I
believe that the Letter to the Romans, written by the apostle Paul in
AD 57, states the facts concerning the gospel, as it applies to
the Jewish nation, better than any commentary by man. Understand
that Paul was a Jewish Pharisee, educated by Gamaliel. Paul was, until
his miraculous conversion, a very effective persecutor of the followers
of Jesus. Listen as he introduces himself and speaks to a Jewish audience.
Acts 22:1-15
1
"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now."
2
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they
kept all the more silent. Then he said:
3
"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this
city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our
fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
4
"I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons
both men and women,
5
"as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the
elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to
Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to
be punished.
6
"Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon,
suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
7
"And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting Me?'
8
"So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of
Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9
"And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but
they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
10
"So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and
go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed
for you to do.'
11
"And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the
hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12
"Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony
with all the Jews who dwelt there,
13
"came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your
sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.
14
"Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should
know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15
'For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
(NKJ)
The
following letter of Paul, to the Romans, is a very, very thorough treatment
of the subject at hand. Read it with great care. It is a love letter to
the Jews even though it was addressed to followers of Jesus Christ, living
in Rome. Paul knew the heart of a Jew better than any Gentile did or does,
in my opinion.
Romans
1:1-32
1
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
to the gospel of God
2
which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of
David according to the flesh,
4
and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5
Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the
faith among all nations for His name,
6
among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7
To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith
is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His
Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10
making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the
will of God to come to you.
11
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so
that you may be established--
12
that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me.
13
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to
come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit
among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are
in Rome also.
16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
the Greek.
17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as
it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown
it to them.
20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power
and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor
were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish
hearts were darkened.
22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their
hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in
their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful,
and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29
being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;
they are whisperers,
30
backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those
who practice them. (NKJ)
Romans
2:1-29
1
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in
whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice
the same things.
2
But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
who practice such things.
3
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things,
and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of
the righteous judgment of God,
6
who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
7
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality;
8
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness-- indignation and wrath,
9
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew
first and also of the Greek;
10
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek.
11
For there is no partiality with God.
12
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and
as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the
doers of the law will be justified;
14
for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in
the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or
else excusing them)
16
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according
to my gospel.
17
Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast
in God,
18
and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed
out of the law,
19
and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light
to those who are in darkness,
20
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge
and truth in the law.
21
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who
preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22
You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who
abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23
You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking
the law?
24
For "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,"
as it is written.
25
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you
are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26
Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of
the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27
And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge
you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor
of the law?
28
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which
is outward in the flesh;
29
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from
God. (NKJ)
Romans
3:1-31
1
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
2
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles
of God.
3
For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness
of God without effect?
4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is
written: "That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when
You are judged."
5
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what
shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
6
Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7
For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why
am I also still judged as a sinner?
8
And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come?"-- as we are
slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation
is just.
9
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously
charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11
There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.
12
They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there
is none who does good, no, not one."
13
"Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced
deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";
14
"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17
And the way of peace they have not known."
18
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God.
20
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight,
for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22
even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and
on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus,
25
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate
His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the
sins that were previously committed,
26
to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but
by the law of faith.
28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the
deeds of the law.
29
Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles?
Yes, of the Gentiles also,
30
since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the
uncircumcised through faith.
31
Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary,
we establish the law. (NKJ)
Romans
4:1-25
1
What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to
the flesh?
2
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about,
but not before God.
3
For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness."
4
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness,
6
just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes
righteousness apart from works:
7
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered;
8
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."
9
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the
uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for
righteousness.
10
How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?
Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness
of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be
the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that
righteousness might be imputed to them also,
12
and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision,
but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had
while still uncircumcised.
13
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham
or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the
promise made of no effect,
15
because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is
no transgression.
16
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that
the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of
the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the
father of us all
17
(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the
presence of Him whom he believed-- God, who gives life to the dead and
calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
18
who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father
of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants
be."
19
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already
dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's
womb.
20
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened
in faith, giving glory to God,
21
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to
perform.
22
And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
23
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
24
but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25
who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of
our justification. (NKJ)
Romans
5:1-21
1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ,
2
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance;
4
and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly.
7
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good
man someone would even dare to die.
8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
9
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
10
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death
of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His
life.
11
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-
13
(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there
is no law.
14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had
not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who
is a type of Him who was to come.
15
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense
many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the
one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
16
And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For
the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but
the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17
For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more
those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18
Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting
in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift
came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one
Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
20
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace abounded much more,
21
so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness
to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NKJ)
Romans
6:1-23
1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
3
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death?
