRIST is! Christianity has no
power to save - only CHRIST has the power to save but the Western world has
settled for a Christless Christianity, just another religion powerless to save,
just another ethical system incapable of producing ethical man.

Paul leaves no latitude of interpretation in the matter of his call and purpose
as he declares himself to be "separated unto the gospel (Romans 1:1)." There is
no mistaking his message, "the gospel of God." What is the Gospel of GOD? The
word Gospel means "good news." Have you heard the good news of GOD? Many
Americans are unfamiliar with the good news of GOD. They have been
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Lutherans,
and other denominations; but they know not the good news. Christianity to them
has become a burden. It has become a form of piety which is obnoxious and
unrealistic. Paul was separated unto the good news of GOD!

The word separated is important. It is one of the most abused words in the
Bible. It has led Christians to isolate themselves from the world so that they
have no contact with those whom they are commanded to reach. From the security
of their position, they lob messages over the walls of their isolation to the
world outside; but there has been no contact - and love does not work without
contact. JESUS said, "Ye are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)." Salt works
only on contact. JESUS said, "Ye are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)," and
light is meant to dispel the darkness. Where it is dark, there they need light!
To the person who understands the term correctly, separation means two things:
It means to be singled out by GOD from others and to be assigned to a specific
duty or call or purpose in the same sense that we the electorate, for example,
separate one man to be President of the United States. So Paul (each one of us
for that matter) was called of GOD and separated from others to a specific task,
the Gospel of GOD.

***Biblical separation is not isolationism, for Paul says that it is impossible
to leave the world in order to get away from sinners - but it is sinful
Christians that we are to avoid.

We separate ourselves from the world, but not from lost seekers for truth. When
it is apparent that a person is only looking for a fight - we warn once or twice
- and then we reject as a heretic. But we always give them a chance to change
their heart first - and then we understand that we can not toss pearls before
swine.

His point is good though, at the beginning of the paragraph - that Paul was
separated unto the Gospel of GOD, which means that he was not interested in the
gospel of the world - the social gospel, or the other false gospels.*** BBB

What about this Gospel? For one thing Paul says it was, "promised afore by his
prophets in the holy scriptures (Romans 1:2)." The Gospel was not an innovation
of Paul’s, not a New Testament nor apostolic invention; it was the message of
the prophets, the message of Moses. Indeed we shall see that by this Gospel,
Abraham, the first Hebrew, was justified. The message of the Old Testament is
identical to that of the New. It is rightly understood, there is no cleavage
between Israel’s faith and Christianity; they are two halves of the whole. They
belong together as the Bible combines Old and New Testaments between its covers.
The Gospel, which was promised to Abraham and Moses and the prophets, was
fulfilled in JESUS CHRIST.

Further, Paul declares it was the Gospel "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ
(Romans 1:3)." You can take Mohammed out of Islam and the message of Islam
remains. You can take Buddha out of Buddhism, and his message retains its
integrity; but you remove JESUS CHRIST from the Gospel, and you destroy it. It
is the Gospel concerning His Son, JESUS CHRIST is absolutely central and
indispensable to Christianity. The Gospel is about JESUS CHRIST, GOD’s Son. This
is what makes it good news. Christianity was not meant to be the intolerable
burden of rules and ritual which it had become and by which Luther was enslaved
until he understood Romans, but a Person, JESUS CHRIST, Who came to do for man
what man was incapable of doing for himself.

Who is JESUS CHRIST? The apostle tells us that he "was made of the seed of David
according to the flesh (Romans 1:3)," he was a man; and He was "declared to be
the Son of God (Romans 1:4)," He was GOD!. He was both man and GOD, not half man
and half GOD, not a demigod. He was fully man and fully GOD. He was man’s
perfect representative before GOD, and He was GOD’s perfect representative to
man. He was the one true mediator between GOD and man. This is Incarnation, GOD
in human flesh. Paul suggests two witnesses to His Deity: "Declared to be the
Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead." Amen!

When JESUS stood in the Jordan River after having been baptized by John, the
SPIRIT descended as a dove and a voice from Heaven proclaimed, "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
witnessed to JESUS CHRIST; and the second evidence is the resurrection from the
dead. Four days after they buried JESUS, the tomb was empty. His resurrection
was physical. His was a bodily resurrection, and today, 1900 years later
wherever JESUS CHRIST is, He inhabits that resurrected body in which some day,
soon we trust, He shall return to earth again.

One historian has said, "Physical death is the most absurd fact in history." It
is! It is utterly irrational! Consider the compounded frustration with which
death thwarts history - the lives that are snuffed out without having an
opportunity of accomplishing their ambitions and fulfilling their aspirations.
Think how generation by generation death blasts man’s hopes, collectively and
individually. It is humanity’s Number One enemy. But JESUS CHRIST has destroyed
that enemy by dying Himself and rising from the dead, and He holds out to any
who will receive Him the hope of everlasting life. Not just spiritually, but
physically, for these bodies which you and I now inhabit will some day be
redeemed and raised from the dead as was His body on the Day of Redemption.

You will notice that the apostle speaks of "obedience to the faith (Romans
1:5)," which is another way of describing the Christian’s response to JESUS
CHRIST - obedience. Furthermore, he points out that this is for the whole world,
for all the nations, for Greeks and barbarians, wise and foolish (Romans 1:14).
The Gospel is for everybody everywhere. It is universal! Why foreign missions?
Because there is a need? No! Foreign missions because JESUS CHRIST said "Go ye
into all the world (Mark 16:15)." The need is there, and it is felt and is an
incentive, but the real justification for foreign missions is a mandate. JESUS
CHRIST said go everywhere preaching; and if the Church of JESUS CHRIST is not
going everywhere preaching, she is disobeying her LORD and MASTER.

There is some thing else to be said, which is that one of the evidences that the
Gospel of JESUS CHRIST has broken into the heart of a man is that he is restless
until everybody hears this message, which is exactly what motivated the apostle
Paul to Rome.

Undoubtedly, Paul was interested in Rome because it was the greatest city of the
empire. Undoubtedly, he was interested in Rome because it was the capital. There
was Caesar’s household; there were the leaders of the world. Undoubtedly, he was
interested in Rome because it was influenced as no other city. But he longed to
go to Rome not simply because of its influence nor because it was the capital.
He longed to go to Rome because, as he said in Romans 1:14, "I am debtor both to
the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." I must
do this. I am under obligation.

Christian, there is some thing radically wrong with your faith if it has not
burdened your heart so that you must share it. Paul had to go to Rome in order
that he might have fruit there. He had to go to Rome in order that he might
strengthen the Church that was there. He had to go to Rome in order that he
might benefit from the faith of the Church in Rome. All of these things were
true, but he had to go to Rome because the Gospel had made him every man’s
debtor.

In his introduction Paul intimates how he prayed earnestly that somehow by the
will of GOD he might be able to go to Rome, which intimation leads to two very
practical facts; namely, the two answers to his prayer. First of all, he was
prevented from going to Rome. We are inclined, you see, to think of GOD’s will
in our lives as signifying always the green light, always an open door, always
an easy access. No, often GOD’s will includes a red light, a closed door, a
brick wall. Often GOD’s will prevents us from doing that which we feel is most
important to do. in this too GOD is leading. He sometimes prevents us from doing
that or being that which we feel is important for the cause of CHRIST,the
permissive will of GOD!

But there was a second answer in the affirmative. Paul got to Rome - in chains!
He entered Rome a prisoner; this too was GOD’s answer. Through that prison and
beyond its walls the message of the Gospel blazed to the far reaches of the
empire. In that prison were born epistles which have succored and nourished the
Church for nineteen centuries. From that prison in the very household of Caesar
the message penetrated. The Roman prison became a pulpit from which thundered
the Gospel to that empire and all the empires to follow until CHRIST returns to
claim His eternal crown and throne.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Although quoted
as Scripture, it is not, yet still true, "GOD works in mysterious ways His
wonders to perform." Quit trying to predict GOD’s plans. He cannot be
second-guessed. Be open to His surprises. Relax in the confidence that His ways
are always best. Surrender yourself to Him in the knowledge that He will lead;
that He has led; that He indeed is leading right now unless you refuse to be
led. And whatever happens, receive this as GOD’s will. Maybe it means prison,
chains, confinement, frustration; but if it is GOD’s will, it is GOD’s victory.

The older I grow in the LORD, the less disposition I have to manage the affairs
of CHRIST either in my life personally or in the life of the Church; the more I
desire just to let CHRIST do what He wants to do and take my hands off of the
situation. That is the way a slave operates, you know; he just takes orders and
keeps busy.

~ end of chapter 1 ~


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  CHAPTER 3: 02 - THE POWER OF GOD
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Chapter Two -

The Power of GOD

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17)

Two clear, strong verses in the introduction to his Epistle to the Romans, by
which the apostle Paul declares his theme. The Gospel of CHRIST is " the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth," in it " the righteousness of
God (is) revealed" . . . " the just shall live by faith." Romans is the whole
Bible in embryo. Romans is, as it were, the Bible abridged. Implicit in these
two verses in the message of the letter. The Gospel means good news. The reason
is found in these two verses.

The passage under consideration divides nicely into five parts:

One, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Two, "It is the power of God
unto salvation." Three, "To every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek." Four, "Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
faith." Five, "As it is written, The just shall live by faith."

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Why should it have been necessary
for the apostle to say this? Is it conceivable that one should be ashamed of the
Gospel of JESUS CHRIST? Indeed it is. The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST has been an
embarrassment to many, so embarrassing to some that they will not preach it; so
embarrassing that some will not speak of it. There are pulpits where the Gospel
is unacceptable. Here is a church advertisement in a daily paper announcing a
new religious broadcast. And what is its appeal? It is directed to the
intellectual, to the one who desires a "respectable faith" without a naive
Gospel! The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST is not popular; hence the apostle Paul
significantly emphasizes deep personal pride in the Gospel by his negative
declaration.

Why are men ashamed of the Gospel? Paul says to the Jew the Gospel is a
"stumbling block"; to the Greek it is "foolishness." A stumbling block to the
Jew because he requires a sign. What sign does he require? The Jew thought of
his MESSIAH in terms of an earthly kingdom, the restoration of the Throne of
David, giving the Jew a place of preeminence among the nations. They did not see
their MESSIAH as "despised and rejected of men," as a suffering servant. They
did not see their MESSIAH hanging on a Cross, His body broken, bleeding, a crown
of thorns on His head. This could not be their MESSIAH. But it was; and as we
traverse Paul’s letter to the Romans, we shall discover that the Old Testament
taught that the MESSIAH was to be this.

The Gospel is foolishness to the Greek, and one enamored of intellect. The
Gospel is an offense to pride of intellect, and Paul is writing to Rome, the
mistress of the world. What is his message? He proclaims a despised and rejected
Nazarene, crucified on a Cross as a common criminal. Is this message supposed to
have appeal for the proud Roman? Paul is not ashamed of it! Paul is proud to
declare it; but how many, for no other reason than ego, deprive themselves of
this glorious message?

You will remember the interesting story of Naaman (2 Kings 5), the captain of
the king’s host of Syria. Naaman was a great man, possessing all that any man
could want, enjoying status and position; but says the Scripture with
penetrating realism, "he was a leper," a type of sin in the Bible. He would have
paid any price to be rid of his leprosy.

Now it happened that in one of the wars between Syria and Israel, a little
Jewish girl was captured in Samaria and taken to the house of Naaman. When she
learned of his desire to be cured of leprosy, she said, "Oh if he only knew of
the man of GOD in Samaria!"

The king of Syria, hearing this, ordered Naaman to go to the King of Israel, and
in the course of events Naaman was brought to Elisha, the man of GOD. Elisha
sent a servant who said, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall
come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (2 Kings 5:10).

Naaman responded in proud wrath saying, "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of
Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be
clean? So he turned and went away in a rage" (2 Kings 5:12).

But with irresistible logic the servant said (2 Kings 5:13), "My father, if the
prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?"
Yielding to such clear logic the wise captain turned and washed in the water
seven times and came up clean.

There are men and women who for no other reason than sheer unmitigated pride are
depriving themselves of the cleansing, forgiving, regenerating power of GOD in
the Gospel. Offer them profound thoughts, some thing intellectual which appeals
to their pride of understanding, this they will take seriously. Give them some
difficult thing to do that they may boast in accomplishment, it is acceptable;
but to simply trust what JESUS CHRIST did on the Cross of Calvary, how many turn
their backs on that incredible offer?

Thank GOD that the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest intellects who ever lived,
could say, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." Why - "For it is the
power of God unto salvation" The power of GOD. One historian, looking back upon
the millenniums of human frailty, upon the perennial failure of humanity,
generation by generation, century by century, declared, "nothing that is
possible can save us." With what wisdom he spoke. The possible cannot save us -
it requires the impossible. That is the reason why Paul was proud of the Gospel
of JESUS CHRIST because it is the power of GOD unto salvation. This is not man’s
doing, not human effort, not human achievement, individually or collectively. It
is not ethics, not morality, not charity, not a sociological reform movement; it
is the power of GOD. That is the Gospel, and nothing less works.

Bruce Catton, editor of American Heritage and a leading authority on the Civil
War, speaking on the theme "What 1861 Has to Say to 1961," gave three-quarters
of his remarks to a contrast of the weaponry and the science of war between 1861
and 1961. The last quarter of his talk was addressed to what he declared to be
history’s greatest problem; namely, human nature, the most explosive fact in
history. He closed by pointing out that the problem of 1961 is identical to that
of 1861, human nature. The problem in 1961 A.D. is identical to that of 1961
B.C.; it is man himself.

Is it possible that there are still those who believe human nature is capable of
changing itself? Have we learned nothing from a Mussolini or a Hitler or a
Stalin or a Khrushchev or a Mao Tse Tung? Not that we would make scapegoats of
these men, but in them we see the evil of human nature in the ultimate. In them
we see the logical and inevitable product of failure to take GOD seriously. It
is only because of our pride that we will not admit the bankruptcy of humanity.

"We have harnessed the atom," declared General Carlos Romulo of the Philippines,
"but we will never make war obsolete until we find a force to bridle the
passions of men." Where is there a force to bridle the passions of men? Paul’s
answer is the Gospel, for it is the power of GOD unto salvation. "Military
alliances, balances of power, League of Nations, all in turn have failed,"
declared General of the Army, the late Douglas MacArthur, at the Japanese
surrender ceremony, "leaving the only pathway to be by way of the crucible of
war." Now the utter destructiveness of war blots out this alternative. We have
had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable
system, Armageddon will be at our door.

The problem is basically theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence, an
improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless
advance in science and literature and art and all material and cultural
developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are
to save the flesh. Two thousand years ago JESUS said, It is "Not that which
goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth,
this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11). Everything that is wrong with history
springs from the heart of man. It is the touch of human nature that makes the
atom a threat. There is nothing wrong with nuclear fission apart from the way
man uses it. The touch of man upon history infects history.

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation" - for whom? EVERYONE! Jew or Greek. To the apostle that meant
everybody, Jew and non-Jew. The apostle Paul, an "Hebrew of the Hebrews" who
took his religion more seriously than any of his contemporaries, states
emphatically that the Gospel is salvation for the Jew. There are places in our
American society today where such a remark will be received as religious
intolerance. If this be so, JESUS, a Jew, was intolerant as was Paul, a Jew, one
of the proudest Jews who ever lived. Men say, "Well, they have their religion."
To be sure they do, but it is not a saving religion. There is only one way a Jew
can be saved, and that is by the Gospel; and as a matter of fact, we shall see
subsequently in our study that the first Hebrew, the progenitor of Israel, is
the supreme example of the salvation by faith, the crowning argument for the
efficacy of the Gospel.

"It is the power of GOD unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek"; it is universal truth; it is for everybody. This
is the justification for foreign missions, JESUS said "Go," and the Christian
Church is not at liberty to do less. The Church that is not going to the whole
world with the Gospel is failing, in disobeying her LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS
CHRIST. The Christian who is indifferent to missions is some thing less than
Christian for JESUS CHRIST said "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth." The Gospel works for the one who
believes it. Belief is not a matter of the intellect; it is a matter of the
will. It is said that the encyclopedias published in Russia today teach that
JESUS CHRIST never existed. What is more irrational? The Encyclopedia Britannica
gives twenty thousand words to the life of JESUS, but the Russian encyclopedias
teach that JESUS was nonexistent! Stated in Association Press release datelined
London: "Russians say Christmas is a capitalistic plot. Radio Moscow declared
today that JESUS CHRIST never existed, that Christmas is a capitalistic plot to
keep the working people in chains. The image of the supposed founder of
Christianity is purely legendary and mythical. Science long ago established that
JESUS CHRIST never existed."

There you see unbelief. It is not a question of the intellect at all; there is
nothing intellectual about this. This is sheer stupidity. No, really it is not
stupidity; it is diabolical; it is from the pit of hell. Making the truth a lie,
that is unbelief. There is not a man anywhere at any time in history who
honestly challenged JESUS intellectually who did not receive reasonable
satisfaction from Him. No fact of history is more intellectually satisfying than
He who is Truth Incarnate. It is not that men cannot believe; it is that they
will not. They simply reject the evidence which is overwhelmingly for JESUS
CHRIST.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto
salvation to everyone that believeth." Why is it the power of GOD unto
salvation? "For therein (in the Gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith." The Gospel exposes the righteousness of GOD. The Gospel
unveils the righteousness of GOD. The Gospel releases the righteousness of GOD.
Later in the Epistle we shall discover the dominant, inflexible line Paul draws
between the righteousness of GOD and the righteousness of man. No one is more
qualified to draw this basic distinction than he, for no one had succeeded so
well in human righteousness.

Recall his testimony in Php 3:4. He dared to say, "If any other man thinketh
that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more." But Paul discovered
that it was his religious zeal, his very drive for human righteousness that made
him so hostile to CHRIST, that made him the number one enemy of the Church, that
made him oppose GOD. And Paul will remind Israel that it is their attempt to
achieve their own righteousness which prevents them from coming to CHRIST and
receiving the righteousness of GOD which is by faith.

Someone has said that the devil’s best argument against the Gospel is a good
man. There are citizens in American cities who never darken the door of a
church; and if you ask them why, they will say, "I am as good as anybody who
goes to church," and as a matter of fact outwardly they are. It is their
goodness which keeps them from JESUS CHRIST and the Gospel.

It is not the men on skid-row, or on all of the skid-rows in America combined;
it is not those in the second precinct in Washington, D.C., or of all of the
substandard precincts of our cities; it is not the men in the prisons of our
country who will finally be responsible for the demise of our civilization. If
our nation dies, it will be due to the respectable people in our country who on
the basis of their self-righteousness will not come to JESUS CHRIST and be
saved. The attitude is the real enemy of the Gospel, not skid-rows and prisons
and tenements but good people who refuse CHRIST. It was they who put Him on the
Cross 1900 years ago, and they have been crucifying Him ever since.

Obviously, if your righteousness is the result of what you have been able to
achieve; whatever else you say about it, it is self-righteousness. And it is the
enemy of the righteousness of GOD. The righteousness of God is as far removed
from human righteousness as Heaven is from hell. The difference is measured by
infinity, and it is presumption consummate for any man to assume that he can
stand before Almighty GOD on the day of judgment and expect his human goodness
to qualify him for eternity. GOD will say, "Why did you reject my Son? Why did
you not believe the Gospel which I provided for your eternal salvation?"

No man is good enough; and we shall hear Paul insisting in no uncertain terms,
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)... There is
none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10)." Of course this is not a popular
message, but it is the truth of GOD, and a man rejects it to his eternal peril.

Paul testifies in Php 3:8-9 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss (He
refers to the total of all his religious achievements) for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." This
is a remarkable thing. You can have this righteousness in a moment; you can have
it forever by believing in JESUS CHRIST, consenting to CHRIST, acquiescing to
CHRIST, trusting CHRIST, and what He did for you on the Cross of Calvary.

How beautifully He put it in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). It is
as if JESUS said all you need do is desire, you shall have. Indeed, we shall see
in Romans 2 that this is precisely the prerequisite - the man who desires
eternal life will have it. Want it, and you may have it. Have it forever! That
is the glory of the Gospel.

Finally, the apostle Paul quotes from the Old Testament (Habakkuk 2:4), "As it
is written the just shall live by faith." The Gospel was not Paul’s innovation.
The Gospel was not invented by the apostles. The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST was not
introduced by the New Testament. Paul opened his Epistle by declaring, I am
"separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets
in the holy scriptures (Romans 1:1-2)." Moses preached the Gospel. Abraham who
lived before Moses is Paul’s strongest evidence for his message. The Psalmist
wrote about the man whose sin in not imputed to him, a fact which Paul argues in
Romans 4.

The Gospel was the theme of the Old Testament; in fact, it is found, in type,
away back in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had covered their shame with fig
leaves, which did not satisfy; they ran and hid from GOD. The record declares
that GOD covered them with coats of skin - blood sacrifice. Nothing but the
shedding of blood has ever been satisfactory to cover sin. Writes the author of
Hebrews, "without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22)." The
covering of our first parents with coats of skin was prophetic of the sacrifice
of the Son of GOD upon the Cross of Calvary; and when one accepts JESUS CHRIST
as his SAVIOUR and LORD, he is clothed in the garment of His righteousness,
robed in His perfection. That is the profound efficacy of the Gospel.

Quoting from the Old Testament Paul writes, "The just shall live by faith
(Romans 1:17)." Who are the just? They are those who, having trusted in the Son,
are reckoned as perfect by the FATHER. This theme will be covered much more
adequately in Romans chapter 5; but suffice to say here, when a man believes in
the LORD JESUS CHRIST, GOD the FATHER sees him as if he had never sinned. He has
been totally absolved, hence justified. The FATHER imputes to that man the
righteousness of the Son. The FATHER credits that one with the perfection of His
Son and GOD sees him now covered by CHRIST’s righteousness. There is no longer
fear of judgment, no longer any uncertainty as to one’s eternal welfare, for it
is not the questionable validity of his own merit upon which he depends but upon
the worthiness of CHRIST’s Person and His Work.

"The just shall live by faith." "Live by faith." "Live." It requires great
patience to wait for Romans 6, 7 and 8, where Paul discusses the sheer
workableness of the Gospel - how to live daily, hourly, moment-by-moment by
faith. Most Christians fail not because they do not try. Indeed, effort may be
the cause of failure as with Paul, as with Israel, (Romans 10:1-4) but because
they do not appropriate the resources given in the Gospel for daily, hourly,
moment-by-moment use.

Southern California papers carried the story during the last war of a certain
man from the southern mountains who migrated out to the West Coast and secured
employment with an aircraft industry. He wanted to do his part for the war
effort; and having a large family, he did not qualify for the military. A number
of weeks went by, during which his paycheck failed to show up in the office as
being cancelled, and subsequent investigation revealed that he had all of his
paychecks neatly filed away. Having never seen a check before in his life and
being unfamiliar with its use, he assumed that these papers were an expression
of appreciation for his part in the war effort; meaning he was working at
another job to support his family.

Humorous to be sure, yet tragic when you realize it is not unlike many
Christians. GOD has given a blank check, so to speak, signed in the blood of
JESUS CHRIST, His Son, payable to whomsoever will, whenever he needs it, in
whatever amount is needed. Unfamiliar with these inexhaustible resources GOD had
made available or indifferent because of pride, we deprive ourselves of precious
benefits, meanwhile working overtime in a futile effort to become what only the
Gospel can make us by faith alone. "The just shall live by faith." Is it any
wonder Paul was proud of this message?

~ end of chapter 2 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 4: 03 - THE WRATH OF GOD
========================================================================

Chapter Three -

The Wrath of GOD (Romans 1:18-32)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).

"Speak to me of the love of GOD - not His wrath," said one man. "I can
understand a GOD of love, but a GOD of wrath is meaningless." He did not
understand a GOD of love because love is meaningless without wrath. Integrity
implies order which, if broken, brings destructive consequences. The father who
does not discipline a child does not love that child in the right way; he
indulges him, and that indulgence can destroy the child.

The term "wrath of GOD" in the Bible does not mean that GOD is an arbitrary,
capricious, small, jealous being who at a whim has set up petty rules to
regiment human nature and who loses his temper when his rules are broken and
then tries to get even with the transgressor. The term "wrath of GOD" implies an
orderly GOD who has created an orderly world. We know when the tide comes in and
goes out, the precise moment of the sitting and the setting of the sun. We live
in a predictable universe. We know that if we step off a high building, we shall
fall; but the very force which makes us fall holds us to the earth and keeps us
from being flung into space as the earth turns on its axis. It is an orderly
world.

Dr. Werner Von Braun, speaking at Wheaton College, was asked this question, "Is
it consistent with Christian faith to probe into space - is this not contrary to
our religion?" Dr. Von Braun did not believe that it was, rather that GOD had
given man a mind and curiosity and that He intended that man explore creation in
order to learn about it and obey it. He said, "If GOD does not want man to get
to the moon, all He need do is confuse man just a little bit." The implication
was clear. Because we live in an orderly universe, as science discovers the laws
by which it operates and obeys those laws, we can expect to get to the moon. If
we disobey them, the consequences are obvious.

We live in an orderly physical universe, which is a blessing to man. It assures
him a measure of peace and harmony and security. It is a dependable world which
makes progress possible. The scientific method is dependent on this order. When
man fails to cooperate with GOD’s order, he suffers.

- "Break the law of architecture, the building collapses. - Break the law of
agriculture, the crop fails. - Break the laws of health, the body suffers."

This is the operation of the wrath of GOD in the universe. Not only is the
universe orderly in the physical sense, it has moral and spiritual as well.

J.A. Frost, the great historian, said, "One lesson, and one lesson only, history
may be said to repeat with distinctness that the world is built somehow on moral
foundations; that in the long run it is well with the good, and in the long run
it is ill with the wicked." "The wrath of GOD is the inevitable punishment of
sin. It is built into the very structure of the universe" (James M. Stifler on
Romans).

In Romans 1:18-32 Paul sets forth the revelation of GOD’s wrath against the sin
of man. This is the Divine explanation for man’s dilemma in history. Here is
GOD’s diagnosis of the very problem we face in our modern, mid-twentieth century
world.

Man’s unrighteousness is expressed in two aspects: one is suppression of the
truth; the other is rejection of GOD. Notice, for example, in verse 18, " the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." The meaning of the phrase "hold
the truth in unrighteousness" means to "hold down, or suppress the truth", and
in verses 21 and 28, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not
as God, neither were thankful."

Much could be said on that little phrase "neither were thankful." Thanklessness
is godlessness. According to a report recently made, the average per capita
giving to overseas work in 1960 was $2.35. Think of it! In our prosperous
America - the giving per capita for a member is less than a penny a day to
missions. The offering plates are passed and men drop in a quarter or a half
dollar or a dollar bill in much the same spirit as they used to flip dimes on
the stage for a performer. Utterly indifferent to the mercy of GOD on our
nation, thankless. Why, men waste $2.35 nearly every week of their lives. GOD
pity us. "when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were
thankful (Romans 1:21)." ". . . they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge . . . (Romans 1:28)"

In Romans 1:18-20, Paul makes it clear that GOD has made Himself known from the
beginning of creation; so that wherever men reject GOD and serve idols, they do
so in spite of GOD’s revelation of Himself, in spite of the fact that GOD has
made Himself known. Paul insists that wherever men are idolatrous they are
without excuse. Occasionally someone will ask about an aboriginal people deep in
the interior in a primitive area of a continent. They have never had any
opportunity to hear the truth; they have never had any light.

The Bible says "From the creation (Romans 1:20)," GOD made Himself known so that
they are without excuse. The Psalmist writes:

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is
no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalms 19:1-3).

Wherever men worship idols, they do so in spite of GOD’s revelation of Himself
in nature, and in conscience. "Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them" (Romans 1:19). GOD Himself
has done it. Therefore, the idea of religious evolution is incorrect. Religion
has not evolved from primitive animism (The belief that all natural objects
possess souls - American College Dictionary) and polytheism (Belief in many
gods) to a refined monotheism (Belief in one true GOD). The opposite is true;
humanity has degenerated from belief in the true GOD to the primitive religions.
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen," says the apostle Paul. Therefore man, all men, are without excuse. They
have suppressed the truth and they have rejected GOD. That is the essence of
sin.

Basic to Paul’s treatment is the distinction between the root of sin and its
fruit. We are inclined to think of sins in terms of the fruit, in terms of
conduct, in terms of the deed, rather than the attitude which produces the deed,
the root which produces the fruit. Sin is not robbing a bank nor committing
adultery, nor lying nor stealing; these are the evil results of sin. These are
the sins born of sin.Sin is to reject GOD and suppress the truth. Sin’s way is
rebellion against GOD and against GOD’s universe. Sin’s way is the way of
insubordination. Sin in the original, essential sense isman’s declaration of
independence from GOD.

Some father is reading this who would not tolerate for a moment insubordination
in his son. He would not tolerate for a moment anarchy in his home, yet he is
insubordinate to his heavenly FATHER and a spiritual anarchist because he will
not be ruled by GOD. Perhaps he is not militant in this anarchy and
insubordination; he may be quite respectable in it; his rebellion is expressed
by simple indifference. Though he believes in GOD, GOD really is not very
important, practically speaking, in his life. This is sin’s root.

Now what are the consequences of this? Or, in other words, what is the nature of
GOD’s wrath which is revealed against this? Here, too, there are two aspects
though they may compose a distinction with a real difference - consequences and
judgment. What are the consequences of disobedience or rebellion; what is the
nature of the wrath of GOD as it opposes unrighteousness? First, there is
intellectual darkness. Obviously, if a man rejects light, he is condemned to
darkness by choice. Paul says in Romans 1:21-22, "Because that, when they knew
God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Professing themselves
to be wise, they became fools." "Intellectual revolt against what a man knows to
be right is always attended by the darkening of the whole understanding. Refusal
to accept the truth of GOD destroys the power to discriminate between truth and
error."

Perhaps most of us have had the experience in our childhood or early youth of
fabricating a story which we have told so often to so many people that we do not
remember whether it really happened, whether it began as the truth or a lie. We
have come to believe it ourselves, and yet deep down inside we are quite sure it
never happened.

Here is a news release datelined London, reporting on Radio Moscow’s declaration
that:

Jesus Christ never existed and Christmas is a capitalist plot to keep the
working people in chains. "The image of the supposed founder of Christianity"
the Home Service Russian language broadcast asserted, "is purely legendary and
mythical. Science long ago established that Jesus Christ never existed."

Now the tragic fact is that the Russians really believe that. They are
absolutely sincere. Their minds are blinded because they have suppressed the
truth and they believe a lie. This was true of Hitler. It was true of Mussolini.
Hitler’s propagandistic principle was basic - simply tell a lie often enough and
people will believe it.

The second consequence is idolatry,

"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own
hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth
of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,
who is blessed for ever. Amen" (Romans 1:23-25).

My schooling and youth came between two World Wars, and during that period of
time there were engraved upon the facade of many libraries, philosophy and
science building on many campuses of the world these words, "Man is the measure
of things." Man was his own god. There is nothing man cannot do, not a problem
in history which given time man cannot solve. That was the great age of
humanism. Then came World War II, nuclear fission, Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and
the shallow, optimistic confidence in human nature was blasted, leaving a
terrible vacuum. Having rejected GOD - JESUS CHRIST - and believing in the god,
man, what was there to believe in now?

In the Saturday Review there was a story of Otto Molden, who more than any other
single individual has dedicated himself to the formation of a United States of
Europe. He established in a little Tyrolean village a seminar each summer to
which more than thirteen thousand people have come since 1945 to discuss the
rejuvenation of the intellectual life of Europe. Otto Molden told of a young
German who as a boy had learned the Horst Wessel Song and subsequently was
taught that the root of all evil is militarism. Now he is waiting to be drafted
into the army! "Result?" said Molden; "He is utterly cynical and he believes in
nothing."

A young chemistry professor, teaching at the University of Tokyo, said, "I have
been away from Japan only two years, yet upon my return I find the students
utterly different from those I knew when I left. They believe in nothing. When I
am dogmatic about chemistry, they rebel and will not accept it. They believe in
nothing. The world of Asia and Africa and Europe, not to mention America, is
filled with a generation - millions of youth - who believe in nothing."

Someone recently told me about a young woman, a Colombian, who is teaching on a
certain university campus on the East Coast where she bears a living witness for
JESUS CHRIST. She was called in by the Dean of Women who said, "Now look, my
dear, you know you don’t have any right to propagate your faith on this campus."
The Dean continued to talk to this young woman for twenty minutes about the law
concerning religion in public schools; and when she was through, this very wise
Christian said, "But you have been witnessing to me about your faith for twenty
minutes." It is all right for a schoolteacher or a professor to ridicule
Christianity, but let nothing be said in its favor; this is against the law!
This is the wrath of GOD working out in history because we would not take GOD
seriously.

Jeremiah in his prophecy, Jeremiah 2:5, reminds us that man is incurably
religious; he must have some kind of GOD, and he becomes like the god he
worships. If man will not follow the true GOD, he must find a substitute; he
must have an idol, and he grows into the image of the god or the idol he serves.
Thus Paul says, Romans 1:23, "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God
into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts,
and creeping things." If these are the gods of people, and they are, then there
is no mystery to Paul’s description of the degeneration of human personality in
the rest of the chapter. Man becomes like his god; this is inescapable and
inevitable.

- Is your god money? You become hard and metallic and crass. You clank through
life if money is your god! - Is power your god? You become like a beast -
thoughtless, ruthless. - Is popularity your god? You become giddy and shallow
and empty.

Every man must have some kind of a god. If he will not have the true god, he
will have a substitute; and he becomes like his god.

Strictly speaking, even the atheist has a god. He believes in No-god! He has
faith in No-god with a capital "N." There is the god of Nihilism. The god of the
hollow soul, the god of the empty life, the god of purposeless and goallessness
and aimlessness and wretchedness in life.

You believe in nothing, you become nothing!

The second aspect of the wrath of GOD is judgment, and judgment is summed up in
four words, "God gave them up." Ponder these words well. This is not a careless
casting aside of a loved one but reluctant capitulation to man’s freedom which
GOD Himself guaranteed in creation. He is like a father sadly, unwillingly
yielding to a son who insists on his own way. Having done all that he could to
appeal to the son, the father knows he must finally let the son have his freedom
with its consequences. Love works this way too. Many fathers have had to let
sons go because they loved them. And many sons have to go to the end of the line
like the prodigal before they understand this love of the father and return.

To the prophets of the Old Testament the judgment of GOD was continually active
in history, but it was cumulative and came to its apex, to its consummation on
what they called "the Day of the Lord."

What of our day with all our knowledge and sophistication? Juvenile delinquency,
crime, mental illness, alcoholism, divorce, drug addiction, sex perversion - all
are increasing at a rate exceeding the population growth. GOD gave His people
up! He let them have their way! This is what you want to do - do it!

- He gave them up to lust; - He gave them up to impurity of heart; - He gave
them up to vile passions. - He gave them up to inordinate affection, perversion,
homosexuality; - He gave them up to reprobate minds.

Beginning at the 28th verse, Paul reviews the long, loathsome log of filth,
culminating in the ultimate statement of the wrath and judgment of GOD upon
human personality: "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that
do them" (Romans 1:32).

Not only do people do these things, but they are actually entertained by
watching others do them. It would be unfit to print some of the things that I
saw as a bellhop in a commercial hotel when I was in my teens. It is not
uncommon in certain areas of any modern city in America to be confronted by a
sly, serpent-like, side-glancing little guy, who holds out a picture
unbelievably indecent and invites you to a little private show. And there many
respectable American citizens who go to the little private show, especially when
they are away from home. These persons are not all on skid-row either; some come
from the nice big office buildings, from behind mahogany desks. Entertained by
filth! This is the wrath of GOD. Men’s minds may become so reprobate that they
actually take pleasure in viewing perversion in others.

