Rom 1:1

Theme:

Bondservant

Romans 1:3-5

Theme:

Courtyard

Humanity and Divinity

For

Gospels

3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Holy Place

Resurrection possible through holiness and He is declared to be Son of God (indwelling)

In

Epistles

4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Most Holy Place

Empowering to call all nationsto obedience through faith

Vindicating God's reputation

Thru

Revelation

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake,

Next exposition of the theme:

1:16-18

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man 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,

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Some people think the gospel is a story, but apparently the good news is the 'power' of God.

I want to know what makes the good news so dynamic, so explosive.

Why is the gospel the 'power of God?' not the story of God. You could hear the story your whole life and have nothing different.

From verse 17 In what sense is the gospel the power of God unto salvation?

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

How are these statements related to each other?

Gospel reveals the righteousness of God

from faith to faith

Cause-effect, When faith is manifested, righteousness of God is revealed.

The righteous man shall live by faith.

It appears that the righteousness of God is revealed when people by faith live righteously.

The good news is not the theory of God, but His power in lives.

If I move into faith, that is not me, it is Christ living in me. It's His faith. You got out of the way so Jesus' faith is manifest in us.

Application:

Is there anything I am attempting to take hold of or demonstrate apart from a faith relationship with Jesus?

Trying to be holy by myself w/ help from God

"God help me to be strong enough so I won't give in." God says, "Jesus has already gained victory, move into faith, and receive His victory. Put on Christ who has already overcome the world."

Every time you exercise faith, it reveals the righteousness of God, God's power at work in your life. Grace in action.

If your seeking to be justified, sanctified or glorify God, it's all about His righteousness. And He will take care of the results. If you get off track you'll fall into a trap such as perfectionism. (Only man who hasn't sinned). How to avoid this? Look at Christ and you'll see your own weakness and imperfection. Heb 10: Perfect forever is through sacrifice of Christ. This is offered to those being sanctified. What two ideas or words aren't same? Perfect and sanctified.

Rom 1:18-32

Principles that demonstrate when someone is in unbelief

Characteristics of Gentiles who are in unbelief: (at least six)

Within church are Gentile and Jewish Christians? Those who profess Christianity are not necessarily in belief–they are in essence no different from Gentiles.

From faith to faith in reverse. Opposite of from faith to faith and giving glory to God.

Start with unbelief and it leads to another step of unbelief and glorifing self?

When we stay in rel w/ Christ we grow. When we separate we degrade.

1.	Denial of God's creative power and divinity 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 that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Revelation of unrighteousness instead of righteousness–suppressing the truth to still the conscience

2.	Ungrateful–self sufficient 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

3.	Idolatrous, worshiping images, not creator 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 25 Exchanged the truth of God for a lie–worshiping creature not creator

4.	24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

5.	27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. (What ministry attitude and approach would a practicing Christian use w/ a practicing homosexual? What is it about the gospel that you would share w/ a practicing homosexual? We know these actions are the product of a depraved mind same as bitterness and anger. Call homosexuality sin. To reach a homosexual w/ the gospel there must be conviction of sin.)

6.	Became unable to acknowledge God 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

7.	Knowingly engage in wrong and applaud others who do them–rebellion 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Sunday morning

Summary: Even professing Christians if they think and replace God with their own ideas, they are pagans.

Romans 2: A chapter to be digested because it speaks to those who profess belief–only the Jews qualified The truth had been entrusted to them–even though as a nation they'd lost the privilege of representing God. (Recap of root of truth w/ Abraham, Jesus, William Miller, the unlikeliest people, God is not respecter of persons. Is there a privilege or responsibility in receiving the root of truth? Yes Rom3. Any advantages in being an Adventist? Which group most attacked? Which can apostatize? The others have already done so. There are only three movements predicted in Revelation which means God is going to take this movement through, with or without me. Any advantage? Yes, what are you doing with it?)

Life Principles

List substantial principles of true belief (harmonious relationships between believers)

Get setting Rom 2:1-2

1.	v.1-6 Judge not, are you doing the same?

a.	God has been kind to me despite my motives, so why would I judge another.

2.	7-11 two issues because of the non-partiality of God

a.	believers are persistent in doing good which results in life.

b.	Self seeking results in wrath and death

c.	because God is not partial

1.	It doesn't matter whether you're a believer or not, evil will cost you. This applies to professed believers–people think they can do anything just because they call themselves Christians. The gospel is about power to live this way

3.	v. 9 more accountability for those w/ more knowledge?

