Pauls Epistle to the Romans

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Pauls Epistle to the Romans

• United Church of God
• Cleveland congregation
• Bible Study
• Writings of the Apostle Paul

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Pauls Epistle to the Romans

• Regarding our discussion of predestination in
  Romans 8. Does it appear that God chose the
  people he would call as part of planning His
  creation? What about our names, did He know them
  too? Thanks in advance.
• Romans 829 (NKJV) 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.

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• V29 foreknew proginosko,
  (prog-in-oce'-ko) to know beforehand, foresee,
  foreknow (ordain), know (before).
• Romans 829 (NCV) God knew them before he made
  the world, and he decided that they would be like
  his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of
  many brothers.

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Pauls Epistle to the Romans

• Isaiah 414 (NKJV) Who has performed and
  done it, Calling the generations from the
  beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first And with
  the last I am He.
• Revelation 2212-13 (NKJV) "And behold, I am
  coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give
  to every one according to his work. 13 "I am
  the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
  End, the First and the Last."

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• Isaiah 4428 (NKJV) Who says of Cyrus, 'He is
  My shepherd, And he shall perform all My
  pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be
  built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall
  be laid."
• Believers Study Bible Here is an unusual
  instance of the mention by name of a yet unborn
  king, about 150 years before the event. If God
  can create a universe, if the incarnation of
  Christ is a reality, and if the resurrection is
  true, then predicting Cyrus's name prior to his
  birth is no great difficulty.

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• 1 Kings 132 (NKJV) Then he cried out against
  the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, "O
  altar, altar! Thus says the LORD 'Behold, a
  child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house
  of David and on you he shall sacrifice the
  priests of the high places who burn incense on
  you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.'"
• This prophecy was made about 3 centuries before
  Josiah was born! Later, Josiah did this 2 Kgs
  2316

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• 1. If God knows the beginning from the end, can
  He understand the future? Rev 18 Rev 2213
• 2. If God can state in advance the names of a
  king of Israel, and a pagan Persian king, can He
  know the names of His Children to be called and
  who they are?
• 3. This does not mean we dont have free will
  to make our own choices. Of course we do! God
  simply knows the choices we will make because He
  knows our hearts and character better than we do.
• Analogy of a Grand Chessmaster

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• Romans 1020-21 (NKJV) 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. (Isaiah 652)
• God had prophesied in the Old Testament that
  He would someday call gentiles who would make the
  Jews jealous.

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• Romans 111-3 (NKJV) 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"?

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• Romans 114-6 (NKJV) 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.

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• V4 I have reserved for Myself
• V5 there is a remnant according to the
  election of grace.
• We in Gods Church must be careful not to be
  exclusive or arrogant about the truth and mission
  God has given us. Always remember God can work
  with anyone He wants to! We may not know who or
  where they are.

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• V6 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.
• Romans 116 (NCV) And if he chose them by grace,
  it is not for the things they have done. If they
  could be made God's people by what they did,
  God's gift of grace would not really be a gift.

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• Romans 117-9 (NKJV) 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.

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• V7 the elect have obtained it, and the rest
  were blinded.
• V8 God has given them a spirit of stupor.
  stupor katanuxis, (kat-an'-oox-is) a prickling
  sensation, as the limbs fall asleep
• God has shown His grace (favor and undeserved
  pardon) on some, and called them today to
  understand His truth. Others are purposely
  blinded and will receive the offer of salvation
  at another time. We must be careful not to judge
  the spiritual blind too harshly. Analogy of a
  blind person

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• Romans 1110-12 (NKJV) 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!

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• Romans 1110-12 (NCV) Let their eyes be closed
  so they cannot see and their backs be forever
  weak from troubles. So I ask When the Jews fell,
  did that fall destroy them? No! But their mistake
  brought salvation to those who are not Jews, in
  order to make the Jews jealous. 12 The Jews'
  mistake brought rich blessings for the world, and
  the Jews' loss brought rich blessings for the
  non-Jewish people. So surely the world will
  receive much richer blessings when enough Jews
  become the kind of people God wants.

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• Romans 1113-15 (NKJV) 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?

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• Romans 1115 (NCV) When God turned away from the
  Jews, he became friends with other people in the
  world. So when God accepts the Jews, surely that
  will bring them life after death.
• Ryrie Bible Notes But the casting off is only
  temporary. When the Lord returns, the Jewish
  people will be regathered, judged, restored to
  favor, and redeemed (v. 26). This will be for
  them life from the dead.