Now, as a matter of fact, Rome was exactly as Paul describes it in this passage.
The writers of Rome in that era, in fact, indict their own times far worse than
Paul has here in his letter - of the first fifteen emperors of Rome, fourteen
were homosexuals. It was a day of unprecedented, indescribable brutality, and
yet it was the day of a great civilization. Some of you have ridden over the
very cobblestones where the Apostle Paul set his feet on the Appian Way; you
have looked at the Forum, the ruins of which still stand, the Coliseum, the
aqueducts, and you have marveled at this civilization of two thousand years ago.

But do you remember, when you marvel at this civilization, that the floors of
the amphitheaters ran red with the blood of Christian martyrs? Do you remember
that a man could be famous if he invented a more brutal way to dispose of human
life! If a man did not like what his slave did, he could destroy him on the
spot. If parents did not like a child, if they did not wish to keep a new-born
infant, they could throw it out! Literally! One historian says that not a day
went by in those times in Rome when there were not thirty or forty babies thrown
out in the streets unwanted!

Significantly, one thing which characterized this amazing civilization was
religious tolerance! The Romans tolerated any god for the sake of peace in the
empire. Beware when religious tolerance becomes a justification for religious
indifference and rejection of GOD.

Sin begets sin; this is the wrath of GOD. The more a man sins, the easier it is
to sin until he does not even know that he is sinning any more. "I want my own
way." "I do as I please." You may! You may jump off the Empire State Building
too if you please. There is the story of the man who did; and as he passed the
twentieth floor on his way down, he was heard to remark, "Well nothing’s
happened yet!"

There are men today who are on their way to skid-row as surely as if they were
already there - still living in nice homes. They are on their way; it is just a
question of time. You stand beside a man on skid-row and he stinks; he swarms
with lice, and he is not even conscious of it. He does not smell himself. You
can get used to anything. Your soul can get so used to smut, it never bothers
you just as your body can get used to dirt. That is the wrath of GOD, inexorably
operative.

GOD does all in His power to love and lead men, but He will not coerce because
love is not coercive. If man insists on his own way ("All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on
him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6), GOD will finally capitulate to that
man’s insubordination and anarchy. Reluctantly, but He will. GOD’s wrath may be
summed up simply in this way - man left to himself, no restraints, no
inhibitions. Indulge his lust over and over again, more and more, without
restraint, endlessly. That is hell! Just man left to himself to satisfy his
appetites, increasing, monotonous, unending boredom and exhaustion. That is the
wrath of GOD.

If you insist on having your way, as much as GOD loves you, He finally must give
in to your choices.

We were studying Romans 1 some years ago in a doctor’s home in Hollywood with a
number of other doctors and their wives present. Among them was a fine young
M.D. who had a great reputation in Southern California, a brilliant man and a
graduate of John Hopkins Medical College. When we finished Romans 1 that night
and opened the discussion for questions, this doctor spoke up saying, "I don’t
ever remember reading the Bible, but tonight I have seen myself in Romans 1; now
what do I do about it?"

I said, "That’s the wonderful thing about the Gospel. The blood of JESUS CHRIST,
GOD’s Son, cleanses from all sin." Though a man has decided he wants his own way
and follows his own course, at any moment if he will ask, GOD will lovingly
intervene and cleanse him and forgive him and restore him.This is the Gospel,
and it is for everybody!

~ end of chapter 3 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 5: 04 - BUT WE ARE DIFFERENT
========================================================================

Chapter Four -

But We Are Different (Romans 2:1-16)

Paul has painted a pretty black picture about human nature in the last part of
Romans 1, and now he anticipates the Jewish reaction. He is sure of two things:
first, that the Jew will agree with what has been written about the pagan Roman,
Greek or Gentile; secondly, that by a neat little twist of logic the Jew will
exclude himself from the picture. He will say, "This is certainly true of the
Romans, but we are different!"

The Jews, Paul concluded, had suffered physically and they would readily endorse
Paul’s indictment of the Gentile; but they would also, with rather common human
pride, divorce themselves from the withering blast and reason, "That’s true of
them, not of us!" Forget it not that the writer of Romans is poignantly aware of
this attitude, for he himself embraced it with deep conviction and zeal. The
Apostle Paul could not easily erase from memory those days as Saul of Tarsus
when with righteous rage boiling he did all he could to extirpate the Christian
Church. With deep embarrassment he remembered his arrogant condescension toward
the most cultured non-Jew; he could not forget the superiority he had felt of
himself and his people. He does not indicate immediately that he is addressing
the Jew; that comes a bit later in the passage, but there is no mistaking whom
he has in mind.

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges: for
wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judges doest
the same thing" (Romans 2:1). Underneath human nature is all alike; the same
heart in the Jew as in the Gentile; the same affinity for sin and
unrighteousness and godlessness. How easily they forgot or overlooked the
chronic defections of Israel from her peculiar role as the chosen of GOD: the
Golden Calf of Aaron hours after GOD had thundered on Sinai; the whining and
grumbling in the wilderness; the recurring worship of Baal; the stoning of the
prophets. They had a tradition, in fact, that Abraham sat beside the gate of
hell to keep all Jews out, however evil their deeds. They thought of themselves
as invulnerable to the judgments of GOD. Were they not sons of Abraham? Had not
the promises been given to Abraham? Were they not the disciples of Moses? Had
not the law been given to Moses?

Now Paul must expose this devilish perverseness in the human heart which causes
a man to justify himself by condemning another, this despicable practice of
exalting one’s self by down-grading another. It is a common propensity of the
human heart to condemn in others that which we most despise in ourselves.
Someone has pointed out that one cannot point a finger of criticism at another
without pointing three fingers at himself. The critic stands condemned because
he sees in others what he is unable to handle in himself.

This tendency is dramatically and vividly revealed in the so-called
perfectionist, who, because he cannot be what he knows he ought to be in
himself, demands perfection in those about him, making life for them utterly
intolerable.

So Paul admonishes, "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judges them which do
such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?"
(Romans 2:3). Then Paul reinforces his argument with the principles by which GOD
judges a man, four principles of Divine judgment, in verses Romans 2:2, Romans
2:6, Romans 2:11 and Romans 2:16.

The first, "But we are sure thatthe judgment of God is according to truthagainst
them which commit such things" (Romans 2:2), in contrast, of course, to the
error of the Jews’ judgment against the pagan. When man judges man, he is at
best subjective in his judgment. Furthermore, he does not have all the facts.
GOD’s judgment is according to the truth, not in an abstract sense but according
to the actual condition of the man being judged. No man can hide from GOD; no
man can fool GOD; no man can deceive GOD. He may deceive a neighbor by
condemning in someone else a sin for which he is guilty; he may deceive a friend
that way; he may thus deceive one in his own family; may even deceive himself,
but he cannot deceive GOD! He knows all about us! Our lives are an open book to
him. Indeed He knows the secret thoughts of the heart, and Paul reminds us in
Romans 2:16 that it is upon the secrets of man’s heart that GOD’s judgment is
based. He judges on the basis of the secrets of one’s life, things which no one
else knows, which may have been covered so successfully that they have been
forgotten. GOD is utterly objective and unprejudiced in His judgments.

At this point in his argument the Apostle Paul issues a sober warning - beware
of presuming on the mercy, the patience, and forbearance of GOD. Deferred
judgment is ignored to one’s mounting peril. The fact that the wrath of GOD has
not fallen is not to be equated with Divine indulgence or absolutions.

Indeed, the very fact that GOD is patient, the very fact that GOD is good, the
very fact that GOD forbears is meant to stir men to repentance. "Or despisest
thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4) Do you not
see America, that the very benefits that GOD has given ought to lead us to
repent instead of hardening our hearts and taking for granted every gift, every
act of mercy as though it is ours by right of special privilege?

America, America, beware! GOD is patient. GOD is long-suffering. GOD wants men
to come to repentance. But by continuing to harden your heart against GOD’s very
patience and goodness, you simply store up for yourselves treasures of wrath!
What a picture!

The Hebrew prophets thought of GOD’s wrath as being operative continually in
history, but it was also cumulative, increasing to that moment when the
consummate wrath of GOD would overflow on the Day of the LORD. This day is
coming for every man, for every woman. "The judgment of God is according to
truth."

Secondly, GOD will "render to every man according to his deeds." Just that
explicitly does Paul state this principle in Romans 2:6. Does this, therefore,
mean that Paul is contradicting his own theme, "The just shall live by faith
(Romans 1:17)." Notice that he points out beginning at Romans 2:7, that he is
talking about the one who longs for immortality. In other words, the deeds are
the expression of the desire which GOD sees and honors.

This is illustrated in two familiar incidents in the New Testament: Cornelius,
for example, whose story is recorded in Acts, chapter 10. "There was a certain
man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian
band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much
alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about
the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him,
Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial
before God" (Acts 10:1-4).

A parenthetical note is in order here. Not uncommonly one will hear a
well-meaning Christian say that the only prayer of the unsaved man which GOD
hears is this, "God be merciful to me a sinner." This is simply not true. Here
is an "unsaved man" Cornelius. Think of the means GOD used to get Peter to go to
him! It required a special vision, repeated thrice, after which GOD had to
rebuke him. And when Pheter tried later to explain to the Jews this apparent
deviation to a Gentile, he said rather apologetically, "What was I, that I could
withstand God? (Acts 11:17)" Of this "unsaved" man Dr. Luke records, "Thy
prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."

On another occasion the Jews came to JESUS on behalf of a certain Roman
centurion (Luke 7) and said, "he was worthy for whom he should do this. For he
loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue" (Luke 7:4-5). JESUS
responded to the request; but when He was near the home of the centurion, the
Roman officer bade Him to come no farther, for said he, "Lord, trouble not
thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof" (Luke
7:6).

Here was an "unsaved," good man, desiring immortality, whose good works were no
substitute for faith in JESUS; nor did he assume his goodness efficacious for
salvation. He was not basing his hope for eternal life upon his good deeds. Not
at all. Here was a man whose reputation for goodness was generally accepted, and
yet who himself felt utterly unworthy of JESUS. Such a one, says Paul, shall be
given eternal life.

The same principle is found in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). If you
want it, you shall have it. GOD will give it to you. The authentically good man
does not present his record to GOD saying, "Look what a good man I am - I
deserve Heaven!" The authentically good man whose virtue commends itself to GOD
is always aware of his unworthiness, yet he seeks immortality and eternal life.
GOD gives to the man who desires it eternal life. It is a gift. It cannot be
purchased. It cannot be earned. But the sincerity of the man who "seeks for
glory and honor and immortality" will be evident by "patient continuance in well
doing."

Thirdly, Paul tells us, Romans 2:11, "There is no respect of persons with God."
GOD is impartial in His judgments. The Jews had quite a case: sons of Abraham,
Moses, the law, the prophets, the Ark of the Covenant, the priesthood, the
Tabernacle, the Temple. The Gentiles had none of these things, but it is as
though Paul says, "So what?"

The modern counterpart of this boast is expressed in other ways; for example, "I
am a church member!" "My mother sang in the choir and taught a Sunday school
class." "My father was a minister as was his father and his father’s father." "I
am on the Session of the Church." "I was raised in a Christian home." How easily
we equate salvation with pedigree or environment or inheritance. "I am an
American; of course I am a Christian!" It does not necessarily follow.

The apostle penetrates this illusion, explodes its complacency as he writes. You
say you have the law in contrast to the Gentiles, but the very fact that
Gentiles keep this law of which you boast demonstrates the fact that they have
the law in their own hearts. Long before GOD gave the Decalogue to Moses, he
engraved that same law upon the hearts of Adam and Eve.

Thomas Guthrie describes Dr. Livingstone’s experience among the rawest tribes of
Africa, "on whose Cimmerian darkness no straggling ray of revealed truth had
ever fallen, natives ready to admit that they were sinners. Indeed, they hold
almost everything to be sin which, as such, is forbidden in the Word of GOD.

"Nor is it possible," continues Guthrie, "to read his clear statements on that
subject without arriving at this very interesting and important conclusion -
that the ten commandments received from GOD’s own hand by Moses on Mount Sinai
are but the copy of a much older law, that law which the finger of the MAKER
wrote on Adam’s heart and which, though sadly defaced by the fall, may still,
like the inscription on a time-eaten, moss-grown stone, be traced on ours."

Years ago in Kansas City an eminent contemporary philosopher was addressing a
large crowd in the lovely Civic music Hall. He had been laboring the point that
there are no absolute moral standards, morality being a product of social mores.
When he had finished his lecture, he opened the meeting for questions; and the
first to respond was a senior high boy. "Sir," he said, "Is it ever right to
tell a lie?"

The inadequate answer of the philosopher was interesting, but it was not to the
satisfaction of the student, nor, for that matter, to anyone else in the
auditorium. Why? Because when GOD created man in the Garden of Eden, he engraved
on his heart that which later he wrote with his finger on the stone He gave to
Moses.

Paul is saying, listen my people, all that you have is meaningless if you do not
obey the Commandments because the Gentile, though he has not Moses’ law, has
that law written in his heart, his conscience. He knows when he does wrong and
when he does right, his conscience either accuses him or excuses him (a neat
little device of each man’s conscience, incidentally, excusing himself by the
process of rationalization). GOD’s judgment rightly falls upon all men, Jew or
Gentile, Jew and non-Jew. He is not a respecter of persons. You keep the law,
you will not be judged. No matter how much law you have, you break the law, you
cannot escape judgment.

Finally, the fourth principle of Divine judgment is this, "In the day when God
shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Romans
2:16). JESUS CHRIST is the JUDGE. The FATHER hath given all judgment into His
hands. The day is coming when each of us shall stand before JESUS CHRIST to be
judged. You do not even believe in Him; some day you shall to your own
condemnation. For every eye shall see, and every knee shall bow, and every
tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is the supreme GOD of the universe. He is
the JUDGE, and the standard of judgment is the Gospel. But, you say, there are
people who have never heard the Gospel. How do you know? The Gospel was not a
New Testament innovation, remember. Paul says in his introduction, he was
"called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had
promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)" (Romans 1:1-2).

In Romans 4 Paul uses the progenitor of the Hebrew race, Abraham, who lived two
thousand years before CHRIST, as the supreme example of men who are saved by the
Gospel. Paul has told us in Romans 1 that there is not a corner, not a niche,
not a cranny in the universe where GOD has left Himself without a witness, so
that all men are "without excuse." This is the condemnation, that "light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil" (John 3:19). This was that "true Light, which lightest every man that
cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

The question finally resolves to this: what does JESUS CHRIST mean to you? Is it
a matter of indifference to you who JESUS CHRIST is? Is this just a matter of
intellectual persuasion, or is JESUS CHRIST really LORD and SAVIOUR? You must
answer that question now or later, for some day you shall have to give an
answer, and you will be standing in His presence when you do! Is JESUS CHRIST a
matter of indifference to you? Does it matter who He is, what He said, what He
did on the Cross, the fact that He arose from the dead, and that He is coming
again? Is this the most glorious fact in your experience?

~ end of chapter 4 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 6: 05 - WHO IS A REAL JEW?
========================================================================

Chapter Five -

Who is a Real Jew?

"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of
God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent,
being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide
of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the
foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth
in the law.

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that
preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should
not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost
thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking
the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the
Gentiles through you, as it is written.

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a
breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the
uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision
be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if
it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost trangress
the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that
circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the
letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Romans 2:17-29).

Paul states explicitly in this passage that he is writing to the Jew,
anticipating his reaction to the condemnation of the non-Jew in Chapter One,
which he knows will meet with hearty approval from the Jew, who at the same time
will exclude himself from the broad implications of the indictment. Hence Paul
is driving home the fact of Jewish inclusion; he stands in the same need of
salvation by grace through faith as the non-Jew; the way of salvation for the
Jew is no different from that for any other man. This leads to a very
interesting development; namely, that historic Judaism is not in opposition to
Christian faith.

On the contrary, it is bound to it, each being indispensable to the other. We
think of the Bible as one book comprising Old and New Testaments, and it is.
Likewise the doctrine of the Old Testament and of the New are one faith, not two
mutually exclusive religions but the faith of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
You will find this harmony developing more in detail and depth as we progress.
This means therefore, that a Jew does not repudiate his history and heritage
when he embraces faith in JESUS CHRIST. Contrarily he fulfills his destiny, and
conversely it means also that the Gentile when he embraces faith in JESUS CHRIST
becomes in a very real sense a true Jew, a member of spiritual Israel.

In Ephesians Paul declares that JESUS CHRIST has eliminated the cleavage between
Jew and Gentile, has made them both one; and the Church is no longer Jew or
Gentile but one body in CHRIST. Incidentally, when one approaches a modern Jew
with this in mind, it not only makes it interesting and challenging to talk with
him about CHRIST, but it makes one far more effective in his witness inasmuch as
the average Jew has the idea that to accept Christianity constitutes a radical
repudiation of his heritage. When he can be shown that it is only as he receives
CHRIST that he enters into this heritage which is rightfully his, another light
is cast upon his own attitude toward the Gospel.

In Romans 2:17-29 Paul answers the question who is a real Jew, thereby
dispossessing Jew and Gentile of the caricature so commonly held between both.
He begins in the first four verses, Romans 2:17-20, by itemizing those things in
which the Jew boasts. "Behold, thou art called a Jew," he writes; and one senses
the edge of his words as the argument unfolds. Let it not be forgotten that the
author is a "Hebrew of the Hebrews (Php 3:5)," not a bigoted Gentile, but a Jew
who loved his own; one who surpassed his contemporaries in religious zeal, who
could boast more than any other of his religious achievements.

In what does the Jewish faith boast? The Jew relies on the law. Not that he
keeps it, as Paul reveals later, but simply that to him it was given. "I am a
Jew! I am above the judgment of the Gentile. Obviously this condemnation (Romans
1:18-32) does not apply to me. I am a Jew! I have the law!" The modern
counterpart is the man who says, "I am a Roman Catholic!" "I am a Presbyterian!"
"I am a Methodist!" "I am a Baptist!"

He boasted of his relationship to GOD, says Paul. The Jew believed that GOD had
chosen him as a peculiar people and that, therefore, he was immune to judgment,
his conduct notwithstanding. He boasted of knowing GOD’s will. Of course he did,
a fact which Paul amplifies subsequently. The Jews had the oracles of GOD, the
law of GOD; the prophets were of Israel and with their message he was familiar.
He knew what GOD wanted, but did he obey? He approved what is excellent, Paul
says.

Now this is another aspect of the tendency to criticize in others what one
despises in himself, a very subtle rationalization whereby approval of
excellence is made to imply practice. The very approval becomes a facade behind
which is hid one’s failure to comply. Paul boasted that he was instructed in the
law. From childhood a Jewish boy was schooled in the Old Covenant; so Paul
reasons, you boast because you are instructed in the law, believing that the law
is the embodiment of all knowledge. You boast that you are a guide to the blind
(JESUS referred to them as "blind leaders of the blindMatthew 15:14"). You boast
that you are a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish,
teacher of children. Paul’s words drip with sarcasm for their sheer egoism. You
are a superior people!

GOD has endowed them with all these advantages. Why? In order that they might
strut? In order that they might parade their superiority? In order that they
might separate themselves from all others? This is precisely what they had done.
The Jewish attitude to all non-Jews was one of cold-contempt. Tacitus said of
the Jews, "Among themselves their honesty is inflexible, their compassion quick
to move; but to all other persons they show the hatred of antagonism."

Juvenal declared that if a Jew was asked the way to any place he refused to give
any information except to another Jew, and that if anyone was looking for a well
from which to drink, he would not be led to it unless he had been circumcised.
Here is a startling, incongruous fact that the very doctrine which ought to have
produced the saint was so perverted that it produced an arrogant, loveless
egotist. What kind of a belief is it that produces the superior person who holds
in utter contempt all others as inferior?

Beware, lest we make the same mistake; for the fact is, and Paul’s sword cuts
both ways here, the Christian often becomes this kind of man. The very ones that
ought to be loved for CHRIST’s sake are treated with contempt, or at least with
condescension; ignored and condemned, they are often abandoned by the Church
that ought to be seeking them in the love of JESUS CHRIST! When we ought to be
wooing men for CHRIST, we draw our self-righteous robes about us and walk on the
other side of the road! We think of ourselves as superior to the one who does
that which we consider wrong or fails to do that which we construe to be right.
"I don’t drink; obviously I am superior to the man who does!" Be careful, "Let
him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12)."

Beware, if there is that in you which makes you feel superior to another; for
whatever else the grace of GOD does in a man, it produces humility - genuine,
authentic, bonafide humility. The very man who wrote these words called himself
the "chief" of sinners, "less than the least of all saints," and so he states
the tragic contradictions in the next verses, Romans 2:21-24. "You teach others;
do you teach yourself? You preach against stealing; do you steal? (There are
many ways to steal.) You preach against adultery; do you commit it? You abhor
idols; do you rob temples?"

The very fact that Paul addressed these questions to the Jew implied their
guilt. The answer gave birth to the question! Such boasting increases judgment.
Boasting in the law, you dishonor GOD by breaking it. Then he calls to witness
against them Isaiah 52:5, "Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that
my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl,
saith the Lord; andmy name continually every day is blasphemed." The fact of
Christian profession means that the name of GOD will be blasphemed because of
inconsistencies.

It is possible that someone is alienated from JESUS CHRIST because you profess
to be a Christian when your life is contradictory; one whom you are not only
failing to lead to CHRIST but are driving from CHRIST by your pride, your
arrogance, your lovelessness, your icy orthodoxy? This is what Paul is talking
about. True religion is more than profession or position. Superior knowledge
does not extenuate guilt; it aggravates guilt.

Finally, he closes the chapter by the discussion of the true Jew. First of all,
and now Paul touches on the most important sign and symbol in the Old Testament,
GOD sealed His promise to Abraham with circumcision, the promise, which he says
in Galatians was fulfilled in CHRIST. Circumcision is uncircumcision if one does
not keep the law, and conversely uncircumcision becomes circumcision if one
keeps the law. Furthermore, the uncircumcised Gentile who keeps the law condemns
and judges the Jew who is circumcised and fails to keep it! This is rather
startling, the possibility that some of the very people whom we are judging and
condemning GOD will use to judge us! Paul concludes the real Jew to be he that
is one inwardly, and real circumcision is not of the flesh; it is of the heart.
Real circumcision is not external; it is inward.

The truth is plainly obvious. External position, profession, practice are worse
than nothing if they do not represent a change in man’s inward condition. Better
not to make any profession at all. It becomes very plain in this passage of
Scripture that professionalism in religion is wholly undesirable. It breeds the
most detestable man, the most abhorrent personality - the self-righteous,
self-centered, self-deceived superior stuffed shirt! JESUS illustrated such a
man in Luke 18:9-14, a parable for some "which trusted in themselves that they
were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a
publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."

"I," he had "I" trouble; he had cataracts on his ego!

There it is, like it or not; it bites deeply into orthodox Christianity because
it was the very orthodoxy of the Jew which was his condemnation. Is orthodoxy
enough? Does it make a difference whether one’s life is Christ-like, whether
there is love, warmth, humility, understanding, compassion, concern, sympathy?
One’s very orthodoxy may make him hard, cold, indifferent and intolerable! The
higher one’s knowledge, the greater his responsibility; the blacker this sin of
irresponsibility, the deeper the condemnation - this orthodoxy without CHRIST.
The Pharisees, remember, trusted in their own righteousness, trusted in
themselves - and on the basis of their own supposed superiority - (and their
religion devoid of CHRIST) - WERE CONVINCED THAT THEY WERE BETTER, and superior.

Heed the words of JESUS CHRIST, "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only."
"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?." "Many will say
to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity."

The Word of GOD is "quick, and powerful." It is a "two-edged sword." It is a
"discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It exposes the secrets of
man; "dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow (Hebrews
4:12)."

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 11:15)."

~ end of chapter 5 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 7: 06 - THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
========================================================================

Chapter Six -

The Faithfulness of GOD

Romans 3:1-8

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much
every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome
when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of
God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a
man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God
hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a
sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that
we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."

Two questions the Apostle anticipates in the light of the strong condemnation of
the Jew in Chapter 2. First, what advantage has the Jew? If what Paul says is
true, then what is the difference between the Jew and the Gentile? What is the
value of being a Jew? What advantage does he have, and what profit is there in
circumcision? Perhaps as we think about these two questions, we can appreciate
just a little bit the radical, revolutionary impact of Paul’s teaching upon
Jewish complacency. Paul himself had been through it; had he not taken his
religion more seriously than his contemporaries? Had he not boasted that if any
other could be proud of his achievements, he more? Surely the Apostle Paul had
felt the blasting power of the truth against his own personal complacency and
pride and stubborn zeal.

The Jews did not feel they were to be dealt with as other men. GOD had chosen
them as the covenant people of Abraham, and insights into their attitude abound
in the New Testament as, for example, when John the Baptist began his public
ministry with the message, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
(Matthew 3:2)." One can almost hear the Jews saying to John, "Of what must we
repent, we are the children of Abraham?" John replies, " think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able
of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Matthew 3:9). There is a
basic truth intimated here; namely, that it is easier for GOD to make a man out
of a stone than to bring a man to repentance.

It is easier for GOD to create a man than to change his heart. In the words of a
popular song, "It took a miracle" to hang the stars in place, but the greatest
miracle is the power of GOD which moves a rebellious and unrepentant heart to
conversion. On another occasion, when JESUS was having one of his verbal
encounters with the Pharisees (John 8), they boasted, "We be Abraham’s seed, and
were never in bondage to any man" (John 8:33). It was a favorite saying of the
Jews that all Israel hath a part in eternal life.

Justin Martyr wrote, "They supposed that to them universally who are of Israel
or the seed of Abraham, no matter how sinful and disobedient to GOD they may be,
that the eternal kingdom shall be given to them." Strange as this attitude may
seem, it has its modern counterpart among us, as we shall see.

Paul begins to answer (verse 2) and herein is a graphic reminder that this is
not a theological treatise but a letter, for Paul barely begins to answer the
two questions he raises when apparently he gets sidetracked by a more important
idea which forces itself upon him and with which he is constrained to deal. He
does not return to his answer until chapter 9. For this reason one should not be
too discouraged when trying to outline Paul’s epistles that they do not always
fall into neat and orderly form. These are letters, and there are spontaneity
and the element of impulse which we see so clearly in this passage.

Raising two questions which he knows will occur to the Jew, he answers, "Much
every way." That is, there is great advantage to the Jew; there is great profit
in circumcision, in every way, chiefly, or to begin with, "because that unto
them were committed the oracles of God," and that is the end of his answer until
chapter 9. The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of GOD, and the word is
probably used here, not in a limited sense as, for example, the commandments but
in the broadest sense, referring to all the writings or the words of GOD,
inclusive of the promise to Abraham, the Decalogue given to Moses, and the
writing and preaching of the prophets.

Then the Apostle Paul engages a large question, a theological and historical
problem, which he himself must have pondered deeply and wrestled with often
because of his strong conviction as a Jew. He too would have regarded the Jews
as immune to the judgments of GOD. He too would have believed with all his heart
that they were a peculiar people for a peculiar place in the future. Following
his conversion on the road to Damascus, while on the backside of the desert for
three years, he "conferred not with flesh and blood," (Galatians 1:16) he must
often have faced this apparent contradiction. In view of the teaching of the Old
Testament, the promise that GOD gave to Abraham, the law which GOD gave to
Moses, and the whole Old Testament economy flowing out of these two things, the
promise and the law, with all the teaching and writing of the prophets, if
Israel failed, does this constitute GOD’s failure? Has the Old Testament failed?
Has somehow GOD’s plan in history been thwarted?

As a matter of fact, long before Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, the
SPIRIT of GOD was undoubtedly burning conviction deeply into his heart about
this, and it must have been one of the imponderables which made it difficult for
him to acknowledge CHRIST as his MESSIAH.

Peter faced this when the SPIRIT of GOD directed him to go to Cornelius, the big
stubborn question: Does the admission of the Gentiles to the MESSIAH, if JESUS
be the MESSIAH, and the rejection of the Jews, if they will not accept JESUS,
constitute the failure of the Old Covenant? What an overwhelming prospect, the
failure of GOD! Everything we can say critically of the Pharisees to the
contrary notwithstanding, this would pose a perplexing dilemma, not easily
resolved. Is everything which I have believed wrong?

In Paul’s day Rome, in order to maintain peace within its borders, was tolerant
of the worship of any GOD; nevertheless, the Romans were greatly intolerant of
Jewish monotheism* which, due to Greek and Roman polytheism**, was looked on as
atheism***. The strength of Jewish monotheism rested with Jewish destiny.

* monotheism - Belief in one true GOD. ** polytheism - Belief in many gods. ***
atheism - Belief in no GOD.

"Paul’s considered resolution of this problem is very simple, very explicit,
very dogmatic. He simply states, "let God be true, but every man a liar." The
idea of GOD failing is preposterous, intolerable. He illustrates it with the
51st Psalm, in which King David, confessing his own grievous sin, prays,
"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that
thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest
(Psalms 51:4)." In such crucial days we need to remember this answer of Paul’s,
the absolute dependability of GOD, the absolute faithfulness of GOD, the
absolute integrity of GOD; no matter what is happening in history.

Regardless of what happens to me personally, however circumstances may converge
upon my life to seem to destroy me, let GOD be true! If GOD is not true, then
who, what can be trusted? The very foundations are removed! Paul’s answer is
exceedingly realistic and very practical: "Let GOD be true, but every man a liar
(Romans 3:4)." Job concluded likewise, though in a different way, when he said,
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15).

Then comes a second thought based on the Jewish propensity to rationalize his
position, thereby justifying himself; and Paul anticipates another question,
"Well, if our failure glorifies GOD, if our unrighteousness commends the
righteousness of GOD, is GOD then not unjust to chasten us, to judge us for
this?" Paul says parenthetically (verse 5), "I speak as a man," by which he
means he is employing the reasoning of some regarding this, and then he utters
the strongest negative in the Bible, "God forbid!" For he reasons, if this were
true, how could GOD judge anybody?

For example, how could He judge the Gentiles? If the evil of man glorifies GOD,
and He is thereby unjust in judging men, who could be judged? The argument
continues in Romans 3:7-8, "For if the truth of God hath more abounded through
my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as
we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil,
that good may come?" Here we have an early illustration of modern pragmatism,
the end justifies the means. Some people apparently slanderously charge that
Paul is teaching this. His answer to the accusation is simply, "they deserve
damnation!"

The end does not justify the means, ever, but this process of rationalization in
order to self-justification is a very familiar human practice. In our own
nation, for instance, what a great nation we are, how much we have done for the
world! We are a Christian nation, some insist. If so, it is only nominal. We
imprint our money, "In GOD We Trust." Look at the millions of dollars we are
giving away to help rehabilitate the nations of the world, the food that we are
sending. Did not the idea of "CARE" originate in the United States of America?
What good people we are! It can’t happen here, it can’t happen here! Surely GOD
is on our side! Surely GOD is with us! The Germans in two world wars had the
same idea when they engraved on the belt buckles of their army uniforms, "Gott
mit uns." It is seen in the individual who refuses to acknowledge his sin while
busily justifying himself on the basis of good works.

It is personified in the alcoholic. How many I have seen whose lives are broken,
yet they will not admit they are alcoholics. Here is an intelligent young man, a
medical doctor, who every evening comes home, goes immediately to the
refrigerator, takes out a can of beer, then another, and another, and another;
lapsing into drunken sleep, he wakes up sober, goes back to the job in the
morning, then comes home to go through the same pathetic routine. As we talked
not long ago, he insisted, "My wife thinks I am an alcoholic, but I’m not!" Or
another, with a bottle of cheap wine, all the while we talked he would interrupt
his conversation as he stuck the long neck of that bottle deep down in his
throat yet stubbornly declared, "I’m not an alcoholic!"

But let us not make a scapegoat of the alcoholic, for the same basic deceit and
escapism is in the man who says, "I’m not a sinner!"

John touches the heart of this self-deception in the first chapter of his first
epistle when he says, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say
that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:5-9).

How many people deprive themselves of the blessings of GOD, the blessings of
forgiveness and cleansing because they rationalize and justify self instead of
acknowledging their sin, walking in the light and receiving GOD’s forgiveness
and cleansing! How many Christians allow their fellowship to be broken with
those about them because they will not acknowledge their own sin! They may blame
everybody else but never themselves. That is alcoholism in essence; only the
form is different! How quick we are to rationalize and justify our sin.

I suppose that this is the most amazing phenomenon in a pastor’s study when he
is counseling - the ability of men to turn evil into a positive good by some
twist in their reasoning. Of course we see the ultimate of this in Communism
today, in Khrushchev, who calls disorder order; for whom a lie is the truth, for
whom peace is war. That is its ultimate expression, but it is in everyone of us.
What delight to walk in the light and quit trying to build these self-deceiving
defenses, but rather let them be destroyed. The defensive person is so obvious,
so transparent, so quick to blame others when, if he admitted his need, his
failure, his sin, the grace of CHRIST could flow in with its healing and
cleansing and renewal. Very practical, isn’t it?

In the final analysis, the real trouble with the Jew was the fact that he had
accepted the privilege implicit in the oracles of GOD but had rejected the
corresponding responsibility, and in so doing he had forfeited the privilege. He
had received a promise through Abraham which he readily accepted, but he had
also been given the Ten Commandments, and he was expected to obey them.
Circumcision was the symbol of his faith in the promise of GOD to Abraham;
obedience should have been his response to the Commandments which GOD gave
through Moses.

Actually, these are the two basic elements in real belief: trust in GOD’s
promise, obedience to GOD’s law. Where there is not obedience, there is not
belief in the Biblical sense; and this is true today in the Church as it was in
Israel in Paul’s day.

We sing the song, "trust and obey, for there is no other way To be happy in
JESUS but to trust and obey."

We have received all of the blessings and the benefits that are implicit in the
Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, but have we assumed the obligations as well? If we have
not, then we repudiate the benefit. This is inevitable. We receive the gift of
freedom in our wonderful country; what are we doing about it? We enjoy all of
the blessings that are part of our Western way of life. What are we doing to
preserve it? We are enjoying all the privileges; are we letting someone else
assume the responsibility? If we do, it is inevitable that we will lose those
privileges by default, which is exactly what is happening in our modern world.

We still enjoy the benefits of the Hebrew-Christian tradition which gave us our
splendid culture, but many of us are ignoring or rejecting the message of the
Word of GOD which produced that culture. We are like the Jew of the first
century. The same process which took place in Israel through the years from
Abraham to CHRIST has been taking place in our world and in the Church from
JESUS CHRIST to the present day!

~ end of chapter 6 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 8: 07 - THE LIGHT OF THE LAW
========================================================================

Chapter 7 -

THE LIGHT OF THE LAW

Romans 3:9-20

Review is in order inasmuch as we now reach the end of the first major division
in Paul’s letter to Rome.

The first seventeen verses comprise the introduction with Romans 1:16-17 stating
the theme, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God
unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also the Greek,
for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is
written, the just shall live by faith." Beginning at the eighteenth verse
through 3:20, the Apostle Paul argues the necessity of the redemption that is in
JESUS CHRIST by proving that the whole world, Jew and non-Jew, is in sin and
guilty before Almighty GOD.

