Romans 6

Romans 3:21-5:21 taught justification—Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer and sin is pardoned. The next three chapters teach sanctification—the Spirit infuses grace, enabling the believer to grow in holiness so that sin is subdued. Paul details the Christian’s responsibility regarding sin (chap. 6), the Christian’s relationship to the Law (chap. 7), and the Christian’s rest in Jesus Christ (chap. 8).

First, Paul teaches that because Christians are dead to sin and alive to Christ they must live that way (6:1-14). He begins by stating a possible charge: “Since the gospel teaches believers’ every sin is covered by grace, this promotes the idea that they will sin with gusto so there’s more grace” (v. 1). He answers by pointing to this fact, that believers are united with Christ so that sin’s power is broken and they will live for righteousness (vv. 1-10). This fact involves a command: believers must zealously serve the Lord, their new master (vv. 11-23). The Christian’s responsibility regarding sin is to stop sinning and serve the Lord.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Baptism in verses 3-4 is seen as either Spirit baptism which happens at conversionor water baptism of a new believer. Water baptism symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ, death to sin, and resurrection to new life. Spirit baptism accomplishes those facts. Water baptism cannot wash away sin or unite one with Christ. With that said, the NT knows nothing of one baptized with water but not the Spirit, nor of one baptized with the Spirit but not water. Thus, verses 3-4 think back to conversion and all it involved—Spirit and water baptism.
2. The “old man” (v. 6) refers to the believer’s entire life as an unbeliever. It is “old” in the sense of past, destroyed, non-existent. Because this is so Christian, you must live like it (vv. 11-14)!

Though Christians are freed from sin’s dominating tyranny, they are not free from sin’s presence in their life

Romans 5

Having taught that everyone is sinful, guilty, and condemned before God (1:18-3:20) and that sinners’ only hope of forgiveness and justification is through faith in Jesus Christ (3:21-4:25), Paul shows how justification brings the blessings of peace with God and hope for eternity in 5:1-11. The believer is no longer in a state of “war” with God but peace, having been reconciled through Jesus (vv. 1-2), despite being helpless and ungodly (vv. 6-11). Even life’s troubles are used by God to strengthen, establish, and encourage the believer (vv. 3-5).

In verses 12-21 Paul then taught the basics of justification—that God imputes Jesus’ righteousness to the believer—by drawing five comparisons. First there are two men: Adam and Christ (v. 14). Second, there are two acts: Adam’s one trespass (vv. 12, 15, 17-19) and Christ’s one death (v. 18). Third, there are two results: through Adam comes condemnation, guilt, and death (vv. 15, 16, 18-19) and through Christ comes justification and life (vv. 17-19). Fourth, there are two “kings”: sin, reigning in death (v. 17) and grace, reigning in righteousness (v. 21). Fifth, there are two states: condemned men who are slaves of death by virtue of their connection with Adam (v. 17a) and justified men who reign in life by virtue of their connection with Christ (v. 17b). The Law shows sin, but grace shows righteousness (vv. 20-21).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Christian, during good and hard times God’s love and Spirit are always with you. During good times stay faithful to the Lord so that your heart isn’t taken away by the addictive sweetness of carnal prosperity. During difficult times stay faithful to the Lord so that your heart isn’t taken away by unbelieving bitterness.
2. Many deny that Adam’s sin, guilt, and condemnation is imputed to all men because that is “unfair,” believing that people are not so connected with Adam but are only guilty and condemned by their own works. If this is so the same must be said of the Christian: the comparison makes the imputation of Christ’s righteousness and life parallel with the imputation of Adam’s sin and condemnation. Rejecting one demands rejecting the other. If condemnation depends entirely on individual acts, so must justification. And no one can be justified by works! How great is God’s grace!
3. Salvation is never because of anything good in us! It is only by Christ’s obedience, death, and resurrection. Salvation is entirely the grace of God, not the work of man.

Romans 4

Justification is God’s declaration that through Christ a believer is free from all of sin’s guilt and punishment and stands before Him as perfectly righteous. Paul now teaches some basics about justification by using the example of Abraham.

Justification is by faith apart from works (vv. 2-8). It does not depend on religious rites (vv. 9-12). It is by faith in God’s promise, not the works of the Law (vv. 13-22). It belongs to those who trust in Christ (vv. 23-25).

