ROMANS 3


     We will begin this lesson in Romans 1:12 "That is, that I may be
comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."

     In the last lesson, Paul had written to these Roman Christians
that he would pray for them to receive spiritual gifts to enable them
to minister also. Paul says above (we are in this together) we are
fellow workers for Christ. This statement in verse 12 is an humble
statement by Paul. He is trying to make them understand the equality
of the believers in Christ.

     Romans 1:13 "Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that
oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I
might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles."
Paul had felt even when he was at Ephesus, and Corinth, that God
wanted him to go to Rome. He had desired from the beginning of his
missionary journeys to go to his father's people, the Romans and
minister to them.  Rome was a center of trade, and if the gospel of
Jesus Christ could be established in Rome it could affect all of
Europe.  Paul explains, here, that he must continue to minister to the
other Gentiles God has sent him to, until he gets to Rome. The fruit
that Paul is speaking of is those he would lead to the Lord.

     Romans 1:14 "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the
Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."

     This is just another way of saying that God is no respecter of
persons. God wants the wise Greeks and also the unwise to know Him.
The very educated Greeks really thought all others to be barbarians.
They were extremely proud of their schools of learning. Worldly
education, however, does not impress God. God's message is for those
who believe themselves to be high and mighty and for the lowly. I have
observed through the years that it is more difficult for those who
think themselves wise to receive the good news of Jesus Christ than it
is for the humble uneducated person. The wise person has to figure
everything out with his or her mind. Christianity is of the heart.

     Romans 1:15 "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the
gospel to you that are at Rome also."

     Paul is saying here that he will do everything he can to come to
Rome and preach. In the book of Acts, we find that Paul did make it to
Rome and preached in his home while he was under house arrest. All
true ministers of God are the happiest when they can bring the true
Word of God and see someone saved.

     Romans 1:16 "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."

     Luke 9:26 "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words,
of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own
glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels."  This previous
Scripture in Jesus' own Words tells us we must not be ashamed of God.
We also read in the 9th chapter of Romans how important it is to tell
this good news. Romans 10:9 "That 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." Romans 10:10 "For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation." You can not be a silent or hidden Christian.
Salvation was first offered to the Jews.  Even Jesus spoke to the Jew
first. We read how He came to the Gentile at last in John 11:54 "Jesus
therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a
country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there
continued with his disciples." Even though Paul was called to minister
salvation to the Gentiles, he still loved the Jews and wanted to
minister to them.  We have mentioned it before that by the foolishness
of preaching God has chosen to save those who believe.  The full and
exact Scripture is I Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of
God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Believeth just
means to continually believe.

     Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

     Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith [it is] impossible to please
[him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that]
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We also know that
Abraham's faith was what kept him in good standing with God. Abraham's
faith was counted unto him for righteousness. Each person has a
portion of faith, but some seem to have more than others. To make our
faith stronger, we must use it. Each time we depend on our faith it
becomes stronger. This (faith to faith) above just means that trials
come and we must have faith to overcome each trial; as we do, our
faith grows. The just means, as we have said before, just as if we had
never sinned. Faith is believing in our hearts in things we cannot see
with our physical eyes.

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

     Many teach that only good things come from God. God is not only a
God of love, but of judgement as well. This above is not speaking of
the devil, it is speaking of God. All throughout the Bible God's wrath
has come down on those of unrighteousness. The children of Israel who
turned their back on God in the wilderness felt this wrath. Thousands
fell when God was angered at the party going on worshipping the golden
calf. Israelites symbolize God's people then and now. God rained quail
and killed thousands of the murmurers on this trip, as well. The wrath
of God killed all the first born Egyptians, as well. The prophets of
God, like Jeremiah, were sent to warn the people of the wrath of God.
I can just hear everyone say, that is in the Old Testament. Look in
the New Testament at Annanias and Saphira. Satan did not kill them,
when they lied to the Holy Ghost, God killed them. II Peter 3:9 "The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance."  You see the Lord wants us to
be saved, but He has given us a free will. We must choose to believe
and receive His salvation. If we do not receive the Truth (Jesus
Christ) then we will feel the wrath of God. Satan does not sentence us
to hell: if we refuse to receive Jesus, the Lord condemns us.

     Romans 1:19 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest
in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them."

     Manifest means make real. God has not hidden Himself. He has made
Himself real to mankind throughout all ages in his creation. He has
especially shown Himself to mankind in His Son (Jesus Christ).

     Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse:"

     On a trip to Canada in 1980, my brother and I were standing in
the middle of a number of snow capped beautiful mountains. The beauty
and the magnificence were overwhelming.  He said, Sis, only a fool
could see this and say there is no God. I believe that is what the
Scripture above is saying.  Just take a look around you at all of
God's creation. Only a fool could look at all of God's creation and
say there is no God. Jesus was Creator God. John 1:3 "All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
We see also in Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily."  You see everyone is without excuse who deny God,
because even nature itself reveals God to us.

     Romans 1:21 "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."

     Man's mind is at enmity with God. Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal
mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be." Verse 21 above is speaking of a person walking
in darkness in the flesh walk.  Man can not understand the things of
God while he is in the flesh. God is Spirit. The walk in God's Light
is a walk in the Spirit. The Light of Jesus Christ does away with
darkness.  Until we receive Him as Saviour and Lord, we walk in
darkness. He (Jesus) brings His Light into our life when we accept Him
as our Saviour.


                                 Notes







                              QUESTIONS 3

1.  What is Paul trying to convey to these people of Rome when he
    speaks of their mutual faith?
2.  In verse 13 what does Paul want them to not be ignorant of?
3.  What did Paul want to have among them in verse 13?
4.  When had Paul known God intended him to go to Rome?
5.  Who were Paul's father's people?
6.  If the gospel of Christ were preached at Rome, why would it help
    all of Europe?
7.  What 2 did Paul say he was debtor to?
8.  Who did the educated Greeks think all others were?
9.  Who is it more difficult for to receive the message of salvation?
10. In verse 15 Paul said, he was ready to do what?
11. What unusual circumstance did Paul preach under in Rome?
12. What did Paul say he was not ashamed of?
13. Who is salvation for?
14. In what order was salvation offered?
15. What does Romans chapter 10 verse 9 say about salvation?
16. Who did Jesus bring the message to first?
17. When did this change?
18. Why did Paul keep trying to preach to the Jews, when God had
    called him to the Gentiles?
19. What does believeth mean?
20. Verse 17 says, the righteousness of God is revealed from
    ____ to ____.
21. The ____ shall live by faith.
22. What does Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 say about faith?
23. What is the wrath of God revealed from heaven against-2 things?
24. Show 2 instances in the Old Testament where God sent His wrath.
25. Show one New Testament Scripture where God's wrath is shown to
    someone.
26. Why do some people think the Lord is slack in coming back to the
    earth?
27. What does manifest mean?
28. Why does verse 20 say everyone is without excuse?
29. What does Colossians chapter 2 verse 29 say about Jesus?
30. What reveals God to us, even if we have never heard a sermon?
31. Verse 21 says, they became vain in their ____.
32. What happened to their heart in verse 21?
33. What is at enmity against God?
34. The walk in God's Light is what kind of walk?