In the first chapter of the epistle beginning at verse 18, he demonstrates that
the non-Jew stands convicted before GOD; then anticipating the Jewish reaction,
he shows, beginning with chapter 2 through the 8th verse of chapter 3, that the
Jew also as well as the Gentile stands condemned before GOD. In this present
passage, Romans 3:9-20, we have what might be called in the vernacular the "wrap
up" of the argument. He begins with a question so ambiguous that no commentator
is dogmatic as to its meaning.

The question is, "What then, are we better than they?" Who are "we" and who are
"they"? Some say the "we" refers to the Jew. Paul has been discussing the Jew’s
advantage so the question naturally follows, "Are we Jews better than the
non-Jew or the Gentile?"

There are others who believe that he is asking exactly the converse, "Are we
Gentiles therefore better off than the Jews?" Because, you see, the Apostle Paul
has now demonstrated that the Jew had advantages which increased his guilt
inasmuch as he failed to live up to the responsibility inherent in them. The
question makes sense either way, the point being, "Is there any defense left for
Jew or Gentile?" The answer is an unqualified "no," after which the author
states, "Have I not been showing you that all men are condemned?" His argument
thus far concludes the sinfulness of all men, and now he is going to settle it
with evidence from the Word of GOD. He is going to close this division of his
letter by demonstrating unequivocally the universality of sin, the
indiscriminate sinfulness of human nature.

That phrase "under sin" is an interesting word. It means to be under the
authority of sin, under the reign of sin. The "reign of sin" will be discussed
later at the end of the fifth chapter, The whole world is under the dominion of
sin; the whole world is under the power of sin; the whole world is in sin’s
empire. This, incidentally, sheds some light on an apparent contradiction in the
Word of GOD. John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world . . ." This same
author admonishes in his first epistle (1 John 2:15), "Love not the world."

Is this a contradiction? No, it is not, for in John 3:16 he is talking about a
different world from the one in 1st John. In John 3:16 he is talking about the
people that are in the world; GOD loved all the people in the world from Adam
and Eve to the last person that will ever be born. GOD loves everybody. GOD is
indiscriminate and impartial in His love for all men everywhere; He does not
love one man more than another; He does not love the white man more than the
black or vice versa; GOD is no respecter of persons. GOD loves the world in this
sense; but the world order which has set itself against GOD and is operating
contrary to His order, we are told not to love. We are told to reject it, not
the people in it but the principles by which they operate contrary to GOD’s law.

Finally, Paul comes to the proof, the ultimate proof of the universality of sin,
and it is interesting to observe that he counts the Scriptures of the Old
Testament to be this unanswerable proof. Here we have an insight into Paul’s
appreciation of the Old Testament Scriptures. So far as this brilliant Jew was
concerned, this man who has influenced human history more than any other save
JESUS CHRIST Himself, excepting Moses perhaps, the Old Testament was conclusive.
Paul entertained no doubts whatsoever about its infallibility. Hence, when he
marshals references, as he does in verses 10 to 18, the proof is final, the
matter is closed, debate is silenced. Indeed he says just this, "That every
mouth may be stopped. (Romans 3:19)"

He uses here a typical rabbinic device in teaching and preaching, the stringing
together of unrelated texts in defense of his argument. This was called "charaz"
in the Hebrew, and it means literally the stringing of pearls. Observe these
pearls of wisdom which the apostle strings together in this passage. Beginning
at the tenth verse he says, "As it is written, there is none righteous," None is
righteous. And lest there be any doubt about his meaning, he adds, "No not one."
Then in verse 11 , "There is none that understandeth." In his first letter to
the Corinthians he wrote, "the world by wisdom knew not GOD. (1 Corinthians
1:21)" No one understands.

You will recall in Chapter 1 a quotation from a London monitored broadcast
originating in Moscow, in which, with all seriousness the Communists declared
that JESUS CHRIST never existed, a fact which science has so proved! They really
believed this; they apparently were sincere.

How can this be, this utterly irrational fact? The Bible says the whole human
race is this way until it repents. Paul says, "no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." The very fact that one recognizes JESUS CHRIST as
Lord is evidence that he has been taught by GOD (John 6:45).

Recall Peter’s remarkable testimony in Caesarea of Philippi (Matthew 16:13-17),
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." JESUS said, "Blessed art thou,
Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father
which is in heaven." This truth is not arrived at by the normal, rational
processes; it is a gift of GOD.

"There is none that seeketh after God." One can almost hear people say, "Now
wait a minute, is there any place on this earth where men do not seek after GOD?
Look at the primitive animistic religions of Africa and Asia; what of the
religion of Islam and Buddhism and Shintoism? How can the Bible declare that no
one seeks after GOD? Sixty-five percent of the American people are church
members; how can it be said, "No one seeks after GOD?" Why, we are a religious
world! Indeed we are, and now let it be understood that this is precisely the
point, man’s religion is evidence of the fact that he is not seeking GOD!

Why did the Pharisees crucify JESUS CHRIST? Because of their religion! Why did
the very man who authored this letter, Saul of Tarsus, persecute the Christian
Church and do everything he could to exterminate it? Because of his religion. In
history the supreme expression of man’s rebellion against GOD is religion,
whether it is Christian religion or any other. One reason the Christian nations,
so-called, are impotent in world affairs today is that they have made of
Christianity a religion.

In Africa today you might hear a Moslem evangelist saying to the Nationals, "Who
is causing all the trouble in the world today? Who started the First World War?
- the Second World War? Who has the H-bomb? Who possesses the threat of
thermonuclear war? Do the Moslem nations? They do not. They are peace-loving. It
is the Christian nations that are the great disturbers of the peace in our
modern world." Would you have any defense?

Dr. Reginald Thomas, on a Sunday morning Bible Hour over NBC was pointing out
that faith which is authentic must be organized, a fact which he demonstrated
from the New Testament. But said he, "We are in great danger in our modern world
of organizing JESUS CHRIST out of His Church!"

This happens; that is the reason why I cannot get excited about Church union; it
is possible to organize JESUS CHRIST right out of His Church. When we have
diluted and emasculated faith in JESUS CHRIST and made of it a religion, it is
as powerless as any other. Religion cannot save; only JESUS CHRIST can save!
History clearly shows that men are ingenious in their effort to avoid GOD, to
avoid JESUS CHRIST, and about this we shall speak more.

"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable" is the
record. Literally this means they have "turned sour"; what a description of
human nature without CHRIST, "they have turned sour." When you read, "They are
all gone out of the way," you are reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.
(Isaiah 53:6)" This is sin in its root sense, in its essence - man going his own
way. "I want my own way!" That is the root sin. You cannot tolerate this as a
father. My seventeen-year-old son says, "I will have my own way!" He will
discover that this is an intolerable situation in the home, and it is
intolerable in GOD’s universe, man insisting on his own way and inventing
religions to uphold his anarchy.

"There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Here he speaks of the inwardness
of man as it is expressed through his lips. "Out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh, (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45)" declares the New Testament.
"Their throat is an open sepulchre." You can almost smell the stench which rises
from the open grave with its putrefaction. "With their tongues they have used
deceit." Polite society refers to it as little white lies. "The poison of asps
is under their lips." How easily one can poison a person with his lips! Probably
there is no more effective way to destroy man than with speech. Some are masters
at this kind of destruction. "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

It is difficult to go anywhere in our modern society today in the normal course
of events without exposure to smut and profanity. Go to an average service club
where the respectable leaders of the community sit together for lunch weekly and
listen to the profanity, the jokes and stories at each table and then to the
anecdotes which the speaker so often feels are required to establish rapport
with his audience. One’s soul writhes within at the sordid conversation of men.

"Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known." Interesting that this should have
been written. For two thousand years man had been unable to find the way of
peace; and today, nineteen centuries subsequent to this writing, peace seems
more elusive than ever before. How can we expect peace with Russia when we
cannot even have peace on our city streets in traffic; when we cannot have peace
across the backyard fence or between a white man and a dark man, between
management and labor, between husbands and wives? What right do we have to
expect world peace? "The way of peace have they not known."

But you say, "This is rather rough on human nature, and I am not willing to
accept it."

Well, you need not; it is your prerogative to hold to an optimistic illusion
about mankind if you wish. Bear in mind, however, that this is the Divine
estimate as GOD sees into the heart of man, not his outward appearance. "The
Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the
Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

The October 28th, 1962 issue of Saturday Review contained a startling editorial
by the editor, Norman Cousins, which gives a glimpse of human nature beneath the
veneer of civilization and culture:

"In Las Vegas the head of the local Civil Defense Agency recently called for a
militia of five thousand men to protect residents in the event of thermonuclear
war. The men would be trained to crush an expected invasion, not from foreign
shores but from Southern California. (He is not being facetious.) It is believed
that Los Angeles as a major city would be under direct attack. ’Survivors,’
warned J. Carlton Adair, the Las Vegas Civilian Defense official, ’would come
into Nevada like a swarm of locusts; obviously they would have to be repulsed.’"
So the Civil Defense leader in Las Vegas is asking for a militia trained to kill
Southern Californians trying to escape the horrors of thermonuclear war.

In a less organized way other Americans are now preparing to kill Americans. A
Chicago suburbanite, according to Time Magazine, intends to mount a machine gun
at the entrance to his fall-out shelter and blast away at shelterless neighbors
who might try to get in out of the radioactivity. Countless other Americans may
be making no open declaration about their intentions, but they are calmly going
about the business of equipping their shelters with guns or tear gas devices,
just in case desperate neighbors might want to poach on their preserves during
or after an attack. Some are now preparing their children psychologically to
accept the murder of their playmates; all this goes under the heading of Civil
Defense.

In Hartford, Connecticut, at a private meeting of local residents who had come
together to consider Civil Defense problems, one citizen advised his neighbors
that firearms were standard equipment for shelters along with stocks of food and
medicines. "People who are wounded or suffering from radiation will run around
like mad men trying to find shelter," he warned, "and since there will only be
so much water and food for one’s own family, the intruders will have to be
turned back, even if it means shooting them." A woman who lived next door to the
citizen who had just given this advice, asked a question. "John," she said, "you
and your family have been our closest friends for ten years. Do you mean to say
that if this city is bombed, and my baby and I were caught in the open, and we
were hurt and came to your shelter, you would turn us away?" John said, "You
build a shelter of your own. I’ve got to look out for my own family." "But
suppose we had built a shelter of our own, yet were caught by surprise, being
out in the open at the time of an attack, and we discovered that the entrance to
our shelter was covered with rubble, and we had no place to turn excepting you,
would you still turn us back?" The answer was still yes. "But suppose I wouldn’t
go away, and kept trying to get in, would you shoot me?" John said that if the
only way he could keep his friend out would be shooting her and her baby, he
would do it.

This is our modern world; "the way of peace have they not known!" (Isaiah 59:8)

In Romans 3:10-18, the apostle reverses the sequence which he used in the first
chapter. There he began, "when they knew God, they glorified him not as God. .
.." Refusal to worship GOD resulted in the reprobate conditions which followed.
In other words in chapter 1 he states the causes first, then the consequences
followed by the cause, verse 18, "There is no fear of GOD before their eyes."
Man individually or collectively, when he does not reverence GOD, degenerates;
this is inevitable, and this degenerative process is at work in history, has
been working from the Garden of Eden when our first parents disobeyed GOD.
Whether we like it or not, we are living in an eschatological period in history;
more than any former generation we are experiencing the cumulative result of
this degenerative process in human nature.

Some years ago it was my privilege to hear a psychiatrist lecture in Berkeley,
California. On the blackboard he had drawn islands on the upper left-hand corner
and in the lower right-hand corner. The psychiatrist began by saying, "Ladies
and gentlemen, I am going to talk about sin. I realize it is unconventional for
a psychiatrist to talk about sin; nevertheless, I am going to do so." In the
upper left island he wrote "GOD" and down on the lower right island he wrote
"man," then explained this separation of GOD and man as sin. GOD is on an
island, and man is on an island, and between GOD and man there is an impassable
gulf; but he continued, "The point of sin is this, GOD didn’t put man on the
island; man put GOD on the island. This is sin, man banishing GOD from his life.
Man alienating himself from GOD." This is original sin, and everything that
plagues history comes as a result of this banishment.

What is the conclusion of the matter? We have already intimated, Paul declares,
"The Jews have no defense since I have demonstrated from their Scriptures that
they are under sin. The Gentiles certainly have no defense for I have shown that
they have the law written in their hearts. Thus the mouths of all men have been
stopped. Man no longer has any recourse; all men are guilty before GOD."

Then is stated one of the most basic facts about the law to be found in Romans.
"By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by
the law is the knowledge of sin." By keeping the law no one can be justified,
the reason being that the law was meant to reveal to man his sin, that he might
turn to GOD in faith for salvation. In Galatians Paul says, "The law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Galatians 3:24). The law cannot redeem us
from sin; the law only reveals the fact of sin, the remedy for which is JESUS
CHRIST. Now Paul begins with verse 21, the redemption, apart from the law, in
JESUS CHRIST, by virtue of His cross and resurrection. Having painted the
pessimistic picture of the human dilemma, Paul now moves into the glorious
optimism of the Divine solution, the grace of GOD through JESUS CHRIST.

In the 12th verse, the Apostle Paul says, "They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable." That is to say, they have been rendered
useless. This is how sin works in a man’s life; it renders him useless. He may
be busy, even productive, but he will not be all he was created to be. He will
not be the man GOD intended. Unredeemed man is ultimately useless because he was
made to glorify GOD and enjoy Him forever.

One vivid picture of this is the story of the master violinist who, falling on
evil days, brought his instrument to the pawn shop for a loan. The pawnbroker
took the precious instrument and laid it on the shelf. Two things are true of
that instrument while it is on the shelf: it is in the possession of one who is
not its rightful owner, and it is not being used for its created purpose; it is
just gathering dust. To be without JESUS CHRIST, unredeemed by His
self-sacrifice; to be without His management in one’s life, regardless of how
busy one may be, is to be possessed by someone other than the rightful owner; to
be used for some purpose less than the one intended. It is to be a man on the
shelf!

Finally, the violinist is able to redeem his violin; rushing into the pawnshop,
he lays down the ticket and the money with interest, receives his instrument and
hurries home. Breathlessly he enters his studio, opens the case, takes out the
violin, dusts it off, tightens the bow, tunes the strings and puts it to his
chin. Once more the instrument is in the possession of its owner and it begins
to make the beautiful music for which it was created. That is redemption and
that is what JESUS CHRIST does for man.

There is another way of looking at this. The word "glory" means literally to
fulfill one’s purpose. The glory of the flower is fragrance and beauty. The
glory of the sun is to light and warm the earth. The glory of the rain is to wet
the ground that it may bring forth fruit. The glory of man is to glorify GOD.
This is the explanation for the purposelessness, the directionlessness, the
meaninglessness of life. Today persons of all ages in all parts of the world are
saying, where do I find meaning for life? The answer is, only in JESUS CHRIST is
there meaning.

~ end of chapter 7 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 9: 08 - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
========================================================================

Chapter 8 -

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Romans 3:21-31

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law." Human goodness or virtue is incapable of justifying man. Thus the Apostle
Paul declares finally and conclusively, to his own satisfaction at least, the
bankruptcy of the best that man can do to save himself. Not that this reflects
on the validity or efficacy of the law; indeed it is a confirmation of the law’s
place and purpose in the divine economy as Paul points out at the close of the
chapter.

The law was never intended to be a means of salvation except as it pointed man
to his need of grace in CHRIST. When a man says, "The Ten Commandments is my
religion," he is bound by the Ten Commandments; and his condemnation is the
greater because he has embraced them and broken them. When a man says, "The
Sermon on the Mount is my religion," he is condemned by his own boast when he
does not live up to it.

When a man says, "The Golden Rule is my religion," he judges himself by his
failure. This is not an uncommon attitude. "If a man just lives up to the Golden
Rule." "If a man just lives up to the Sermon on the Mount." That is a big "if."
For "by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Romans 3:20)" For a
man to take refuge in moral law serves only to increase his condemnation. The
reason the law will not save is reserved for later discussion, (chapters 6
through 8) but it is quite apparent; man fails to keep the law.

The second major division of Romans has to do with the divine solution to the
human dilemma set forth in chapters 1:18 through 3:20. GOD made a promise to
Abraham. This promise, though immediately relevant to Israel of whom Abraham was
the physical progenitor, was actually universal and cosmic in its application
and meant to be fulfilled in JESUS CHRIST, the MESSIAH. This means, therefore,
that GOD does not have two ways to redeem man, one for the Jew and another for
the non-Jew. On the contrary, from the inception of humanity man’s rightness
with GOD has always been dependent upon faith.

You see this, for example, in Hebrews, chapter 11, the great "faith" chapter,
where the author begins with Abel.

By faith Abel offered a sacrifice acceptable unto GOD. Justification through
faith is not a new principle; it was introduced in the Garden of Eden. The law,
given four hundred years after Abraham, was designed to lead men to faith, to
make man see his helplessness apart from the undeserved favor of GOD. The law
helps one realize how far short he falls from GOD’s expectations. The man who
says the Sermon on the Mount is his religion is doing the very same thing the
Jew was doing in Paul’s day, professing the law as his religion but ignoring its
practice.

This is the most difficult reality for man to accept, righteousness through
faith. The fundamental conflict in history is man’s will against GOD’s will, the
most subtle expression of which is man’s goodness versus the righteousness of
GOD. those who resent the Apostle Paul do so because he continually reduces the
best that man can do to zero with its edges rubbed off. "All have sinned and
come short of the glory of GOD (Romans 3:23)... There is none righteous, no, not
one. (Romans 3:10)" We want to argue, surely some are righteous. He answers,
"No, not one!"

It is difficult to accept the idea that salvation is by faith through grace
alone! We want to believe that some thing we do is acceptable with GOD, and it
is this subtle expression of carnality in the human heart more than any other
single thing that defeats the work of CHRIST in the world. Man’s best militates
against grace, not man’s worst - man thinking he is good enough without CHRIST’s
help.

The new birth is a gift of GOD to be received by faith.

Having begun by faith we embrace rules and regulations which, if kept, accrue to
our credit. Failure to keep them is to our discredit; thus we tend to be
constantly preoccupied with self-evaluation, with the pride of achievement or
the despair of failure. This is a passion of the human heart, and it is the
hardest thing in the world for us to realize that the best that we can do,
however effectively, is "filthy rags" in GOD’s sight. Paul declares GOD’s
righteousness to be "the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which
is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans
3:21-22)

The righteousness of GOD has been manifested or revealed. Man never reasons his
way to an understanding of the righteousness of GOD. By pure reason man can
understand that GOD is good, or that He is holy, or that He is perfect, or that
He is powerful. Yet man never does discover the righteousness of GOD this way;
it comes alone by revelation. It is revealed apart from the law. That is, GOD’s
righteousness is not apprehended through the law. All the law tells us is that
GOD is perfect and that He is a judge; and if we break His law, we are doomed.
The perfection of GOD, the justice of GOD, is apprehended through His law but
not His righteousness. Nevertheless, and Paul never lets us forget this, the law
and the prophets witnessed to this righteousness of GOD which has been revealed.

The truth is not an innovation with Paul of the New Testament or the apostles;
it is an Old Testament doctrine.

The Old Testament does not have one way by which man is saved, the New Testament
another; the salvation which is in the New Testament is at the heart of the Old
Testament. There is only one way to be saved from Adam in the Garden of Eden to
the last man who will ever live and to this the law of Moses and the prophets
testify. This righteousness of GOD has been revealed in the Gospel. "I am not
ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST: for it is the power of GOD unto salvation, to
every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also the Greek, for therein
(that is, the Gospel) is the righteousness of GOD revealed." (Romans 1:16-17)

The righteousness of GOD involves more than GOD’s character, more than His
attributes, more than His perfection or holiness. Righteousness is active.
Righteousness expresses itself in GOD seeking to redeem man, GOD giving Himself
for man’s salvation. Hence it is revealed only in the Gospel. Notice Romans
3:25-26 : "Whom (JESUS CHRIST) God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in his blood." The sacrifice of CHRIST, which is the heart of the Gospel,
was to show GOD’s righteousness because in His divine forbearance He has passed
over former sins. From the Garden when Adam and Eve sinned until the moment that
the Son of GOD died on the Cross of Calvary, GOD had apparently done nothing to
absolve man from his sin. To be sure, he gave the Old Testament economy, the
entire structure of worship and sacrifices and offerings; but the author of
Hebrews makes it very plain that these had no power to forgive sin. As a matter
of fact, says the author of Hebrews, the sacrifices under the Old Testament
economy were the reminder of sin. It was as though the guilt of man were
compounded generation by generation, century by century, millennium by
millennium until the very justice of GOD would be questioned.

Certainly the blood of bulls and goats is not sufficient to make a man just
before GOD.

This is the problem with which Paul deals here. The death of CHRIST who was the
Lamb of GOD and whose blood was shed "from the foundation of the world,"
occurred at a given moment in history in order to demonstrate the righteousness
of GOD although He had endured the sin of man through all those millennia. The
death of CHRIST was to prove at the present time (Romans 3:26) that GOD Himself
is both righteous and that He justifies him who has faith in JESUS, or, "That He
might be just, and the justifier."

This is the great theological and philosophical dilemma of history. How can GOD
remain just and forgive a sinner? How can GOD forgive sin, justify the sinner,
and remain holy? The greatest minds have wrestled with this cosmic problem.
There is only one answer, and that answer is in JESUS CHRIST and the Gospel. If
GOD ignored sin, He would be less than holy and just. If He punished sin,
refused to forgive, He would be something less than loving and merciful. Justice
is satisfied if the sinner is punished, but love and mercy are frustrated.

Suppose, for example, one of our local judges should have before him a criminal
whose guilt was known by everyone, and though he knew the man was guilty, should
forgive and free him. We would not accept it. We would unseat this judge as
quickly as possible. We demand justice in our courts. We demand that the
criminal be punished. We do not want the judge to be sentimental or sympathetic.
We want justice; sentimentality has no place in a court of law; and if we
require this of man, how much more so of GOD! This is the dilemma, how can GOD
be just and justify the sinner? The answer is in JESUS CHRIST and is so stated
in Romans 3:23-25.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God!" (Romans 3:23-25) The clue is in the word "propitiation." The idea
contained in this very remarkable word is that of making satisfaction for sin by
atonement. These words give us two pictures, the picture of substitution and
that of sacrifice. They tell us that GOD put forth His Son to be our substitute,
to actually suffer our penalty, and to be our sacrifice. He was, in the words of
John the Baptist, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
(John 1:29)

Isaiah puts it this way: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
(Isaiah 53:6) Every sin from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the end of
the human race was put upon the Son of GOD on the Cross of Calvary. He died as
though guilty of our sins. This was not a third party, laying down His life on
the cross; this was GOD Himself, the One sinned against in CHRIST, suffering the
penalty of sin!

This is the great mystery of the Atonement, the great mystery of the
righteousness of GOD; GOD Himself, against Whom man sinned, in the Person of His
Son took upon Himself the consequences of man’s sin and laid down His own life
on the Cross of Calvary to absolve man from his guilt. This is the Gospel! this
is the righteousness of GOD! "The righteousness of GOD, according to Paul," says
C. W. Quinby, is "GOD’s willingness to redeem sinful man." It is His nature to
seek and to save the lost. Justice and mercy are met together in the Person of
JESUS CHRIST on the Cross. Perfect justice is satisfied; sin has been judged,
condemned and punished, and perfect love is satisfied. The One Who was sinned
against, He Himself bore the penalty rather than the sinner that the sinner
might go free! The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 10 that JESUS CHRIST
was the complete fulfillment of the total Old Testament sacrificial system. In 2
Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew
no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The Bible does
not explain this; it simply declares it to be so, to be accepted by faith that
we might enjoy the salvation which was wrought in this infinite transaction on
the Cross.

Finally, Paul concludes this chapter by asking, "Where is boasting then? It is
excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27)" On
what grounds? On the grounds of faith, no man has kept the law; all have sinned
and come short of the glory of GOD, and GOD saves all who will believe the
Gospel. Man has nothing, therefore, in which to glory before GOD. The Jew cannot
glory over the Gentile because the Jew had had special advantages. The Gentile
cannot glory over the Jew because of Jewish neglect of those special advantages.
All, Jew and Gentile, are saved by faith. The circumcised is saved by faith. The
uncircumcised is saved by faith. The one who had the law is saved by faith. The
one without the law is saved by faith. There is no other way for men to be
saved! Man has no ground for pride.

How often have we been filled with self-esteem over little successes, or even
perhaps over another’s failure when we should be thanking GOD for His grace;
boasting inwardly when we ought to be praising our SAVIOUR? How we take refuge
in a few little meritorious efforts instead of glorying in the Cross of JESUS
CHRIST. What happens when we boast like this? We become "superior" people; we
never say this; we simply act this way to our "inferiors." Boasting, pride, ego,
it is no wonder the SPIRIT of GOD cannot pour out revival upon the Church; we
are so inordinately proud of our piety instead of being humble before GOD over
our continual sin and failure from which only His grace can save us.

Paul will drive this fact home more and more in Romans 6, 7 and 8 - that there
is never a split-second of our lives that we are not absolutely, utterly,
totally cast upon the grace and mercy of GOD. There is not one thing of which we
can boast. If we do, the very boast is sin and confirms our need of grace.

Pride goes when men take Romans seriously. This is the reason why Romans
produced the Reformation because it exposed the conceit of man. It eliminated
anything upon which man could get hold in order to boast. It makes it possible
for the mighty, exhilarating infinite grace of GOD to deluge the bankrupt human
heart, bring the vitality and drive of the life of GOD in CHRIST to man.

The big question is this: Have you received this grace? Is someone saying, I
refuse to accept this; there are certain ways in which I may be bad, but I am
not so bad as many I know. I am much better than many. Is it possible that you
will continue trusting yourself, boasting in your own merit and virtue, however
small it is, however microscopic? Are you going to be like a man standing before
the judge, charged with the crime of robbery, who says, "Judge, I think you
ought to let me off. I never murdered anybody. I never committed any other
crimes; I just committed robbery - that is all."

Is that what you are trying with GOD? Oh Lord, I haven’t murdered, I haven’t
robbed, I haven’t stolen! But you have been proud, you have been covetous, you
have been jealous, you have envied, you have been angry. Yes, LORD, I have been
all these things, but I haven’t murdered anybody. Is that the way you think?
Repent and receive the righteousness of GOD which is a free gift through faith
in CHRIST because He shed His blood on the Cross.

Or are you one who has accepted the Gospel but is still trusting self? If you
analyze your own life, are the things on which you depend most your own strength
of will, your own ability, your own piety, your own decisions? There is so much
self-esteem and pride and boasting in us, and the grace of GOD just cannot work
because we will not let it. We are too full of our own virtue. We are saved but
powerless because we are conscious of how good we think we are compared to many
others: how much better we know the Bible; how much we pray; how often we
witness when others do not. GOD forgive us! How desperately we need grace
continually.

~ end of chapter 8 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 10: 09 - ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD
========================================================================

Chapter 9 -

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD

Romans 4:1-16

Abraham, father of the Arab through Ishmael, father of the Jew through Isaac,
father of the Christian through JESUS CHRIST. The three great monotheistic
religions of the world, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity began with this one
man. Abraham!

Abraham was a Christian, not in the conventional, commonly accepted sense of the
word today, to be sure, but neither was Abraham a Jew in this sense. As a matter
of fact, he was not a Jew in the way the Jews of JESUS’ day thought of Jewry. It
was quite obvious in much of this discussion with JESUS that they did not
understand their own Scriptures.

This would have been true of Paul as Saul of Tarsus. He did not understand
Isaiah, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins
be as scarlet they shall be white as snow, (Isaiah 1:18)" or "Unto us a child is
born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and
His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty GOD, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9:6)" or "All we like sheep have gone
astray; We have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him
the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)" Saul of Tarsus did not understand Isaiah
nor Jeremiah or Ezekiel, nor for that matter, Moses or Abraham until he was
converted to CHRIST on the road to Damascus. (See 2 Corinthians 3:13-16). Now
the Apostle Paul writes with the deep and revealed insight of these Old
Testament saints.

We see this in Simeon. Dr. Luke records that Simeon was a devout Jew who devoted
himself entirely in his last days to the temple. The SPIRIT of GOD had witnessed
in Simeon’s heart that he would not see death until he had seen the MESSIAH.
Here was an Old Testament Jew in JESUS’ day who had the insights about which
Paul is speaking in Romans, chapter 4, and there were many like him. For
example, JESUS said to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, "Art thou a master of
Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:10)" Nicodemus should have
understood as Simeon did, for example, and JESUS’ word was a mild rebuke.

Having declared that righteousness is by faith, through grace, apart from the
works of law, and furthermore that the law and the prophets witnessed to it;
(that is, the law and the prophets, JESUS CHRIST and the apostles, are one in
their doctrine concerning the Gospel), Paul now discusses the supreme question
so far as the Jew is concerned; and in so doing, the apostle administers the
coup de grace in his argument for justification by faith. He begins with the
question, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the
flesh, hath found?"

This is basic; the Jew could not reach beyond father Abraham, and Paul’s answer
is absolutely revolutionary to those who heard it then as well as to many today
when its force finally breaks in upon us. In substance, he says Abraham was
justified by faith through grace, and by this, because of this, he has become
the father of all who have faith - circumcised or uncircumcised. That is his
answer; now for some probing.

In the first five verses the Apostle Paul discusses Abraham’s righteousness. He
asks, hearkening back to his comment on boasting at the end of the third
chapter, Does Abraham have anything in which to boast? This is a very practical
question, for it touches a very sensitive area of Christian experience, the ego.
Man craves to achieve something to which he can attach merit. This is the
stubborn fact that keeps pestering faith; carnality, flesh, pride. Does Abraham
have any thing in which to boast? If he does, it certainly is not before GOD
because his righteousness was a gift of GOD to him because he believed. Not that
his belief was meritorious, a subtle insinuation pride makes if it can boast of
nothing else.

After all, what credit is there to one who believes in GOD? Discredit for not
believing, but certainly no credit for believing in GOD. You would not, for
example, give any special credit to a person for believing in the sun. What is
remarkable about this? One is irrational not to believe. There is nothing
exceptional about believing in the sun. Nor is there about believing in GOD.
Something is wrong with the one who does not! "The fool hath said in his heart,
there is no God. (Psalms 53:1)" This is carnality at work, crediting to belief
or faith or "decision," a virtue which they do not deserve.

Continuing in verses 4 and 5 Paul argues if it were any credit to Abraham, then
it was not a gift of GOD; it is his due, like wages to the man who works. The
Word of GOD declares that his faith was reckoned as righteousness. GOD reckoned
him righteous! This was said by Moses (Genesis 15:6); therefore, Moses certainly
understood justification by faith; and as if that were not enough, he quotes
from Israel’s great King David (verses 6, 7 and 8), who also must have
understood righteousness through faith by grace, as expressed in Psalms 32:1-2.
GOD’s righteousness, the only authentic righteousness, is a gift to be received
not a goal to be achieved. At this point a question is appropriate: have you
received this gift, or is righteousness still something you are trying to
achieve? Have you received the gift of righteousness?

Then Paul goes on in verse 9 to show that this blessing was not limited to the
Jew; it was a universal blessing. Hence the question, "Cometh this blessedness
then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also?" In his answer
Paul makes one of his most revolutionary points. His answer poses a question,
"How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?
Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision." The answer is history; it was
reckoned before he was circumcised.

Moses records in Genesis 15:6 that GOD reckoned Abraham righteous, and in
Genesis 17:25 , after Ishmael was born, at least fourteen years after he was
reckoned righteous, Abraham was circumcised; and circumcision was simply the
symbol and seal of righteousness which he already had as a gift of GOD.

There is something else to be seen here; circumcision, like any other religious
rite, is significant only in terms of the reality which it symbolizes, and yet
carnality is so strong in man that he is inclined to think of rites or
sacraments as meritorious; keep the sacraments and earn merit. We may not put it
explicitly, but we tend to feel that way. This kind of sacramentalism is a
reproach to the promise GOD made to Abraham and a reproach to the blood of JESUS
CHRIST, GOD’s Son! It is a marvelous device by which an entrenched hierarchy may
protect its vested interest, but there is nothing biblical, Christian or Jewish,
about it.

The sequence in the last half of verse 11 and 12 is not accidental. Reckoned as
righteous before he was circumcised, this was deliberate in order that Abraham
should be the father of all who had faith, circumcised or uncircumcised. This is
a radical switch;

- Abraham was first the father of the uncircumcised! - Abraham was first the
father of the Gentile! - Abraham was reckoned righteous before he was a Jew! -
He was reckoned righteous before Ishmael was born.

Ishmael was the son of his marriage to Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarah. Ishmael
was the progenitor of the Arab race, and the Arabs and the Israelites are not
exactly friends. Incidentally, is it not significant that this act of
disobedience in which Abraham and Sarah did not rely on GOD’s promise but tried
to work it out by themselves produced Ishmael and the Arab, and four thousand
years later at the mid-twentieth century, the Jew and the Arab constitute one of
our knottiest international problems without any solution in sight?

Imagine what a blow that must have been to the Jew who insisted that before a
Gentile could become a Christian he would have to be circumcised, he would have
to be proselytized to Judaism. Many were, a practice which Paul opposed
zealously. In fact, the first church council met to resolve this issue (Acts
15). The Jews were insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised to be in the
faith. Now suddenly Paul drops this bombshell; Abraham was the father of the
uncircumcised before he was the father of the circumcised.

But that is not all. This matter of faith had not only to do with the
righteousness which is a gift of GOD, it had also to do with the deep national
aspirations of Israel. "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the
world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith" (verse 13 following). The devout Jew of Paul’s day had a
very clearly defined eschatology*. Simeon, for example, mentioned earlier, came
into the temple at the time Mary and Joseph entered with the Baby JESUS; and he
took the child in his arms and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart
in peace, according to thy word. (Luke 2:29)" Why? You promised me that I would
see the MESSIAH before I died. I am ready to go, "For mine eyes have seen thy
salvation, Which thou has prepared before the face of all people; A light to
lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

* Eschatology- The doctrine of last or final things.

What was the glory of his people Israel? Never were days so glorious for Israel
as when King David reigned upon his throne. That was the epitome of Israel’s
glory. From that day she declined, and in the heart of every devout Jew who
pondered over the Old Testament there was this desire, this aspiration, this
Messianic conviction that the day would come when another greater than David
would reign upon that throne and Israel would inherit the world. Now Paul is
saying that this promise was not exclusively for the Jew. They seemed not to
have heard all of Abraham’s promise; their attitude was that this promise was
limited to the circumcised. No, circumcision had nothing to do with it except as
a sign. Do you have faith in GOD?. This promise is for all who have faith.

Paul knew whereof he spoke. This is a glorious fact, and what a day to believe
that JESUS CHRIST is the Lord of history, that He holds history in His hand,
that He is ordering history at this very moment to serve His eternal purpose. He
reigns now.

Paul just touches this here; he will deal with it later on in Romans 9, 10 and
11. Then, he argues in verse 14 and 15, if this promise of inheriting the world
were only to those who adhered to the law, faith would be negated and the
promise would be void or meaningless. Why? Because there is only one thing to do
about a promise and that is to believe it. GOD said, "I will," Abraham accepted
it. That settled it. GOD made a promise which Abraham accepted by faith, and he
says the law does not apprehend this promise; all the law can do is to bring
wrath. The blessing promised by GOD to Abraham is universal.