Justification deals with the believer’s standing before God. This is demonstrated by words such as “accounted” (vv. 3, 5, 9-10), “debt” (v. 4), and “imputes” (vv. 6, 23-24). When a sinner receives and relies on Jesus for salvation, the sinner’s sin is “paid in full” by Jesus’ death on the cross (forgiveness) and God “credits” Jesus’ righteousness to the believing sinner’s account.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Justification deals with the believer’s standing before God, not his experience. That is, the believer doesn’t instantly live a sinless life or is enabled to do righteous works that help finish what Jesus started (the latter is essentially taught by Roman Catholicism).
2. Justification is not tied to any religious rite (vv. 10-12). Any who teach that religious rites such as baptism and the Lord’s Supper are essential for salvation teach a false gospel that God condemns (Gal 1:8-9). Only Jesus can forgive sin and provided the needed righteousness to be accepted by God. Jesus’ salvation can only be received by faith, not earned by works.
3. Faith is not a leap in the dark but believes (receives and rests on) truth from God. True faith does not waver, glorifies God, and expresses that one is fully convinced God will do what he said he would do (v. 20-21).

Romans 3

Having shown that Gentiles and Jews are guilty before and condemned by God (1:18-29), Paul then answers four potential objections Jews may have about what he just taught (vv. 1-8). Verses 9-20 conclude this section, demonstrating that all—Jews and Gentiles—are sinners before God and thus deserve his wrath. No one is as righteous as God expects, so all are guilty and condemned.

The only way guilty, unrighteous sinners can be declared right in God’s sight and be freed from sin’s guilt (this is what justification means), is through faith alone in Jesus Christ (vv. 21-26). God’s righteousness cannot be earned (vv. 21-22), is for all and any who believe (vv. 22-23), and is entirely of grace (vv. 24-25). Jesus bore the wrath of God in sinners’ place (“propitiation,” v. 25) so that the penalties of God’s broken Law would be fully paid.

The result of justification by faith and not works is that all are humbled (vv. 27-28), every believer will be saved (vv. 29-30), and the Law is upheld (v. 31).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Objections to the gospel have answers from and must be answered by the truths of the gospel. The better you know God’s truth, the better servant of the Lord you will be.
2. Verses 10-20 are very helpful in teaching sinners their standing before a holy and righteous God. All are sinful in their character (vv. 10-12), communication (vv. 13-14), and conduct (vv. 15-18). No one can give a successful defense against this (v. 19). A guilty verdict is unavoidable and indisputable (vv. 19-20). The lost see that they are truly lost for them to seek salvation through Jesus.
3. Guilty sinners have no hope in any human being or religion, only in God’s grace through Jesus Christ. sinners must receive and rest in Jesus’ for salvation (“faith”).

Romans 2

In 2:1-3:8 Paul shows how Jews dishonor God breaking the Law and trusting in the religious rite of circumcision. He first details that the principles of God’s judgment are the same regardless of the individual, including Jews (2:1-16). Paul then proves how Jews are guilty before God in that they have not kept all the Law (2:17-29).

Paul is not teaching in verses 5-10 that God saves based on one’s works; that contradicts the clear message of the Bible (Eph 2:8-10). Here Paul is giving the basis of judgment, which is works, not the basis of salvation from judgment, which is grace.

The “law” that everyone has (v. 14) refers to the conscience, a God-given aspect of humanity that evaluates one’s life according to its provided authority.

Last, Paul’s point in verses 28-29 focuses on “what is a true Jew.” The essential evidences and marks of a true Jew were not only having Abraham as one’s physical ancestor and receiving the rite of circumcision, but particularly genuine faith in the Lord, being born again, and the Spirit indwelling and controlling one’s life.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Sometimes the most difficult person to share the gospel with is a religious person because they think they’re right with God. Use this Scripture to bring them face to face with what their real position before God is; to understand that God judges by works, and none have perfect works; to grasp that God won’t turn a blind eye or grade on the curve; to recognize that the only thing they deserve from God is his wrath (v. 5).
2. Everyone has a conscience. Your conscience functions according to its authority. If you are not born-again sin controls your conscience. You will still have some sense of right and wrong because you’re made in God’s image, but your sin will suppress that (1:18). If you are a Christian it is so important to be grounded in and obey Scripture, for that will help you live a life that pleases Christ by having a good conscience!

Romans 1

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome so that they would know and apply the key points of the gospel for their maturity, unity, and ministry. The theme of Romans is “God’s righteousness in the gospel” (1:16-17).