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• Romans 1116-18 (NKJV) 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.

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• Romans 1116 (NRSV) If the part of the dough
  offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole
  batch is holy and if the root is holy, then the
  branches also are holy.
• Lev 2310-13 - Great analogies from Paul about
  the righteousness of Jesus Christ! He is the
  first of the first-fruits and the Bread of life.
  Because He is righteousness, and we belong to
  Him, we are righteous and holy in the sight of
  God.

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• Romans 1117-18 (NRSV) But if some of the
  branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive
  shoot, were grafted in their place to share the
  rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast
  over the branches. If you do boast, remember that
  it is not you that support the root, but the root
  that supports you.
• Gentiles grafted in to replace some Jews. But
  Christ alone has made this possible.

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• Romans 1119-22 (NKJV) 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.

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• The misguided teaching of once saved, always
  saved is dangerous and unbiblical doctrine. We
  have been called, and saved by grace to become
  part of the Family of God.
• We must still do our part and remain faithful to
  our calling and the commitment made at baptism.
  It is dangerous to become arrogant,
  self-satisfied and casual about our relationship
  with God.

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• Scriptures to consider
• Luke 962 (NKJV) But Jesus said to him, "No one,
  having put his hand to the plow, and looking
  back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
• Matthew 722-23 (NKJV) "Many will say to Me in
  that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
  Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done
  many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will
  declare to them, 'I never knew you depart from
  Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

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• Romans 1123-25 (NKJV) 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.

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• Paul reveals the mystery of Gods plan
• 1. Many Jews to be blinded and reject Jesus as
  the Son of God, the Messiah and Savior. These
  natural branches are broken off of the tree.
• 2. God calls some gentiles as wild olive
  branches and grafts them into the tree (know
  Christ and salvation).
• 3. God later removes the blindness from Israel,
  forgives them, and grafts the natural olive
  branches into the olive tree. He will also call
  the rest of the blinded gentiles.

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• Romans 1126-29 (NKJV) 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.

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• V26 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
• In context, this is referring to Israel as a
  nation, not every individual. Sadly, some
  individuals will enter the lake of fire as warned
  by Jesus Christ (Rev 2015), and as explained in
  the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke
  1623).

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• An Encouraging Scripture
• V29 NKJV For the gifts and the calling of God
  are irrevocable.
• Romans 1129 (NCV) God never changes his mind
  about the people he calls and the things he gives
  them.
• Romans 1129 (GWT) God never changes his mind
  when he gives gifts or when he calls someone.

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• Romans 1130-32 (NKJV) 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.

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• (NKJV) 32 For God has committed them all
  to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
• Romans 1132 (NIV) For God has bound all men
  over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on
  them all.
• Romans 1132 (GWT) God has placed all people
  into the prison of their own disobedience so that
  he could be merciful to all people.

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• Romans 1133-36 (NKJV) 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.

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• Romans 121-3 (NKJV) 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. 3 For I say, through
  the grace given to me, to everyone who is among
  you, not to think of himself more highly than he
  ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has
  dealt to each one a measure of faith.

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• Romans 121-3 (GWT) Brothers and sisters,
  because of God's compassion toward us, I
  encourage you to offer your bodies as living
  sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him.
  This kind of worship is appropriate for you. 2
  Don't become like the people of this world.
  Instead, change the way you think. Then you will
  always be able to determine what God really
  wants--what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
• We are saved by a faith that works!
• Chapter 12 is a discussion on Christian living!

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• Romans 124-8 (NKJV) For as we have many members
  in one body, but all the members do not have the
  same function, 5 so we, being many, are one
  body in Christ, and individually members of one
  another. 6 Having then gifts differing
  according to the grace that is given to us, let
  us use them if prophecy, let us prophesy in
  proportion to our faith 7 or ministry, let us
  use it in our ministering he who teaches, in
  teaching 8 he who exhorts encourages, in
  exhortation he who gives, with liberality he
  who leads, with diligence he who shows mercy,
  with cheerfulness.