Finally, in the last of this chapter from 16 to 25, Paul becomes very explicit
concerning the faith which GOD reckoned as righteousness in Abraham. It was not
just a vague faith in GOD; everyone has this kind of faith except the atheist -
faith that GOD is good or GOD is love or GOD is omnipotent or omniscient - all
of which is true; but there is something more in the faith which is reckoned as
righteous. Paul’s description begins with verse 17, Abraham believed One Who
"quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they
were." He believed in a GOD who raised the dead, who could create out of
nothing.

The resurrection of JESUS CHRIST and the resurrection of man are the very
fullness of Christian aspiration. We profess that we believe in the
resurrection. There is a loved one whose body you placed in a grave in the hope
that that body would be raised from the dead; that is the heart of the Christian
faith. One great event in history upon which the whole superstructure of
Christian faith rests, which if discredited, renders Christian faith null and
void; that is the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, without which faith is empty.

Paul is zeroing in on the faith reckoned as righteous. It was faith in the GOD
who raised the dead, but the description continues, verse 18, Abraham "against
hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations;
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be." Abraham hoped when it
was hopeless. What was hopeless? Sarah was ninety years old, and he was one
hundred years old; Sarah had never been able to bear a son; now was it not
ridiculous to expect a child to be born to her? It was biologically impossible,
yet GOD said, "Sarah shall have a son!" Verse 19 says, "And being not weak in
faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred
years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb." When he considered the
circumstances, he did not weaken in faith. He chose to believe in GOD instead of
the circumstances, a choice we make continually, and unfortunately, many times
we choose to believe the circumstances instead of GOD’s promise. Abraham
believed the promise.

Analyze our faith, most of the time we believe the circumstances of our own
ingenuity. Face to face with an impossible situation we say, yes, I believe GOD
will do it, but we look for some way we can work it out ourselves, and when we
have exhausted all the possibilities, our faith collapses. We have not believed
GOD at all; we have believed our own resourcefulness. We are like Jacob,
desperately trying to work ourselves out of our dilemmas. But after we have
exhausted all the alternatives, we can be sure GOD has unnumbered ways that
would never occur to us in a million years. He is not limited to a few
alternatives. He has an infinite variety of solutions to your problem.

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief," says Paul, verse 20,
"but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Glorifying GOD in impossible
circumstances, that is how to be strong! Finally, verse 21, for "And being fully
persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." His faith
was related directly to the promise. What promise? That he would become a mighty
nation through a miracle son, Isaac, by the womb of Sarah. This is the reason
faith was reckoned as righteous. There was nothing vague about Abraham’s faith.
But there is still more. Remember when GOD said to Abraham, "Take now thy son,
thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah;
and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will
tell thee of. (Genesis 22:2)" The commentary in Hebrews, chapter 11, is
illuminating, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he
that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was
said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure"
(Hebrews 11:17-19).

Do you recall the occasion when the Sadducees thought they had JESUS on the
horns of a dilemma? The Sadducees were the first century counterpart of our
twentieth century modernists who reject belief in the supernatural, who believe
the grave is the end and there is no life after death. They came to JESUS rather
smugly with what they thought to be an inexplicable problem. One can almost see
them, grinning knowingly, rocking on toes and heels, rubbing their hands
together as they challenge JESUS. "Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s
brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his
brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. (Mark 12:19)"
Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no
seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third
likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died
also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she
be of them? for the seven had her to wife. (Mark 12:20-23)" They really thought
that they had Him.

JESUS’ answer (Mark 12:24-27) was classical. He said to the Sadducees, "Do ye
not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of
God?" Then with painful penetration, "Have ye not read in the book of Moses"
(The Sadducees would be proud of Moses and the law), who called GOD "the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" They lived four hundred
years before Moses, his GOD was theirs who lived four hundred years before him.
Did the great lawgiver believe in the GOD of the dead or the GOD of the living?
The implication is obvious; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living still!

You may believe many things about GOD and remain unsaved, for the faith that GOD
reckons as righteous is faith which sees Him as a GOD Who can raise the dead,
Who indeed demonstrated it when He raised His Son, and Who promises to raise up
us also likewise. The day is coming when these mortal bodies shall be immortal,
when these corruptible bodies shall be incorruptible, and these immortal,
incorruptible, eternal bodies will inherit the world! This Christian faith
embraces as certain. This is our hope!

~ end of chapter 9 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 11: 10 - PEACE WITH GOD
========================================================================

Chapter 10

PEACE WITH GOD

Romans 5:1-11

"Therefore," with which Paul opens chapter 5 refers back to the beginning of the
second major division, the 21st verse of the 3rd chapter. Having shown in
1:18-3:20 that man’s dilemma is sin, he presents GOD’s solution beginning at
Romans 3:21, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets," a theme which he amplifies through
chapter 4. The substance is stated in the last two verses of the 4th chapter;
righteousness "shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up JESUS our
Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for
our justification. (Romans 4:24-25)" Everything that Paul says in chapters 5
through 8 is the application of these redemptive acts, CHRIST crucified for our
transgressions, raised for our justification. The arguments in Romans 5:1-11 can
be summed up in three phrases, the provision of justification, the permanence of
justification, and the proof of justification.

To begin with, Paul sees justification as an accomplished work, "Therefore being
justified," or "since we are justified." Justification is not hypothetical, not
just a vague possibility, but a present reality for him who trusts in JESUS
CHRIST. What are the provisions of justification; what is included in this
profound reality? First of all, it means to be made guiltless. It means to be
absolved as if one had never sinned. It is to have the burden of guilt lifted
and removed.

To be sure, there are those in the Church who do not enjoy this experience for
the same reason that the Pharisees did not because pride will not allow them to
admit failure. JESUS reasoned with them, "They that are whole have no need of
the physician, but they that are sick" (Mark 2:17). "I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). Obviously, the man who will
not acknowledge his sin is not receptive to forgiveness. Guilt will persist
however much he may try to ignore it or squelch it. One of the serious
self-deceptions in life is the attempt that is made to explain away guilt
without dealing with the disease of sin itself, a practice which is deadly
inasmuch as guilt suppressed is infectious, poisoning personality after
sensitivity to it has ceased.

One effect of this is illustrated by the occasion when JESUS was dining with a
Pharisee and his guests, and an infamous woman came to the dinner - a common
enough occurrence in those days when the rabble gathered on the periphery of a
feast to take the crumbs. This woman, you will recall, bathed the feet of JESUS
with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and smothered His feet with her
kisses. The Pharisee in his self-righteousness and hypocrisy grasped this
incident as an opportunity to discredit JESUS. After pointing out to the
Pharisee that the woman had observed the proper amenities he, as host, had
neglected, JESUS made this penetrating observation; her love is great for she
has been forgiven much, "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little"
(Luke 7:47).

Some love JESUS little because they have been forgiven little; not because they
do not need forgiveness, but they would rather endure guilt, try to cover it,
than walk in the light, acknowledge their sin, and receive the forgiveness and
cleansing of GOD. They love little because they have been forgiven little.

But justification means more than the removal of guilt. Justification does not
leave a man morally neutral; it is to be made righteous, to have the
righteousness of CHRIST added. Israel’s King David apprehended this profound
truth, Paul reminds us (Romans 4:6) quoting from Psalms 32:1-2, where David
speaks of righteousness of GOD being imputed. This is an accounting term; GOD’s
righteousness is added to the credit side of the ledger more than balancing
whatever be the debt on the other side. In the words of 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For
he hath made him (CHRIST) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him." Thus it is to be justified; not simply to
be absolved from guilt but literally to be made righteous by JESUS CHRIST, to be
seen by GOD in the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST. When the Father looks at the
justified man, He sees him clothed in the perfection of the Son of GOD. "I will
greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10).

But justification means more than the removal of guilt and imputation of
righteousness. It means to be at peace with GOD! This is more than peace of
mind, which may be very shallow, like a tranquilizer, simply numbing one to
reality as though drugged or anesthetized. Paul is concerned with something
infinitely greater than peace of mind; he is speaking of peace with GOD! The war
is over between man and GOD, and hostility has ceased; there is no longer
alienation and estrangement;reconciliation has taken place. Man, now reconciled
to GOD, is at one with Him. In the last verse of this message Paul says, "by
whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11)" Atonement is to be made
at one with GOD.

Something more, justification is through JESUS CHRIST. Paul will never let us
forget this, He "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification" (Romans 4:25). Also in verse 9, "being now justified by his blood
. . ." Paul never takes this for granted. GOD did not justify us simply because
He loved us! He would have been less than just. Sin must be dealt with. The
penalty must be satisfied. Justice demands it! So the Son bore the penalty;
justice and mercy, righteousness and love met together in His crucifixion.
"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved" (Acts 4:12).

In verse 2 Paul declares, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand." This too is included in justification; we have been granted a
position of favor. Grace is unmerited favor, the operation of which Paul
discusses in verses 6 through 10. We have been given a position of unmerited
favor in which we stand! Firmly, immovable. Notice that Paul says that we have
peace with GOD, we stand in grace; this is a fact, not a theory. In other words,
GOD has introduced into our lives a new relationship which guarantees
perpetuity.

This leads to the second phase, the performance of justification, verses 2
through 4. It has been noted that the word "faith" does not occur again in
Romans until the 9th chapter, the 30th verse, and then it is used in the same
way it has been used up to now, in terms of righteousness through faith. All
that follows from the 5th chapter, 1st verse to the end of the 8th chapter
describes the fruit or results of justification, the inheritance of those who
are justified. Having been justified by faith, that which Paul now discusses,
chapters 6, 7 and 8, shall be true of us.

Implicit in justification is the total redemptive work of GOD; that is,
justification having taken place, the completion of the work of salvation is
absolutely certain. (Php 1:6) Hence, we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God!
(Romans 5:2)" This is an accepted fact, a deferred fact to be sure, but
nevertheless absolutely certain. We glory, or exalt, in a future which is
assured, the justified one will share the glory of GOD. This is inevitable.

Notice that hope is a noun, not a verb. Hope is something we have, not something
we do. Christian faith is not a hope-so proposition. We rejoice in the absolute
certainty of sharing GOD’s glory. Nothing less could satisfy a man who was made
in the image of GOD who was made to live forever. Eternity has been written in
our hearts; only eternity will suffice; eternity with the Lord is certain
because we have been justified.

Nor is that all, for justification has more than future implications. "And not
only so," he says, "but we glory in tribulations also." Thus the down-to-earth
realism of Christian faith, which is relevant here and now. It turns out that
the only rational way to face the realities of life - the tragedy, the
discontinuity, the catastrophic - is by faith in GOD. The justified have the
only answer to the imponderables, the inexplicables, the confusions and
perplexities, the two-horned dilemmas that confront modern man - war, suffering,
disease, misery, starvation. Walk through a children’s hospital; how can one
believe in a GOD of love when little babies suffer? Well, the suffering is a
fact, is it not? Reject the GOD of love, does this make the suffering make
sense? You do not eliminate the fact of misery by rejecting faith in GOD; you
only compound the predicament. Suffering has a ministry in life; we rejoice in
suffering, in affliction, because we know that suffering produces endurance.

The Bible has much to say about endurance, the quality of lasting. What a
difference between the man who crosses the finish line and the one who drops out
of the race ten yards from the tape, between the fighter who fights until the
bell rings and the one who throws in the sponge. What a contrast between the man
who finishes what he begins and the man who is always starting something and
never finishes anything. "tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience." Experience is the product of suffering; the man of quality is the
tested man.

Finally, experience produces hope. You see what Paul is saying, the very
difficulties in life argue for the Christian’s hope. Think of the poetry, the
art, the music, the architecture, the wondrous beauty that has been born out of
suffering. Think of the poverty of art museums and libraries if men had not
suffered. How often men and women remain nominal and casual in their church,
perfunctory in worship, bobbing on the surface of faith until tragedy galvanizes
devotion, sets faith on fire and CHRIST becomes a living reality. Suffering is a
servant of the justified man - a very efficient, fruitful servant.

In these eleven verses Paul has given what might be called the three phases of
redemption. Though indivisible, this three-fold distinction is justification,
freedom from guilt, imputation of righteousness; sanctification, the operation
of righteousness received when justified, or in other words, Christian growth;
and glorification, the resurrection of the body. Justification, the beginning of
the Christian experience; sanctification, the development of the Christian
experience; glorification, the consummation of the Christian experience.
Justification, verse 1; sanctification, suffering which produces experience,
verses 3-4; glorification, sharing the glory of GOD, verse 2.

Romans 5:5 introduces the proof for justification. "And hope maketh not
ashamed." Why? Because GOD’s love becomes a personal reality, for "because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us"; experiential, not just profession or performance, but literally possession.
Paul says in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
that we are the children of God"; something, someone within proving that one is
a child of GOD, the confirmation of the HOLY SPIRIT. Do you have this
confirmation? Is your Christianity an experience, or simply a performance?

One woman testified to the fact that she had been a church member for forty
years but had known JESUS CHRIST only seven weeks. She was on the church rolls;
she believed everything, I suppose, that a Christian is supposed to believe; she
went through the motions of being a Christian without knowing JESUS CHRIST as a
reality in her heart. One great evidence of justification is personal
experience, the reality of the HOLY SPIRIT in one’s own life. Is JESUS CHRIST
real, or is your religion just form, just external? The LORD, addressing the
Church at Sardis says, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead!
(Revelation 3:1)" Church members at Sardis, having the name but not the reality;
Christian in name only, nominal Christians. Is this the extent of your religion,
or are you alive unto GOD in CHRIST?

But the proof of justification is more than a subjective experience.
Justification is rooted and grounded in objective historic fact, and so Paul
sets forth in verses 6 through 10 the logic of grace. He says in verse 8, "God
commendeth his love toward us," GOD shows His love to us, GOD proves His love
toward us. How does He prove it?

Paul argues from the greater to the lesser, from the maximum to the minimum;
verse 9, "being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him" We have been justified; therefore we have no fear of wrath. Justified, no
fear of future wrath; acquitted, no fear of GOD’s future anger or judgment.
Having been made righteous, there is no fear of final retribution, so runs the
logic.

One recalls the words of JESUS, "He that heareth my word and believeth on Him
that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but
is passed from death unto life, (John 5:24)" no fear of future condemnation
because of present fact, he is passed from death to life!

Paul reinforces the proof of justification with three strong propositions: Verse
6, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly." Verse 8, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Verse 10,
"When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." We
were incapable of helping ourselves. He helped us. We were breakers of GOD’s
law, men with a record, He died for us! We were hostile to GOD, enemies, He laid
down His life for us! If GOD did this for us when we were hostile enemies, how
much more now that we have been made friends can we be absolutely certain of
eternal life and glory? Having been justified there is no longer the possibility
of condemnation. We have been absolved from the guilt of past sins. We, the
justified, are absolutely secure in JESUS CHRIST by virtue of His sacrifice on
the cross!

It is interesting to note that Paul uses the word rejoice or exalt three times.
Three things he says in which the Christian, the justified one, rejoices. He
rejoices in the hope of sharing GOD’s glory. Secondly, he rejoices in suffering.
You try it. Rejoice in suffering, and see how the grace of GOD can turn tragedy
into triumph. It will not eliminate the suffering; it will transform it! And
finally, rejoice in GOD! That is the ultimate joy, rejoicing in GOD Himself, not
in His gifts, nor in His benefits, nor in His blessings, but in Him.

We are the bride of CHRIST. What sort of bride is she who loves her husband only
for what she gets out of him? Pity the husband whose wife’s love is so
commercial. This makes sense in marriage, but how many of us are more interested
in GOD’s gifts than in GOD the giver; in the benefits rather than the
benefactor? This is the supreme Christian joy; rejoice in the Lord!

~ end of chapter 10 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 12: 11 - THE NEW RACE
========================================================================

Chapter 11

THE NEW RACE

Romans 5:12-21

This is one of the most difficult passages in Romans because of the language and
because of the theme. Paul has concentrated here tremendous truth, deep and high
and broad. We might entitle this particular portion of Paul’s letter "A Brief
Resume, The Consequences of Sin and the Gift of GOD." It is as though the
apostle arrests the progress of his argument in order to clarify the
universality of sin, covered in the first three chapters, and the efficacy of
GOD’s gracious provision in JESUS CHRIST, covered in chapters 4 and 5, and
continued through chapter 8. Here is another of those sweeping, comprehensive
overviews of which Paul is so amazingly capable. In relatively few words he
frames a philosophy of history and man.

Here is an insight into Paul’s anthropology and the Christian view of history.
He begins by explaining how sin entered the world of man; he does not discuss
the origin of sin but assumes it, showing how it infected humanity. He begins,
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)" No
explanation for the origin of sin, he simply declares that it entered into the
human race through the disobedience of one man, and through that one man passed
upon the whole human race as did death its inevitable consequence. Man was not
able to stop the spread of this sinful infection because all men sin; thus the
infection spread throughout the human race.

Verses 13 through 17 are parenthetical. He raises a subject in verse 13 which
anticipates verses 20 and 21. He says in verse 13, "Until the law sin was in the
world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law; nevertheless, death reigned
from (in the no-law days) Adam to Moses." Why then the law? The answer comes at
the end of the chapter in preparation for chapters 6,7 and 8. The purpose of the
law is to make man aware of his sinfulness, or as he puts it in Romans 5:20,
"that the offence might abound" so that man, aware of his need, might allow the
grace of GOD to abound in his life, a practical theme for later discussion. The
point is that even though there was no law until the time of Moses, sin was in
the world and death by sin.

Remember Paul’s statement concerning Gentiles? In the first chapter he said
there was a law in the human heart identical to that which GOD gave Moses on Mt.
Sinai, and though the Gentiles do not have Moses’ law, they have its essence
written in their hearts. When they disobey this inner law, their conscience
either excuses or accuses them. The law was built into the human heart when GOD
created man. Notice that Paul is talking about sin, not sins. He is talking
about something endemic in the nature of man, not his misdeeds.

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sin as "Any want of conformity to
or transgression of the law of GOD." Since it is more than misbehaving, more
than transgressing GOD’s law, sin means failure to be all that GOD expects us to
be. Sin has to do with man’s nature as well as his conduct, and what Paul is
saying is this, "One act of disobedience by Adam wrought a constitutional change
in human nature, and this constitutional change was transmitted to all of Adam’s
descendants." * In other words Paul is discussing "original sin," he is saying
that men since Adam are born as sinners. Of course this is unacceptable to our
modern world.

* Stifler on Romans

On one occasion, when discussing this in a young marrieds’ class, I used one of
my children as an illustration of "original sin." At the close of the service a
young father who was getting his doctorate in psychology at the University of
California in Los Angeles approached me. He was irked to say the least, that I
had had the temerity to illustrate it with one of my children. When he finished
his criticism, I asked him what he believed. He said he believed babies are born
into the world morally neutral. "Can you demonstrate this?" I asked.

"No," he answered.

"You reject the doctrine of original sin because it cannot be demonstrated, but
you accept this psychological view although it lacks any proof; how do you
explain that?" I asked.

Was not his hostility an example of human aversion to Biblical truth, rising
from a built-in antipathy to GOD which is the essence of what is called
"original sin"? I reminded him that not too many years ago we were being told by
psychologists that babies were born into the world positively good and that only
an unfortunate environment produced bad children. He said, "We don’t believe
that any more!" Psychology seems to get nearer and nearer to the Biblical
doctrine of original sin.

General Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines expressed this view when he said,
"We have harnessed the atom, but we will never make war obsolete until we find
the force that will bridle the passions of men." Bruce Catton, editor of
Heritage Magazine and one of the leading authorities on the Civil War, expressed
it in an address on the theme, "What 1861 Has to Say to 1961," when he pointed
out that the problem in 1861 was identical to the problem in 1961, human nature.
Nothing has happened to change human nature in a century. "All have sinned.
(Romans 3:23)" All are sinners. The Psalmist cried out, "In sin did my mother
conceive me" (Psalms 51:5).

At the end of the 14th verse Paul points out that the first man, whose act of
disobedience transmitted sin and death to the whole human race, was a type of
another who should come; and in verses 15-17 he writes of GOD’s remedy in this
second man, come to cancel the infection which entered through the first man. By
a series of contrasts Paul demonstrates the quality, the strength, the adequacy,
the certainty, of grace in CHRIST. "But not as the offence, so also is the free
gift." Why? Many died through one’s trespass; many have trespassed, and through
one act of righteousness many are made righteous! As the disobedience of one man
brought death to all, the obedience of one brought to many righteousness and
life. The free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin, for the
judgment following one man’s sin brought condemnation, but the many who were
condemned are made righteous by one man’s obedience.

In the same way that this sin and death, transmitted through the first Adam,
affects the whole human race, the grace of GOD in JESUS CHRIST, on the grounds
of His righteousness and obedience, will be transmitted to all who will receive
it. Therefore, if the sin and death which resulted from Adam is certain, the
righteousness and life which comes from JESUS CHRIST are certain. Just as the
whole human race has been infected by Adam’s transgression, so those who will
receive the free gift can be benevolently infused with righteousness and eternal
life. So Paul summarizes, Romans 5:18-19, "Therefore as by the offence of one
judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one
the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be
made righteous." One man’s disobedience, many were made sinners; one man’s
obedience, many will be made righteous.

Consider this passage in four parallels: two men, two acts, two results, two
races. Two men, the first Adam, the last Adam (Adam in the Hebrew is the word
for man); Adam and CHRIST. About these two men the entire human race polarizes.
Two acts: The first, disobedience; the second, obedience. GOD placed the first
Adam in a perfect environment with no inward compulsion to sin, a free moral
agent. Everything around him was an inducement to live righteously, to obey GOD.
There was one restriction, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it" (Genesis 2:17).

Is it not significant that in a perfect environment this one prohibition became
the central preoccupation of our first parents. It was as though they were blind
to the blessing of GOD because here in focus was a prohibition! What a
perversity in the human heart, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil
which I would not, that I do" (Romans 7:19). The very desire or will to do good
somehow stimulates the desire to do evil. There it was, "But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, (Genesis 2:17)" and this
restriction became bigger than all the privileges with which GOD had endowed
their world, and they disobeyed.

The last Adam, entered an imperfect world, a world infected with sin, in which
the consequences of sin had been accumulating for millennia. He too was without
sin, He too could choose, except now the environment was sinful, and He chose to
obey. He said, "the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the
Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)" He said, "Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy
will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7). He said, "I do always those things that please him"
(John 8:29). JESUS was a man. He was a man like Adam with the equivalent choice
but with a great disadvantage because the environment was evil, and He obeyed.
The first Adam disobeyed; the last Adam obeyed. Recall when JESUS came to John
the Baptist to be baptized, and John, humbled before the One whose shoelaces he
was not worthy to stoop down and unloose, declined; but JESUS said, " thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).

JESUS CHRIST could have chosen the way of self-will, He "was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He could have chosen to
obey the devil in the wilderness temptation. He could have chosen on the Mount
of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) to return to His glory rather than surrender
to the ignomy of the cross; but, "being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross!" (Php 2:6-8) He took the long road of obedience from
heaven’s glory to the indescribable shame of death by crucifixion! Obedient,
perfectly obedient, so that when JESUS CHRIST hung on the cross, there was no
sin in Himself that needed to be covered; He was a perfect man as well as GOD, a
perfect mediator between GOD and man.

Two results - the first Adam disobeyed, and sin was transmitted to the whole
human race and death by sin. The last Adam obeyed, and GOD’s grace transmitted
righteousness to all who will receive the free gift and eternal life which
results from this righteousness.

Finally two races. The old man. That race of people who, having the same choice
in a sense which Adam had in the garden, decided against GOD, against CHRIST,
which is the way the choice is manifested today since His advent. Refusing the
free gift of GOD, the way of righteousness, they remain "in Adam," and suffer
eternal separation from GOD. Then there is the second race, The new man. Those
who receive the free gift of grace in JESUS CHRIST, who are made righteous and
who will live eternally in fellowship with the Father. Around these two Adams
polarize the whole human race.

The important thing to see is that every human being has in essence the same
choice that our first parents had in the Garden. "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:16-19).

These two races are eternal races, one living eternally separated from the
Father, the second living eternally in fellowship with Him. The practical point
is, you choose the race to which you will belong. Each of you has this choice.
You decide whether you will continue out into eternity a member of this old race
of which the first Adam who disobeyed, was the progenitor; or having been born
of GOD through the grace that is the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you will be a member of
the new race which lives forever in eternity with the Father.

Years ago a friend, having occasion to take a train trip, got on the train
early, took a window seat, opened his Bible and began to read. As the coach
filled up, the seat beside him was left vacant because "nobody wants to sit
beside a fanatic who reads a Bible in public." Finally the coach was full; and
just before the train pulled out, a man walked into the coach rather jauntily,
whistling, observed the empty seat, the man reading the Bible, walked past.
Suddenly it dawned upon him that the only empty seat was beside the
Bible-reading man; he walked into the next coach, apparently found no empty
seats, and finally the victim of terrible circumstances, he found it necessary
to seat himself on the aisle seat next to the man reading the Bible, but he sat
as close to the aisle as he could. He expected the Bible reader to "nail him."

Nothing happened; my friend was silent, and finally the passenger exploded, and
said, "I suppose you are a preacher!"

My friend said, "Yes, I am a preacher."

Well, this was the worst; imagine a man being a captive audience to a preacher
in a train! Finally the man said, "Suppose you believe GOD is going to send
everybody to hell."

My friend said, "No, I don’t believe GOD will send anybody to hell." The man was
greatly relieved; at least the preacher had a degree of intelligence.

My friend waited a moment; then he said to the man seated beside him, "No sir,
GOD will never send anybody to hell. He has done everything He could to keep men
out. Over the gate of hell is a Cross, and on that Cross is a man, the Son of
GOD. You can’t get into hell without turning aside that man on the Cross. He is
there to keep you out."

That is it, eternity with GOD is contingent upon man’s choice. GOD, who created
man in His image with freedom of will, will not impose even heaven upon man in
violation of that freedom. The way of everlasting life in fellowship with the
Father has been provided in the Son, available to all men. "Whosoever will may.
. .!" What do you will?

~ end of chapter 11 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 13: 12 - THE FREE GIFT OF GOD
========================================================================

Chapter 12

THE FREE GIFT OF GOD

Romans 6:1-14

If sin in the human heart is the basic problem in history from which all other
problems issue, and it certainly is so far as the apostle Paul is concerned,
then what greater gift could GOD give than a full and final solution to the
problem of sin? This is precisely what GOD has done in His Son JESUS CHRIST,
which is why Christmas, rightly understood, is eternally significant. "For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoeverbelievethin him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John
3:16)"

Everything the Apostle Paul is saying to us now can be summed up in this word
"believe." The theme of his epistle is, "The just shall live by faith. (Romans
1:17)" "We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)" "Whosoever
believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)" The
words that we now read in Romans 6, 7 and 8 are really a commentary on this one
word, "believe." How does one believe? What does it mean to believe? How are the
benefits or the fruits of belief appropriated? this is what he is talking about.

The Bible teaches that JESUS CHRIST not only frees from the penalty of sin as
Paul has demonstrated in Romans 5; JESUS CHRIST also frees from the power of
sin, which is the theme of Romans 6, 7 and 8. occasionally it is well to
remember that there were no chapter and verse divisions in Paul’s letter.
Especially ought we to remember that, at this point, because it will help us
ignore the artificial break between chapter 5, verse 21 and chapter 6, verse 1.

As a matter of fact, chapters 6, 7 and 8 begin with Romans 5:20-21, "Moreover
the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by JESUS Christ our Lord" In the
13th verse of the fifth chapter, in sort of a parenthesis within a parenthesis,
the Apostle Paul said that sin was in the world in the pre-law days, that is
from Adam to Moses; but that sin was not imputed (counted or reckoned) where
there was no law. Sin was a fact, and death by sin, but it was not imputed or
reckoned without the law.

In the same sense, for example, it is possible for us to know the symptoms of
the disease, without knowing what the disease is. We may have nausea or a fever
or pain in various parts of our body and yet not have any idea as to the cause.
We see war, racial problems, management and labor disputes, homes and marriages
rent by divorce, juvenile delinquency and crime, drug addiction and alcoholism;
these are the symptoms, but we need something that will reveal to us their
cause. What is the proof of these problems? We need, as it were, an x-ray which
will reveal the source of the trouble in order that we may deal with it.

This is precisely the function of the law. It is like an x-ray which helps us to
know that which causes the wretchedness of humanity and in history. The law came
in to reveal sin not unto condemnation but, on the contrary, in order that the
sinner might know the disease and receive the cure in the grace of GOD through
JESUS CHRIST the Lord. The doctor does not diagnose trouble and then say, "Now
that you know what it is, die by it!" He diagnoses the disease in order that he
may prescribe a cure, and the law is designed to reveal the sin in order that we
might recognize first of all the need for a cure and find that cure in the Lord
JESUS CHRIST. Paul says "the law entered, that the offence (sin) might abound.
(Romans 5:20)"

There are two things to be said here: one is the law did not produce the sin any
more than x-ray produces the disease; and two, it cannot remove the sin. The law
reveals the fact of sin in order that we might find the cure. "The law entered
that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound, (Romans 5:20)" (This is not the end of the sentence). "That as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal
life by JESUS Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)" Chapters 6,7 and 8 follow this
theme, Grace is more than pardon from sin; it is power over sin! Grace is not
just a covering for sin, but the infusion of new life into the believer; that
is, the life of CHRIST - a perfect, sinless, righteous life.

Justification, which Paul talks about inRomans 5, is righteousness imputed or
put to our account on the credit side of the ledger against the debt of sin.
Sanctification is righteousness reigning in the life. The great lesson we need
to learn, and about which Paul is speaking in the next three chapters, is this:
we must learn to appropriate the power of GOD in CHRIST through grace. We must
allow that power, that righteousness, that life to rule us. We must learn to let
His life have its way in us. We must learn to give way to CHRIST in the daily
walk. Or to look at it another way, we need to learn how to receive the gift
that GOD has given, the resources that GOD has given. We fail as Christians not
because we do not try hard enough; we fail because we do not avail ourselves of
the resources of GOD.

You might use the atmosphere as an analogy to grace. Needing breath, you open
your lungs and there is plenty of oxygen available. You cannot store up oxygen
inside very long, only as you need it, can you take it. But it is always
available when needed unless something goes wrong with the breathing apparatus.
Paul is speaking in Romans 6, 7 and 8 about this malfunction of the ego which
causes us to go on in self-confidence instead of recognizing how inadequate self
is and depending upon the resources of GOD in JESUS CHRIST. In other words, just
"breathing in" grace as necessary. We can’t store it up; but it is always
available, however much we need, whenever we need it, whatever the need may be.

There are three problems Paul faces:

The first is a problem of ignorance (it may be pride),

- ignorance of the resources that GOD has made available in CHRIST, - ignorance
of the meaning of grace, - ignorance of the bankruptcy of humanity, - ignorance
of the Adam nature, - ignorance of the inadequacy of the flesh.

JESUS said to the Pharisee, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they
that are sick" (Matthew 9:12). They were filled with their own
self-righteousness, so they did not turn to CHRIST for help.

They have their counterpart in the Church; those who unaware of their own need,
go on in self-delusion until there is a crack-up or tragedy. Then suddenly they
wake up to the fact that they are spiritually ill and need a physician, the
"Great Physician," the Lord JESUS CHRIST. This is the tragic ignorance that
predominates, not only in the world, but in the Church, so that a great number
of church members are literally going on their own steam, literally operating on
their own energies and strength. Thus all the world sees of Christianity is the
best that man can do by his own efforts; they fail to see the grace of GOD
operative in many church members. Paul has to resolve this problem of ignorance
or pride (it could be either or both) in the believer who is unable or refuses
to acknowledge his inadequacy until he comes to the end of the line.

The second problem Paul confronts is this; though failing, one does not depend
on the power of CHRIST because he is preoccupied with the struggle.

The third problem is unwillingness to submit to CHRIST that grace may reign
because it is so easy to yield to the perpetual flirtation of the flesh, inborn
habitual self-centeredness.

Chapter 6 begins with a question, a logical question, raised by the statement in
the 20th verse of the fifth chapter, "where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound" If grace abounds where sin abounds, then why not abound in sin that we
may enjoy more grace? Did not Paul say, "ye are not under the law, but under
grace" (Romans 6:14). If I am no longer under law, I need not fear
transgression. But says Paul, "You are under grace," and grace is an infinitely
greater force for righteousness than law. Law cannot enforce itself; grace can,
as we shall learn in Romans, chapter 8.

Furthermore, Paul is not talking about sins here, that is sinful actions; he is
talking about the genesis of sin, the nature of sin. The law makes me recognize
that I have a sinful nature. I don’t have to commit the act to know I am a
sinner, the law itself reveals this to me that I may turn to grace. The answer
to the question, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1)"
is the strongest negative in the New Testament, "God forbid!" "How shall we,
that are dead to sin, live any longer therein! (Romans 6:2)" This you must
understand, as a Christian you are dead to sin. You do not feel dead; that is
the reason why Paul must inform us.

It is basic to our Christian experience that we realize we were baptized into
CHRIST’s death, and raised to walk in the newness of life. John the Baptist
spoke concerning JESUS, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he
that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matthew 3:11). Paul is
not talking about a rite or a sacrament here; he is talking about the dynamic
act of GOD when the HOLY SPIRIT baptizes or grafts a believer into the body of
JESUS CHRIST, so that the life of CHRIST, the righteousness of CHRIST, is
literally in him; he has been infused with CHRIST’s life. We are united with Him
in His death, and we are united with Him in His resurrection; the old self has
been crucified, that is, the sinful body has been destroyed. We are no longer
enslaved by sin! Or to put it another way, the Adam nature, the hold of the old
nature, has been broken; it has been snapped, severed; therefore, live now in
the new life that CHRIST has provided.

But you say, "Paul, we appreciate everything you are telling us, but it is not
true to the facts; and it does not square with my experience." Which leads up to
the next word, "reckon" or "reliance." Rely upon this knowledge rather than your
feelings. You see this is a matter of faith, "the just shall live by faith," so
he says in verse 11; "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

We may not feel that we have been emancipated from sin, that this Adam nature
has been broken. As a matter of fact this has nothing to do with feeling; it is
a matter of faith in the Word of GOD which declares it to be so. Knowing this,
therefore, we count on the truth of it, live on that basis.

Recall when Paul used Abraham as the supreme example of the just living by
faith, he illustrated it with the birth of Isaac. He says Abraham was "not weak
in faith"; he considered the facts: Sarah was ninety years old and childless,
her womb was barren. He was one hundred years old. These were the facts; the
situation was impossible. But he was "not weak in faith," though he considered
these facts, he was "strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully
persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans
4:19-21)"

Very well, GOD says in His Word, know that we are dead with CHRIST and alive
with CHRIST, that we have been buried with CHRIST and risen with CHRIST, that
the old nature has been crucified. We have been emancipated. The throttlehold of
the Adam nature has been broken. We are free now to live in CHRIST. I do not
feel this, but GOD’s Word says so; therefore, by faith, I rely upon what GOD
says to be true even though my experience seems to contradict it.

One great philosopher said, "Faith is the assent to any proposition on the
credit of the proposer." James M. Stifler says, "To conclude about ourselves
what GOD has declared about us in the Gospel is faith." So in these verses, 3
through 10, the emphasis is on the word knowledge, "know," and in verse 11,
"reckon" or "rely" on what you know because GOD has said so. Rely on this
promise however you feel. Rely on what GOD’s Word says to be true, and you will
discover that it is.

You see, this is one of the very practical problems in the Christian life. We
say that we trust GOD when circumstances are good; but we prove our distrust
when circumstances are contrary, indicating we have been trusting circumstances
rather than GOD all the time. This is the test for faith, the acid test: you
don’t have to have faith in GOD when circumstances are right, the circumstances
sustain you. Faith in GOD has its opportunity when circumstances fail you. It is
this reversal of circumstances which allows faith to be exercised that it may be
virile and strong.

