Most Important Notes from BIBL 425 {3,228 words}
IX. Lesson 9 - The Book of Romans (The Contract Between Jesus and Adam - Romans 5:12-21)
A. All humans come under one of the two Adams. All die because of the first Adam, but all can live through God's free gift of the second Adam. The first Adam brought sin, and the second Adam undid what the first Adam did.
B. Sin means to miss the mark (Romans 3:23) or to overstep the line. Sin is not doing what God wants us to do and doing what He doesn't want us to do. Man is guilty of both types of sin. The origin of sin was through an angel (Isaiah 14:12-15 (the five deadly "I will"s of the devil) and Ezekiel 28:12-19). The devil led the first rebellion against God. Sin always begins by doubting the Word of God. Christians should never debate the devil.
1. Isaiah 14:13-14 says, "You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"
2. Ezekiel 28:13 says, "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared."
C. The Pelagian Theory of sin says that Adam's sin only affected him. It set a bad example for everyone, but that's all.
D. The semi-Pelagian Theory of sin weakened me so that I would sin.
E. The Augustinian or Federal Theory says that Adam's sin was imputed to everyone, and this one is supported by Scripture. In Romans 3:23, Paul said that all sinned because of Adam and that all sin. We sin because we are sinners. We are not sinners because we sin.
F. Adam learned some bad words when he sinned: death, nakedness, cursed, sorrow, thorn, sweat, and sword. The second Adam endured these, too, to undo them for us. Jesus died to undo physical and spiritual death.
X. Lesson 10 - The Book of Romans - The Factory of Grace (Chapter 6:1-10)
A. Sanctification - After this point, Paul does not talk anymore about justification. Instead, he builds on that and talks about what people do after they get saved. Justification is a legal declaration where God declares a vile sinner to be righteous. Sanctification is an act. Justification is the means, and sanctification is the end. Justification is once, and sanctification is continuous.
B. Sanctification is not the eradication of a sinful nature. John did not claim eradication for himself (I John 1:9). Sanctification does mean that we sin less. It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification does not necessarily make one holy. Sanctification means to set apart. A believing spouse, according to I Corinthians 7:10-15, sanctifies an unbelieving spouse.
C. Four steps for justification: (1) know that you are lost, (2) know that you cannot save yourself, (3) know that salvation is only through Christ, and (4) ask Christ to save you.
D. Four steps of sanctification: (1) know ye, (2) reckon ye, (3) yield ye, and (4) obey ye.
E. KNOW YE - (1) that we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death, (2) that we have planted together with Christ, and (3) that we are dead to sin and free from sin.
F. Romans 6:1-2 - should people continue in sin? God is not more honored when he saves someone from horrible sins. He is honored and pleased by all people that come to Him. It takes just as much Grace to keep the Christian as it does to deliver the messed up sinner. Jesus died for each person, and He died as each person. Based on Romans 6:4-5, we died on the cross with Him. Baptism means to be identified with, and it has nothing to do with water. The baptism in Romans 6:4-5 was a dry baptism.
G. Through salvation, we do not have to yield to our sin nature, but God does not take away the sin nature. God wants us to know His truth and that we can be free (John 8:32). Paul wrote that he did not want us to be ignorant concerning (1) Old Testament history (I Corinthians 10:1), (2)spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:1), (3)Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13), (4) the tactics of the devil (II Corinthians 2:11), or (5) the condition of Israel's blindness (Romans 12:25). God wants us to know (Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. 'Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.'").
H. The Samson Syndrome - Pastors fall into sin and are then out of the ministry. Christians do the same things. Samson also fell because his enemy learned the secret of his strength. Christians need to remember that their old nature grows just like their new nature, and that means that the old nature can be resurrected.
I. Romans 6:9 says that Christ will not die again. In the Old Testament, there were three resurrections. Jesus raised three people from the dead, Peter raised one, and Paul raised one. But all of them died again except Jesus, and that is why He was the first fruits of the resurrection.
J. Sanctification is a setting apart (1) from the world and (2) to the Lord. Both are important, but the second one is far more important than the first. The first commmand that leads to sanctification is KNOW YE.
XI. Lesson 11 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 6:11-23)
A. TULIP - Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited Atonement, Irresistable Grace, and Perserverance of the Saints => CALVINISM
B. KRYO - Know Ye, Reckon Ye (Romans 6:11-12), Yield Ye (Romans 6:13-16), Obey Ye (Romans 6:17) => SANCTIFICATION
C. RECKON YE {Romans 6:11-12} - Facts, Faith, and Feelings - Facts are God loves me, died for me, and will save me. A person is to accept those facts by faith. Feelings should not go where the facts go. Salvation is not about feelings. Feelings are important, but they are not necessary for justification or progressive sanctification. People can know that they are saved regardless of their feelings because of the biblical marriage contract.