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• Romans 129-14 (NKJV) Let love be without
  hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is
  good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another
  with brotherly love, in honor giving preference
  to one another 11 not lagging in diligence,
  fervent in spirit, serving the Lord 12
  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
  continuing steadfastly in prayer 13
  distributing to the needs of the saints, given to
  hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you
  bless and do not curse.

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• Romans 129 (NKJV) Let love be without
  hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is
  good.
• 1 Corinthians 58 (NKJV) Therefore let us keep
  the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the
  leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the
  unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
• The antonym of hypocrisy is sincerity!

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• Romans 1215-18 (NKJV) Rejoice with those who
  rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of
  the same mind toward one another. Do not set your
  mind on high things, but associate with the
  humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17
  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good
  things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is
  possible, as much as depends on you, live
  peaceably with all men.

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• Romans 1219-21 (NKJV) Beloved, do not avenge
  yourselves, but rather give place to wrath for
  it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,"
  says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is
  hungry, feed him If he is thirsty, give him a
  drink For in so doing you will heap coals of
  fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by
  evil, but overcome evil with good.

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• Romans 1219-21 (GWT) Don't take revenge, dear
  friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of
  it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the
  right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the
  Lord." 20 But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed
  him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you
  do this, you will make him feel guilty and
  ashamed." 21 Don't let evil conquer you, but
  conquer evil with good.

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• Romans 131-3 (NKJV) Let every soul be subject
  to the governing authorities. For there is no
  authority except from God, and the authorities
  that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore
  whoever resists the authority resists the
  ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring
  judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a
  terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to
  be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good,
  and you will have praise from the same.

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• Romans 131-3 (NKJV) For there is no authority
  except from God, and the authorities that exist
  are appointed by God.
• Paul is not saying that corrupt governments are
  part of the will of God. He is saying that God
  allows them to exist and subject yourselves to
  them.
• How did the American patriots of 1776 get around
  this scripture? Laws of Nature and of Nature's
  God entitle them. Appealing to the Supreme
  Judge of the world.

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• Romans 134-6 (NKJV) For he is God's minister
  servant to you for good. But if you do evil, be
  afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain
  for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute
  wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore
  you must be subject, not only because of wrath
  but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of
  this you also pay taxes, for they are God's
  ministers attending continually to this very
  thing.

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• Romans 137-9 (NKJV) Render therefore to all
  their due taxes to whom taxes are due, customs
  to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom
  honor. 8 Owe no one anything except to love one
  another, for he who loves another has fulfilled
  the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not
  commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You
  shall not steal," "You shall not bear false
  witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is
  any other commandment, are all summed up in this
  saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as
  yourself."

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• Romans 1310-13 (NKJV) Love does no harm to a
  neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of
  the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that
  now it is high time to awake out of sleep for
  now our salvation is nearer than when we first
  believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is
  at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of
  darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
  13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in
  revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and
  lust, not in strife and envy.

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• Romans 1314 (NKJV) But put on the Lord Jesus
  Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to
  fulfill its lusts.
• Romans 1314 (NIV) Rather, clothe yourselves
  with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think
  about how to gratify the desires of the sinful
  nature.
• Romans 1314 (GWT) Instead, live like the Lord
  Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the
  desires of your sinful nature.

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• Romans 141-3 (NKJV) Receive one who is weak
  in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful
  things. 2 For one believes he may eat all
  things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
  3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not
  eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him
  who eats for God has received him.
• Dont argue about opinions! The proper context
  of the next chapter is about eating and not
  eating.
• !
• weak new, or has doubts about something.
• all things clean meats and vegetables

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• Romans 144-7 (NKJV) Who are you to judge
  another's servant? To his own master he stands or
  falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God
  is able to make him stand. 5 One person
  esteems one day above another another esteems
  every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in
  his own mind. 6 He who observes the day,
  observes it to the Lord and he who does not
  observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe
  it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives
  God thanks and he who does not eat, to the Lord
  he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

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• V5 One person esteems one day above another
  another esteems every day alike. Let each be
  fully convinced in his own mind.
• Paul is referring to days set aside for fasting.
  Some people fast on certain days and to them this
  becomes a holy time. They use it to draw closer
  to God. To another person eating, it is not a
  special day. Dont judge others about this!
• The context again is eating or not eating. This
  is not a discussion about the Sabbath or Holydays.

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• End of today's Bible Study

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