When that first Christmas was ushered in, it was during one of the most corrupt
and depraved times the world has ever known; yet GOD said, "on earth peace, good
will toward men. (Luke 2:14)" That announcement was reality, not illusion. Faith
which is dependent upon circumstances is not Christian faith. Faith is in GOD
and in His ability to do what He has promised, no matter what the circumstances
are like, in you or outside of you. Circumstances to the contrary
notwithstanding, you can rely implicitly upon what GOD says.

Or to look at it another way, before justification I was "dead" to the
availability of GOD’s power in grace, and therefore limited in my resistance to
sin, to my self, my own strength, my own ability. Whenever I was tempted, I had
to fight it alone, and most of the time I was whipped by it; but now, having
been justified, I have been quickened to a new life; I have been made aware of a
new resource in JESUS CHRIST. Having been made aware of this new resource, I am
free at any given moment of any hour of any day to reckon on the new resource,
to appropriate it.

Now a third word, "submission." Paul, because of their ignorance, spiritually
speaking, is going to use a human analogy" (Romans 6:15-23). "I speak after the
manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded
your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now
yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." Whenever you yield
yourself to someone, you are his servant to obey him. You know that you can
become the slave of anyone to whom you surrender. You can become a slave of sin,
which leads to death, which is what you were in your old Adam nature, but from
which you have been emancipated. Its hold having been broken in your life, you
are free now to be a slave to righteousness, which leads to eternal life! The
choice is yours. And furthermore, Paul says, this is the way grace works in your
life, to make you want to choose righteousness. Thus the rationalization - I am
not under law; therefore I may sin because I am under grace - is repudiated.
This is not the way the Christian thinks; grace produces abhorrence to sin and a
desire for righteousness.

You have been reading the Sermon on the Mount for years. One little verse you
have read again and again, and you have been impressed with its beauty; but do
you realize how practical it is? Paul is stating the same truth here in another
way. The verse is, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)" GOD says you provide the
appetite, I will satisfy it! He did not say, "Blessed are they that struggle to
be righteous." He said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst" after it.

This is a clue, you see, to Romans 6. Know that you are dead with CHRIST and
alive in CHRIST, that you have new life flowing through you, life that is
perfectly righteous. Know that this is the power of an endless life! Reckon on
this! Sin will keep protruding; sin will keep lying; sin will keep asserting
itself. The old Adamic nature is constantly making itself felt, but you have
been delivered from it. Know this, count on it, and then yield yourself to
grace, to CHRIST, and become His servant unto righteousness, His slave unto
righteousness. There are many synonyms of this word: "yield" or "submit,"
"relinquish," "let go," "take your hands off," "assent," "acquiesce," "receive,"
"accept," "consent."

Walk by faith in what GOD says to be true, however much your experience
contradicts it. You will find out it is true. You will find out it works. The
power is there, and it is available if you will take it. Actually, this is the
way of Christian action. You may think of Christian action in terms of what you
do for GOD, of what you do for your community, of what you do for other people.
This is the great peril in Christian action movements because they encourage the
old Adamic nature to do the best it can to solve its own problems. But really
authentic Christian action is to know the facts about yourself and the grace of
GOD, rely on those facts, submit yourself to CHRIST. You will find that the
power of an endless life will be operative in you, hour-by-hour,
moment-by-moment, step-by-step if you meet these three conditions. Society
around you will feel the impact of grace working in and through you.

Paul closes this wonderful chapter with a very familiar verse, "The wages of sin
is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life. (Romans 6:23)" If you choose to
yield yourself as a servant of sin to obey it, you get your wages; that is
inevitable, and the wages are death; but the free gift of GOD is eternal life
through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. You see the remarkable thing about this is - we
can have Christmas every day of the year. Christmas every hour of the day.
Christmas every minute of the hour. Christmas every second of every minute by
knowing the facts, reckoning on them and yielding to the reign of CHRIST in
grace and righteousness in our lives!

~ end of chapter 12 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 14: 13 - THE BANKRUPTCY OF MAN'S BEST
========================================================================

Chapter 13 -

THE BANKRUPTCY OF MAN’S BEST

Romans 7:15-25

In the last half of the fifth chapter the apostle spoke of two men, the first
man, Adam (Genesis 1:26), and JESUS CHRIST whom he calls the second Adam, each
the progenitor of a race.

The first Adam transmitted sin and death to all of his descendants by his
original disobedience in the Garden of Eden; JESUS CHRIST, the second Adam,
transmits righteousness and eternal life to all who receive Him. Romans 6, 7 and
8 instruct us how to live as heirs of JESUS CHRIST, as members of the new race,
rather than heirs of Adam, as members of the old race; how to overcome the old
Adamic nature and engage the new nature received when JESUS CHRIST became our
SAVIOUR. In the words of Romans 5:20-21, how to allow grace to reign in our
lives rather than sin. He is expanding his theme to show how "the just shall
live by faith. (Romans 1:17)"

Paul wants it understood that the law given through Moses was not extraneous to
this theme. It was Jewish presumption concerning the law which led her to
spiritual impasse. Having the law was meaningless if it were not obeyed, and the
Jew who had the Ten Commandments was not exempt from obedience any more than the
Gentile who has the same law engraved on his conscience. It is the doer of the
law who is justified before GOD, and no man keeps the law; therefore, he
concludes, by the law shall no flesh, Jew or Gentile, be justified.

This raises the question, What purpose then the law that GOD gave Moses? He
answers (Romans 5:13), "sin is not imputed when there is no law," and (Romans
5:20) "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound." The purpose of
the law was to expose sin, as, for example, x-ray exposes disease. This exposure
of sin by the law was not unto condemnation and death any more than the exposure
by the x-ray is to death. The x-ray is in order to diagnose; thus GOD gave the
law that man might recognize his sin and find the cure in JESUS CHRIST; in
Paul’s words (Romans 5:20-21), "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might
abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal
life by Jesus Christ our Lord." As the old Adamic nature reigned unto death, now
let the new CHRIST nature reign unto life! As you were a slave to your Adam
nature, now become a servant to the new CHRIST nature since you have been
regenerated.

Romans 7 is a commentary on Romans 5:20, "Moreover the law entered, that the
offence might abound." Romans 8, the first seventeen verses, amplifiest the
second half of the principle (Romans 5:20-21), "But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life."

Speaking to those who know the law, Paul opens Romans 7 (verses 1-6) using
marriage to illustrate the principle of death which he discusses in chapter 6.
Who does he mean by "I speak to them that know the law?" He certainly does not
mean only the Jew, for he has already pointed out the Jew and Gentile are in the
same condition. No, he is speaking now to the Christian as contrasted to the
non-Christian, Jew or Gentile. Those who are not Christian do not know the law,
a very significant fact, by the way. Paul says in the seventh chapter, "I was
alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I
died. (Romans 7:9)" When was Paul alive without the law?

Recall his testimony in Philippians, chapter 3, for example, "If any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised
the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of
the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Php 3:4-6)"
From his childhood he knew the law. He knew it better than his contemporaries,
took it more seriously than they, struggled desperately to keep it, declared in
fact, that insofar as the law was concerned, he was blameless.

Now this same man cries out in the end of chapter 7, "O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?." Indeed he says as much in
the testimony in Philippians, "what things were gain to me, those I counted loss
for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss. (Php 3:7-8)" What
are the "all things" he is talking about? His religious achievements, his moral
and ethical achievements. "For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Php 3:8-9)"

In other words, until Paul met JESUS CHRIST on the road to Damascus, he did not
know the law; he only thought he did. We have his modern counterpart in the
Gentile who says rather smugly, the Sermon on the Mount is my religion, or, the
Golden Rule is my religion. One man said in a service club meeting some time
ago, "Just give me the Sermon on the Mount and the Golden Rule, and you can
throw away the rest of the Bible!" You can almost feel the smugness, the
complacency, the egotistical satisfaction of a man who talks like that.

What is wrong with such thinking? The same thing was wrong with Paul before he
met CHRIST on the road to Damascus. It is self-deception. It reveals that one
does not know the law nor understand it. I have never met a man yet who lives up
to the Golden Rule, have you? He boasts of it as his religion in exactly the
same way the Jew boasted in the law! They did not keep it, but that seemed to be
unimportant; they had it! I have the Golden Rule, but do I live up to it? No man
does! "The Sermon on the Mount is my religion." Have you ever really considered
the Sermon on the Mount? Just take one verse out of it, "Blessed are the pure in
heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)" Purity within, not conduct, nor
conversation, JESUS talked about an inward condition. How many times have our
hearts held desires that we would never dare to share with a most intimate
friend? Anyone who embracest the Sermon on the Mount, who takes it seriously and
tries to live up to it, will be led to despair.

Occasionally, he may achieve some virtue and be proud of it, but then pride is
the root sin; most of the time he will be filled with despair over failure. Who
does not pillow his head night after night with this sense of self-failure! We
will not even make New Year’s resolutions any more because they are meaningless
after the first twenty-four hours! Before conversion, virtue to Paul was
relative as he compared himself with others; he felt he was doing as well as
any, better than most. So we, comparing ourselves with ourselves, conclude that
we are doing pretty well! Having been raised in what we call the Christian ethic
or roughly, the Christian culture, we feel that we are managing our lives as
well as the average. There are some who may live better than we, but we do as
well as most, and we settle for a comfortable average in morals and ethics. But
the average is tragically low.

To illustrate further, for every person that is in church on an average Sunday
morning, there are five or ten who are not. Why are they not in church? One
reason is that they observe the lives of church-goers and cannot see any
difference. They reason consciously or unconsciously, "I can’t understand why a
man wants to waste an hour and fifteen minutes sitting in a pew on Sunday
morning when he could be reading the paper or playing golf or raking the lawn or
just sleeping in. Why should a man get up for church every Sunday!"

You may have heard of the little boy who said, "Mother, I am eight feet tall!"

"Eight feet tall," she said, "how did you measure yourself?" He showed her a
six-inch ruler.

We measure ourselves with our little six-inch rulers and are quite
self-satisfied; but when we perceive the perfect law of GOD and measure
ourselves against it, we are reduced to size. That is what happened to Paul on
the road to Damascus. "The law entered... sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:9)"
That must happen to every man, Jew or Gentile, before he understands law or
grace. Up until that moment he will live his life more or less satisfied with
his own virtue.

Paul says, I am writing to Christians who know the law. He is instructing
Christians; this instruction is not for non-Christians. In giving the place of
the law he uses the analogy of marriage. A woman is bound to her husband
according to the law of marriage as long as the husband is alive. When he dies,
she is free to marry another; but as long as the husband lives, should she marry
another, she commits adultery. We were, so to speak, married to the law in the
old Adamic nature. We did not know it, perhaps, and were complacent;
nevertheless, we were under it. Even in the pre-law days, from Adam to Moses,
sin and death reigned over those who did not have the law.

Now (Romans 6:14) we are no longer under the law but under grace. We are no
longer bound by the law; we are bound by grace. We are no longer enslaved by the
law; we are enslaved by grace, which is exactly the phrase he uses at the end of
the sixth chapter, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to
God. (Romans 6:22)" In other words, yield yourselves to this new nature which
you received in JESUS CHRIST, inasmuch as you are no longer enslaved by the old
nature which you received from Adam.

But he goes a step further. He points out that the law not only exposes sin, it
actually triggers sin, aggravates sin. In verse 5 he says, while we were living
in the flesh, our sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our members
to bear fruit for death. Then verse 8, but "But sin, taking occasion by the
commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin
was dead." Apart from the law sin may be inactive, but somehow the law excites
sin, induces it. Verse 11, "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me, and by it slew me." And finally verse 21, "I find then a law, that,
when I would do good, evil is present with me." Paul is simply saying this:
there is that about human nature which, when you tell it it can not, it wants
to!

There was Adam in the Garden, placed by GOD in a perfect environment and told,
everything is yours except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, don’t
touch it. That prohibition immediately became the central preoccupation in the
midst of their perfect freedom, and the fruit became a necessity. You as parents
know that the surest way to get your children to do some? thing is to tell them
they cannot. Wise the parent who has learned this. This is the Adamic nature,
and this is the reason that law cannot help us; it just aggravates this nature.

The law is incapable of saving, and the reason for this is discussed in the last
half of the chapter; it is the Adam nature. "For I know that in me (that is, in
my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but
the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no
more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

How many, many times have you been tempted; you knew it was wrong; you did not
want to do it; you thought of the consequences, but you did it. "For I know that
in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing." Now when he says "flesh"
he is not referring merely to the physical body but to this Adamic nature, man’s
sinful nature; the contradictory streak which makes a man do what he abhors,
fail to do what is right. "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil
which I would not, that I do." I can will what is right but I cannot do it. You
might as well give up on New Year’s resolutions.

"Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth
in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in
my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members." There it is. This is the frustration
of man, from the first generation to this, in spite of all of the devices, the
schemes he invents by which to ignore this fact in his life.

This is one reason for alcoholism, the escape from reality. This is one reason
men keep inordinately busy; they do not want to think about themselves. This is
one reason people escape into pleasure, into society, to for? get self; and when
they are no longer able to hide, if they can afford it, they go to a
psychiatrist. Or they may take their life, which is not an escape, for they just
change their location. Paul is describing what man is like in the old Adamic
nature, but he is also showing us we need not any longer be bound; we have been
released, emancipated by the power of GOD in JESUS CHRIST.

The late Dr. Cyril E. M. Joad was one of Britain’s famous and popular
free-thinking philosophers. He had a reputation for "cynical dissection of man’s
pride and accomplishments." He was one of the most zealous church-baiting
agnostics in Britain. He testified:

"Sin and evil I dismissed as the incidental accomplishment of man’s imperfect
development. The evil in man was due, I had been taught, either to economic
circumstances or psychological circumstances. For were not psychoanalysts
telling me that all of the regressive, aggressive, or inhibited tendencies of
human nature were due to the unfortunate psychological environment of one’s
early childhood? The implications were obvious. Remove the circumstances and
trust children to psychoanalyzed nurses and teachers, then virtue would reign."

The solution to the problem - war, racial tensions, management and labor strife,
divorce, crime, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction, alcoholism - is to expose
children to psychoanalyzed nurses and teachers. He goes on,

"I have come flatly to disbelieve all of this. I see now that evil is endemic in
man (that’s what Paul is saying inRomans 7) and that the Christian doctrine of
original sin expresses deep and essential insight into human nature. Once I got
as far as this it seemed there was nothing to be lost and everything to be
gained by going the whole way. What better hope was offered than by the
Christian doctrine that GOD sent His Son into this world to save sinners."

Paul is talking about three kinds of people, those who know not the law. They
may know about the law, may say "the Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments
or the Golden Rule is my religion." Keeping the law is immaterial; having the
law is religion. What a shallow, transparent, defensive device is this; yet men
hold it, good men, intelligent men. They do not know the law; they do not
understand the Sermon on the Mount or the Golden Rule; they do not have the
slightest comprehension of the Hebrew-Christian ethic, of the morality of GOD;
they settle for mediocrity in the moral realm, mere respectability. They are
moral, ethical vegetables.

Secondly, those who have been quickened by the grace of GOD to understand the
law, who realize they are sinners and cannot save themselves, who recognize in
JESUS CHRIST their solution and accept the grace of GOD in CHRIST as a remedy
and live daily on this basis. Whenever such a one finds sin asserting itself in
his life, he knows it is useless to resist in his own strength, which is the
Adam nature; he acknowledges his weakness, the bankruptcy of the old nature
transmitted through Adam and the adequacy of the new nature transmitted in JESUS
CHRIST. He submits himself to the new nature, allowing it to reign in grace and
righteousness to eternal life.

The third kind is the man who has been illuminated by the law and knows that he
is a failure; but instead of coming to the Lord JESUS CHRIST, he either takes
pride in his failure, boasts of his sin, becomes an articulate infidel and
pagan; and the only defense he makes against failure is to act as if it does not
bother him. (What a bully, what a loudmouth and what a profane man he becomes!);
or, having been made aware of his failure; and either because he is uninstructed
or though instructed, because of pride or some other reason, he will not come to
CHRIST for forgiveness and cleansing.

Yet he cannot stand the sense of failure so he escapes, maybe into more sin or
liquor, or busyness working night and day, or he runs off to conventions and
conferences or loads his life with pleasure. He labors to stop the gnawing
guilt. If he can afford it, he may consult a psychiatrist and may be told this
guilt is artificial, false, adolescent.

Perhaps someone reading this fits this description. The law has illuminated your
heart and you know that you are a sinner; you are living a defeated life, not
because of your sin but because somehow, for some reason, you will not let grace
reign in your heart through JESUS CHRIST. I invite you to move rapidly from
Romans 7:25 into the experience Paul describes in the first four verses of
Chapter 8.

~ end of chapter 13 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 15: 14 - THE LAW OF LIFE
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Chapter 14 -

THE LAW OF LIFE

Romans 8:1-17

Paul concluded in the middle of the third chapter, verse 20, "Therefore by the
deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight"; immediately
thereafter he pointed out that GOD’s righteousness has been manifested "without
the deeds of the law" in the Gospel, and that this righteousness of GOD is to be
received by faith. Righteousness is not a goal to be achieved; it is a gift to
be received.

The proposition stated, Romans 3:21-31, is illustrated with Abraham and David,
chapter 4, and applied, chapters 5 through 8. Hence the "therefore" by which
Paul begins Romans 8, refers back to everything he has said beginning at the
21st verse of the 3rd chapter. In a more specific sense (8:4), the "therefore"
in 8:1 refers to the last verse of the 7th chapter, but it is important to see
8:1-17 in its relation to 3:21 following.

In other words, Romans 8 does not introduce a new theme; Paul is penetrating
more deeply into the subject of chapters 5,6 and 7, enunciating the same truths,
exploring the same propositions, applying the same principles.

These principles are first, the inadequacy of human nature; secondly, the
adequacy of JESUS CHRIST; and thirdly, the application of CHRIST’s adequacy.
That is to say, in Romans 8 Paul is exploring to greater depth the practice of
justification by faith. He begins, "There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ JESUS. (Romans 8:1)"

The "now," incidentally, is not used chronologically as though Paul were saying,
there is no condemnation at this moment though there may be in the future; but
rather, "Now therefore, on the basis of what I have already written," because of
these facts, there is no condemnation. The man in CHRIST is free from the threat
of condemnation forever, no fear of the consequences of my sin and failure,
ever. The condemnation has been lifted and I am free from it.

It may help to work our way through this rather complicated argument by asking
some simple but basic questions as we go along. The first question, what does
Paul mean when he uses the phrase "in Christ"? What does it mean to be "in
Christ," "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ."
You will recall in Romans 5:12-21, Paul referred to two men, the first Adam and
the second Adam, that is, Adam and CHRIST; two acts, disobedience and obedience;
two results, sin and death as a result of Adam’s disobedience, righteousness and
life as a result of CHRIST’s obedience; and two races of people. The whole human
race polarizes around these two men, those who are in Adam by necessity of
birth, and those who are in CHRIST because they have chosen Him.

A word about original sin is in order; it is not to be thought of in terms of
conduct, but of choice. When the Bible uses the word sin (singular), it is not
talking about the misdeeds of men but rather man’s choice against GOD, man’s
self-alienation from GOD. To illustrate, when one hears the Gospel and refuses
it, that is in the nature of original sin. John puts it this way in the 3rd
chapter of his Gospel, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. (John 3:19)" You may argue with this doctrine of original sin, but it is
more than dogma or theory.

If you can find any better way to explain what is wrong with mankind, be assured
that thoughtful Christians will welcome any other adequate explanation or
diagnosis of mankind’s dilemma.

Meanwhile, Paul’s explanation has proven to be thoroughly consistent with things
as they are. Our interest in original sin is not academic, any more than a
doctor’s interest in a diagnosis is academic. Diagnosis is supremely important
because it makes a difference as to whether or not the proper cure will be
applied; therefore, instead of considering original sin as a dogma to be
accepted theologically, think of it as GOD’s diagnosis as to what is wrong with
the world.

As history unfolds, we become increasingly aware that what the Bible teaches
about the sinfulness endemic in human nature is most realistic.

The Bible says Adam disobeyed GOD, his sin and its consequences were transmitted
to all his descendants. JESUS obeyed GOD, His righteousness and its reward,
eternal life, are transmitted to all who accept Him. As all men are in Adam,
therefore; so all Christians are in CHRIST. "In Adam" is to have a sinful nature
which leads to death. "In Christ" is to have a new righteous nature which leads
to life.

JESUS CHRIST became fully man in order that as we were one with Adam, we might
be one with Him; as we were involved in Adam’s sin, we are now involved in
JESUS’ perfection. "In Adam" man broke GOD’s law; "in JESUS" man obeyed GOD. Man
is lost because he is involved in Adam’s transgression; man is saved who is
involved in CHRIST’s righteousness by faith in His life and work and Word. This
then is what it means to be "in CHRIST," to trust Him, to believe in Him, to
accept the gift of righteousness which He provides.

Another question: How is it possible that there is "no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus"? You will recall in Romans 5:20-21 Paul said, "the
law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life by JESUS Christ our Lord."

That is the theme of 8:2, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ JESUS hath
made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2 is another way of saying
Romans 5:20-21. "The law of sin and death" is identical with "sin hath reigned
unto death"; "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ JESUS" is identical with
"grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life." The word "law" here is
not used in the sense of ordinance or statute but as we speak of the law of
gravity.

The next question, how does this work? How does the law of "the Spirit of life
in Christ JESUS hath made me free from the law of sin and death," or how does
"grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life" and free me from sin’s
reign unto death? The answer is given in verses 3 and 4: "For what the law could
not do, in that it was weak through the flesh" that is, because of sinful human
nature. GOD has done it! This is basic - it is GOD’s doing.

In Ephesians 2:8-10 Paul declares, "by grace are ye saved through faith . . . it
is the gift of GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are His
workmanship, created in Christ JESUS unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them." We are "GOD’s workmanship!" A Christian
is GOD’s doing. No man can make himself a Christian. GOD’s business is to make
Christians, only He can do it. "GOD has done it!"

We have it all turned around, you see, Christianity has become for us what man
does for GOD, what he does for his fellow man, and what he does for himself.

Christianity has become piety, doing something for GOD; religion, doing
something for GOD; liturgy, doing something for GOD. Or it has become sociology,
man doing something for his fellow man. Or it has become psychology, doing
something for oneself. But this is not authentic Christianity. Christianity is
the antithesis of this man-centered effort. Christianity is man recognizing his
own inadequacy, the sufficiency of GOD’s provision in JESUS CHRIST, and its
acceptance by faith. GOD has done it! You accept it! The law could not do it,
not because there was anything wrong with the law, but because of the "weakness
of flesh."

This raises the question, what does Paul mean by "flesh"? He is not referring to
the physical body; he means "human nature in its vulnerability to sin and
temptation": (Stifler); that part of man which gives sin its chance, its
bridgehead. He means everything that attaches a man to the world instead of to
GOD.

To live according to the flesh is to live a worldly life, to live a life
dominated by the dictates and the desires of sinful human nature instead of a
life dominated by the love of GOD. We have made worldliness in the Church a
matter of smoking, drinking, going to dances and the theater, and so forth.
Therefore, if one does not drink and dance and smoke and go to shows, he is not
worldly! Some have carried it further; cosmetics are worldly; a certain way of
dress is worldly. We have made worldliness a matter of externals. But the Word
of GOD defines worldliness as inward.

In the words of John, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the
pride of life. (1 John 2:16)" You may not smoke nor drink nor dance nor play
cards nor go to the theater and still be extremely worldly. The very purpose for
refraining from so-called worldly practices may in itself be worldly. You may
separate yourself entirely from the world, isolate yourself from its
entertainments and still be worldly. When the family down the street gets a new
car and you think you must have a new car, that is worldliness.

When you go to someone’s home and you are impressed with the lovely furniture
and the thick carpets, and you think, "the next thing we are going to do is to
change the carpet and buy new furniture," that is worldliness. When these
concerns dominate the life, this is the "flesh," this is carnality. And because
of this element in man’s nature, the law cannot save him. Man is congenitally
the slave of this "flesh."

Then how does GOD do for man what he is incapable of doing for himself? "Sending
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh"; (Romans 8:3) He destroyed it, neutralized its power.

JESUS CHRIST was the second Adam. He entered history, faced the same choice as
the first Adam; He obeyed, where the first Adam had disobeyed; therefore He was
perfect. He obeyed GOD every time He had a choice; He was perfect in His
obedience. Then He died on a cross as though guilty of Adam’s sin! He took upon
Himself the sin of the whole human race, He poured out His life upon the cross
of Calvary, a sacrifice (expiation) for sin.

Now CHRIST dwells in those who accept Him. Men who reject Him remain in Adam.
Available to all, His power is efficacious for those who accept Him, obviously.
That tempting drinking fountain in the hall, electric so the water is ice-cold,
is for everybody. If you refuse to use it, your thirst remains; but that does
not alter the fact that it quenches thirst. The fountain is for all but
efficacious only for those who drink.

In verse 2 Paul says, "the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the
law of sin and death." The law of sin and death works like the law of gravity,
holding man to the ground, spiritually speaking. You can not break this law;
try, and it will break you. Jump out of the Empire State Building in disregard
of the law of gravity, whether you believe the law or not it will destroy you.

You cannot break the law of gravity! But you can introduce another law, the law
of aerodynamics, and fly! In the same way "the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ JESUS" has broken the hold of the "law of sin and death," and I am free
of the law of sin in Adam. This is Paul’s theme in Romans 6, illustrated from
his own experience, in chapter 7. Therefore, he says in Romans 8:4, the
"righteousness of the law," is "fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit." In other words, the way to be a victorious Christian, in
fact, is to walk after the Spirit instead of after the flesh.

The secret of living the Christian life is not self-improvement by righteous
discipline and self effort, the secret is to walk after the Spirit. If you have
a bad habit, the way to break it is not by sheer effort, which results most
often in failure (though some certainly succeed); the way to break a bad habit
is to walk in the Spirit. If you are constantly victimized by a certain
temptation, growing weary of it, humiliated by it, and you pillow your head
night after night having capitulated to the same temptation, the way to break it
is not by some heroic struggle but to walk in the Spirit.

This suggests an important insight into the new birth. Paul testifies at the end
of Romans 7 "with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the
law of sin. (Romans 7:25)" Some radical change has occurred in Paul’s mind as a
result of the new birth, for in Ephesians 2:3 he describes those outside of
CHRIST, the natural man, the man still in Adam, as obeying the "desires of the
flesh and of the mind." That is, the desires of flesh and mind agree in
unregenerate man. But now (Romans 7:25) he says, "with the mind I myself serve
the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Mind and flesh are opposed.
When a man is born of GOD, his mind is transformed. (Mind here is more than
intellect; it is the whole man in his unity, the whole personality.) The body is
just a house, a tabernacle, in which he dwells during his earthly pilgrimage.
The person occupying that body is changed by the power of GOD while the flesh
principle remains the same; it still continues to serve the law of sin and will
until the day the body is put into the grave.

Paul indicates, therefore, that there is no reason to expect this flesh to be
any different because nothing happens to it by regeneration. That is to say, I
am no less subject to temptation today than twenty-six years ago before I
accepted CHRIST and was born of GOD. As a matter of fact, some temptations are
more insistent now than they were then. My flesh is the same; the same sinful
desires await their opportunity to spring into action, but now with the mind I
serve the law of GOD; I have a new mind, a new purpose, new motivation, new
loyalty. I desire to live for GOD as a result of spiritual birth. I have been
emancipated from the flesh by the power of GOD.

This brings us to a further question; what is it then to walk in the flesh and
to walk in the Spirit? Paul describes it here in a very interesting way. It is
to "mind the things of the flesh". (Romans 8:5) To live according to the flesh
is to "set your mind" on the things of the flesh. Tony Fontane, the young
singer, bought a new Cadillac on an average of every nine months; his wife had
to have a white mink stole and a white mink coat; they had to be covered with
jewelry; they lived in an $85,000 home in Beverly Hills. This was normal. Then
came the automobile accident, as a result of which Tony was converted. He
believed that GOD was calling him to sing the Gospel; he lost his home in
Beverly Hills, and today Tony and his wife and ten-year-old daughter are living
with the wife’s parents. The white mink stole and coat are gone, and the
Cadillacs are gone. They had "set their minds" on mink and Cadillac’s and an
$85,000 home; they were living according to the flesh. Now they have "set their
minds" on the Spirit.

Something must be said here that is very important.

Someone is reading this whom GOD has prospered; you live in a good home, and you
drive a big car. Thank GOD for it! This does not necessarily mean that you are
living according to the flesh. If GOD did not have some people like you in homes
like you have, other people in homes like that might not be reached. He has put
you there for that purpose. Some people can live in a hovel and be more
preoccupied, have the mind more set on things than people who live in a mansion.
JESUS said it is the love of these things - not the things themselves. GOD
prospers men for His own glory. Thank GOD for what He has given you, the lovely
home, your new car, but do not set the mind on these things. Those who live
according to the Spirit "mind... the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)"

Remember JESUS’ counsel in the Sermon on the Mount, "seek ye first the kingdom
of GOD and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)" That is, set your mind on the
kingdom of GOD and His righteousness; these other things will follow in His
providence. If you are a man who has the ability to make $100,000 a year,
setting your mind on the things of the Spirit is not going to damage that
ability; if anything, it will sharpen it, enhance it, purify it. You may be able
to make $150,000 a year and you will use it GOD’s way. Set the mind on the
Spirit. One way leads to death; the other way leads to life. The set of the mind
is the clue.

I remember the first time I saw sailboats. I was born and reared in North
Dakota; sailboats were unfamiliar in my youth. One day, driving along the
Pacific coast, we came upon a large lagoon in which about seventy-five boats
were sailing. Never having seen a boat under sail, I stopped the car and was
amazed by the phenomenon of many boats blown by the same wind yet going in every
direction. I thought to myself, how is this possible? Of course this seems naive
to sophisticated people, but to me, even at twenty, it was an amazing thing.
What made the difference? How could these many sailboats thus by the same wind
go in all directions?

It was the set of the sail; the rudder helped, but it was the set of the sail.
So it is in the Christian life; set your mind on the Spirit; let the winds of
temptation, the winds of tragedy, the winds of difficulty, the winds of
circumstance blow against your life; they will blow you on course. Set your mind
on the things of the flesh even when favorable winds blow; they will blow you to
ultimate destruction. It is the set of the mind that counts.

One step further Paul takes us when he says, "the carnal mind is enmity against
God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans
8:7)" As a matter of fact it is incapable of submitting to GOD. That is the
reason JESUS said it is "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24)" Not
because he is rich; that is not the problem, but because he has set his mind on
the riches, and his mind therefore is hostile to GOD’s way. The mind set on the
flesh is not able to please GOD, he concludes in verse 8. In verses 9, 10 and 11
he hastens to reassure those who are in CHRIST that they are in the Spirit and
not in the flesh because he knows from personal experience, as he has testified
in chapter 7, that the Christian is going to be discouraged again and again by
the stubborn death-throes of the flesh.

Paul knows the Christian is going to think that Romans 8 is unrealistic and
contrary to the facts because he has gone through it himself. He is concerned
that each Christian know that to be "in CHRIST" is to have the SPIRIT of CHRIST
whether he feels like it or not. The important thing is to believe GOD’s Word,
not feelings. The hardest thing a pilot who has flown by the "seat of his pants"
has to learn when they put him on instruments, is to obey the instruments
instead of his feelings. Men have cracked up when the instruments said one thing
and they believed the way they felt instead. The spirit of man may crack up as
well doing what his feelings dictate rather than that which the instruments
indicate.

Paul is urging, do not believe your feelings, believe the instrument of GOD’s
Word. If you are in CHRIST, you have the Spirit; if you do not have the Spirit,
you are not in CHRIST. To be in CHRIST is to have His Spirit; this is
inevitable. If CHRIST is in you, His SPIRIT is in you. Believe it!

Before closing this passage, Paul anticipates the glorious hope of the
Christian, "if the Spirit of him that raised up JESUS from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you, (Romans 8:11)" that is, raise your
mortal bodies from the dead. You see, this redemption that is in CHRIST, this
righteousness that is in JESUS CHRIST, is not just for the soul of man; it is
for the body as well. What a day that is going to be when the graves of
Christians are opened, when the little urns holding cremated ashes crack and
break, and brand-new bodies, immortal and incorruptible, rise from those graves
and urns at the coming again of JESUS CHRIST! That is the great hope of the
Church.

Paul’s conclusion, verses 12 to the end of our passage, is this: "we are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (Romans 8:12)" You say, "I
feel like I am." Of course you do, argues Paul, so did I, that is what I express
in Romans 7, but you are not. You have been liberated by "the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ JESUS." Remember his instructions in Romans 6? Know this to be
true, reckon it, and then yield to the reign of CHRIST. Once more he enunciates
these great affirmations: these things are true, know it, believe it, depend on
it, and you will find it works.

I come to the church late of an evening. It is dark. I want to get something
from the auditorium, and I go to the light switch believing that if I flick that
switch, the auditorium will be flooded with light. Imagine someone with me who
has never seen electricity. I say, push that button and the darkness will
disappear and this room will be filled with light. He says, how can this be,
surely it is not that simple. But it is, and he flicks the switch and there is
light.

Now Paul is saying, listen, it is dark, and your flesh is terribly powerful; you
have desires and temptations that embarrass and humiliate you even if nobody
else knows about them. You know you are not the man you ought to be. I have
great sympathy for this human condition so real in myself, Paul says as he
cries, "Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this
death? (Romans 7:24)" But there is a solution, I know on the authority of GOD’s
Word that we have been liberated; there is a power resident in us identical to
that power which raised the Son of GOD from the grave. Push the button of choice
or decision; that power is operative instantly as you will discover; reckon on
it and yield. It is really wonderful! It is for everyone of us. Quit struggling,
quit trying, start trusting, and the result will obtain. We are heirs of GOD
because "ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(Romans 8:15)" We are children of GOD; and if we are children of GOD, we are
heirs; if heirs of GOD, we are "joint-heirs with Christ, (Romans 8:17)" which
means that we may share now in His power as we are going to share in His glory.

~ end of chapter 14 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 16: 15 - HISTORY'S PAINFUL WAITING
========================================================================

Chapter 15 -

HISTORY’S PAINFUL WAITING

Romans 8:18-25

Here is one of the most timely passages in Romans, so relevant to the present
world situation. It is an exciting glimpse into Paul’s philosophy of history;
one of his definite insights into the Biblical view of history. It is important
for us today in the light of the world’s confusion and convulsion to know that
GOD rules, that what is happening is the fulfillment of His purpose in history.

Paul begins, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Think of three
words in conjunction with this passage: suffering, longing and glory. The
suffering about which Paul speaks is not that which is commonly identified as
suffering: difficulties in life, tragedies, reverses, illness, crippling,
diseases. These are implicit in what he is saying, but he is thinking about a
suffering which is more basic, which he refers to later as "the bondage of
corruption," to which the whole creation is subject. Because of man’s sin in the
Garden, the whole created universe, all that is in the universe, has been
cursed. You will find this in the 17th verse of the 3rd chapter of Genesis,
"Unto Adam he said, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, and
hast eaten of the tree... cursed is the ground for thy sake; In sorrow shalt
thou eat of it all the days of thy life. (Genesis 3:17)" The whole created
universe is suffering because of man’s first disobedience.

