Hello everyone -
This week we will complete chapter 9 and move into chapter 10. Please don't forget last week when we finished being perplexed on sovereign choice and will and that paradox along with god's purpose in glorifying himself through and to his end and finally the particulars Paul gives us in showing what god specifically has done in history to show his sovereignty and continuing to his plan even through raising up pharaoh. With all that said and in mind - please read the rest of chapter 9 below and be ready to discuss our choice based on all this - we will discuss the 'OBK' obtaining (9:29-32), Believing (9:32-33), knowing (10:1-3)....
See you Sunday!
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:
“Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l]
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[m]
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Notes for Sunday, May 8 - MOTHER'S DAY!
We will be finishing Chapter 8 in Romans this Sunday as well as having some special items for the Moms. We look forward to seeing you all.
Here are some awesome notes that I found from Heartlight's commentary...
Verse 32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
Verses 33, 34
Who shalt lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Verses 35, 36
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Verses 38, 39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here are some awesome notes that I found from Heartlight's commentary...
Verse 31
What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us?
What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us?
Seeing, as just stated, that God's eternal purpose relative to the redeemed in Christ is absolutely certain of fulfillment, how solid and secure is the state of the person in Christ. "In Christ" is absolute safety, the only mortal concern of the Christian having to do, not with any doubt or uncertainty of final glory, but only with his being "in Christ" and remaining so. Given the integrity of that relationship, salvation for the child of God is a certainty. For the person "in Christ," it is an unqualified fact that God is "for" him, with all that implies. God appears in this verse, not as a detached or disinterested judge, but as a helper, protector, and benefactor. As Paul put it,
For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
Verse 32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
The confidence of the apostle in this verse is founded upon the principle of logic called a fortiori, being a progression from the great to the lesser. The great gift is that of God's only Son; and surely the love that provided such an unspeakable gift could not fail to provide whatever else might be required to accomplish his purpose of redeeming people, the particular things apparently in view here being whatever earthly encouragement and provision might be necessary to the achievement of the Christian's ultimate salvation to the uttermost.
Verses 33, 34
Who shalt lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Locke paraphrased these verses thus:
Who shall be the persecutor of those whom God hath chosen? Shall God who justifieth them? Who, as judge, shall condemn them? Christ that died for us, yea rather that is risen again for our justification, and is at the right hand of God making intercession for us? F60
Justifying his paraphrase in a footnote, Locke added:
Reading this with an interrogation makes it needless to add any words to the text to make out the sense; and it is more conformable to the scheme of his argumentation here, as appears by Rom. 8:35, where the interrogation cannot be avoided. It is, as it were, an appeal to them themselves to be the judges whether any of those things he mentions to them (reckoning up these which had the most power to hurt them) could give them just cause for apprehension: "Who shall accuse you? Shall God who justifies you? Who shall condemn you? Christ who died for you? F61
Verses 35, 36
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
In this and following verses, Paul mentioned the things conceived of as hostile, and hindering to the Christian's life; and most of the things here mentioned should be understood as lying within the ordinary daily experience of the Christians of that age.
The love of Christ ...
refers not to our love for him, but to his love for us.
refers not to our love for him, but to his love for us.
The scripture quoted by Paul here is Psa. 44:22; and his employment of the expression "even as it is written" was his way of saying, "This is just our lot, exactly as the scriptures teach." Like many other lists found in the Pauline writings, this one should be understood as representative rather than exhaustive.
Verses 38, 39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All of the calamities mentioned here were suffered by Paul himself, as a glance at 2 Cor. 11 will show; and, despite the fact of all things working together for good for Christians, the hardships and sufferings they endure prove that no exemption from life's sorrows has been provided for them. On the contrary, it was doubtless a fact that the Christians of that age suffered far more than other groups of mankind; and, due to the natural discouragement arising from such extraordinary sufferings, there was a constant temptation for the Christians to fall into doubt and discouragement, or grow cold in their love to the Lord, or to acquire deep feelings of guilt arising from a view of their hardships as being caused by their sins. It has ever been the tendency of troubled individuals to become depressed and doubtful, as was the case with John the Baptist when thrown into prison (Matthew 11:2). Paul in this marvelous peroration emphasized the fact that all guilt had been removed through the death of Christ, that condemnation of God's children is impossible. God himself is "for them." What a shout of victory is this passage!
Height ... depth ...
Locke understood these to mean "the height of prosperity" or the "depth of misery."
Locke understood these to mean "the height of prosperity" or the "depth of misery."
Life ...
in this context was interpreted by Lard as meaning the hard life they were called upon to live in the flesh, life with its burdens, toils and persecutions.
in this context was interpreted by Lard as meaning the hard life they were called upon to live in the flesh, life with its burdens, toils and persecutions.
Angels ...
if understood as a reference to good angels are only a conceptual hindrance to the Christian, meaning that even if an angel were to try to hinder them, such would be impossible; but if the word should be understood of Satan's angels (Matthew 25:41), the meaning is the same. Not even Satan's angels may finally hinder the child of God.
if understood as a reference to good angels are only a conceptual hindrance to the Christian, meaning that even if an angel were to try to hinder them, such would be impossible; but if the word should be understood of Satan's angels (Matthew 25:41), the meaning is the same. Not even Satan's angels may finally hinder the child of God.