D. YIELD YE {Romans 6:13-16} - See I Corinthians 6:19. God wants each person's will.
E. Monasticism (monastery living and hermit life.) and Asceticism (the body is evil, bad, and wicked but the spirit is good. The body must be tortured to free the spirit. Typical methods are fasting, prayer, and total seclusion). According to the Bible, bodies are not evil. God is interested in saving the whole body.
F. OBEY YE {Romans 6:17} - Saul in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Saul of the Old Testament was tall and impressive, was from Benjamin, began as God's friend, died as His enemy, went to the witch of Endor in his hour of need, and took his own life in great fear. The Saul of the New Testament was short and unimpressive, was from Benjamin, began as God's enemy, died as His friend, went to the Scriptures in his hour of need, and gave his life in great expectation. The Saul of the Old Testament disobeyed God, but the Saul of the New Testament obeyed God (Acts 26:19). To obey is better than to sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22).
G. It is not possible to experience Sanctification without Obedience.
XII. Lesson 12 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 7:1-13)
A. Four divisions in the Book of Romans: (1) the courthouse of law (Romans 1-5), (2) the powerhouse of Grace (Romans 6-8), (3) a synagogue (Israel) (Romans 9-11), and (4) the Temple of God (Romans 12-16).
B. The factory or powerhouse has three floors - first (sanctification - chapter 6 (grow in Grace)), second (frustration - chapter 7 (justification)), and third (preservation - chapter 8 (eternal salvation)).
C. Another set of three men - a spiritual, natural, and carnal man. These are not the same as the three at the beginning of the course.
1. spiritual man - a believer that is controlled by the Holy Spirit. He follows the four rules of Chapter Six - know, reckon, yield, and obey. This person is delivered from the Law.
2. natural man - an unsaved person. This person is doomed by the Law.
3. carnal man - a believer that is controlled by the flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. This person is defeated by the Law.
D. In Romans 7:1-3, Paul wrote that the spiritual person is freed from the Law in the same way that the widower is freed from his or her former spouse. The Law was a perfect spouse but impossible to live with. The spiritual person dies to the Law. In Romans 7:4, the spiritual person has been freed from the Law and free to come to Christ. In Romans 7:5, the spiritual person is also freed from his or her lusts. The spiritual person no longer bears the fruits of the sinful flesh. God wants the spiritual person to have nine children according to Galatians 5:22. They are love, joy, peace, long, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
E. In Romans 7:6-13, Paul deals with the natural man. The Law was used by sin in him to work all manner of evil. Sin used the Law in its operation against him. Paul probably really struggled with the Law before he was saved. The Law did not cause his lust. It clarified it. The tenth Commandment is the only commandment that one must keep inwardly. Not taking the Lord's name in vain was using it in a magical sense, not merely cussing. The Law failed because it had impossible people to work with.
XIII. Lesson 13 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 7:7-25)
A. The carnal man - You are carnal and need milk not meat (I Corinthians 3:1-3), you are dull of hearing and need to be taught milk not meat (Hebrews 6:11-12), and you are carnal (II Peter 1:5-9). The carnal man is defeated by the Law.
B. Paul mentions "law" sixty-seven times in the Book of Romans, and he is usually talking about the Law of God. He mentions it twenty times in Romans 7:1-25. The Law of Moses was in a threefold division - the moral code (the Ten Commandments - revelation from Christ), the social code (military, sanitation, taxation, marriage, and so on - regulation until Christ), and the spiritual code (the Levitical Feasts (Passover, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles (a happy feast) - (Leviticus 23:1-44)), and Laws that pertain to Christ - realization in Christ). Taking the Lord's name in vain is not the cursing. Breaking the Third Commandment is to use God's name in a magic way or in the wrong way. Blaming God for one's failures is breaking the commandment. When we incorrectly say that God told us to do something that is not of a spiritual nature.
C. There are 613 Old Testament Laws. The Jews believed that some laws were mandatory (248) and prohibition (365). If you are guilty of one law, then you are guilty of the whole law.
D. Five reasons for the Law - (1) functioned as a "bridle," (2) functioned as a "hedge" to temporarily separate Israel from the world for preparation or special training in righteousness (God did not hate the other nations. He wanted Israel to minister to them, and they essentially failed. But God's Plan was successful with the bloodthirsty nation of Assyria in the Book of Jonah), (3) functioned as a "mirror" to show our true condition (4) functioned as a "stimulant" to bring out the hidden sins in a man, and (5) functioned as a "school teacher" (Galatians 3:24-25). Salvation comes by repentance and faith, so Christ did not come earlier because people had to better learn the Law to learn about repentance. People have always had to repent, but the Law taught the principle and need of repentance. Abraham introduced the principle of faith, and Moses introduced the principle repentance (Acts 20:21).
E. Trying to keep the Law leads to carnality (Romans 7:18-19). Nothing good dwells in the flesh. We cannot do anything without the Lord (John 15:5). No attempt to keep the Law for the Christian can lead to spirituality.