What is the nature of this suffering? It is emptiness, futility, frustration. It
is exquisitely demonstrated by history’s dilemma in this modern, sophisticated,
progressive mid-twentieth century with its accumulated knowledge and experience
of the ages and its stubbornly persistent compounded problems. Our libraries are
filled with volumes written by experts on marriage and the home; daily papers
carry columns dispensing free advice to husbands and wives; marriage clinics and
counselors abound, and divorce increases. Alcoholic research by universities,
church and social welfare agencies has given deep insights to the cause and cure
of alcoholism; meanwhile in America alcoholics increase at the rate of fifty an
hour, twelve hundred daily, seventy percent of them women.

It is an age of psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and
psychosomatics; yet our mental hospitals are bursting with patients. There is
never enough room for those needing care, and mental illness is claiming more
and more victims while millions of dollars are spent annually on tranquilizers
and stimulants.

Giant advances have been made in child psychology and understanding; social
workers specialize in juvenile problems; juvenile courts and agencies are
dedicated to youth while every major city has its share of guidance counselors
and youth leaders; in spite of which delinquency is increasing with alarming
rapidity. Criminology has become a science as has the rehabilitation of the
criminal; yet crime is increasing at a rate greater than the population
explosion.

Modern developments in agricultural sciences and machinery have forced the
curtailment of production; yet millions of humans go from the cradle to the
grave without ever knowing the luxury of a full stomach. The peoples of the
world long for peace; the United Nations rises out of the ruins of an abortive
League of Nations; yet we have had two world wars in a quarter century and the
only peace known today is a "truce of terror," and "immoral deadlock," a cold
war. Humanity is in foment, boiling with desire for personal dignity, equality,
freedom and independence; yet more than one-third of the world’s population
languishes under government paternalism and tyranny. With all our alliances and
the discussion negotiation and pontification about one world and a united
mankind, the world is tragically disunited; two Germanies, two Chinas, two
Koreas, two Viet Nams, more than fifty new independent nations since 1945; and
increasing tension and rift within both the Communistic bloc and the free world.

In science and technology we have progressed beyond our wildest dreams; yet the
consummate product of this progress constitutes a major threat to the survival
of civilization. How smart are we anyway? We take one step forward, two steps
backward, and label it progress. The more we know, the less capable we seem to
be to manage our problems. This is the "futility" to which Paul is referring - a
universal, perennial frustration. In the words of the wisest man in Israel,
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 1:2)" From this "bondage" the
whole universe craves release.

Consider the limitations time and space impose upon us, the creeping limitations
of old age, the great universal enemy - death; the dis-peace of the world, the
lack of freedom, the slavery, the bondage, the perennial helplessness of man to
achieve the kind of world he dreams about. This is the universal suffering of
which personal suffering is a symptom. From this, Paul declares the human race
and inanimate matter as well (the whole created universe) are longing to be
delivered. How we long for it! Medical science is doing all that it can to
eliminate disease. We are doing all that we can to sustain and prolong life.

How we resent old age. Some people will not even admit it, clinging to the
illusion that if they pretend it is not and try to cover it up, its effects will
be neutralized. Far better, incidentally, to approach old age in the spirit of
the Word of GOD, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day! (Proverbs 4:18)" With what zeal we labor to
resist this decay which is inevitable in our bodies; nevertheless we grow more
weary, less able to do what we would. Wrinkles appear, the temples grey, the
head begins to bald, and we stop growing except in the middle. Thus are the
frustrating limitations to which the whole universe is subject and which we long
to over? come.

Often flying in a jet across America, after an hour or two with the trip half
over, I leave my seat to stretch, look at my watch and wonder if we are ever
going to get there. Then I think to myself, how was it ever possible to do
business when people had to travel by train? How could anything ever be
accomplished? How did they ever manage to live? The symptom is showing, you see.
That which is a luxury soon becomes a necessity and a new luxury demands our
interest. That which we thought we could get along without suddenly is
necessary, and then it is never enough. In our boredom we need something more.
This is a manifestation of the longing to be delivered from bondage to decay and
corruption. Never is enough!

A friend of mine said this recently in a testimony, "There is something worse
than wanting a thing and not having the means to get it, and that is having the
means and not wanting anything," whereby he pictured the sheer monotony of a
life that has everything and yet is not satisfied. Well, nothing satisfies this
side of the grave because we were made for eternity. Nothing satisfies
completely in this life because we have an infinite appetite. Nothing satisfies
but GOD and His plan. The whole universe languishes, painfully waiting,
absorbed, for that is the strength of the world, literally absorbed with
persistent expectation, like a woman in childbirth, for the day when the sons of
GOD shall be revealed.

Paul says that not only does the whole created universe long to be delivered
from this bondage to corruption and decay, but so do we who have "the
firstfruits of the Spirit. (Romans 8:23)" Having been born of GOD because JESUS
CHRIST dwells in our hearts and having an intimation of that which is eternal,
we long for it. Or we ought to long for it. I suppose that this is one of the
major tragedies in the church of JESUS CHRIST today? - we have learned somehow
to be sub-Christian in the things which give us satisfaction in life; we don’t
really long as we ought for the return of JESUS CHRIST and "the redemption of
our body (Romans 8:23)" and "the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans
8:18)"

Recently I received from a medical doctor in Washington a letter which was quite
complimentary about our daily broadcasts. But he qualified his compliment by
saying something like this: "There is one suggestion I should like to make; this
medieval idea of CHRIST being sacrificed on the Cross doesn’t help your
broadcast. It isn’t acceptable to modern man." This is not an uncommon attitude
toward the crucifixion of JESUS CHRIST, and this attitude is reflected not only
toward His death, but toward this whole matter of life after death. Implicit in
what that man said is the belief that everything that is important is this side
of the grave. Perhaps we believe in life after death, but it is some very vague
and ethereal thing that is not too important.

Most of us live as though what we get and what we do, and what we enjoy before
being laid away in the grave are primary. Will you allow me to ask, what
difference there is between this view and the Communistic view of life? Some of
the details may be different, but the goals are identical; and in our so-called
Christian world, we operate on the basis - get while the getting is good, all
you can because we have three score years and ten, if lucky, maybe four score.
The day comes so soon when one grows less efficient, and the body will not
produce as it did, and it is not able to enjoy as much as it had; therefore, get
all one can now as quickly as possible.

One student of the Bible suggests that the word "glory" means the fulfillment of
purpose:

- The glory of a violin is to produce music; - The glory of government is to
preserve the rights of man; - The glory of the sun is to shine and provide heat;
- The glory of the flower is beauty and fragrance; - The glory of a tree is to
bear fruit, to give shade and beauty; - The glory of anything is the fulfillment
of its created purpose.

When Paul speaks of the glory of man, he is referring to something more than
incandescence; he is talking about purpose, the very purpose for which man was
created. He is talking about the meaning of life, the meaning of history. The
glory of Christianity is the return of JESUS CHRIST! We await that cataclysmic
moment in history when the Son of GOD returns to earth; the graves are opened,
and the bodies of those who have been laid away will be raised, new,
incorruptible, immortal bodies; when that generation of Christians still alive
upon the earth at His coming will be changed instantaneous! Yet their bodies no
longer corruptible or mortal! This is consummation for the Christian, but
because we have lost this vision, because we do not yearn for this moment for
which the whole created universe longs, we are so often victimized by our
circumstances.

A dear friend, reared in the Christian faith by a godly mother and father, upon
attending university, lost his faith. One night he stood up in a Bible
conference where others were testifying to the reality of CHRIST in their lives;
and he said, "I have to be honest with you. I have been raised in the Church,
but I have become intellectually convinced that GOD does not exist. I no longer
believe the Bible; I no longer believe in JESUS CHRIST or the Church. I have
become an atheist. Subsequently while studying at Oxford, this same young man
had an experience which brought all of his thinking to a crisis in his own life.
Intellectually he was convinced there was no GOD but was unable to resist the
conviction that without faith in GOD and immortality, life had no meaning. As a
matter of fact, he intimated that the most logical impulse in his life in those
days of atheism was to commit suicide; there was no reason for living. Often
when putting the car away at night, he would literally talk himself out of
remaining in the garage with the motor running. It seemed terribly logical.

One evening at Oxford, when his living group met for its monthly seminar, a
student read a paper on Christian ethics. My friend was interested because
implicit in the paper was the idea of an absolute ethic which suggested a GOD
who imposed these ethics upon man. When the paper was read and a discussion
ensued, he asked three questions of those present: "First, do you believe in GOD
and in JESUS CHRIST; secondly, do you believe in life after death; and thirdly,
do you believe that such a belief is necessary to give meaning to life?"
Thirteen out of thirteen men said "no" to each of the three questions. My friend
observed these men carefully for the next few days; again and again they
demonstrated by their actions that the faith which they denied was indispensable
to give meaning to their lives. As a result he wrote to Princeton Seminary
admitting that he was an atheist but requesting permission to spend one year on
the campus studying theology. His request was granted and the end of his first
year, he returned to his church, stood up in another Bible conference testimony
meeting and said that he had come back to faith in JESUS CHRIST. Today he is a
preacher of the Gospel.

When you get right down to issues, life is meaning? less apart from that which
lies on the other side of the grave; and even though we may have intellectually
repudiated it, emotionally we live on this basis. We must! Immortality is more
than just a deposit we leave for our posterity, more than a discovery or
invention or good things we have added to make the world a better place in which
to live, and for which we will be remembered. Immortality is infinitely more
than this. The Apostle Paul insists that immortality is to live forever in a
body that is incorruptible, immortal and undefiled.

When GOD made man, the record declares, He formed him of the dust of the ground;
that is, the body came first, and breathed into him and he became a living soul.
In II Corinthians, chapter 5, Paul says, that which we really long for is to
have immortal bodies. We do not desire to be incorporeal creatures, that is to
be bodiless ghosts, or angels, roaming the universe, aimlessly drifting. Our
desire is to have bodies that will perfectly serve the goals of our minds and
hearts, goals which are always beyond us. The artist has never painted his
perfect picture; the musician has never composed his perfect symphony; the
pianist has never played his perfect concerto; the poet has never written the
perfect poem; the author has never written the perfect story. Man has never
achieved the perfect political, economic and social order.

Indeed, there is a curiosity about man which keeps him restless and
dissatisfied. He wants to know more than just his community or his city or his
state or his nation or the world. He wants to know what is on the other side of
the moon. We may act very sophisticated about space; but when the news comes
that some? body has a picture and can report what is on the other side of the
moon, we are interested. Of course, GOD has built this into us, and sin has
frustrated this in us; so the whole creation groans for that moment when the Son
of GOD returns, when the sons of GOD are revealed for what they are, when our
bodies are raised from the grave, when the desert shall blossom as the rose,
when the lion shall lie down with the lamb, when men shall beat their swords
into plowshares and nations shall study war no more; when righteousness shall
cover the earth as the waters cover the sea; and there shall be peace without
war or the threat of war or disease or death; when there shall be no tears and
no pain.

This is the glory of Christianity, and this has been guaranteed to us by JESUS
CHRIST. GOD help us to look forward to this. It is a legitimate hope, and Paul
says we wait for it patiently; and when that moment comes, the whole created
universe shares in the freedom of the sons of GOD.

~ end of chapter 15 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 17: 16 - UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATIONS
========================================================================

Chapter 16 -

UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATIONS

Romans 8:31-39

Four of the most beautiful and profound assurances to be found anywhere in the
Word of GOD close the 8th chapter. These are not, however, simply assurance for
the believer, but, in addition, they constitute a strong defense of the
integrity of GOD.

It is very important for us, especially in times of transition like today, to
remember that the ground of our faith is the integrity, the character, the
faithfulness of Almighty GOD. When we are inclined to fear, to hysteria, to
panic, to doubt, to preoccupation with concerns which are in the Father’s hands;
we remind ourselves through passages such as these that GOD is absolutely
faithful, that for Him nothing is too hard, nothing is impossible. As we
consider these four wonderful promises, which are really one, bear in mind that
Paul is emphasizing the absolute trustworthiness of the GOD in whom our faith
rests. Here are four unshakeable foundations for confidence in any age or time.

In the middle of the eighth chapter Paul points out that there has been built
into the very cosmos a frustration in which the whole created universe joins,
including the children of GOD. This frustration is not final but will be
resolved at the return of CHRIST when the sons of GOD, bought by His sacrifice,
are revealed to the world. At that time the whole cosmos will participate in the
emancipation of the sons of GOD. Now he crowns this profound view of history
with these remarkable assurances.

The first begins with the 26th verse where Paul points out that one reason for
Christian assurance is the faithful intercession of the SPIRIT of GOD, who prays
for the saints according to the will of GOD. Prayerlessness is one of the sad
symptoms of twentieth-century Christianity. Some years ago a survey was made of
the time that preachers spend in prayer, and it was concluded that the average
pastor spent about two minutes a day in prayer! If this be true, what do you
suppose is the average of the people in the pew, inasmuch as there are at least
certain inducements to prayer among pastors which may not be true of laymen.

This does not mean, of course, that we measure prayer in terms of length as
though one who prays twenty minutes is obviously twice as prayerful as one who
prays ten minutes. But certainly this is an indication that prayer is not taken
very seriously. As a matter of fact, many sense impotency and powerlessness in
the Church of JESUS CHRIST, much of which can be attributed to prayerlessness.

GOD sends the rain and the sun upon the just and the unjust. He is
indiscriminate in certain of His gifts; they are for all of us, however good or
evil, however righteous or unrighteous. But there are certain things which GOD
does not give His people, except they pray. James says, "Ye have not, because ye
ask not (James 4:2)" I suppose that one of the major tragedies of the Church,
perhaps in every generation but certainly in our century if they could be
measured, would be the things that remain undone, the terrible poverty in the
Church simply because of prayerlessness. How much remains undone because we do
not ask GOD?

But there is a ray of light in this black prayerlessness; Paul declares that the
"Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered, and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of
the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will
of GOD. (Romans 8:26-27)" What a remarkable fact that the SPIRIT of GOD is
interceding for us even when we are prayerless ourselves! In verse 34 Paul
reminds us that the SON also intercedes for us. A fact upon which the author of
Hebrews bases the believer’s security. "He is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto GOD by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession
for them. (Hebrews 7:25)" GOD the HOLY SPIRIT is interceding for us even when we
are inarticulate in prayer, interceding for us even when we in our infirmity do
not know for what to pray.

There is a significant phrase in the Acts at the instance of electing the
deacons when the apostles, encumbered with the temporal affairs of the Church -
widows, orphans, and the like, urged the Church to elect seven men "of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, (Acts 6:3)" and charge them with the
temporal responsibilities; in order that we, the apostles said, may "give
ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:4)"
There is this ’giving one’s self to prayer,’ that the HOLY SPIRIT may use that
"given" time, that "given" surrender to intercede through the believer according
to the will of the Father and to the glory of the Son of GOD. Even if you feel
inarticulate in prayer, even if you are prone to be prayerless because you do
not know how to pray, you may set apart a time in the day ’given to prayer’ and
to the Word, a time when you allow, if only for ten or fifteen minutes, the
SPIRIT of GOD to pray in you and through you.

Actually, words in prayer are not for GOD but for man inasmuch as the Lord knows
our thoughts before we think them. He knows them "afar off, (Psalms 139:2)" in
the words of the Psalmist. He knows what we are going to think about tomorrow or
the next day or ten years from now. We do not use words of prayer in order to
inform GOD of that which He does not know. Words aid our concentration, our
conscious relationship to the FATHER. Give yourself to prayer, reserve a time in
the day, however small, that is "given" to prayer and the Word. Let it be a time
when you have the sense of allowing GOD the HOLY SPIRIT to pray in you according
to the will of the Father even though it may be to express a burden of concern
which you cannot even verbalize.

The second remarkable foundation for assurance to the Christian is what we
commonly call providence, in which I suppose almost everybody believes. The
trouble is that we believe in providence when circumstances go well; we find
ourselves disbelieving when circumstances are contrary. Here is one of the most
profound promises in GOD’s Word, "We know that all things work together for good
to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
(Romans 8:28)" No matter what happens, GOD is in it for good to His own glory,
and the profit of those who love Him and are called of Him.

If you have responded to JESUS, you are called of the FATHER; about this there
is no doubt whatsoever. In this the Word of GOD is quite explicit; JESUS said,
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. (John
6:44)" If you come to CHRIST you have been drawn there by the Father. JESUS
said, "Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me. (John 6:45)" If you have responded to the Gospel of the Lord
JESUS CHRIST you have been taught of GOD. The very fact that you come to JESUS
indicates you have been taught by GOD and drawn by the Father to Him; therefore,
you qualify for this promise; you are one who is "called according to His
purpose. (Romans 8:28)"

This is not to say that everything that happens to Christians is good or that
Christians are immune to unfortunate circumstances, but GOD uses whatever
happens for good. "All things work together for good"! (Romans 8:28)
Circumstances may be evil or evil intended, but GOD is able by the catalyst of
His grace to turn it to profit and benefit and blessing in the life of a
believer.

Paul reinforces this promise in Romans 8:29-30 : "For whom He did foreknow, He
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also
called, and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified, them
He also glorified"! Reformed theology asks this question, "What are the decrees
of GOD?" The answer is, "The decrees of GOD are that GOD foreordains whatsoever
comes to past."

Predestination* is not a humanly contrived dogma; it is derived from the Word of
GOD. Calvin did not invent this word nor the doctrine which it describes; he
discovered it in the Scriptures: the sovereignty of GOD, His Providence in the
affairs of men, His care of men in the microscopic details of life is clear
Biblical teaching. Of course we have difficulty with this doctrine just as we
have difficulty with the doctrine of the Trinity; how can GOD be three-in-one?
When we try to resolve that paradox, we generally emphasize the unity of GOD at
the expense of His plurality or the plurality of GOD at the expense of His
unity.

The same result often accrues when we try to rationalize the sovereignty of GOD
in the affairs of men and reconcile it with man’s freedom; we end up rejecting
GOD’s sovereignty and believing in man’s freedom or vice versa. The Word of GOD
teaches that GOD is sovereign and man is free at one and the same time; nothing
takes GOD by surprise; He has not relaxed His controls. Nothing happens
anywhere, any time, ever will - the bad as well as the good - that GOD does not
control. He uses all things for His purposes. Paul recommends that we rest in
this glorious reassurance.

It is a matter of history that much of the great art, or poetry and literature,
the great music and drama have come out of suffering; the man of character is
usually the man who has suffered; the life that is free from suffering is often
the life that is empty or shallow or superficial or unsympathetic. Suffering and
tragedy introduce into life a dimension which nothing else can. The righteous do
suffer; the most righteous man who ever lived, the perfect man, suffered more
than any other; but in the words of the author of Hebrews, He was made "perfect
through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)" GOD works in everything for good to them
that love Him and are the called according to His purpose. This is an
irrevocable promise upon which our confidence is based.

The third unshakeable foundation is the sacrifice of His Son. Paul asks this
question, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? (Romans 8:31)" How do we know that GOD is for us? He demonstrated
this by the death of the Son upon the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection
again from the dead. Note the statement that GOD is for us is based not upon
anything existential or subjective but upon objective fact, upon historical
events; CHRIST died on the cross and rose again from the dead; therefore, we
know that GOD is for us. Now if GOD be for us, who can be against us? Who is
there to oppose the one whose defense is Almighty GOD? Paul continues, "Who
shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD’s elect? (Romans 8:33)" Who dares to
condemn a child of GOD when the Judge Himself died on the cross for that child?
What irresistible logic, what an unshakeable foundation for faith and hope and
assurance! If you are ever inclined to wonder about GOD’s care, GOD’s sovereign
overrule in your life, no matter what the circumstances may be, remember the Son
of GOD on the cross is risen from the dead!

Finally, the fourth unshakeable foundation, which is really the ground for the
others, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35)" Can
anything separate us from the love of GOD? Anything you mention, in heaven, on
earth, under the earth; anything at any time, any force, and evil; can anything
separate us from the love of GOD? The answer is "No!" Nothing, nothing, nothing!
No matter what happens, and this is just another way of putting Romans 8:37, we
are "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." It is significant to
notice here that there can be no victory where there is no battle.

In my first pastorate during World War II, there was a young man, the only 4-F
in the church who belonged to the young adult group. I approached him one day
and asked him if he would serve as president of the young people’s society. He
said he would think about it for a week, after which he replied, "You know, I
never like to fail at anything; and lest I fail as president of this department,
I would like to decline."

What virtue is there in not failing if one never tries? The reason some people
never fail is because they never do anything! The reason they have no victory is
that they never have any battle. The Word of GOD declares "In all these things"
we are super-victorious, "more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
(Romans 8:37)" Every? thing that happens to you, ever will happen, that is
happening now, however tragic, however difficult, however impossible, however
hopeless, however inexplicable; in everything that has happened, will happen and
is happening to you, GOD leads in victory to His own glory and to your eternal
benefit.

The sum and substance of these remarkable assurances is simply this, that the
Christian cannot lose! He is utterly, totally, irrevocably secure in JESUS
CHRIST. Whatever happens to him GOD turns to blessing and profit by the miracle
of His grace. This is the realism of the Christian faith, you see; GOD does not
spare the Christian trouble. He does not insulate him against tragedy and
difficulty; but He is with him in it and brings him through it and out of itmore
than a conqueror!

We are living in dark, unpredictable days; and it is not inconceivable that
unprecedented catastrophe will come when those who have disregarded the Word of
GOD, ignored the Church and gone their busy ways without prayer nor Bible nor
Christian fellowship will be like animals.

Panicked by circumstances, groveling in the dust, they will run in all
directions, beside themselves with fear. But there will be others on that day,
thank GOD, men and women who are rooted and grounded in assurances such as
these, who will manifest poise and equilibrium and leadership. We may come upon
a time like this. GOD grant that when those who knew not JESUS are beside
themselves with fear, distracted by distractions, there shall be about them
those who are firm because they are in CHRIST, secure now and forever.

~ end of chapter 16 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 18: 17 - JUSTICE AND MERCY
========================================================================

Chapter 17 -

JUSTICE AND MERCY

Romans 9:14-24

If one sought to be popular in the pulpit, to preach simply what folks like to
hear, he certainly would skip over the 9th chapter of Romans, for not only is
this a difficult chapter; it contains a very unpopular truth, a truth which we
find ourselves intuitively resisting. What Paul is discussing in this chapter is
the very knotty problem of the sovereignty of Almighty GOD; GOD reigns, He is
the final authority and the final arbiter. Whatever He does is right; nothing
happens outside of His control, however infinitesimal or microscopic! He is the
ruler of the cosmos! He ordains whatever comes to pass; nothing takes Him by
surprise. The question then is raised, if GOD is sovereign, is man free? Paul
does not give us an explicit answer to that question but he does answer it
implicitly, and we get more of an answer in the 10th and 11th chapters.

It is my conviction that this teaching is very practical. It is possible to be
purely academic about it, to keep aloof from personal experience, but it was not
so designed. Paul was writing to Christians for their reassurance, their
edification, their encouragement; and especially in a day such as ours there
ought to be strong encouragement, reassurance and confidence in such a passage
as this. The important thing is, what kind of a GOD do you believe in? Is He a
little GOD or is He the GOD of the Old and New Testaments? In the words of J. B.
Phillips, "Is your GOD too small" for the times in which we live, or do you have
faith in the GOD of the Book?

If we really believe in the GOD of the Book, fear is unbecoming, hysteria is
unbecoming, panic is unbecoming; the need for Christians of poise and promise is
going to increase, not diminish, in the days ahead. The importance of being
oriented in the scriptural view of GOD has never been greater; therefore, GOD
grant that His sovereignty shall not simply be an academic matter with us, but
one of experience; that our faith, our trust, our confidence shall be rooted and
grounded in the nature and the integrity of GOD.

Two issues are involved in Romans 9: first, Paul’s deep concern for his own
people, Israel; and secondly, his deeper concern to uphold the fidelity of
Almighty GOD. He begins this chapter in Romans 9:1-3 by expressing his concern
for Israel. "I say the truth in Christ," says he, "I lie not, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual
sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for
my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." He does not resolve this
problem in the 9th chapter; we must wait until the 10th and 11th, but this
mention is made to indicate the fact that these three chapters are not the
writing of an anti-Semitic but the writing of a Jew who was proud of his Jewish
legacy and heritage; one who was so burdened for his own people that he could
wish himself literally condemned if that would lead to their salvation. It
reminds us of Moses, who in the midst of the murmuring of Israel while agonizing
in prayer said, "Drop my name out of the Book of Life, if it be possible to save
this people!"

We are living in a day in which it is very easy to be misunderstood when one
speaks with New Testament conviction.

Recently I had a rather lengthy telephone conversation with a Jewish lady who
listens regularly to a devotional broadcast which I make. Though quite
complimentary, she entertained deep concern about certain basic Christian truths
because, being Jewish, she feared the possibility that these truths might be
misconstrued and used to feed anti-Semitism. Two things ought to be said: first,
we cannot stop preaching the truth in order to avoid this, which I told her. The
heart of our message is the Gospel, which is that JESUS CHRIST was crucified for
our sins; and if one cannot preach the Gospel, there is no point in preaching;
this is the message and it must be preached even if it is offensive.
Furthermore, this is not an anti-Semitic doctrine, nor does it imply that the
Jews were "CHRIST-killers," a view held by ignorant people, however intelligent
they may seem to be. It was the sin of man, Jew and Gentile, that put the Son of
GOD upon the cross of Calvary, and Gentile and Jew alike must assume
responsibility for the death of CHRIST.

What Paul is doing here is simply declaring certain facts about GOD, about
Israel, and about the Gentile; and he is speaking out of a heart deeply
compassionate toward Israel, willing to be sacrificed for her sake if necessary.
He mentions Israel’s advantages, Romans 9:4-5. "Who are Israelites; to whom
pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, (When Israel was encamped, the
tabernacle was at the center of the community; and rising out from the Holy of
Holies over the Ark of the Covenant was the pillar of cloud by day and the
pillar of flame by night, indicating GOD’s presence and glory.) and the
covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, (The Book of
Leviticus deals with the service of GOD, Israel’s worship.) and the promises;
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is
over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." Let us never forget this, that the One
Whom we worship was born of a Jew!

Yet with all of these advantages, Israel in large measure, rejected her own
MESSIAH, not entirely, however, as we shall see, and therefore every advantage
compounded her judgment. This is one of the terrible implications in preaching,
to realize that if you illuminate truth the one who hears, if he does not accept
the truth and obey it, is judged by the very truth which is proclaimed. Judgment
increases with every hearing of the Gospel if it is rejected, the truth was
meant to be obeyed, not simply intellectually apprehended.

The question then arises, if Israel with all of these advantages rejected GOD
and is therefore outside the pale of His love, how can we take seriously what we
have just read in the 8th chapter of Romans for did not Paul say, "All things
work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called
according to His purpose? (Romans 8:28)" Was not Israel loved of GOD? Was not
Israel called according to His purpose? He asks the question, "If God be for us,
who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)" Was not GOD for Israel - who then can be
against her? The whole principle, you see, of the faithfulness and fidelity of
GOD is involved in this question of the Jew, GOD’s chosen people, to whom
belonged all of these advantages through history. What about them if they are
now cut off? And so we ask: Does Jewish rejection of the MESSIAH constitute the
failure of GOD? The answer is no; this fulfills the very purpose of GOD; this is
the unfolding of GOD’s will in history.

In the light of Paul’s glorious declaration at the end of chapter 8, how is it
that the chosen of GOD have now been rejected by GOD? He answers it this way
(Romans 9:6-7), "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (he will
amplify this later) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all
children." He then quotes from the Old Testament, "In Isaac shall thy seed be
called." Isaac was a miracle. Abraham was past a hundred and Sarah, who had
never been able to bear a child, was ninety. GOD said, "Sarah thy wife shall
have a son. (Genesis 18:10)" GOD meant what He said, and Isaac was the son of
the promise. Now in Isaac is true Israel called, they are the children of the
promise, and it is these children of the promise who are reckoned as true
Israel, who are reckoned as the descendants of Abraham. We will see at the end
of the chapter that all who have faith are the descendants of the true Israel.

Paul has already told us this in the 4th chapter; this is not a new doctrine.
You recall that Abraham and Sarah in their impatience tried to work out this
promise in their own way: Sarah gave Abraham her handmaiden Hagar as a wife, and
of that union was born Ishmael. Who was Ishmael? The father of the Arab, and of
the Arab came Islam.

This is the picture. "In Isaac shall thy seed be called, (Genesis 21:12)" and
having illustrated it with Sarah, he illustrates it with Rebecca, a stronger
illustration because he says in Romans 9:10-13, "And not only this; but when
Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of
God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Here it is though very difficult for us to
accept; when they were still in the womb of their mother, their destiny was
foreordained of GOD! Before we were born, our destiny (not salvation) was
ordered of the Lord; indeed we are told in the Word of GOD, called or elect
"before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)" And we see that election
in the Old Testament was of the Hebrews over all the Gentiles, and in the New
Testament, it is the Lord’s Church.

But this raises a serious problem. If before Jacob and Esau were born GOD
already loved one and hated the other before one had the opportunity to earn His
disfavor and the other had an opportunity to earn His favor, how then could GOD
blame Esau? Is GOD unjust? Is He unfair? And Paul uses the strongest negative in
the Bible in answering, "GOD forbid. (Romans 9:14)" I should like to say here
that this ought to be the first answer. Can GOD make a mistake? However unjust
what GOD does may seem to us, is it really unjust? Oh, how desperately we need
to understand today that we ought to allow nothing to impugn the integrity of
Almighty GOD. GOD is GOD! Of course, whatever GOD does is just for He is a just
GOD!

That is, nothing that Esau could do would force GOD to allow Him to be the
chosen race - this was for Isaac and his seed alone. In this sense, GOD’s
decision was "irresistible."

There are those who, unwilling somehow to rest upon the integrity of GOD, try to
explore and explain these things; but they succeed only in explaining them away,
thereby raising greater difficulties theologically and intellectually. The fact
is that men of science accept many things which they cannot explain; this is not
peculiar to Christian faith; this is not wishful thinking; this is not contrary
to reason nor to intellect. "Let God be true, but every man a liar. (Romans
3:4)"

Paul said in an earlier chapter, GOD is not unjust. He supports his argument
from the Old Testament: did not GOD say to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I
will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion?
(Romans 9:15)" Implied here, you see, is the fact that man has no claim on GOD
but His mercy. GOD would not be unjust to reject all men. On that occasion when
JESUS CHRIST lifted the veil between the now and the hereafter, the story of the
rich man and Lazarus, "the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he
lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in
his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me!" (Luke
16:22-24) He was in torment, but he did not ask for justice; he asked for mercy.
Never in history or beyond history will any man, whatever his destiny, question
the justice of GOD; therefore Paul says, verse 16, "So then it is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (Romans
9:17)"

Pharaoh also is an example of this. GOD said, for this purpose He raised up
Pharaoh, in order that He might demonstrate His justice, His mercy, and His
glory. And so did GOD raise up Hitler and Mussolini and Stalin; and so has GOD
raised up Khrushchev. GOD is free to have mercy on whom He will, and He
hardeneth whom He will!

Paul gives two answers, first, "Who art thou that repliest against (questions)
GOD? (Romans 9:20)" Now that may seem to be begging the question, but ponder its
logic. Who am I to question GOD? This is one of our problems; in our human
sophistication we dare even to question GOD! Then with irresistible logic, he
asks (Romans 9:20-21), "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
has thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump
to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

What kind of a GOD do you believe in anyway? Just a big Santa Claus, or do you
believe in a just GOD who has everything in control, whose actions are never
questionable?

There is another answer intimated here beginning at Romans 9:22, "What if God,
willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" Just a glimpse into
the patience of GOD with men that He could have rejected long before; as though
GOD is waiting, hoping that they will see the light, giving them every
opportunity to turn their hearts to repentance, enduring their irreligion, their
pride, and their sin.

Then he quotes from Hosea and reminds Israel what GOD had promised in Old
Testament times, that He was going to raise up a people that were "not My
people" (Romans 9:25) and a nation that was "not beloved" in order that He might
show His glory in them. From Isaiah he suggests a theme he is going to cover
later, the remnant in Israel; even Isaiah understood that not all of Israel
would be saved, but those who were descended from Isaac, that is, "a remnant.
(Romans 9:27)"

Then he comes to the final answer beginning at the 30th verse; yes, GOD is
sovereign but Israel is responsible, for she stumbled over the stone, the rock,
JESUS CHRIST!

Notice his language (Romans 9:30-33), "What shall we say then? That the
Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which
followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of
righteousness." Why? "Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law." They stumbled over the stumbling stone, "Behold, I lay in
Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed." Why did Israel fall? Because she pursued righteousness by
works, not because she was indifferent to righteousness; she was interested in
righteousness on her own conditions.

Recall what the serpent said to Eve in the Garden? He did not say, disobey GOD,
eat this fruit and go to hell. He said, "in the day ye eat thereof... ye shall
be as gods! (Genesis 3:5)" What the serpent insinuated to Eve was this, "Look,
you be godlike on my conditions instead of GOD’s conditions." This is original
sin, and it is the root of all religion in history; be righteous on your own
conditions; be righteous your own way; follow your own law, your own ethics,
your own morals. This is the reason why Israel did not obtain righteousness
because she sought it by works rather than by faith. While pursuing
righteousness through your own good works; you stumble over the chief stumbling
stone, JESUS CHRIST.

This is the great hindrance, greater than any other; this is the greatest sin,
rejecting the love of GOD in CHRIST, the righteousness, which is a gift of GOD
through faith! JESUS CHRIST is the issue. What does He mean to you? Are you
trusting yourself or Him?

~ end of chapter 17 ~


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  CHAPTER 19: 18 - THE WAY OF SALVATION
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Chapter 18 -

THE WAY OF SALVATION

Romans 10:1-13

The message of the 9th chapter of Romans is the sovereignty of GOD and the
election of those who are saved. Scripturally this doctrine brooks no argument;
quarrel with this, you quarrel with the Apostle Paul and the Word of GOD.
Clearly does Paul illustrate the truth with the story of Esau and Jacob whose
destiny before they were born when still carried in their mother’s womb was
determined by GOD before either could do good or bad that he might be justified
or condemned. GOD said, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans
9:13)" No doubt about this.

Paul is very clear in Romans 9 concerning the sovereignty of GOD and the
election of those who are saved. Now, however, Romans 10 deals with the
responsibility of those who are lost, for Paul makes it equally clear that one
is lost because he rejects the truth as it is in JESUS CHRIST, but because he
rejects the Word of faith. So if we have GOD’s sovereignty in Romans 9, we have
the other side of the coin, man’s responsibility in Romans 10; man is
responsible for his own lostness.

Much more space could be devoted to this theme of the sovereignty of GOD and the
responsibility of man, but we would not come to the place where we found a neat
compromise between these two paradoxical truths; the Word of GOD teaches both to
be true: GOD is sovereign, man is free and responsible. We cannot finally
resolve these two truths which to us seem to contradict each other, but this is
not the only doctrine with which we have this difficulty.

We believe in the unity of GOD because the Bible clearly teaches the unity of
GOD, "The Lord our GOD is one Lord"; we are monotheists; we believe in one GOD,
but the Bible also teaches that the Father is GOD, the Son is GOD, and the HOLY
SPIRIT is GOD. The Bible does not teach that each of them is one-third of GOD,
the three composing one GOD; but that GOD is GOD the Father, the Son, and the
HOLY SPIRIT; they are three, and yet they are one. How can three be one? Men who
insist on resolving this paradox do so at the expense of one truth or the other.
Either they sacrifice the deity of JESUS CHRIST and the deity of the HOLY SPIRIT
to uphold the belief in one GOD, or they sacrifice the unity of GOD. Either way
a basic truth about GOD is sacrificed.

