Lesson 1983

(Lesson 1983)(04-07-17) Romans 3:27-31

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

In today's quote, Paul, again, established that salvation is accomplished through faith alone, and that it is offered freely to both Jews and Gentiles. He further establishes that eternal salvation is NOT accomplished by works of the Law nor by the "good" things we do.

Paul also re-asserts that God the Father is both the God of the Jews and Gentiles equally. Our God is not a respecter of persons.~

NOTE: When Paul uses the term "circumcision" he is referring to those who are Jews by birth. When he uses the term "uncircumcision" he is referring to the Gentiles.

Lesson 1982

(Lesson 1982)(04-06-17) Romans 3:21-26

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

In today's quote, Paul, referring to the prophets, established Jesus Christ as the promised, perfect, sacrificial atonement for the sin nature of all mankind.

It should be very clearly noted that Paul said, "the "righteousness of God WITHOUT the law is manifested". That manifestation was the coming of Jesus. Acquiring righteousness without the law means that NOTHING we do in our earthly bodies, as pertains to obedience of old laws, or the doing of good works according to the law etc., has anything to do with whether or not our souls will be eternally saved. The eternal salvation of mankind depends completely, and entirely upon whether or not a lost soul has FAITH in Jesus Christ.

It should also be noted that Paul applies the word "JUSTIFIED" to what the sins of mankind become after a lost soul has accepted Jesus Christ as savior. It should also be clearly noted that being "justified" does not mean that the sins of those who believe have merely been forgiven, it means that the sins of those who believe in Jesus Christ have been nullified as sin altogether. To have sins "justified", means that all guilt has been taken out of the actions and that what once were considered sins have been made wholly acceptable in the sight of God through the absolute righteousness of Jesus Christ.~

Lesson 1981

(Lesson 1981)(04-05-17) Romans 3:19-20

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Today's lesson is a short one but it is a very important one seeing that the vast majority of "Christianity" seems to believe that in order to attain, and retain, eternal salvation, a lost soul must live within the limitations of the old Hebrew Law. In other words, we are all responsible for our own sins, ever if we profess to believe that Jesus gave His life to atone for those very sins.

In today's lesson, Paul made it very clear that by following the requirements of the old Law, or, in essence, living without sin sin in the flesh, "there shall no flesh be justified in his sight".

It is imperative that the bible student understand that God makes no such demand on those who are lost. God ONLY requires that a lost soul believe in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If a lost soul could possibly live without sin, or lose his/her salvation because of a sin committed after believing in Jesus, there would have been no need for our Savior to die.

The souls of those who believe in Jesus Christ are "SEALED" until the day of redemption, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption". (Ephesians 4:30)~

Lesson 1980

(Lesson 1980)(04-04-17) Romans 3:1-18

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."

In today's quote, Paul makes it very clear that, before God, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. We are all sinners and are all doomed to spiritual death without faith in God to recompense for our innate sin. Thank God, He, in His infinite wisdom, through the Holy Triune, provided that recompense for those of us who have/will put our faith in the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as Paul, in essence, says herein, there is no advantage to the Jew before God.~

Lesson 1979

(Lesson 1979)(04-03-17) Romans 2:17-29

"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

In today's lesson, Paul ridiculed his brother Jews for their haughty, self-righteous behavior toward Gentiles saying that, judged by their actions, they too, just like the Gentiles, were unworthy of righteousness under the law.

Paul explained that in order to be deemed wholly righteous under Hebrew law, one must live absolutely within the boundaries of that law, then gave examples of how they were failing to do so.

He ridiculed the Jews because they were expecting things of the Gentiles that they wouldn't abide by themselves.

There is much of the "Christian" world today that lives by the same standard as did those Jews. Too many, so-called Christians, give the outward appearance of obedience to the law of Jesus Christ while inwardly they are as "open graves". ~

Lesson 1978

(Lesson 1978)(04-02-17) Romans 2:12-16

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

Today's quote explains that the Law of Moses had, and has, no bearing on whether or not one is in compliance with the two "great" commandments or the new law of salvation by grace through faith. Even the natural law of the Gentiles demands that one obey the two "great" commandments.

As these lessons progress through the book of Romans, we will learn why obedience to the Law of Moses has nothing to do with the salvation of one's eternal soul.~

Plesson 1977

(Lesson 1977)(04-01-17) Romans 2:1-11

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God."

In the very first words of today's quote, Paul makes a point that is generally ignored by many so-called Christians, or those whom I like to refer to as today's Pharisees. Paul very clearly tells us therein that if we should condemn the actions of others, by doing so, we will bring the guilt of that same offense upon ourselves.

The point Paul is making is that is NOT the place of Christian people to condemn the ways of others. We are to simply live our lives in accordance with God's will and be a shining light for those around us. We are also to teach the good news of God's saving grace through Jesus Christ to every soul who wants to hear it.

We would be great if we would only obey the two "great" commandments Jesus left for us, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31 in part.)

We should always remember that God has ALREADY judged those who reject His saving grace.~