F. Paul ended Romans, Chapter Six, by saying that eternal life come from Christ, and he ended Chapter Seven by saying that deliverance from the Law only comes through Him. You do not become a Christian by giving up anything. You become a Christian by receiving Christ (John 1:12).
XIV. Lesson 14 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 8:1-17)
A. The power plant of Romans, which is the second building, has three floors - Chapter 6 (floor of sanctification), Chapter 7 (floor of frustration), and Chapter 8 (floor of preservation). Preservation shows that salvation is permanent.
B. People are lost by condemnation, saved by justification, then comes sanctification. Preachers should preach "you must be born again" over and over because you must be born again.
C. Romans 8:1-39 summarizes or amplifies John 5:24 and Revelation 21:5. This is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.
D. Seven new things happen to the repentant sinner when he or she becomes a new Christian. He has (1) a new position, (2) a new guest, (3) a new adoption, (4) a new hope, (5) a new prayer warrior, (6) a new knowledge, and (7) a new goal.
E. A new position (Romans 8:1-8) - Jesus did not come to preach the Gospel. He came so that there would be a gospel to be preached. The believer's position is someone IN Christ. That is the shortest definition of a Christian in the Bible, and the shortest way in the Bible to become a Christian is to believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved (Acts 16:31). Romans 8:1-2 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." With respect to the Law, the believer's position is free from the Law (Romans 8:3-4).
F. In Romans 8:3-4, Paul wrote about (1) the Law, (2) the flesh, (3) the Father (God) sending His own Son, (4) the Son who came in the likeness of sinful flesh (the Incarnation - maybe the greatest day in history), and (5) the believer can satisfy the requirements of the Law.
G. A new guest (Romans 8:9-11) - the Holy Spirit dwells within the Christian (John 15:5 => there are two indwellings - Spirit in us, we in Christ). The Holy Spirit ministry within believers is a perfecting ministry and a continual ministry (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is the real Santa Claus because He truly knows everything about us.
H. A new adoption (Romans 8:12-17) - Adoption follows regeneration, and it gives the believer the his or her position as a son or daughter of God. God adopted us when we were ugly and with putrified sores (Isaiah 64:6). Spiritual adoption gives the adopted person the spirit of God.
I. The Trinity is involved in the adoption. Abba Father means "dear Papa," and it is a term of affection. There is an illumination by the Spirit, and an inheritance with the Son.
XV. Lesson 15 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 8:18-27)
A. Once saved, always saved is true because of the seven new things. Last lesson was (1) a new position, (2) a new guest, and (3) a new adoption. This lesson is (4) a new hope, and (5) a new prayer, and the next lesson will be (6) a new knowledge, and (7) a new goal.
B. The hope is a noun hope, not a verb hope. The hope is the full and final redemption (Romans 8:18-21). The entire Bible can be split into the suffering and glory of Christ.
C. The new body will be like Christ's body (I John 3:2). It will be fashioned like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). It will be flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Jesus spoke, prayed, and ate in His immortal body. It will be a recognizable body (Matthew 8:11). The patriarchs will be recognizable. The lost will know each other, too (Luke 16:19). Lazarus recognized the rich man, and the rich man recognized Lazarus. It will be a body of flesh and bone unlimited by time and space. It will be a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:44-45).
D. The environment, or the Creation, will be set free, too (Romans 8:19-22).
E. The believer has a new prayer helper - the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27). He indwells in Romans 8:9 and testifies to us in Romans 8:16 that we are God's children. He helps with our infirmities, but He leaves stuff for us to do, too (Romans 8:26). The intensity of this Helper is that He makes intercessions for us and groans on our behalf. There are three groans in Romans 8:22, 23, and 26). The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:27) cooperates with Christ.
XVI. Lesson 16 - The Book of Romans (Chapter 8:28-39)
A. Psalm 40:1-3, Isaiah 42:10, and Revelation 21:1-2 - those verses have the word "new" in common. Once saved, always saved is true because of the seven new things. Two lessons ago was (1) a new position, (2) a new guest, and (3) a new adoption. Last lesson was (4) a new hope, and (5) a new prayer, and this lesson will be (6) a new knowledge, and (7) a new goal.
B. A new knowledge (Romans 8:28) - we "know" that all things work together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. This is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible, but this verse does not say that all things are good. All things work together for good. An example is Joseph in Egypt, and he eventually became very important to everyone. Psalm 76:10 says that the wrath of men will praise God. Things do not work out for bad in our lives even though we may sometimes think so. God also works the sins and mistakes of believers, too. This verse also makes a point of saying God lovers. The verse is all-inclusive for everyone that qualifies, and our new knowledge is that the story has a happy ending (Romans 8:28).
C. A new goal (Romans 8:29-30) is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Predestination is for believers only. The absolute guarantee of the goal is Romans 8:32-39. Nothing will separate us from the love of Christ.
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
BIBL 425 - The Book of Romans (Lessons 17-24)
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