So it is with this: GOD is sovereign, man is free and responsible. Both are
true. How can both be true? With this, as with the trinity and other ultimate
truths, we must wait until we are able to comprehend more fully. Paul reminds
us, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know
in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)"
For the present hold both to be true because the Word of GOD teaches both and
does not attempt to reconcile them nor to resolve the paradox.

The general theme ofRomans 10is that Israel is responsible for her lostness
because she has rejected the word of faith. Paul begins the 10th as he does the
9th chapter, expressing his concern for the salvation of Israel. He is a Jew, a
"Hebrew of the Hebrews, (Php 3:5)" as proud of his Hebrew legacy as any Jew. He
confesses, "my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might
be saved. (Romans 10:1)" Here we have a Jew concerned for the salvation of Jews.

This is important for us to see inasmuch as it is not uncommon for Christians to
have the idea that the Jews have their religion and should be left alone; and it
is not uncommon for Jews to think that Christians are anti-Semitic when they
press the claims of the Gospel. To be sure, there are Christians who are
anti-Semitic, but they are less than Christian in such an attitude; they forget
that our LORD JESUS CHRIST was a Jew. This Jew, Saul of Tarsus, held in his
heart before GOD continually the hope and the prayer for the salvation of
Israel, and we can wisely embrace his concern.

In the next two verses he says some very amazing things. He says concerning
Israel, "I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge (Romans 10:2)" There is such a thing, you see, as being ignorantly
zealous; and if there is anything worse than ignorance, it is ignorance mixed
with zeal. What was the nature of this ignorance? Paul said (Romans 10:3) they
were "ignorant of God’s righteousness" and they were "going about to establish
their own righteousness." He suggests two kinds of righteousness, the
righteousness of GOD and the righteousness of man, which are mutually exclusive.
Paul declares that the righteousness of man is in direct opposition to the
righteousness of GOD, which is the major lesson of the chapter. It is not so
much our evil, our wrong conduct that is the enemy of the righteousness of GOD;
it is our own righteousness, our obsession to self-justification. "Going about
to establish their own righteousness," Paul says, they "have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God."

Paul himself, of all men, certainly appreciated this principle because he, more
than any of his contemporaries, resented and resisted and rebelled against the
righteousness of GOD until he capitulated to the living CHRIST on the road to
Damascus. Indeed, he became the chief enemy of the Church in his zeal for GOD,
in his efforts to establish his own righteousness, and he declared in his
testimony (Php 3:4-7) that "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he
might trust in the flesh, I more"; after which he lists the reasons for which he
could boast: "circumcised the eighth day," etc., etc. He testified "touching the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless," but he continued, "But what
things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

The real human dilemma, the most devastating "evil" is man-made righteousness!
It is man’s religion which is the supreme expression of sin in history, man’s
congenital, constitutional, compulsive effort to justify himself, man attempting
to establish his own righteousness - coming to GOD on his own conditions rather
than GOD’s.

This was the chief error of Israel. In the last half of the chapter, Paul
substantiates this by referring to the Psalms, Moses and Isaiah; Israel heard
this word of faith; Israel understood this word of faith, but Israel rejected
this word of faith. His quotation from the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy is a
graphic illustration of a devout scholar of the Old Testament viewing it in the
light of JESUS CHRIST. He says in Romans 10:6-8, "But the righteousness which is
of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into
heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into
the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of
faith, which we preach."

In the Old Testament ( Deuteronomy 30:14) Paul finds the word of faith which
Israel rejected. Observe the principle, "The word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart. (Romans 10:8)" What had they done? They had
externalized the law and had kept it to the letter but rejected it in spirit.
They had the "form of godliness, but [denied] the power thereof, (2 Timothy
3:5)" the form without the substance; and "the LORD looketh on the heart! (1
Samuel 16:7)"

This is really the essence of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-28): the law
said, "Thou shalt not kill," JESUS said, "whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." The law said, "Thou shalt
not commit adultery," JESUS said, that "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." GOD looks not
upon the act but upon the heart. It is possible to keep the letter of the law
yet sin inwardly. This is the human device, the Satanic strategy, to resist the
righteousness of GOD in JESUS CHRIST and to justify it by keeping the law.

Remember that the serpent’s appeal to Eve in the Garden of Eden was not to deny
GOD, disobey and go to hell; on the contrary he urged, "For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
gods. (Genesis 3:5)" The very appeal that the serpent made to Eve in the Garden
was the appeal to GOD-likeness, but a GOD-likeness on man’s terms.

Through the centuries and the millenniums men have invented one religion after
another, "going about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3)" and
refusing to submit to the righteousness of GOD. This is the root problem in
history; it is religion that opposes the grace of GOD in CHRIST; it is man’s own
self-justification that resists the righteousness of GOD which is a free gift.

Now verse 4, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth. (Romans 10:4)" Think of the word "end" in two ways: CHRIST is the end
of the law, period; no longer law, now grace. Paul says as much: "We are not
under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:15)" This does not mean that the person
under grace is lawless or licentious; indeed it does not, for grace has
infinitely more power to constrain a man to righteousness than has the law. The
law has no power to produce righteousness (Romans 8:3); it did not have in Old
Testament times and it does not have today! The second way the word "end" can be
understood is in the sense of destination.

CHRIST is the destination of the law for righteousness; the law was designed for
one purpose, to bring us to CHRIST. He uses an interesting analogy in Galatians,
the law was "our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ." The law is the highway
which leads to CHRIST for righteousness, and thus it had become the enemy of
CHRIST. The law had taken the place of GOD. Ethics, morality, works are our
modern Gentile equivalent, that is, human goodness.

Two kinds of righteousness, the righteousness of GOD and the righteousness of
man, and the two are utterly incompatible because the righteousness of man leads
invariably and inevitably to self-righteousness. Having externalized the law’s
requirements, I do certain things; I refrain from others. I thereby feel
superior to the man who does not live by my rules; hence the law or works breed
the "superior" person: who is egotistical, self-righteous and pharisaical. But
what does the righteousness of faith say? "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans
10:9-10)

Excluding those who are indifferent to a good life, we are, each one of us,
either zealous to establish our own righteousness or to put our faith in the
gift of righteousness by grace through JESUS CHRIST; either we have our own
righteousness or we have GOD’s righteousness. You will know, depending on
whether you are trusting CHRIST for salvation or "going about to establish
[your] own righteousness." Pathetically familiar is the man who has been in the
church all his life and is still unsaved because he conceives of Christianity as
man doing his best by certain moral and ethical criteria. But he has never
received the gift of GOD through faith in JESUS CHRIST. Busy trying to establish
his own righteousness, he has not submitted himself to the righteousness of GOD
in CHRIST.

Is the righteousness that you possess your own, that which you have managed by
your own effort, or is it the righteousness of GOD received as a free gift
through JESUS CHRIST? Bear in mind that if your righteousness is your own, it
represents enmity to the cross of CHRIST, to the righteousness of GOD; your own
good works are not just something less than the righteousness of GOD; they are
hostile to GOD’s righteousness. Man’s own goodness is the enemy of GOD’s best,
and it is more difficult often to reach such a person than it is a man on
skid-row who is already disillusioned about himself and knows he has no
righteousness in which he can boast; while the good man clings to his own
righteousness and refuses the gift of righteousness in JESUS CHRIST.

Paul gives a wonderful little sequence here. "Whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:11-14)
Having read this, you have had a preacher. If never before, now you have heard
the Gospel, and you may even have believed the Gospel; but have you called upon
the Lord for salvation? You have given approval to the doctrine but have you
personally appropriated it? "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved!"

Paul closes chapter 10 by showing that Israel herself is among those who have
heard but have not obeyed. The ignorance of which Paul wrote in the beginning
has no excuse; Israel has heard and rejected, a fact which he verifies from both
Isaiah and Moses. Using a quote from Isaiah, Paul portrays the unwearying
patience of GOD as He extends His offer of love and pardon to His own rebellious
people. In this context Paul introduces one of the uses to which GOD will put
the inclusion of non-Jews into the covenant of promise; a fact which will
provoke Israel to jealousy and about which Paul will say more later.

~ end of chapter 18 ~


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  CHAPTER 20: 19 - THE UNSEARCHABLE JUDGMENTS OF GOD
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Chapter 19 -

THE UNSEARCHABLE JUDGMENTS OF GOD

Romans 11

In the time of JESUS CHRIST, the idea was quite generally held by Jews and
Gentiles alike that the promise GOD had made to Abraham was reserved for the
Jews to the exclusion of all others. Even Peter had this difficulty, so much so
that when the SPIRIT of GOD led him to go to a Gentile, it necessitated a
special vision. There were Jews, of course, who understood that Abraham’s
promise was for all men. Simeon, for example, who came into the temple on that
day when Joseph and Mary brought the infant JESUS to present him to the LORD;
Simeon, a godly Jew, took the baby in his arms saying (Luke 2:30-32), "mine eyes
have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."

Other Jews as well recognized that GOD’s promise to Abraham included non-Jews,
that in the MESSIAH were all the nations of the earth to be blessed; but most of
them had narrowed it down, conceiving it as exclusively for Jews. Today the shoe
is on the other foot and Gentiles exclude the Jews from the promise GOD made to
Abraham and fulfilled in JESUS CHRIST. Paul, realizing this, writes this chapter
with these Gentiles in mind as he wrestles with the apparent exclusion of the
Jews from the covenant of grace in JESUS CHRIST.

In the 9th chapter Paul points out that Israel failed to respond to the love of
GOD, to be sure; but this did not constitute the failure of GOD’s promise to
Abraham. That is, in the words of Paul (Romans 9:18), "Therefore hath he mercy
on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." In chapter 10 he
shows that though Israel failed to obtain this promise, it was not because of
GOD’s election but because of Israel’s rejection; though GOD is sovereign, man
is responsible when he rejects the Lord JESUS CHRIST and is unsaved because he
rejects the gift of grace through JESUS CHRIST in whom GOD’s promise to Abraham
was fulfilled. Now in Romans 11 Paul finalizes this matter of the apparent
exclusion of Israel from the gift of grace in JESUS CHRIST. He begins (Romans
11:1) with the question, "Hath God cast away his people?" It is as if Paul were
thinking about all the remarkable promises in the Old Testament prophecies
concerning Israel. What about these remarkable prophecies and promises, are they
all in the past? Is Israel’s day over? His answer is a categorical "no!" which
he amplifies in the balance of the chapter.

Paul points out two things: first, GOD’s rejection of Israel because of Israel’s
rejection of GOD, is neither total nor final; it is only partial and temporary.
In the first 10 verses he shows that Israel’s rejection of GOD, or GOD’s
rejection of Israel, is not total, he himself being an illustration of this
fact. He reminds his reader that he is a Jew in the covenant of grace; he has
received the gift of eternal life through JESUS CHRIST the LORD, and he is an
Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin.

In this he is not alone; even now there is a remnant of Israel as there has
always been a remnant who were faithful. Never was all of Israel faithful to
GOD. This is a matter of Old Testament history; the Book of Judges, for example,
is such a record. As his second illustration he selects a very familiar incident
in the life of Elijah when he actually prayed to GOD against Israel. He prayed
(Romans 11:3), "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine
altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." GOD’s answer was (Romans
11:4), "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the
knee to the image of Baal"

Parenthetically, two matters ought to be mentioned here which are peripheral to
Paul’s theme but very practical and relevant today. First, Christianity is in
the minority, a fact which should be borne in mind in our attitude toward other
minorities. Anti-Semitism, for example, is not only not in harmony with the Word
of GOD but is contradictory to JESUS CHRIST and the Christian life. The Word of
GOD declares quite clearly that salvation is of the Jew, and our SAVIOUR the
LORD Himself was a Jew! It is completely unlike JESUS CHRIST to be anti-Semitic,
unlike JESUS CHRIST to discriminate against any minority. We are a minority -
always will be! "CHRIST has His thousands while the devil has his tens of
thousands!"

A second very practical principle to be drawn from this is that it is a mistake
to equate any culture or any civilization one hundred percent with GOD’s way, as
though, for example, the kingdom of GOD is identical to the American way of
life. We are inclined to this thinking, especially in a period of history when
our civilization is threatened within and without, that those who oppose us are
one hundred percent wrong while we are one hundred percent right, and therefore
we may expect GOD to protect us. In other words, our attitude is like Israel’s
in the Old Testament economy, and GOD had to discipline them again and again and
again. What agent did GOD use to discipline Israel - a more godly nation? On the
contrary, He used a godless nation to discipline His own people!. This too is a
matter of history, and there is nothing so desperately needed in America today
as humility and a repentant spirit before the LORD GOD. Let us humble ourselves
before the Lord and ask His forgiveness for our pride, our self-seeking, our
materialism, our idolatry!

Having used Elijah’s despair as the illustration, Paul shows that Israel failed
to receive the promise but the elect obtained it! The rest, says Paul, were
hardened because they rejected GOD’s truth, and he draws from Israel’s prophecy
and David’s to document this. A psychological law is involved here. When men
refuse the truth, their hearts are hardened to the truth. Refuse to obey the
word which the SPIRIT of GOD speaks to your heart on a given Sunday morning, it
will be easier to disobey the following Sunday morning, still easier the third
Sunday morning, until you can hear the truth and remain utterly impervious to
its penetrating, convicting, convincing power. It becomes possible to vegetate
in a pew, and GOD knows this has happened to many who call themselves Christian.
They do not even hear the truth any longer because, having hardened their own
hearts, GOD hardens their hearts as well! Not to obey the truth of GOD bears
serious consequences.

Another word about election, inasmuch as Paul says twice in this passage very
clearly, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election
hath obtained it! (Romans 11:7)" This doctrine of election which is taught in
the Word of GOD is not to discourage the unbeliever; it is not to give the idea
that the covenant of grace is a very narrow and exclusive covenant, which, by
and large, eliminates the majority of people. Nor do those outside of JESUS
CHRIST ever think of it in this way; it is usually Christians who take this
position.

To be sure, there are those outside of CHRIST who academically quarrel about the
sovereignty of GOD, election and predestination, and use this as a reason to
reject the whole Bible; but we need not take them too seriously. If they did not
have this, they would find other ways to rationalize their rejection of
Scripture. Excuses for rejecting truth are not difficult to find. But this
doctrine is intended to encourage the believer, to show him the strength of his
salvation, the absolute assurance and guarantee of it.

The finest statement we have of this is in Hebrews 6:13-20. "For when God made
promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply
thee." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men
indeed swear by greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is
final for confirmation.

"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable
things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which
entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered."
The author is simply insisting here that you who have received the Lord JESUS
CHRIST have not done so by any merit of your own. You have been called of GOD,
through the Gospel, to do so; to Him belongs all the glory, for it is not of
works; it is of grace. You can be absolutely sure of your call because GOD
guarantees it by two irrevocable things, His promise and His oath! Therefore,
entertain no doubt whatsoever concerning your eternal welfare when you trust in
JESUS CHRIST and His finished work on the cross of Calvary!

In the second half of chapter 10, Paul demonstrates that GOD has a future plan
for Israel. The first ten verses show Israel’s rejection of GOD or GOD’s
rejection of Israel - not to be complete or total - but partial; there is a
group of Israelites who have received the Gospel. In the second half of the
chapter rejection is not final but temporary because GOD still has a plan for
the nation Israel. Beginning at the 11th verse, he says that through Israel’s
rejection a way has been opened for salvation to be brought to the non-Jew. This
too was part of the promise, "In thee," said GOD to Abraham, "shall all the
nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:8)" So Paul argues, if Israel’s failure
resulted in blessing and riches for the Gentile world, how much more will
Israel’s inclusion in grace mean to the whole world? If by their temporary and
partial exclusion the whole world was blessed, how much more will the whole
world be blessed when they are again included?

He uses two little analogies which make it sound rather complicated, but it
really is not. He speaks of the dough and the lump, the dough being holy, the
lump is holy. If you take a piece from a lump of good dough, the piece will be
good; but if you have a piece of dough that is bad, probably the whole lump of
dough from which the piece was taken is bad. If the root is good, the branches
will be good; or if the root is holy, the branches are holy. Israel is the
dough, the lump. Israel is the root.

He is addressing his remarks, remember, to the Gentiles, not wishing them to be
guilty of Israel’s error, of which he himself was guilty when he persecuted the
Church. Paul warns the Gentiles against the presumption that because the Jews
have rejected CHRIST, GOD has rejected them. Paul urges Gentiles to be humble in
their position because salvation is only by grace through faith in JESUS CHRIST;
and GOD still has a plan for the Jews. GOD has used Gentile salvation to humble
the Jew. Humility on the part of the Gentile is therefore becoming.

Finally, he holds out this hope for Israel. GOD has a plan, still future, which
involves Israel. So he argues that if GOD will include the Gentiles, who were as
a wild olive branch, and graft them on to a holy root; how much more will He
take the good olive branch that has been broken off and graft it back in again.
This logic is irresistible. He strengthens this argument with wonderful passages
in Isaiah and Jeremiah, interpreting these in relation to this future plan of
GOD for Israel. It needs to be said that in those passages it is not clear
whether he refers to the first advent of the MESSIAH or the second advent of the
MESSIAH, but one thing is very clear. GOD still has a plan for Israel. He is
talking about the nation Israel, not every individual in it, any more than he
means every individual Gentile when he refers to the "fullness of the Gentiles."

The chapter closes with a glorious doxology (Romans 11:33-36), one of the most
beautiful in the Book. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding
out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor? Or
who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of
Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to Whom be glory forever.
Amen."

Paul’s doxology is a testimony to the integrity of GOD, the fidelity of GOD, the
faithfulness of GOD! What he is saying is that GOD’s ways are incomprehensible,
but they are to be trusted! Oh, how we need to realize that our faith rests in
the integrity of GOD! This is what makes stable, poised Christians. This is what
galvanizes a man into proper and effective action at the right time when storms
come because he knows that GOD is on His throne, that GOD reigns, and he does
not have to be afraid. Paul is speaking for the integrity of GOD, and so ought
we speak for the integrity of GOD in these tumultuous days in human affairs.

There are three lessons in this chapter: First, salvation is by grace alone.
Secondly, the saved are absolutely secure because their salvation rests upon the
Divine call through the Gospel of GOD and His election, And finally, GOD’s ways,
though incomprehensible, are trustworthy. Depend on it!

~ end of chapter 19 ~


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  CHAPTER 21: 20 - THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC
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Chapter 20 -

THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC

Romans 12:1-8

Having presented the doctrinal basis of Christian faith in the first 11 chapters
of Romans, Paul now turns to the Christian’s responsibility in the light of the
truth he has set forth. This pattern is typical of Paul’s epistles: doctrine
first, then ethics; what man is to believe about GOD, then what duty GOD
requires of those who believe.

Doctrine was basic but Paul expected belief to issue in goodness. Indeed, this
is the very nature of Christian truth, the essence of Christian doctrine, "truth
is in order to goodness." Doctrine which does not issue in life is
sub-Christian; it is not doctrine as the Apostle Paul understood it, which
suggests that there was no controversy between Paul and James. When James wrote
"Faith without works is dead, (James 2:20, James 2:26)" he was agreeing with
Paul who believed doctrine ought to issue in life.

To illustrate: you will recall the closing verses of the 5th chapter (Romans
5:20-21), "the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even
so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by JESUS Christ our
Lord." That is to say, the truth about grace is that it produces righteousness.
Or he puts it this way, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of GOD unto salvation to everyone that believed.(Romans 1:16)" Why is it
the power of GOD unto salvation? "For therein (that is, in the Gospel) is the
righteousness of God revealed. (Romans 1:17)"

In other words, it is the Gospel which produces righteousness in the believer!
This is the heart of Christian doctrine, you see, that GOD has acted in history,
and Christian ethics is the result of man’s response to GOD’s action in history.
GOD works, man responds - this is the Christian life. Christian ethics is not
what man does for GOD, himself or others, but what man lets GOD do in and
through him to His own glory. Christian ethics is the work of GOD in the
believer!

Paul expresses it this way in another context, 2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is
able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency
in all things, may abound to every good work." Grace abounding, good works
abounding; it is abounding grace which abounds to good works. The only work that
pleases GOD in the believer is the work that He initiates in the believer. Good
deeds that we initiate for GOD are not Christian ethics. Good deeds that we
initiate for our fellow man are not Christian ethics. Christian ethics are the
result of the grace of GOD operating in the life of the yielded believer, a fact
we shall understand more thoroughly with Paul’s very first ethical admonition,
which is the foundation and the fountainhead of all Christian ethics.

Before we see this, let us take one other look at the matter of ethics. We have
been discussing the sovereignty of GOD with the related truths, election and/or
predestination. Will you observe, please, that whenever the word "election" or
"chosen" or "predestined" or "ordained" is used, it is never an end in itself
but always as a means to an end; it is always qualified in the Word of GOD.

For example, Ephesians 1:4, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the word. . ." But there is no period there, yet so often in our
thinking we put a period there when we talk about being chosen of GOD.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Chosen to be holy and
blameless in love! To be chosen of GOD means to be holy and blameless in love,
the fruit of the choosing of GOD in the life.

Or Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS unto
good works. . ." "Created"! Only GOD can create. Man can invent, man can
discover, but only GOD can create; that word is reserved for GOD alone. We are
(Ephesians 2:10) "His workmanship" (that is, GOD’s workmanship) "created," which
only GOD can do, "in Christ JESUS unto good works." "Created... unto good works,
which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them." "Created unto good
works," ordained by GOD to walk in good works. Romans 8:29, "For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate," but there is no period there. "Whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son . .
." Predestination is unto conformation to the image of JESUS CHRIST. These
things all apply to those that are "in Christ, not to those that are not yet
saved!

Election is not unto privilege but unto responsibility. We are not predestinated
unto a status, but unto service. We are not saved just to be made safe; we are
saved in order to serve; and Christianity which is preoccupied with its own
personal safety is an aberration of legitimate and authentic Christianity. It is
the caricature of a true Christian.

There is a sense in which the saved person, the authentically saved person, is
preoccupied with the will of GOD, absorbed in the will of GOD; he then
completely is possessed by the will of GOD. His own welfare is really quite
secondary. Moses wished that his name might be blotted out of the Book of Life
for the sake of his people Israel. How different are Moses and Paul from the
person who is so busily preoccupied about his own eternal safety that the
welfare and salvation of others, and the commission of the Lord, are secondary
if they have any place at all in his life. The very word ’redemption’ implies
"purchased for a use," purchased for a purpose. We have been redeemed; we have
been bought by JESUS CHRIST in order to be used by Him for His purposes in the
world.

Therefore, Christian ethics, rightly understood, flow out of the work of GOD in
the life of a believer. It is what GOD does for us, and in us, and to us, and
through us. Remember JESUS’ word in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:16).
"Let" (not ’make’, as though you could do anything about it, as though you could
generate it); "Let" (allow, permit, consent) "Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works and. . ." And what? And say, "My, isn’t he a
wonderful Christian?" never! "Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Why will they glorify your Father which is in heaven? Because the good works are
the works of the Father. Man cannot be given any credit for them. For this
reason Paul’s instruction to the ethical portion of Romans begins with that
remarkable verse at the end of the 11th chapter, Romans 11:36, Romans 12:1),
"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for
ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice . . ." All things are "of Him," all
things are "through Him," all things are "to Him," to Him belongs the "glory for
ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD . . ."

The first thing to see about Christian ethics is that they begin with dedication
to CHRIST. This is not the ultimate, this is the beginning of Christian ethics.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God, (Romans 12:1-2) " that is, that you may demonstrate the
will of GOD, that it is "good, and acceptable, and perfect." Paul is going to
talk about all these things that are good and acceptable and perfect with GOD in
the rest of the epistle.

The first two verses in Romans 12 are basic to everything that follows in this
chapter as well as chapters 13, 14, and 15; what follows in these chapters then,
is that which is "good, and acceptable, and perfect" with GOD. Now presenting
one’s body a "living sacrifice" and being "not conformed to this world" but
being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" is the foundation and
fountainhead of Christian ethics. Until you have responded to the love of GOD in
JESUS CHRIST in this way, nothing else you do is significant; GOD does not even
see it.

Christian ethics begins with dedication to GOD, JESUS did say love your
neighbor, and He did say love your enemy, and He did say a lot of other things,
but the first thing He said is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy GOD with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)" You may be an ethical man and ignore this
commandment and thereby be guilty of the greatest sin, for this is the greatest
commandment.

As a matter of fact, there are those who travel in Russia who say there is a
kind of moral Puritanism in Russia - for quite another reason, to be sure - but
the point is, even atheists can be ethical if it pays. Paul is discussing
something infinitely more than just human goodness, man-made ethics; he is
talking about the very nature of GOD as it is expressed in the life of the
believer.

Some years ago at a church conference, I closed a series of messages by speaking
on this theme: your body is the temple of GOD; He desires to dwell in it,
possess it, and use it for His purposes in the world. When I had finished,
because it was the closing of the weekend conference, I invited any to stand who
wished to present their bodies as living sacrifices unto the Lord.

The first person to rise quickly to her feet was a very lovely elderly woman.
Another older woman, then an older man, after which many others rose. I was
curious because I had been impressed with this lady who was lovely and unusually
gracious; so as soon as possible I made my way to her and asked, "Do you mind
telling me why you so quickly stood to your feet this evening when I gave that
invitation?"

Her answer was this, "I am eighty-eight years old, and I have been a church
member all my life, but I never knew until tonight that GOD wanted my body, and
I stood quickly because I don’t have very much time left!" Is it possible for us
to be nice, respectable people and never present our bodies to GOD as a living
sacrifice? But if we have not done that, we have not even begun to live the
Christian life GOD’s way! Have you presented your body a living sacrifice to
JESUS CHRIST? Have you? You will know if you have; this is as definite as
responding to any other kind of invitation. Have you? If you are not sure, you
probably have not. This has nothing to do with being a good person. Of course
you are good; a bad person would not be interested in this book. Have you
presented your body a living sacrifice?

Now notice that first it is dedication; it is making a sacrifice; that is the
reason why it is so thrilling when young people do it, because they have a lot
of life left to be used to the glory of GOD. It is never too late to do this,
for a lady eighty-eight years old can. It is never too soon to do it, so that
all of your life can be possessed and used by JESUS CHRIST to do His will in the
world. Present your body a living sacrifice; this is holy and acceptable unto
GOD; this is your reasonable service. I asked a group of junior high young
people what they thought "reasonable" meant. You know their answer? They said,
"It would be unreasonable to do any less than that!" It is! It is irrational not
to present your body a living sacrifice to GOD.

Then Paul continues, "be not conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2)" It sounds
very innocent, but if you are trying to keep up with the Joneses you are failing
in Christian ethics because a Christian does not try to keep up with the
Joneses. He does not try to keep up with anybody else; he lets CHRIST conform
him to His own image. This is basically internal, but it expresses itself
externally. Let your mind be transformed by renewing, by a renewing process;
allow CHRIST to mold your thoughts.

Instead of being motivated the way the world is motivated let yourself be
motivated by the will of GOD so that you begin to see things with CHRIST’s eyes,
from CHRIST’s point of view. You look at things CHRIST’s way, you think things
CHRIST’s way, you have what Paul calls "the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians
2:16)" You actually see life the way JESUS sees life! This is to have one’s mind
transformed. This will result if you refuse to allow the world to conform you to
its mold. "Everybody is doing it, therefore I must!" This is being conformed to
this world.

John in his first epistle defines worldliness as "the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)" Motivated by the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life is being conformed to this
world. Let the SPIRIT of GOD transform your mind until you have the mind of
CHRIST.

Paul discusses discipleship in the next verse, 3 through 8, and it is
significant that he begins with self-evaluation. "For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt
to every man the measure of faith." Do not think too highly of yourself, Paul
says, that is conceit; but do not think too little of yourself; that is also
conceit, inverted pride, which is the worst kind. Christians do not crawl
because GOD has given to each one a measure of faith. Then he goes into the
beautiful diversity in the body of CHRIST, "as we have many members in one
body... so we, being many, are one body (Romans 12:4-5); and every member -
every member - has a responsibility, a place in the body and its functions.

He amplifies this in the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians where he points out
that the eye cannot say to the ear, "I have no need of you," nor can the ear say
to the eye, "You do not need me." Not only is it wrong for someone in the Church
to say, "I do not need anybody else"; it is wrong for someone in the Church to
say, "Nobody else needs me." We desperately need each other as members of a
body; we belong together, each is important to all, and all are important to
each. For this reason Paul admonishes us to evaluate ourselves in terms of the
measure of grace that GOD has given, for GOD has given each a call; let each
obey that call to His glory.

Wherever you are that is GOD’s call for you; and if it is not, you ought to be
some other place. But the way to know whether or not you are where you ought to
be is to assume that you are where GOD has called you and to conduct yourself
there as though it is GOD’s will; and if it is not, He will soon redirect you.
How we need to recapture this understanding from the Word of GOD, that in the
New Testament there is no basic distinction between the clergy and the laity!
The word "clergy" actually applies to all Christians, and the word "laity"
applies to all Christians; the clergyman, the preacher, is as much a layman as
any man in the pew, and any man in the pew is as much a clergyman - that is, he
bears responsibility for the ministry of CHRIST just as the man in the pulpit.

This is clear in the New Testament, and this dichotomy between laymen and
clergy, between the pulpit and the pew, is a tragic distinction which has led to
much of the impotence as well as the corruption in the Church of JESUS CHRIST!
When the clergy becomes a class by itself, assumed to be better than the man in
the pew, it becomes very easy for the clergy to come between the man in the pew
and GOD; and this JESUS CHRIST never intended. The work of the ministry belongs
to every man and woman in the Body; it belongs to every believer - this is the
graphic picture Paul gives.

He closes the chapter with general exhortations that are quite explicit and
without ambiguity. The difficulty with these ethical portions in the Word of GOD
is not that they are hard to understand, but they are so terribly plain; and one
of the little tricks the conscience sometimes plays to justify disobedience of
plain truth in the Bible is to encourage us to become deeply preoccupied with
"mysteries." Obviously you do not have to do that which you cannot understand.
But there is enough that is plain in the Word of GOD about which we ought to be
busy.

Incidentally, one of the keys to understanding the profound things of the Word
is to obey the plain things. In your leisure read these clear admonitions,
beginning at the 9th verse through the 21st verses of Romans, chapter 12:
unhypocritical love, respect for one another, preferring one another, honoring
one another above self, being honest and loving in all of one’s affairs and so
on. These are plain, and they do not require any interpretation from preacher or
teacher. Basic to all understanding and living of the Christian life is the
realization that one has not begun to live the Christian life authentically
until he has presented his body a living sacrifice to CHRIST. Have you done
this?

~ end of chapter 20 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 22: 21 - THE CHRISTIAN AND THE STATE
========================================================================

Chapter 21 -

THE CHRISTIAN AND THE STATE

Romans 13:1-14

In discussing man’s duty to GOD, Paul covers two passages: the Christian’s duty
to the State and the Christian’s duty to all men. It is interesting that nearly
every commentator asks, why does the Apostle introduce this explicit statement
concerning human government in this passage of Romans? They suggest several
reasons for these first six verses concerning the Christian’s duty to the State.

First, he was certainly familiar with that segment of the Jewish population
which was rebellious toward any Gentile government. They took very seriously the
admonition in Deuteronomy 17:15 that "one from among thy brethren shalt thou set
king over thee," and that they should not "set a stranger over thee, which is
not thy brother." This attitude, for example, was the basis for the question
brought to JESUS concerning the legitimacy of taxes to Caesar (Matthew
22:20-22), in response to which our LORD requested a coin and asked, "Whose is
this image and superscription?"

They answered, "Caesar’s."

He replied, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and
unto God the things that are God’s."

Paul does not say any more or less in this particular passage than is implicit
in JESUS’ answer. This is one of the legitimate dichotomies of life for the
Christian, and there is no reason to assume that there will not often be tension
at this point; if we try to escape the tension, we may be in danger of
disobeying our LORD as well as Paul’s admonition. Incidentally, there is no
particular virtue in a life free of tension, a fact which the cult of peace of
mind tends to overlook. One may become as a vegetable with peace of mind as his
goal.

Secondly, the Apostle Paul knew that then, and through history, there would be
perennially in the Church that strain of Christian opinion which took the
position that it is wrong to give allegiance to any earthly kingdom on the
ground that we owe allegiance only to the KING of Kings. I suppose on this basis
in every generation there have been those Christians who have not taken
seriously human government. It is quite possible also that though Christians
were not in radical disfavor at this time, Paul appreciated with prophetic
insight that they would soon be persecuted rather than protected by the Roman
government. Especially could persecution be expected from the Jewish quarter,
where Paul could see even then a cleavage coming between Jew and Christian.

What he says here concerning the Christian’s duty to the state flows out of the
last three verses of the 12th chapter (Romans 12:19-21), "Dearly beloved, avenge
not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire
on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

As a matter of fact, thousands of Christians have laid down their lives in an
economy which persecuted them, even to death. That was true shortly after Paul’s
ministry. It was really in a sense true of Paul himself, for he spent his last
years in prison; many of his epistles were written from this prison. But at any
rate, it was true of the heroes of faith down through the centuries. One thinks
of Daniel in the lion’s den; Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego in the fiery
furnace; of Joseph in prison, and many other such examples. It is not uncommon
for the children of GOD to leave vengeance with the LORD, and we are so
admonished by the Word of GOD.

There is a third probability why Paul wrote what he did here; namely, that he,
perhaps more than any contemporary of his, appreciated the achievements of the
Roman government. He traveled the Roman roads, knew their amazing lines of
communication. As a student of history he knew there had never been an empire
like Rome which had brought peace to the whole world. To be sure, it was a peace
enforced by Roman legions everywhere, nevertheless it was a kind of peace that
the world never previously had known. There was an element of security even for
slaves in this economy; the Apostle would appreciate this and recognize the
Christian’s obligation to such a government. Certainly Paul himself on more than
one occasion appealed to Caesar and enjoyed the protection of the Roman
government.

I believe there is a fourth reason for Paul’s instruction in verses 1 through 6
of the 13th chapter. He was writing to Christians in Rome, followers of CHRIST
living in the Eternal City. This would be like somebody anywhere else in the
United States writing to believers in Washington, D. C. What would be more
natural than that they should urge upon the people of GOD living in the capital
city the kind of allegiance to the government that would be a testimony and
witness for JESUS CHRIST and would commend the faith to those who were in
authority. I am very sure this too was in the mind of Paul as he wrote. What he
was saying in fact is this, Christians ought to be better citizens than anybody
else. This is elementary.

The instruction given in Romans 13 must be taken in the light of the foundation
for all of Christian ethics found in the first two verses of Romans 12 (Romans
12:1-2). "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God." This is basic to a Christian’s relationship to the
state. What Paul is saying here is this: you maintain allegiance to the State,
not simply for the sake of the State but for GOD’s sake. In the same way, for
example, he instructed the family in Ephesians, saying, "husbands love your
wives... wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, (Colossians 3:18-19)"
for CHRIST’s sake. The same concern governs the parent-child relationship and
the servant-master relationship. In other words, my relationship to the state,
to all men, my relationship to my wife, hers to me, ours to our children, theirs
to us; the relationship of a manager and a laborer is always to the glory of GOD
in the Christian economy.

He closes this passage with a warning, in the light of which the admonition Paul
gives ought to be taken, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us
therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(Romans 13:12)" These first six verses in which Paul sets forth the divine right
of the State are very plain, lending themselves to no ambiguity; one who tries
to make these words mean something else does so to his own dissatisfaction and
judgment. It is possible, but probably unfair, to make Paul say more than he
really intended. Certainly he was not defending the right of corruption in civil
affairs.

