Romans 16

Paul closes his letter to the Roman church by greeting those he knew there (vv. 1-16), warning of false teachers (vv. 17-20), and relaying greetings from brethren in the church at Corinth where he wrote from (vv. 21-23).

Paul said that a Christian woman, Phoebe (v. 1), is “a servant of the church in Cenchrea.” As the Greek word here for “servant” is the same used for “deacon” (cf. 1 Tim 3:8), some suggest Phoebe was a female deacon. However, as she carried this letter to the Roman church she was a servant of the Lord, assisting and helping. The same word is used of the government (13:4), preachers of the gospel (Eph 6:21), even Jesus (Rom 15:8)! Similarly, though Andronicus and Junia are called “apostles” (v. 7), the word in this context has the sense of “messenger” or “missionary” (cf. Acts 14:14).

In verse 25 “mystery” means truth previously concealed but now presently revealed, which Paul’s closing statement in verses 25-26 makes clear.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Serving the Lord does not require holding an office or formal position. In fact, the office or position comes to those who have demonstrated that they are servants. One of the worst things a church can do is put someone in leadership with the hope that it will encourage them to get serious about the Lord!
2. Though the world does not remember the Christians’ names in verses 3-15, the Lord does. The world glories in appearance, ability, money, and knowledge, but the Lord does not (Jer 9:23). Rather, the Lord delights in one who loves him and lives for him (Jer 9:24) as these listed in Romans 16:3-15 did.
3. The church is responsible for guarding the church and the gospel against false teachers (vv. 17-19). Jesus’ commands regarding such are to examine (“be wise in what is good, simple concerning evil,” v. 19b), identify (“note,” v. 17), be separate from (“avoid them,” v. 17), and stand in hope (v. 20).

Romans 15

Continuing from chapter 14, Paul concludes how mature and immature believers (“strong…weak”) should interact with one another by teaching that they must edify one another for God’s glory (vv. 1-13). Christian must bear with and receive one another so that they please each other for mutual edification (vv. 1-6), following the example of Christ who did not please himself (v. 3). Christians must also serve each other for the glory of God (vv. 7-13), again following Christ’s example who served others (v. 8).

Paul then describes the character of his ministry in verses 16-21 and tells the Roman church his hope to visit them soon and gain their help to then spread the gospel to Spain (vv. 22-33).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. It is not God’s will for “weak,” immature believers to continue in immaturity. While they learn and grow mature believers (“strong”) must bear with immature believers (“weak,” v. 1).
2. Believers must please each other for mutual edification and hope (vv. 2-4).
3. Believers must be like-minded so they glorify God together (vv. 5-6).
4. Mature believers (“strong”) must serve immature believers (“weak”) by accepting them, just as Christ accepts every believer, so that God is glorified (14:1; 15:7-12).

Romans 14

Romans 14:1-15:13 addresses how Roman Christians should view and interact with one another in light of different beliefs about things God created. The two issues were believers (1) looking down on and criticizing one another so that they did not edify but tore up one another, and (2) focusing on themselves so that they did not glorify God in their worship.

This passage (14:1-15:13) talks about two basic groups of people, the strong and weak in faith. “In faith” points to the fact that the issues here are not mere opinions or “personal convictions.” Faith has content, something from Scripture that is believed to be true. A “strong” Christian is one strong in his faith, a mature believer, and a “weak” Christian is an immature believer.

Some important points to note with this passage: (1) Paul does not identify who’s who here (whether Jew or Gentile). (2) The issues here deal with things God created, food and days. That must control application. Many Christians today wrongly say this passage deals with things that don’t matter, and then apply it to issues such as clothing, music, dancing, smoking, drinking, etc. things God has revealed truth about. (3) The strong in faith are correct, because God has spoken to the issues of food and days, (14:14, 20b; 15:1; cf. Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15; 11:9; Col 2:16–23; 1 Tim 4:1–5). Note that Paul says he is “strong” (15:1), a mature believer. (4) The strong in faith can cause the weak in faith to doubt, possibly resulting in their apostasy.