Whiteside pointed out that the impossibility of apostasy is not what Paul was teaching here. He wrote:
All the things mentioned are things without. Nothing is here said of what corrupting influences may do to the heart. No powers of persecutions can compel one to stop loving God; if he quits, he does it of his own accord. Love cannot be destroyed by force of imperial command, but it may wax cold. Some even depart from their first love (Revelation 2:4). Paul recognized that people depart from the faith, but he was persuaded that no evils coming on us from without could destroy the love of God. F62
Whiteside's point is well taken; but it is God's love for man, not the other way around, that Paul primarily had in view here.
In Christ Jesus our Lord ...
is the final word of this flourishing burst of eloquence; and it brings the mind back to the major proposition underlying all that Paul wrote, which is this, that salvation is "in Christ" alone, and that the totality of the Christian's hope derives from the fact of his having been baptized into Christ (the only scriptural baptism being that of a true believer who is penitent), and from the presumption of his continuance therein (in Christ) "unto death." Paul wrote many things, but the expression "in Christ" or its equivalent is the theme of all that he wrote, being mentioned no less than 169 times; and any "system" that omits this is like a symphony from which both the tonic and dominant chords have been deleted. Paul never left it out! Here is the point where his mind always came to rest.
is the final word of this flourishing burst of eloquence; and it brings the mind back to the major proposition underlying all that Paul wrote, which is this, that salvation is "in Christ" alone, and that the totality of the Christian's hope derives from the fact of his having been baptized into Christ (the only scriptural baptism being that of a true believer who is penitent), and from the presumption of his continuance therein (in Christ) "unto death." Paul wrote many things, but the expression "in Christ" or its equivalent is the theme of all that he wrote, being mentioned no less than 169 times; and any "system" that omits this is like a symphony from which both the tonic and dominant chords have been deleted. Paul never left it out! Here is the point where his mind always came to rest.
One is reluctant to go on from the magnificent teachings of this wonderful chapter, even for the purpose of further studying Paul's epic letter; and, by way of a final salute to the inspiring thoughts of this chapter, the following words of Moule are appended:
Some years ago, we remember reading this close of the eighth chapter, under moving circumstances. On a cloudless January night, late arrived in Rome, we stood in the Coliseum, a party of friends from England. Orion, the giant with the sword, glimmered like a spectre of persecution over the huge precinct; for the full moon, high in the heavens, overpowered the stars. By its light, we read from a little Testament these words written so long ago to be read in that same city - written by the man whose dust now sleeps at Tre Fontane, where the executioner dismissed him to be with Christ; written to men and women, some of whom, in all human likelihood at least, suffered in that very amphitheatre, raised only twenty-two years after Paul wrote Romans, and soon made the scene of countless martyrdoms. ... We read the words of the Epistle, and gave thanks to him who had there triumphed in his saints over life and death, over beasts and men and demons. Then we thought of ourselves, in our circumstances so totally different on the surface, yet carrying the same needs in their depths. Are we too to overcome, in "the things present" of our modern world, and in the face of "the things to come" yet upon our earth? Are we too to be "more than conquerors," winning blessing out of all things, and really living in our generation as the bondmen of Christ and the sons of God? F63
Updates from Last Class
I trust all of you had a great weekend and were able to spend time in the Word of God and in Prayer. The fellowship we enjoy is certainly something that builds our family up and we appreciate all of you.
I encourage each of you to search the prayer requests this week and pray for as many as you can. I had a heavy heart after the prayer time yesterday.
Yesterday we discussed the purpose of God including bringing all people to Him as well as glorification of God. We also had discussion about little Ava and her family. During the discussion of this incredibly and undeniably terrible and BAD situation there was a statement that a relative had said: "God might bring people home that may not know the Lord later". I was moving quickly to the next subject and should have addressed this at that time. I prayed last night and am clear that I must comment on this:
There is NO scriptural basis for God taking someone to be with Him 'early'. God's plan is perfect and His timing is perfect. He does not will someone to be saved against their will nor does He know they won't be saved later and therefore takes them 'early' so that they can be with Him. God clearly shows again and again in scripture that He is NOT a manipulator nor does.
I cannot imagine the pain and torment that go with losing a child. It is very important that we clearly state only what scripture teaches us. It is imperative that we are those that run to Christ at all times but especially when those are hurt around us. When Jesus wept He did so at the undeniable wailing and sorry of those that lost Lazarus. We should and/or must be moved in this way.
I promise that, in the future, we will slow down the exegesis and address any comments in line with what we are studying. I apologize to anyone that was hurt that I did not lead better in this situation.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss further. We love you all.
I encourage each of you to search the prayer requests this week and pray for as many as you can. I had a heavy heart after the prayer time yesterday.
Yesterday we discussed the purpose of God including bringing all people to Him as well as glorification of God. We also had discussion about little Ava and her family. During the discussion of this incredibly and undeniably terrible and BAD situation there was a statement that a relative had said: "God might bring people home that may not know the Lord later". I was moving quickly to the next subject and should have addressed this at that time. I prayed last night and am clear that I must comment on this:
There is NO scriptural basis for God taking someone to be with Him 'early'. God's plan is perfect and His timing is perfect. He does not will someone to be saved against their will nor does He know they won't be saved later and therefore takes them 'early' so that they can be with Him. God clearly shows again and again in scripture that He is NOT a manipulator nor does.
I cannot imagine the pain and torment that go with losing a child. It is very important that we clearly state only what scripture teaches us. It is imperative that we are those that run to Christ at all times but especially when those are hurt around us. When Jesus wept He did so at the undeniable wailing and sorry of those that lost Lazarus. We should and/or must be moved in this way.
I promise that, in the future, we will slow down the exegesis and address any comments in line with what we are studying. I apologize to anyone that was hurt that I did not lead better in this situation.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss further. We love you all.
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