The Roman church was neither started nor visited by Paul before he wrote this letter. At the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:3-5) and before his journey to Jerusalem (Rom 15:25, 28) he expressed his hope of visiting the Romans and gain their help to bring the gospel to Spain (15:24). Following his greeting (1:1-7) and prayer for them (1:8-12) he expressed his desire to visit them as part of his ministry of the gospel (1:13-17).

Paul then began teaching the gospel, showing first that all Gentiles are lost and condemned (vv. 18-32). As sinners go farther from God, God judges them by letting them go further into sin (“gave them up,” vv. 24, 26, 28).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The church at Rome had quite a testimony (v. 8); what kind of testimony does your church have?
2. God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is only available through the gospel. That gospel must be proclaimed to everyone!
3. God’s wrath is his righteous indignation, affected and controlled by his total person. It is the response of a sovereign, righteous, all-powerful, all-knowing, holy God to sin. Note the different kinds of sins listed in verses 21-32; God’s wrath is against all sinners. How everyone needs the gospel!

Philemon

Paul wrote this short letter while he was in prison in Rome. While there Paul came in contact with Onesimus, a runaway slave Paul knew from previous ministry travels. Onesimus trusted Christ in Rome! Paul then sent Onesimus back to Philemon, Onesimus’s master, a believer in a church Paul started. Paul asked Philemon to free Onesimus so he could then go and serve Christ.

As part of Paul’s appeal to Philemon to give Onesimus his freedom, Paul told Philemon that if Onesimus owed Philemon anything Paul would pay such debts (vv. 18-19). Paul asked Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother and partner in christ, just as he would receive Paul (v. 17). This is a great illustration of justification—our debts were paid by Jesus on the cross so that God receives us just as he receives his Son, Jesus!

Truths to Nail Down and Apply

1. Spiritual decisions must be voluntarily made, not forced (v. 14). Forced decisions often are not genuine decisions. When one truly understands the truth of a matter and makes the right decision, that greatly glorifies Christ and results in spiritual growth in life!
2. While external distinctions will always exist in this life, they should never adversely affect or separate Christians from one another.  
3. God accomplishes his purposes through the prayers of his people (v. 22). Paul was in prison and as Philemon prayed for Paul’s release Paul trusted the Lord would answer in accord with His will.

Galatians 6

Paul ends his letter to the Galatians with practical instructions (vv. 1-10) and a closing appeal and prayer (vv. 11-18). Christians must gently restore brethren who are caught up in sin (vv. 1-5). Christians must care for the material needs of their spiritual leaders (v. 6). Christians must watch how they live, being careful to sow good seed (vv. 7-10).

Paul concludes by showing the Galatians that the false teachers are motivated by pride and boasting at gaining new converts (vv. 11-13). In contrast Paul and other faithful gospel ministers were only interested in what Jesus did and continues to do (vv. 14-15). In verse 16 Paul asks the Lord to show peace on mercy on Christians (“as many as walk according to this rule”) and on Israel (“the Israel of God”), and testifies of the persecutions he has endured (“I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus,” v. 17).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The Galatians had been hoodwinked into believing that their salvation and continuing in Christ required obedience to the Mosaic Law. This teaching looked good on the outside but the Law was never designed to do that. Sadly many today still say that keeping the Law is essential to true Christianity! There is an eternity’s difference between imposing the Law for salvation (wrong!) and learning God’s truth and principles from all Scripture for godliness (2 Tim 3:16-17).
2. It is so easy to fall into a “checklist” approach to salvation and Christian living! This doesn’t mean Christians don’t have any commands to obey; far from it! Rather, you must never depend on what you do to make you right with God (“check, I’ve done that, I’m good with God”). Your only hope of being right with God is through Jesus Christ, resting on and trusting in Jesus for salvation.
3. You are responsible for your brothers and sisters in Christ (vv. 1-2). You must be Spirit-controlled (v. 1) and careful.

Galatians 5

Paul sought to move the Galatian Christians away from false teaching by his personal testimony (chapters 1-2) and a direct attack (chapters 3-4). He ends this letter by giving practical teaching Christians must follow. In this chapter he first exhorts them to persevere in the Christian faith (vv. 1-15). If they put themselves under the jurisdiction of the Mosaic Law they must obey all of it and are subject to all its penalties. The Law is a yoke that enslaves and it cannot make one right with God. Living under the Law leads away from Christ and salvation (v. 4).