Christians (1) must not have a worldly assessment of and actions toward one another but a Christ-transformed outlook and actions (12:1-2), and (2) they must show a Spirit-controlled acceptance of one another to edify the church and glorify God.

In 14:1-13 Christians must accept one another because God accepts (vv. 1-4) and judges all believers (vv. 5-13). When Christians are controlled by the Spirit they will walk in love with one another (vv. 14-15), show the fruits of the Spirit (vv. 16-17), please God and be a blessing to others (v. 18), and will strive for peace and edification with believers rather than tear them down (vv. 19-23).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Don’t despise or judge one another (vv. 3, 10, 13a).
2. Don’t be a stumbling block or cause another to fall away from the faith (v. 13b).
3. Be controlled by the Spirit to love one another (vv. 14-18).
4. Pursue what enables peace and mutual edification (vv. 19-23).

Romans 13

How should believers live in relation to the government and unbelievers? Chapter 13 details God’s will for these areas.

Christians must submit to government because God established it (v. 1), so to resist government is to resist God (v. 2). God established government to regulate human behavior (vv. 3-4). The right thing to do (v. 5) also involves paying taxes (v. 6) and having a right attitude and actions toward governing officials (v. 7). Don’t forget that when Paul wrote this Nero was the Roman emperor, a wicked ruler!

Christians must also fulfill their obligations (v. 8) and love others by living righteously among them (v. 9). The outcome of this kind of love is Christ-likeness (v. 10). Christians must live for Christ because Christ is coming (vv. 11-12a), so they must not live like the world but a holy life (v. 12b). Christians must not be controlled by their sin natures but by the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 13-14).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. God’s will for Christians in relation to human government is submission. Why has this always been hard? Because there have been bad rulers and Christians still have their sin natures. Why is it we too often think of “exceptions” to this (such as Acts 5:28-29)? While there are such, more often than not the problem is our hearts! Pray for grace to obey! Think about Jesus when he was on the earth, and how he interacted with human governing authorities!
2. God’s will is clearly given in the Scriptures (cf. vv. 9-10). Along the lines of the first point, put your focus and effort on showing you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul by obeying him!
3. Jesus is coming (vv. 11-12a)! Does this fact affect how you live now? There is a right and a wrong way to live. Live like Christ!

Romans 12

How should believers live? Paul addresses this in chapters 12-16. He begins with a foundation in 12:1-2. Those who have received God’s mercies must live a life dedicated to living like Christ (12:1), not like the world (v. 2).

Christians must be humble, not allowing differing gifts to be a source of pride but rather faithfully serving through such to edify the church (vv. 3-8). Six marks of a righteous, transformed life are then listed: righteous love (v. 9a), values (v. 9b), brotherhood (v. 10), effort (v. 11), devotion (v. 12), and care (v. 13). Christians must have righteous desires toward those who hate them (v. 14), righteous affection toward the saints (v. 15), and righteous attitudes toward every believer (v. 16).

Even when persecuted, God’s will for suffering believers (vv. 17-21) is that they do not seek revenge but show grace by doing good (v.17b), being peaceful (v.18c), and showing compassion (v. 20a). Persecuted saints must trust the Lord, leaving persecutors in God’s hands either to judge them (v. 19b) or to change their hearts (v. 20b).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Christian, think about God’s mercies toward you (v. 1)! Review from chapters 1-3 how lost you were and from chapters 4-5 about the salvation Jesus gave you. Think back to chapters 6-8 how you then should live, no longer giving yourself to serve sin but righteousness, participating in the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart. What did you deserve? What have you received? What is the only right response?
2. Christian, every day and throughout your day you must live out verses 1-2. What is said there is not a one-time crisis moment of dedication, but a life-long worshipful response with every aspect of your being to God. You must do this!
3. As you grow more like Christ and less like the world you will better know and understand God’s will (v. 2). Consider the different people and life situations in this chapter: what is God’s will for you for each of these? You won’t know that if you think like the world! Change your thinking to Christ’s!

Romans 11

Having explained in chapters 9-10 why all Israel isn’t saved, that begs a question: Since Israel has rejected God, is God done with them? Paul answers in chapter 11 with a resounding NO! Though Israel is currently set aside, God will restore her. God’s rejection of Israel is neither total (all Israel) nor final (for all time).