4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life.
5
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly
we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of
sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7
For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9
knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death
no longer has dominion over Him.
10
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life
that He lives, He lives to God.
11
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive
to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey
it in its lusts.
13
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,
but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members
as instruments of righteousness to God.
14
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but
under grace.
15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
Certainly not!
16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you
are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death,
or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17
But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18
And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just
as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness
leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of
righteousness for holiness.
20
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
22
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God,
you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJ)
Romans
7:1-25
1
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law),
that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2
For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as
long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law
of her husband.
3
So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will
be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that
law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the
body of Christ, that you may be married to another-- to Him who was raised
from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused
by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were
held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not
in the oldness of the letter.
7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary,
I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have
known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
8
But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner
of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.
9
I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived
and I died.
10
And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.
11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed
me.
12
Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
13
Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that
it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so
that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
14
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that
I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is
good.
17
But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for
to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to
do, that I practice.
20
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin
that dwells in me.
21
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to
do good.
22
For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23
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.
24
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25
I thank God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I
myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (NKJ)
Romans
8:1-39
1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from
the law of sin and death.
3
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God
did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account
of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4
that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who
do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things
of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of
the Spirit.
6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to
the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of
God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
is not His.
10
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit
is life because of righteousness.
11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-- not to the flesh, to live according
to the flesh.
13
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received
the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children
of God,
17
and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing
of the sons of God.
20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because
of Him who subjected it in hope;
21
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs
together until now.
23
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even
we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body.
24
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for
why does one still hope for what he sees?
25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what
we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because
He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these
He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against
us?
32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33
Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
34
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also
risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession
for us.
35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36
As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted
as sheep for the slaughter."
37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us.
38
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJ)
Romans
9:1-33
1
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing
me witness in the Holy Spirit,
2
that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my countrymen according to the flesh,
4
who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
5
of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ
came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
6
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not
all Israel who are of Israel,
7
nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In
Isaac your seed shall be called."
8
That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children
of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
9
For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall
have a son."
10
And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even
by our father Isaac
11
(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works
but of Him who calls),
12
it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger."
13
As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."
14
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
15
For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."
16
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who
shows mercy.
17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised
you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared
in all the earth."
18
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted
His will?"
20
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed
say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"
21
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make
one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured
with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23
and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of
mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
24
even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25
As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My
people, and her beloved, who was not beloved."
26
"And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You
are not My people,' there they shall be called sons of the living God."
27
Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.
28
For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because
the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."
29
And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed,
we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah."
30
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,
have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
31
but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the
law of righteousness.
32
Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works
of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
33
As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of
offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." (NKJ)
Romans
10:1-21
1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they
may be saved.
2
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according
to knowledge.
3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5
For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man
who does those things shall live by them."
6
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your
heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ
down from above)
7
or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ
up from the dead).
8
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your
heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11
For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over
all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13
For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14
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?
15
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring
glad tidings of good things!"
16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our report?"
17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18
But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out
to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
19
But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you
to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by
a foolish nation."
20
But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek
Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me."
21
But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands to
a disobedient and contrary people." (NKJ)
Romans
11:1-36
1
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am
an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know
what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel,
saying,
3
"Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I
alone am left, and they seek my life?"
4
But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself
seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the
election of grace.
6
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no
longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise
work is no longer work.
7
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained
it, and the rest were blinded.
8
Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that
they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."
9
And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling
block and a recompense to them.
10
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their
back always."
11
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But
through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to
the Gentiles.
12
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for
the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
13
For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,
I magnify my ministry,
14
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save
some of them.
15
For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will
their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root
is holy, so are the branches.
17
And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive
tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the
root and fatness of the olive tree,
18
do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that
you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19
You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."
20
Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by
faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell,
severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise
you also will be cut off.
23
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in,
for God is able to graft them in again.
24
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and
were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much
more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive
tree?
25
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will
come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27
For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."
28
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the
election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30
For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through
their disobedience,
31
even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown
you they also may obtain mercy.
32
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy
on all.
33
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34
"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?"
35
"Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?"
36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory
forever. Amen. (NKJ)
Romans
12:1-2
1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service.
2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God. (NKJ)
Paul
raised so many issues that you must consider, but this letter to you can
only touch on what is important. You must turn to the Scriptures yourself
and read, even now. Nothing man can say to you even compares to what God
has delivered to you in the Scriptures.
|