He was not defending tyranny in any form. It is clear in verses 3, 4 and 5 that
the Apostle comprehends the State to be an instrument of GOD in the world for
good and against evil. He is speaking against anarchy and for order in human
affairs. He is saying that GOD has instituted government for this purpose.

To be sure, men will abuse and misuse the institution of the State just as men
because of sin have abused and misused every other institution in history
including the Church of JESUS CHRIST; but this does not mean that the
institution is bad or that it should be forsaken. It simply means that men are
sinners and rebels in GOD’s world, and this is the way they behave with good
institutions. As a matter of fact, it is because of this very sin that there
must be human government to maintain order in history until the final and
ultimate rule of JESUS CHRIST is established. Human government is better than
anarchy, and the Christian must recognize the "divine right" of the State.

As has already been said, the language is very plain. "Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God, (Romans 13:1)" therefore "Whosoever therefore resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation. (Romans 13:2)" There it is. "All authority is of GOD!"
"There is no power but of God." "The powers that be are ordained of God," and
the Christian is bound to give to these authorities proper recognition. So
speaks the Word of GOD. Paul does qualify in verses 3, 4 and 5 the position and
function of civil authority, "rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou
shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good.
But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in
vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake. (Romans 13:3-5)" Three times the apostle calls human government
the servant (minister) of GOD; the servant of GOD to protect the good; the
servant of GOD to punish the evil, and - verse 6 - the servant of GOD for the
purpose of collecting taxes.

Now, someone says, this certainly qualifies human government. What if a
government is a terror to good and encouragement to evil? There are really three
answers to this: One is that there are Christians in history who have suffered
this kind of government to their own martyrdom and to the glory of GOD. I have
met, for example, dedicated Christians who live in East Germany. I have no doubt
about their faith in JESUS CHRIST. I know men who have had fellowship with
faithful Christians in Moscow. I have heard the story of at least one dedicated
pastor in China who has been kept in solitary confinement for years because of
his faith in CHRIST, the witness of whose life has gone throughout China.

A second answer is that many governments are so constituted that the people have
some recourse. There are at least forty million Americans that have no right to
complain about the present Administration because they did not vote in the
Presidential election. This is almost incredible; all of these forty million
were not bad people; I am sure there were many good people among them; there
were probably many Christians among them, but it was inconvenient to vote on
that day; the weather was inclement, or time could not be arranged, so they
simply did not go to the polls. Four out of ten American citizens who had the
right to vote failed to do so, and in failing, sealed their lips against any
criticism of the status quo.

A third possible answer is, implicit in this passage, what we might call "the
right of revolution." There is the right to disobey when the government imposes
upon man that which is contrary to the rule of GOD in human conscience. When the
authorities forbade the disciples to preach the Gospel, they said, "We ought to
obey God rather than men, (Acts 5:29)" and they continued to preach. In the
Reformed and Presbyterian tradition we hold that only GOD is the LORD of the
conscience, and we ought to be thankful for this. It introduces into
Presbyterianism many problems because it leads to strong individuality and great
diversity, but it is a safeguard to private judgment. It would be much easier to
impose upon people the will of a government, whether it be ecclesiastical or
political. Only GOD is the Lord of the conscience; therefore, when the State
imposes that which is contrary to the will of GOD in my life, I must obey GOD
rather than man. The government of the United States of America is the product
of that conviction.

Finally, the Apostle Paul makes it clear in verse 6 that we must pay taxes.
Indeed, he says the State is the servant of GOD for this very purpose; and there
is an interesting phrase here, "for they are God’s ministers, attending
continually upon this very thing. (Romans 13:6)"

In verses 7 through 10, the Christian’s duty to all men can be summed up in one
wonderful four-letter word, L-O-V-E. "Owe no man any thing, but to love one
another. (Romans 13:8)" Paul is not simply referring to monetary debts but to
all personal relationships for this paragraph begins with the phrase, "Render
therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom
custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:7)" The point is
that there is an order in human relationships which the Christian ought to
recognize.

Never refuse to honor the one worthy of honor. Give a man honor who deserves
honor, give a man respect who deserves respect. This is what Paul is saying.
There is an attitude among Christians that tends to downgrade everybody to the
plateau of mediocrity as they so often refuse recognition of leadership in the
right sense. Paul insists we have a debt in this regard to honor the man who
deserves to be honored; the "sour grapes" attitude is unworthy of the Christian
though it is probably often the explanation for his refusal to honor the one who
deserves to be honored. If it were possible to lift one group of words out of
this passage and brand them in the hearts and minds of the people of GOD, I
would pick this: "owe no man any thing, but to love one another. (Romans 13:8)"
Every man his due! There will never be a moment in your life when you do not owe
love to men. This is one debt that can never be written off because GOD so loved
that He gave all of heaven’s glory for us. Indeed the Apostle Paul declares that
whatever the commandment, it is fulfilled in love.

An article in the Christian Herald concerned itself with one of the great
tragedies of life, the problem of fathers who punish little babies until they
kill them. In this context the author was discussing the importance of love in
the home, and he said they have discovered that often malnutrition and bone
disorders in babies are due to the lack of love from father and mother. "I am
sure you are familiar with a little formula found in children’s hospitals all
over the world. TLC means ’tender loving care.’ As I have walked through our
children’s hospital in Taegu, Korea, often I have seen written over a bed these
letters, TLC. Any nurse who enters that room, when she has a minute, picks up
that little body that may have been almost dead just the night before, fondles
it and caresses it because it needs affection as much as it needs food." Even
the softening of the cranium, stated this article, can be due to the lack of
affection.

There are men and women who are starved for love, and Paul reminds us that we
have a debt out from under which we can never get - to love men. But, you say, I
do not and I cannot love men! Then recognize this as disobedience to the law of
GOD; ask Him to forgive you and help you to do it. He can and will!

Paul closes this chapter with a warning. Wake up! Start living like Christians;
stop living like pagans, for the time is short, "knowing the time, that now it
is high time to awake out of sleep" like children of night. "The day is at
hand," begin living like the children of the day because "now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)"

Nineteen hundred years ago Paul said that. If it was relevant then to the
Christians of Rome, it is infinitely more relevant to us today because our
salvation in this consummate sense is nineteen centuries nearer than when Paul
issued the warning. Whether the coming of the Lord JESUS CHRIST is to be delayed
for another hundred years, or whether He will come in the next twenty-four
hours, it is incumbent upon every Christian to live as though He would return at
any moment; for return He shall to reign in righteousness, and His advent will
be at an hour men do not expect Him.

That we are living in a crucial hour of human affairs no thoughtful person will
deny. It is an apocalyptic hour and it demands Christian citizenship in the
finest sense; Christians who are strong and true and faithful, who are composed,
and available and efficient. The man who will be invincible in the midst of
coming events will be the one who expects the Son of GOD to return to reign in
righteousness. Paul is urging, listen Christians, listen, this is your hour;
stop living like godless men and start living like the people of GOD. "But put
ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the
lusts thereof. (Romans 13:14)"

There is the story of a little boy who, when the clock struck fifteen, with eyes
as big as saucers breathlessly rushed into another room to his mother, crying,
"Mommy, it’s later than it’s ever been before!" It is later than it has ever
been before. Christian, what are you doing about it, for CHRIST’s sake?

~ end of chapter 21 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 23: 22 - OUR DUTY TO THOSE WHO DISAGREE
========================================================================

Chapter 22 -

OUR DUTY TO THOSE WHO DISAGREE

Romans 14:1-12

Remember that this passage which has to do with another phase of Christian
ethics is to be taken in the light of the 36th verse of Romans 11, and the first
two verses of the 12th chapter. These are the fountainhead and foundation of all
Christian ethics. in this particular instruction we see the realism of Christian
faith, the realism of the Apostle Paul. Christianity is not emotionalism, not
sentimentalism; nor is it emotionally or sentimentally idealistic, but always
realistic. Christianity is the faith in things as they are.

Paul speaks with great plainness of speech. We should have no difficulty in
ascertaining what the Lord is saying to us as members of His Church in this
particular passage; yet ironically the ethics herein set forth, including the
first part of the 15th chapter, are disregarded or disobeyed as much as or more
than any other in the Word of GOD. This is one of the very interesting
phenomenon in the Church. People will defend the inerrancy and infallibility of
the Scriptures at the drop of a hat but totally disregard clear Scriptural
teaching. They believe the Bible is the Word of GOD but so often fail to take it
seriously in their own lives.

The Apostle is dealing here with the problem of differences or disagreements
among Christians, and the first thing to note is the most obvious: there are
differences, there are disagreements among Christians. It is wrong to allow
these disagreements to become issues which divide the body. I suppose if we
would really probe into many of the divisive movements in the Church, we would
discover the issue is not doctrinal at all, but that about which Paul speaks
very plainly in the 14th chapter of Romans. In other words, the body of CHRIST
is divided unnecessarily because we insist on making issues which ought not to
be issues.

Differences are to be expected in the Church of JESUS CHRIST. As a matter of
fact, the Word of GOD clearly teaches that diversity is of the very essence of
the Church; diversity is of the very essence of Christian community; it takes
all kinds of people to make a Church. Paul argues this very interestingly in
another context, "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? (1
Corinthians 12:17)" If all were a single organ, where would the body be? Quite
explicitly in the 4th chapter of Ephesians, the 12th chapter of Romans and the
12th chapter of 1st Corinthians, the SPIRIT of GOD through the Apostle sets
forth clearly this essential diversity which is the Church, the Christian
community.

There are ecclesiastical differences. Some cannot worship in an informal
atmosphere; others cannot worship in a formal atmosphere. There are those who
like liturgy; there are those who like free worship. There are those who are
more comfortable in a church which has a hierarchical form of government, such
as the Episcopalian; there are others who are comfortable only in a completely
democratic church such as the Baptist or the Congregational, and then there are
others who are right in between, such as the Presbyterian and the Reformed.
There are these differences in the body of CHRIST.

The differences with which Paul deals in Romans 14 are matters of conscience.
There are certain things in the Christian life which, according to the Word of
GOD, are clearly wrong. It is wrong to tell a lie. It is wrong to commit
adultery. There are certain things in the Word of GOD which are clearly right.
It is right to tell the truth. It is right for husband and wife to be faithful.
This is not debatable. But in between the white of the right and the black of
the wrong, there is a great area of gray, which we call in theology the
"adiaphora," the amoral. There are matters of conscience about which there are
great differences among Christians.

Paul is not exhaustive here, but he illustrates by referring to the matter of
eating. One believes he may eat anything; another who is weak is a vegetarian.
He refers to special days. One man esteemeth one day above another; another
esteemeth every day alike. You can carry these out into many different areas of
life.

I think of a young minister who was reared in a church which took a strong stand
against smoking, and the first parish he had was literally in the center of a
tobacco field. Every family head in that church was a tobacco farmer; the money
given to the church came from the profits of the tobacco industry.

These are matters of conscience. We do not understand why the SPIRIT of GOD
convicts one that a thing is wrong and leaves another undisturbed, but it is a
fact of Christian experience. These differences need not constitute disunity in
the body. Unity does not mean uniformity. Getting all Christians into the same
organization will not guarantee unity and might aggravate disunity. Christians
may be institutionally diverse and enjoy a basic unity, for it is our Lord JESUS
CHRIST who unites us.

Now Paul suggests seven things we are to do about our differences.

First, we welcome each other. We welcome into fellowship those who differ.
Occasionally it happens in the Church that a few who agree become a little
mutual-admiration society, never disagreeing (openly, at least) as a result of
which they begin to assume everything they believe is right (after all, nobody
disagrees with them); and they invariably become ingrown, self-righteous and
sterile because they are never exposed to those who hold contrary convictions.
Like the familiar story about the man who went to heaven and was being oriented
by Peter. The new arrival came to a high wall, on the other side of which there
was singing. Upon inquiring as to who was behind the wall, he was told that it
was a certain group who thought they were the only ones in heaven! This is not a
Christian attitude, to exclude those who disagree. Paul says welcome them in the
name of CHRIST. He is not insisting on fellowship with those who deny the deity
of our LORD but with those who worship JESUS CHRIST as LORD and love Him but who
disagree in some matters with us.

Secondly, he says we are not to despise one another’s convictions. If you think
it is wrong to eat meat, that is your prerogative; stand by it, but do not
condemn the one who does. You approve the eating of meat, GOD bless you, but do
not tempt the one who feels it is wrong.

Thirdly, he says we are not to pass judgment upon one another. To his own master
each of us stands or falls! For "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of
CHRIST, (Romans 14:10)" to give an account.

Fourth, let each man he convinced in his own mind. Be sure if you take liberty
in a certain area that it is the liberty of the SPIRIT of GOD, not license. If
the LORD convicts you that something is wrong in your life, you had better stop
it though everybody else is doing it; no matter how right others may think it
is. If the SPIRIT of GOD speaks to you about a matter, you had better obey. To
him who knows it to be sin, to him it is sin. "Whatsoever is not of faith is
sin, (Romans 14:23)" Paul says. Do not let your good be evil spoken of; be
convinced in your mind. Obey your conscience in the Lord.

There is a little rule which I think it is safe to follow here, that is, "if in
doubt, don’t." The minute somebody comes to me and asks "What’s wrong with
this?" I have an idea the Lord is dealing with him about it; he is probably
seeking approval, not an honest answer. If the Spirit was not dealing with him,
why should he bring it up?

Have you heard about the little boy in his room upstairs who called down,
"Mother is this shirt clean enough to wear once more?"

She said, "No!"

When he came downstairs he said, "Mother, how did you know that collar wasn’t
clean enough to wear again."

She said, "You wouldn’t have asked if it were clean enough."

If there is doubt, don’t. Be convinced in your own mind.

Next Paul says all that we do is unto the Lord. "For whether we live, we live
unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8)" In another context Paul
admonishes, "Do all to the glory of GOD," eating or whatever you do; do it to
the glory of GOD. Then he says, we are not to cause another to stumble. This is
one way to view true personal liberty: I have the right to relinquish my right.
This is freedom too - the right to forego my liberty out of love for and
interest in another. This is the freedom involved when a young man unites with
the armed forces, the freedom a mother forsakes when she cares for a child. This
is the freedom at the heart of the marriage vows. When a man and woman are
united in marriage, they give up their right to themselves to each other.

I suppose that most of the problems in marriage derive from the fact that the
average man, the average woman, has some sort of an illusion that though
married, one retains his individual rights. On the contrary, you forsake your
rights and submit yourself to each other in the Lord. That is the very essence
of Christian marriage. I have no rights as a husband. I forsook them in
self-giving to my wife, and whenever I try to take them back, there is trouble
in our house.

This is our Christian obligation to one another in the Lord; do not cause
another to stumble. You are free to eat meat; but if it offends someone, weakens
him, if it tempts a brother who is not at liberty to eat meat, then one must
forego this liberty.

Finally, he says, pursue righteousness and peace unto edification of the whole
church, the whole Christian community. Pursue righteousness, for the kingdom of
GOD is not eating and drinking; the kingdom of GOD is righteousness and peace.
Pursue righteousness. Pursue peace. That is, do not make an issue of every
little thing. Do not wear a chip on your shoulder about these things; you are
disrupting the body. You are injuring CHRIST with petty little grievances.
Pursue righteousness and peace unto edification.

The Word of GOD is very plain, is it not? So plain that we leave such specific
passages as Romans 14 and get interested in Revelation, or in the 3rd chapter of
Romans, or the 5th. Paul instructs the weak not to condemn the strong, and the
strong not to tempt the weak. Paul says, do not judge one another; encourage one
another in the LORD, unto growth and maturity. Paul says, love one another, have
care one for the other. GOD grant that we will love each other as the Father
loves us so that we will not let petty little differences build walls between
us. A church like this would be a novelty in our modern world, a church that
radiated the love of GOD because its members were so filled with the love of GOD
that no matter how you hurt them - even crushed them - the perfume, the
fragrance of the love of GOD would exude from them. This is the pattern. This is
the kind of unity our LORD prayed for in the Garden, in His high priestly
prayer, and GOD grant that each of us shall heed this clear, plain, explicit
teaching of the Word of GOD, and obey it.

~ end of chapter 22 ~


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 24: 23 - HARMONY IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
========================================================================

Chapter 23 -

HARMONY IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

Romans 15:1-7

The ethical instructions begun in chapter 14, verse 1, are continued through
chapter 15, verse 14; and as you know, they have to do with the Christian’s duty
to those who differ with them. It is obvious, yet it must be mentioned again,
that differences are normal in the Christian Church, that it is not uncommon for
Christians to disagree. As a matter of fact, diversity is of the essence of the
Body of CHRIST. Of course, there are some things on which Christians must agree.
Not to agree on these is not to be Christian: that JESUS CHRIST is LORD; that He
is the Son of GOD; that He laid down His life upon the Cross of Calvary for the
salvation of man; that the problem in history is sin, and the solution of that
problem is the blood of JESUS CHRIST, GOD’s Son. On these all Christians agree
as well as on many other things. But there are many things in which we differ,
and Paul in this particular passage is discussing our attitude when we differ.

In the first six verses of the 15th chapter, he is a little bit more specific as
he addresses himself to those who are strong as to their attitude toward the
weak. This is quite apparent in the physical realm. The strong who mistreats the
weak is called a bully and is so recognized by everyone. But there are bullies
in the spiritual and moral realm, and they are not so easily recognizable. In
the physical realm it is expected that the strong have a greater responsibility
than the weak, especially in a family. The strong must compensate for the weak,
bear the burdens of the weak, share their weaknesses; and if that is true in a
family, it is infinitely more so in the family of GOD. So Paul begins by saying
we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves. "Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to
edification. (Romans 15:2)"

What Paul is saying is, in the household of GOD strength equals obligation. It
is not a matter of pride; it is a matter of increased responsibility. The very
fact that one is strong places upon him this duty to the weaker brother. If one
thinks he is strong, he places upon himself an obligation to the one he thinks
is weak. This simply cannot be over-emphasized, for as often happens in a
domestic situation, the strong take advantage of the weak and are critical of
the weak, rather than helping them. So it is in the Church; the one who thinks
he is strong is critical of the one he judges as weak, and not only does he not
bear his burdens and welcome him unto edification to the glory of GOD, he
excludes him. It can be inferred quite fairly from this passage of Scripture
that the test for authentic strength, spiritually and morally, is the attitude
of the one who is strong toward the one who is weak.

If a Christian feels he has matured in the faith, has gone more deeply than
others, the evidence of his maturity will not be criticism of the weaker
brother. This would indicate immaturity. The evidence of maturity will be his
love, concern, sympathy and care for the weaker brother. Thinking one’s self
strong while condemning the weak is a dead give-away to one’s lack of spiritual
character. What a difference in the household of GOD should those who feel they
are strong take upon themselves the burdens of those they feel are weak and not
consider themselves but consider the weaker brother for his good unto his
edification. Thus Paul counsels us.

But he doesn’t leave it there. He says that JESUS CHRIST is our example in this;
He did not please Himself. As a matter of fact, Paul, quoting from the Old
Testament, reminds us that JESUS CHRIST bore the reproach of the sinner. He gave
Himself utterly and completely. He sacrificed Himself. He pleased not Himself.
This is the hallmark of spiritual maturity, not to please one’s self. Indeed,
the Scriptures have been given for this very purpose. Not simply that we might
be edified, but that we, as we are instructed in the Word of GOD unto the
patience and encouragement of the Scriptures, might edify others in the body and
that we might glorify GOD together with one mind and one mouth.

He closes this early passage of the 15th chapter, verses 5 and 6, with a
wonderful prayer for the Church. Live in harmony with one another, or regard one
another to be equally worthy through the example of JESUS CHRIST, a principle
which he amplifies in verses 7 through 14. He begins the passage by summing up
his argument from the first verse of chapter 14 through the 14th verse of
chapter 15. This is the sum total of Christian duty toward those who differ.
"Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of
God. (Romans 15:7)" Consider how CHRIST has welcomed you. Are you worthy to
come? Has your life been above reproach? Have you done nothing, said nothing,
thought nothing, desired nothing that is contrary to the Son of GOD? Has your
life been perfect in the last seven days, in the last twenty-four hours? Yet
CHRIST welcomes you. Paul says you are to welcome others this way.

Of course they do things that displease you, they disagree with you, they fail,
they sin; so much more are you obligated to welcome them for the glory of GOD!
As our supreme example he uses a beautiful picture of CHRIST as the servant. He
draws from the Old Testament two passages from the Psalms, one from Deuteronomy,
one from Isaiah, showing JESUS CHRIST as the servant of GOD first to the Jew in
order that the promises GOD has made to the patriarchs might be fulfilled and
secondly to the Gentiles in order that they might glorify GOD for His mercy to
them. This is the attitude of a Christian to other Christians, that of a
servant, for the Son of GOD was a servant. "And whosoever of you will be the
chiefest, shall be servant of all. (Mark 10:44)" "The Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:28)" What a phenomenon would a congregation like this be in our
modern mid-twentieth century world, a congregation where each of the members was
outdoing the others in serving each other, in loving each other, in caring for
each other, in concern for each other; Christians who cared not for themselves
but for others, who pleased not themselves but pleased others to the glory of
GOD!

How desperately our world needs to see this kind of a demonstration of
authentic, New Testament, apostolic Christianity. If we were more like this, men
would have less excuse to talk about doctrinal unity. GOD help us to see it. GOD
help to blot out of our lives the criticism which we feel towards those that we
assume are weaker than we. GOD help us to blot out of our hearts and minds our
censorious spirit and put there in its place the love of CHRIST, the concern of
CHRIST, the care of CHRIST for those who differ with us. Let us never forget
that the more mature we feel we are, the more responsible we are to be like
JESUS CHRIST at this point; and if we are not like this, let us suffer no
illusions about our own spiritual maturity. Let us acknowledge our adolescence
and let us seek the forgiveness of Almighty GOD and the cleansing of the blood
of the SON of GOD, and let us pray that the HOLY GHOST will fill us, and the
love of GOD may be shed abroad in our hearts to the glory of the SON and the
healing of the Church.

~ end of chapter 23 ~


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  CHAPTER 25: 24 - THE HEART OF AN APOSTLE
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Chapter 24 -

THE HEART OF AN APOSTLE

Romans 15:14-21

We come now to the close of a long journey through Paul’s epistle to the
Christians at Rome. I realize that it would be possible to spend more than one
chapter on these last verses, but explanations seem almost superfluous
especially to the 16th chapter. It is as blessed to us in reading as in hearing,
and so I want to urge you at your leisure to reflect on the 16th chapter of
Romans to which we will point in some aspects.

As Paul closes his letter to Rome, he reveals the heart of a great Christian and
apostle. We see into the life of this servant of JESUS CHRIST and we may
discover some explanations for his greatness. He begins almost as if he were
apologizing to the Christians at Rome for writing them at all. You remember he
defends his own ministry later on by saying that the LORD led him to preach the
Gospel where it had not been preached; that the LORD had led him to go where no
one else had gone lest he build upon another man’s foundation. But he is
breaking this rule in writing to Rome. So he says to them in the 14th verse,
"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of
goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another, (Romans
15:14)" or instruct one another. Let’s spend a moment in this beautiful picture
of apostolic Christianity. Here is a congregation so filled with goodness and
the knowledge of GOD that they are qualified to instruct each other, to admonish
each other.

We have come a long way since that day in Rome. It is now a one-way proposition.
The congregation gathers in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, or Sunday evening,
or Wednesday night, for an hour or so, expecting to be taught. Almost
imperceptibly we have introduced into the church the idea that there is somebody
who has unique authority to interpret the Scriptures; almost without realizing
it we have established a spiritual hierarchy in fact, if not in theory. A pastor
is very often aware of this.

I have given my own self since 1947 to a ministry of meeting in small groups,
encouraging inductive Bible study; and one of the biggest hurdles that I had to
surmount was my presence as a "professional." Several things would happen. One,
most of the people in the group were unwilling to express what they felt about a
passage of Scripture or to ask a question because they felt they would be
embarrassed by their ignorance; they would wait for the "authority" to speak.
Another reaction, though men would participate in these small groups, their
attitude was tentative or apologetic and they would expect the pastor to have
the final word as though to set the matter straight. Often a pastor feels that
people will not allow him to come, sit quietly and be taught through others.

***BBB NOTE: As the centuries have worn on and the world in general have fallen
further and further away from absolute biblical authority - it IS necessary to
be cautious about these so-called "inductive Bible studies" led by all. There
was a time when the cults were not as nefarious as today, to the extent that
they are quite easily able to blend in with the people of GOD and teach
heresies. Oh, pastor, be very, very cautious about these home Bible studies and
Ladies’ Bible Fellowships. They could end up becoming a charismatic takeover of
your church. It won’t happen, however, as you maintain your authority over the
quasi-ministries in your church***

But here is the great apostle, author of more than half the New Testament, again
and again in these closing remarks of Romans intimating this kind of a
relationship with Christians; and I can say to you that there are pastors in the
world today who languish for this kind of relationship with people. They do not
want to be a professional class; they do not want to be insulated from the
congregation.

We are going to hear more and more about church union, and one of the things
that we are going to hear often in defense of church union, especially from
those who believe in bishops, is this: "Who is to be pastor to the pastor?" The
implication being that bishops have this role. Have you ever thought about that?
Who is the pastor’s pastor? Someone, with sentimental piety, suggests the
pastor’s pastor is the LORD. As you read the 16th chapter of Romans, you become
aware of the fact that people ministered to Paul constantly. They were able to
instruct one another.

In the past fifteen years when exposing myself to small groups for Bible study,
I have received infinitely more than I have given; but there are pastors who are
desperately lonely for just such a relationship. It may be partially their
fault, but, you see, we have made it this kind of situation: the church member
comes on Sunday morning to occupy a pew; he places his "subsidy" in the
collection plate; and when it is all over, he goes home. He waits to be taught;
week by week he returns to be taught.

In apostolic times every Christian was a teacher, not in a professional sense
but in the sense of witness. It was not a one-way proposition, as though
interpretation belonged exclusively to a special class. Pastors desperately need
this reciprocation even more than they need criticism. How many homes have
"left-over pastor" at dinner, following church? I wonder in how many homes the
little children, whose minds are like delicate recording instruments, whose eyes
and ears are taking in everything they hear around the dinner table, are getting
a negative attitude toward pastors from the conversation of the adults around
that table. I wonder how many children grow up feeling that going to church is a
liability because they had to listen to the pastor criticized around the table?
When they decide not to go to church, are they not often reflecting an attitude
that was communicated by critical parents?

There is nothing in the Word of GOD, you see, that indicates that the pastor is
superhuman or abnormal or somehow in unusual ways qualified to resist temptation
and to be less human in his attitudes to life than the man in the pew. As a
matter of fact, the Apostle Paul indicates that he was chosen because he was of
all men least qualified along certain lines. He called himself the "chief" of
sinners. He said he was "less than the least of all saints. (Ephesians 3:8)"

One of the reasons there are not more men going into the pastorate, one of the
reasons that men are leaving the pastorate for other professions is this
terrible double-standard pressure placed upon pastors to be superhuman men; and
the failure of the congregation to recognize that the work of the ministry has
never been given by GOD to the pastor but belongs to the congregation and cannot
be delegated. Good men have been broken by congregations who thought the
pastor’s job was to do the work of the ministry while they subsidized him by
coming to church and putting money in the offering plate! We have come a long
way from apostolic Christianity.

Now Paul says (Romans 15:14), "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my
brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able
also to admonish one another," but he says (Romans 15:15), "I have written the
more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind." There is a picture
of the real teacher. Not one who keeps introducing new truth but one who is
faithful in reminding the people of the truth they already know, to which they
have already been exposed, and by which they are not yet living.

One youth official said that, so far as he knows, there is rarely a Jewish young
person in the delinquent courts of California, and he attributes it to the
patriarchal system. What was this system? The father was the head of the house,
for one thing, and he was also the teacher. Not professionally, he only shared
what he received, but what was the teaching method? The fathers burned into the
minds and hearts of Jewish children the history of Israel.

They were never to forget the fact that GOD had brought them with a strong hand
out of Egypt; they would never forget the Passover Lamb; they could never forget
the opening of the Red Sea; they could never forget being kept in the wilderness
for forty years; they would never forget crossing the Jordan River; they would
never forget the battle of Jericho. These things were engraved on their
memories.

Read the Psalms of the Old Testament and count the number of times the word
"remember" or its equivalent is there! It is no longer considered progressive in
our Sunday Schools to encourage children to memorize the Word of GOD. This is
modern education. It is one of the explanations for Sunday School failure. The
Word of GOD taught Israel to memorize; this is the way they learned. The Jews
were not prolific writers. They read the Scriptures, memorized the Scriptures,
and taught them to their children when they were sitting down and when they were
rising up, when they were going and when they were coming. Thank GOD for Sunday
Schools which have not become infected with modernism that no longer encourage
the memorization of the Word of GOD. There is a very practical application of
this in the passage under consideration.

It was Paul’s familiarity with the Word of GOD that gave him direction for his
life’s ministry. He says that he was called to preach the Gospel where it had
never before been preached, that he should not build upon another man’s
foundation. What is the basis of this peculiar ministry of the apostle’s? He
quotes from Isaiah 52:15. Before Paul was converted on the Road to Damascus he
had probably memorized Isaiah 52:15. If he had not memorized it, he was very
familiar with it, so that every time he approached this passage, as he was
reading the Old Testament, he would be reminded of this verse.

Now I am sure that this is the way it happened: one day the Apostle Paul was out
in the wilderness being taught firsthand from the LORD JESUS CHRIST; he was
reflecting on Isaiah, chapter 52, and suddenly this verse held new meaning for
him. Paul knew that he was being called by the LORD to go where others had not
gone, to preach to those who had not heard.

This is the way GOD directs. If you are unfamiliar with the Word of GOD, how is
He supposed to direct your life? If you have not hidden the Word of GOD away in
your heart, how does the SPIRIT of GOD speak to you? You are never too old to
hide GOD’s Word in your heart. You won’t have the facility of a younger person,
but you ought to be doing it all the time. The reason that some of us are not
being led by GOD, or feel we are not led, is simply because we are not exposing
ourselves to one of the tools He uses to direct our lives. One of these tools is
His written Word.

Beginning at the 22nd verse through the 23rd Paul discusses his future plans. He
says now because he was called to this kind of ministry, he has been hindered in
coming to Rome, much as he wanted to come to the capital. But he said (Romans
15:22-23), "For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these
many years to come unto you." Illyricum was on the Adriatic Sea not very far
from Rome. Think of this! In three missionary journeys the Apostle Paul had
accomplished this tremendous task: planting the Church, raising up leadership
and leaving the Church in capable hands; and Paul never stayed more than two
years in one place.

Where did we ever get the idea that pastors were supposed to stay put so long?
Paul stayed two year’s in one place, less time in most others and then moved on.
If we make the pastor indispensable to the life of the church, he must stay, you
see; but when the congregation is able to instruct itself, they can get along
without a pastor. Not that a pastor is not needed; GOD ordained pastors and Paul
makes it very clear in Ephesians 4 that they have a place, a function. But why
should a particular pastor become indispensable to any local fellowship? Paul by
this method had covered all of Asia Minor and gone into Europe through Philippi
clear over to the Adriatic Sea. So complete was his ministry (He had probably
been laboring now for about sixteen years.) that he says he is now no longer
needed in these places; he is free now to go to Spain and will stop at Rome on
his way.

Paul says (Romans 15:24), "Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come
to you: for I trust to see you in my journey." Why is he going to come to Rome?
There are two reasons, and one is very interesting and human: in the 32rd verse
he says he wants to come just to rest. He anticipated a vacation in Rome. But
there was another reason. Paul wanted to have the encouragement of the Roman
Christians as he made his way to Spain to preach the Gospel. Not only did he
want their encouragement, but I think it is clear that Paul hoped there would be
a little group in Rome that would accompany him to Spain. This too was the
apostolic pattern; he wanted some in Rome to accompany him, to be part of his
team.

And there was another reason. Paul had another job to do before he went to Rome,
he had an offering from Macedonia and Achaia to take to the poor Christians in
Jerusalem, and he had some apprehension about this because he had been warned by
Agabus the prophet in Miletus that the Jews, the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem,
were going to trap him and deliver him over to the Gentiles. So Paul says to the
Christians in Rome (Romans 15:30-31), "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord
JESUS Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together
with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do
not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be
accepted of the saints."

Much can be said about that. Paul did not want these Christians in Jerusalem,
the poor Christians who needed help, to resent the gifts that were coming from
the Gentiles in other places. You know, this is one of the reasons the Gospel is
unpopular because it is free. You cannot pay for it. You must acknowledge your
poverty spiritually speaking and receive the gift, and our pride does not like
us to do this. So there are people who reject the Gospel for no other reason
than pride. You tell them to do something to be saved, and they will do it; but
if they just have to receive the gift, their pride will not allow them. There is
this kind of false pride that sometimes gets into Christians so that even in a
time of desperate need they will resent and reject an offering given in love
from Christian brothers and sisters. They say, "I don’t accept charity." Well,
this is not charity.

There is something very significant here. Will you notice the way the Apostle
Paul speaks about prayer in the 30th verse? "Strive together" in prayer! One of
the reasons we do not pray is because prayer is labor. Prayer is striving.
Prayer is work. Prayer is sweat, and there are so many other things easier to do
in the Church of JESUS CHRIST than to pray. But the measure of the power of the
Church is the measure of our laboring in prayer, our striving in prayer. How
long has it been since you worked in prayer? How long has it been since you
labored in prayer, since you have striven in prayer? Here is Paul’s estimate of
prayer, it is the work, and we will not be powerful as a church except GOD
raises up men and women who labor in prayer.

Chapter 16 concludes with closing greetings. In the first 16 verses he speaks of
individuals, and for this reason I urge you to read and reflect on it at your
leisure. It is wonderful to think of the personal friends that Paul had. See how
he refers to them. This couple who "stuck out their necks" for him, those who
risked their lives. His first converts in Asia. See how he lists them and feel
that the team that Paul had laboring with him wherever he went. He was not
teaching them; they were together in their labor for JESUS CHRIST. How I covet
this for every pastor, this rediscovery of apostolic Christianity, so the pastor
does not stand alone as a professional peculiarly committed to do something
nobody else will do. Maybe the pastor is weaker than many in the congregation
(Paul was less than the least), more desperately in need of prayer and the
encouragement and the instruction of people than anyone to whom he speaks. Well,
Paul lists his team members who labored with him. It is a beautiful picture.

But there is something else here; as we read these names, we are reading Paul’s
prayer list, Every day as he prayed he would go through this list of friends;
these weren’t all, but he would remember his friends. Do you have a prayer list?
People for whom you pray regularly? Uphold them at the Throne of Grace?
Twenty-nine persons Paul names in 16 verses, and then implies there are many
others as he speaks concerning a household, concerning their friends.

In Romans 16:17-20 he warns against divisiveness. He says, "Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine
which ye have learned; and avoid them." Avoid him. That is pretty clear
language. How easy it is in our modern 20th century Christianity to walk after
the divisive man, heed every word, and whether he documents it or not, whether
he speaks the truth or not, we listen, and we believe. Paul is very clear in
this instruction, stay away from the divisive person. He closes with greetings
from others, and his own kinsmen, Timothy and others and with a beautiful
benediction. Thus ends Paul’s letter to Rome - his prologue to prison.

~ END OF BOOK ~


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Source: https://sermonindex.net/books/halverson-richard-c-prologue-to-prison-pauls-epistle-to-the-romans/
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