God has graciously saved some Israelites but has judged the rest (vv. 1-10). Israel’s spiritual status depends on God’s choice and their response to the gospel. While God has graciously saved some Jews (“a remnant,” “the elect,” vv. 2-6), he has judged unbelieving Israel by hardening them in their unbelief (“blinded,” vv. 7-10).

God has temporarily set Israel aside but he will restore her (vv. 11-36). Israel’s current status is not their permanent status (final, for all time). Because most Israel did not believe in Jesus, the blessings of the gospel are now made directly available to the world (vv. 11-15). This demands that Gentile believers should be humble, not proud (vv. 16-24). God will, however, turn his attention back to Israel resulting in their salvation (vv. 25-32). Israel will continue in blindness until the full number of Gentiles are saved, after which Israel will be saved (vv. 25-27). Then God will fulfill his promises to Israel and show them mercy (vv. 28-32).

The right response to these truths must is to glorify God (vv. 33-36), for his infinitely wise plans (v. 33) are above human understanding (vv. 34-35) for he is the source, support, and end of all things (v. 36).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. God never breaks, goes back on, or revokes his promises. Never. Israel’s future is certain because God’s call is irrevocable (v. 29)—impossible to be changed, unalterable, and unconditional. God’s gracious promises are always fulfilled.
2. The “remnant” (v. 5) refers to a small number of Israelites (Jews) who have trusted in Christ. That must encourage Christians that God is faithful to his promises to Israel and someday will fulfill everything he promised to them.
3. Sadly, Christians can become proud of their salvation (v. 25)! This must be repented of. Consider that you were lost, that in yourself you had no hope, and it was only by God’s rich grace and mercy that you heard must less believed in Christ!

Romans 10

Continuing from chapter 9 why all Israel hasn’t been saved, Paul gives another reason why all Israel hasn’t been saved: they relied on their righteousness instead of Christ’s righteousness (9:30-10:21). Most Israelites did not attain salvation, but many Gentiles did because they believed in and trusted Christ (9:30). Unbelieving Israel, however, is lost because they trusted in themselves (9:31-33). Israel depended on their own righteousness (their keeping of the Law) when they should have depended on Christ’s righteousness (his keeping and fulfillment of the Law, 10:1-4).

Scripture says that salvation is not by the works of the Law but by hearing with faith (10:5-13). Israel did hear the gospel, but they did not believe it (10:14-21). Israel’s problem was not not knowing, but not believing.  

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The only way the lost can be saved is by hearing and believing the gospel message. God is sovereign in salvation and has ordained the means by which he saves—through Christians giving and teaching the gospel. Sinners and saints are responsible!
2. Paul longed to see his fellow Jews saved! Do you long for the salvation of souls? Is that seen in devoted prayer (v. 1)? Evidenced by bringing them the gospel (v. 14)?

Romans 9

Chapters 9-11 explain why most Jews didn’t believe the gospel Paul preached and addresses the Gentile tendency to look down on Jews. Romans 9:1-29 focuses on God’s sovereign election of some Israelites to salvation. Romans 9:30-10:21 focuses on Israel’s rejection of the gospel because of their unbelief. Romans 11 focuses on Israel’s present and future.

Paul begins by expressing his longing for all Israel to be saved (9:1-5) yet teaching that all Israel hasn’t been saved because God didn’t choose to save all of them (vv. 6-29). God saves those whom he chooses to save (vv. 6-13). God the Creator has the right to show mercy to whom he pleases (vv. 14-29). This is consistent with Scripture (vv. 15-18) and God’s character (vv. 19-29).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Salvation is entirely of the Lord, from beginning to end. Sinners deserve only one thing, judgment. The fact that any are saved is due entirely to God’s mercy. God is not obligated to show mercy. The fact that he does is astounding. Meditate and think on, submit to, and give thanks for God’s sovereign grace and mercy!
2. God chooses to save some sinners based solely on his sovereign will, compassion, and mercy. The rest of sinners continue willingly in their sin, and God lets them go that way (v. 18). God endures rebels (v. 22) yet shows mercy to his elect (v. 23). No one can find fault with God (vv. 19-21) for no one deserves salvation.
3. A right consideration of the doctrine of election should cause believers great joy, faith in the Lord, humility, faithfulness, zealous labor, personal holiness, and confidence in evangelism.