4.	12-16 True belief always acts it's not just mental assent

a.	Two groups in contrast:

1.	Those who hear law and who don't

1.	Those who have the law and sin are judged by the law

2.	Those who don't have the law aren't judged by the same standard, they will perish without the law–not be judged by it.

2.	Both will be judged by what they know.

1.	If they do what is right by nature what could we conclude about them? Their nature has been changed. God is living in them.

1.	Heathen chiefs that outlawed killing and knew about the Sabbath

5.	24 God is revealed through those believe in Him–so other nations look to us to see Him. The whole reason for having believers is to bring about the glorification of God

6.	29 True belief is authentic and transparent True belief is a spiritual issue, not a literary one. True belief is heart religion, observing the spirit of the law, being led by the spirit to obey, through the indwelling of Christ, not focused on externals.

a.	What's the difference between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law?

1.	We keep the letter of the law to impress men, but if we were receiving the perfect life of Christ, we would not need to impress other men or God to avoid condemnation. Now we are free to keep the spirit of the law.

Afternoon chapter three:

Is there an advantage in being a Jew? Much in every way.

1.	They were entrusted with the oracles of God. Think about it. God's message for the world has been entrusted to human intermediaries. He didn't choose the wise, but the receptive–no respecter of persons. Even the heathen can hear God. (Good thing, 'cause we're all born heathen.) (Las Vegas story

2.	What are you doing with them? If some don't believe, does that nullify the faithfulness of God. (If some Jews didn't believe, that doesn't stop God. Even if you don't have everyone in your church fervent in belief, that doesn't mean God won't honor His promises.) Are you truly appreciating the fact that you are sitting on the oracles of God? Is there any advantage in being an Adventist. What if I was raised a Mormon?

3.	God being righteous when He is judged ps 51:4

4.	5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just. What accusation was coming against Paul? Some said he was saying, "Go ahead and sin, so that God's goodness comes out more fully." Anyone who speaks for God runs the risk of being misunderstood. What leads to this misunderstanding? People have their own agenda, so they don't really hear what you're saying.

5.	V.9 What then, are we better than they, all are under sin. Description of us in our carnal state.

A.	Unrighteous

B.	Don't understand

C.	Don't seek for God

D.	Useless for doing good

E.	Everything we say is deadly

F.	Actions are murderous

G.	(Cause) Miserable everywhere we go

H.	Don't know peace

I.	No respect for God

6.	How are you in your natural state, apart from the grace of God. Is there anything here that you find, convicting, horrifying personally? In our weakest moments we actually admit that this is a picture of us.

7.	Verse 10-12 mind 13-14 mouth 15-18 body

Aside to Romans eight to understand what carnality means. Verses 6-8.

Identify the characteristics of a carnal man.

1.	V.5 Mind set on the things of the flesh

2.	Result of carnality of mind is death

3.	Carnal mind is at Enmity with God.

4.	Unable to be subject to the law of God

5.	Unable to please God

If someone has a sin problem and are agonizing over it, losing sleep, don't want to be that way, that person is not carnal. Carnality is not recognizing sin in your life. It accepts sin as the way you are supposed to be.

Order of Romans 3

10-18 Man's absolutely sinful nature

19-23 By works of the law no flesh shall be justified

Verse 20 is Paul's theme on righteousness by faith. By the works of the law (obey the letter) will no man be justified. Because through the law comes the knowledge of sin. If I truly see the law, I will see my own sinfulness. If you think you are able to recommend yourself to God, you aren't seeing the law. God is not asking the impossible of us. He is doing the impossible for us

vv24-28

Identify key elements in the process of being justified. (Declared Righteous: God, knowing that you could never do something to develop righteousness offers you the privilege of being declared righteous forever. If you're understanding this, you've crossed a formidable barrier, 'cause the sanctification process is nothing more than learning to be justified moment by moment. And without this in place there is no foundation on which to build maturity.)

1.	It comes as a gift, freely (100 dollar bill in church taken by a child)

2.	Because of the grace of God

3.	Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

4.	Who is a sacrifice of atonement. (2cor 5:21 Jesus became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. How many of you have allowed Jesus to become sin for you, personally. Scroll through your personal inventory of sin. How did Jesus die if He died as Bruce?

5.	What was God demonstrating when He allowed Jesus to die our death? His justice so He could be both just (sin has consequences) and the justifier of Him who believes therefore

6.	Must be believed. A man is justified by faith, apart from the works of the law.

24,25,26 justification, righteousness, God being justified