The second command Christians must follow is to be governed by the Holy Spirit, not the sin nature (vv. 16-26). The idea of “walk in the Spirit…be led by the Spirit” means to by faith obey the Holy Spirt, depending on his strength to do so. This is in the context of “walking in the flesh (sin nature),” which involves being controlled by one’s sinful tendencies and inclinations. The Law is powerless against the flesh; not so the Spirit!

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. There is no hope in the Law; putting yourself under it to gain self-righteousness is a guaranteed-to-fail effort. In contrast, there is absolute confidence (“hope,” v. 5) of being right with God when by faith resting on Christ alone. Resist the temptation to depend on your works; depend on Christ!
2. False teachers and their teaching cannot be allowed to be considered a legitimate option (v. 9).
3. Christians are not under the jurisdiction (governance) of the Mosaic Law but the Law of Christ. The Mosaic Law can only command and condemn; Christ’s Law is written on the heart by the Holy Spirit through Scripture and he provides the ability to obey it.
4. What kind of “fruits” and “works” does your life show right now? (vv. 19-23) Such will show whether you are controlled by your sin nature or the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 4

Paul continues his direct attack on the false teaching the Galatians started following, continuing his point from 3:26-29 that Christians are full-fledged sons and thus did not need the Law’s supervision. Jesus Christ came to redeem sinners from the Law and give them the rights and position of full sons (4:1-5). The evidence of full sonship is the indwelling Spirit (v. 6). Sons and heirs are not treated as slaves, thus the Galatians should not make themselves into slaves by putting themselves under the Law (v. 7).

The Galatians—forgetting their position in Christ—voluntarily subjected themselves to customs and statutes despite their claim that such would bring freedom. They were free in Christ and instead enslaved themselves all over again! (vv. 8-11)

Paul then makes a personal appeal (vv. 12-20), reminding them that when they heard the gospel from him they readily and joyfully received it. While Paul gave himself for the Galatians’ good, the false teachers thought only of themselves. The Galatians were on a spiritually deadly course.

Paul concluded his attack on the Galatian false teaching with an illustration (“symbolic,” v. 24) contrasting the Law that enslaves with the promise that frees through Jesus Christ (vv. 21-31).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Refute false teaching with truth. Show the contrasts. Detail the differences. Demonstrate how and why it is wrong and deadly. Make it personal—acceptance of anti-Christian ideas involves rejection of Christian fellowship.
2. Christian truth loves, gives, and sacrifices for others. In contrast, false teaching is selfish, greedy, and destructive.
3. The Law cannot save, it can only legislate and condemn. Salvation by faith in Christ frees and gives life!

Acts 25

The events of this chapter are tightly connected with chapter 26, setting the “courtroom” scene for Paul’s testimony that would then be given. Festus now ruled in place of Felix (24:27) and so made a short trip to Jerusalem (v. 1; “went up” describes the change in elevation, as Jerusalem is higher in altitude than Caesarea). The Jews sought to manipulate Felix to ambush and murder Paul, but Festus refused as he did not plan on staying long in Jerusalem (vv. 2-5).

The Jews arrived in Caesarea and again made baseless accusations (vv. 6-7) which Paul summarily denied (v. 8). Sadly, Festus was less committed to true justice and more committed to gaining good political standing with the Jews at Paul’s expense (v. 9). Paul thus exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar for justice (vv. 10-12).

Festus, however, had nothing substantial to tell Caesar why Paul would appear before him, and so appealed to Agrippa for help (Festus and Agrippa were equals, similar to state governors). Festus knew nothing about the Jewish/Christian religions, whereas Agrippa was part-Jew and had a better understanding of things. Festus first privately informed Agrippa of Paul (vv. 13-22) and then publicly presented Paul to Agrippa (vv. 23-27).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. God established human government to protect good citizens and judge the wicked (Rom 13:4). However, as human governors are sinful there will be injustice so that the good are punished and the wicked released. Overall, Christians must be subject to governing authorities (Rom 13:1-7) and pray that the Lord works through them for Christian living and ministry (1 Tim 2:1-7).
2. Christians can use their rights as citizens for the cause of Christ and righteousness. Paul did so here, and God providentially used Jews, Romans, and faithful Paul to bring the gospel to Rome. Jesus was fulfilling his Word! (9:15; 23:11)