Romans 8

Here Paul finishes teaching how Christians must live in light of the righteous standing they have through Jesus Christ. Chapter seven worked out a statement in 7:5, that because Christians still have sin indwelling them, they cannot successfully obey God in their own strength. Chapter eight works out 7:6, that Christians live by the Holy Spirit (note 8:1-4). Unbelievers (“carnally minded,” vv. 5-8) are unable and unwilling to obey the Lord, whereas Christians live because of and through the Holy Spirit (vv. 5-6, 9-11).

How can Christians live Christ-like lives? By depending on the Spirit to continually be “killing” sin in their lives (vv. 12-14). The Spirit’s convincing work in the believer’s heart (vv. 15-17) must compel this “living like Christ” that necessarily involves “killing sin.”

The Spirit continually works in believers as they experience suffering (vv. 18-25) and express their sorrows in praying (vv. 26-27). The “groanings” (v. 26) does not refer to praying in tongues but is a figure of speech expressing the Spirit’s prayers according to God’s will for Christians’ definite needs (v. 27). Though Christians may go through suffering they must remember [1] God’s sovereign, gracious love for them through their suffering (vv. 28-30) and [2] that nothing in creation can separate them from God’s love in Christ (vv. 35-39).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Those who are justified by God through Christ are those who are being sanctified by God through the Spirit. If there is no fruit of growing Christ-likeness, then most likely there is no justification.
2. True Christians kill sin. This is an obligation, Christian, not an option! You cannot be casual or unconcerned about sin: you live in a world that is God’s enemy where there is a devil roaming about and sin within you that wars, tempts, and lures. The Spirit works to make you like Christ, and you must participate in his work!
3. When you experience great suffering that is exactly the time you need to seek the Lord more, not less! Christian, God ordains every one of your experiences to make you more like Christ and glorify him.

Romans 7

In the previous chapter Paul taught that because Christians are dead to sin and alive to Christ, they must stop giving themselves to sin and instead give themselves to live righteous lives. Here Paul continues teaching how Christians should live. He starts by pointing out that Christians have died to the Mosaic Law (they are not under its jurisdiction) and have been joined to Christ (they are under Christ’s jurisdiction, the Law of Christ). Because of this new relationship Christians can bear fruit for God (vv. 1-6).

Verses 5-6 are important for this and the next chapter. Verse five is developed in the rest of this chapter and verse six in the next.

Verse five teaches that unbelievers are dominated by their sin nature (“flesh”); the Law stimulated more sin, resulting in death. Before one becomes a Christian one’s sinful passions react to the Law not with glad submission but obstinate rebellion (vv. 7-8). The problem wasn’t the Law but the sinful passions (vv. 9-11). The Law is holy, stating and enforcing righteousness, but it provides no power to keep it.

Verses 13-25 are from the standpoint of a Christian trying to obey the Law in his own strength. While there is a love for and desire to obey God, depending on self is guaranteed to fail. Instead, the Christian’s only hope is depending on Christ (vv. 24-25).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The Mosaic Law is Scripture and thus is inspired and profitable for Christian life and growth (2 Tim 3:16-17). This is true of all Scripture. But that does not mean that Christians are responsible for obeying the Mosaic Law like Israel was in the OT. You can—and must!—learn about God and his will from all Scripture by accurately understanding and applying it to your life.
2. If you are a Christian you have been joined with Christ (“married,” v. 4). Are you wholly devoted to him as a faithful “spouse”? With all that you are and have (cf. James 4:4)?
3. Christian, you must obey God, but you cannot depend on yourself to do that! Your only hope is in Jesus Christ, not yourself. Just as you could not save yourself you cannot grow more like Christ by yourself. You must depend on Christ for salvation and Christ-like living!