ROMANS 19
We will begin this lesson in Romans 8:22 "For we know that the
whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
Until Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, there was no promise
of everlasting life. Mankind died with no hope of everlasting life.
The atonement (payment) for sins up until Jesus Crucifixtion was just
for 1 year at a time. The blood of an animal could not do away with
sin, it could only cover it. In Hebrews Chapter 10 v-4, we read "For
[it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins." We read this very thing even more plainly in Hebrews
chapter 9 v-12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his
own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption [for us]."
Romans 8:23 "And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have
the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our
body."
In V-18 of the first chapter of James, we read of the Christians
being firstfruits. V-18 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of
truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." In
1 Corinthians chapter 15 V-23 we read, "But every man in his own
order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his
coming." This is really speaking of those who received the baptism of
the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Receiving the Spirit of God inside of
yourself is a first fruit promise of the resurrection.
Romans 8:24 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is
not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Romans 8:25
"But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait
for [it]."
II Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" This
hope above is the same as faith. In Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 1 we read
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen."
The root word that hope in V-24 is translated from is elpo. Elpo
means to anticipate with pleasure and is sometimes translated faith.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and hope of the resurrection is really
what saves us. Romans Chapter 10 V-9 says it clearly.
Romans 8:26 "Likewise 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."
We see the problem that many Christians face when they are
praying for others. We all pray to the very best of our ability, and
still we do not always know what to pray for, or how to pray for a
particular thing. This is when the Spirit takes over for us and prays
for us. God's Spirit knows exactly what the needs are.
Romans 8:27 "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."
This is speaking of the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) praying
for the saints. The Spirit of God knows the will of God. He prays for
us according to God's will. God knows the desires of our heart, even
before we pray.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his]
purpose."
This is another Scripture that is many times misunderstood,
because most people stop reading when it says to them that love God.
It truly says much more than that though. Are we fulfilling God's
purpose in our lives? If you are, then all things work together for
good to you. The key is (them that are called according to His
purpose). People in all types of ministry forget that God has called
them to a particular ministry and they hurry to get into something of
their own choosing. The ministry that God will bless you in is the
one He called you to. Sometimes we do not realize exactly what God
would have us to do. If we would get alone with God and pray and ask
Him, He will reveal unto us what He would have us to do.
Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
[to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren."
We see from this above, that this predestination did not overrule
our will. What this is really saying, is that God knew from even
before you were born, how you would choose. God has foreknowledge of
all happenings, not only in my life and yours, but he knows everything
from the beginning of time to the end of time. In fact, He is the
Beginning and the Ending. He knows everything about everyone and
everything from the beginning to the end. This is because of His
foreknowledge. It is predestined, because He foreknew your decision.
Jesus' crucifixion was planned from the foundation of the earth.
Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus paid for you and me to be adopted
into the family with His precious blood at Calvary. We are part of the
family of God, because our elder brother (God's only begotten Son)
purchased our right to be called God's sons.
Romans 8:30 "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."
In 2nd Timothy Chapter 1 verse 9 we read, II Timothy 1:9 "Who
hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began," This predestination above,
as I said before,is just a carrying out of His foreknowledge. God sent
His Son, Jesus Christ to shed His blood that we might be justified
(just as if we had never sinned) by His blood. The exciting thing is
that we did not work to earn this salvation. We received it by faith.
We must believe that Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins
and believe that He (Jesus) arose from the grave, and be willing to
tell this to everyone. (Romans ch. 10-9).
The plan was set at the foundation of the world. Man could not be
saved by his own deeds, he must have a Saviour. That Saviour we must
have is Jesus Christ our Lord. We do know that God's call for many of
His ministers, was a call before they were even born, like John the
Baptist. John the Baptist's entire life (even before birth) was
planned of God. Read the account of John the Baptist's birth in Luke
chapter 1. This does not mean that John had no Choice. He could have
refused, but he didn't. God knew he would carry out God's purpose in
his life. Obedience to God's will in our life will bring peace in our
life, too. Most people today take their call to serve God far too
lightly. It is serious business to answer God's call and serve God. We
must first be able to say (not my will be done, but thine O Lord) and
then say, Here am I Lord, send me.
Notes
Questions 19
1. In V-22, we see that the whole creation until now does 2 things,
what are they ?
2, What brought us a promise of everlasting life ?
3. What does atonement mean ?
4. In Hebrews Chapter 10 V-4, we read that the blood of what could
not do away with sin ?
5. Who is the only hope for mankind?
6. In Romans Ch.8 v.23, we Christians groan within ourselves waiting
for what?
7. In James ch.1 v.18, we are called a kind of the ________ of God`s
creatures.
8. 1 Corinthians ch.15 v.33, who is the actual first fruit?
9. Romans ch.8 v.24 says, we are saved by what?
10. What does 2nd Corinthians ch.5 v.7 say about faith?
11. In Hebrews ch.11 v.1, what is faith?
12. Elpo means what?
13. What really saves us?
14. When we do not know what to pray for, who prays for us?
15. Verse 27- He that searcheth the hearts knowest what is the mind of
the _________ .
16. His intercession is according to what?
17. Who do things work together for good to?
18. How is Romans ch.8 v.28 many times misunderstood?
19. Explain about God's calling us to the ministry.
20. Explain about the predestination in verse 29.
21. What name of God tells us that He knows everything from the
foundation of the world until the end of the world?
22. Who is Jesus called in verse 29?
23. How did Jesus pay for our adoption into the family of God?
24. In verse 30, we see that whom God Predestioned He ______.
25, Who justified us? How?
26. What does being justified mean?
27. In 2nd Timothy ch.1 v.9, we find that not our works, but his
_______ and _________ which was given us in Christ Jesus saved us.
28. Who is a good Bible example of being called before birth to God`s
work?
29. In verse 29, we are to be conformed to whose image.
Notes
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