The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS - Chapter Three

God’s faithfulness

1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

‘So that you may be proved right when you speak

    and prevail when you judge.’

5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, ‘If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?’ 8 Why not say – as some slanderously claim that we say – ‘Let us do evil that good may result’? Their condemnation is just!

No one is righteous

9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:

‘There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 

    there is no one who understands;

    there is no one who seeks God.

12 

All have turned away,

    they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

    not even one.’

13 

‘Their throats are open graves;

    their tongues practise deceit.’

‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’

14 

    ‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’

15 

‘Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 

    ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 

and the way of peace they do not know.’

18 

    ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness through faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished 26  – he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the ‘law’ that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Romans 3: “alike” (v.9)

Most people have a ‘them and us’ herd mentality, just as Jews thought – and think – of all Gentiles in relation to themselves. Often, though not always, this creates hostility towards whoever ‘them’ are. Paul makes the point that “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin” (v.9). The human race manifests multiple racial and ethnic divides, but one factor makes us “alike” – our universal wickedness. It’s not just that we’re not very nice or good. That would be bad enough. We are “under sin”, deceived and defeated by our own flaws. 

So the point is – everybody has a problem and all “alike” need a solution.    

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READING 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS

Chapter Three

Read by David Suchet

===

OVERVIEW 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS 

Chapter 1 to 4

Overview

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/ej_6dVdJSIU

===

STUDIES 

Romans 1-4 "The Bible in 5”

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/Ng0FZNnmJVo

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ROMANS 3 : 21- 28

Justified by Faith – 

Timothy Keller [Sermon]

https://youtu.be/5sa18q3czo0

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Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part1

David Pawson

https://youtu.be/OpXQbCnMWgA

Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part2

David Pawson

https://youtu.be/TiCXzATXLmo

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The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS - Chapter Two

God’s righteous judgment

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’ 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favouritism.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

The Jews and the law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth – 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 

22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a law-breaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Romans 2: “leads” (v.4)

No, it’s not another city (Leeds)!  It’s a verb with a small ‘l’ and no double ‘e’. Paul writes about our human badness, as well as God’s goodness in spite of it all. He asks a very searching question: “do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (v.4). He doesn’t use a sledgehammer style to bludgeon us into submission. 

His gentle persuasion seeks to bring us to acknowledge our wrong way of life, with deep sincere regret, allowing him to change us. 

It’s leading us, not driving us, in the right direction. 

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READING 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS

Chapter Two

Read by David Suchet

https://youtu.be/d0UaUFXZITw

===

OVERVIEW 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS 

Chapter 1 to 4

Overview

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/ej_6dVdJSIU

===

Romans 1-4 "The Bible in 5”

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/Ng0FZNnmJVo

===

Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part1

https://youtu.be/OpXQbCnMWgA

Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part2

https://youtu.be/TiCXzATXLmo

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The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS - Chapter One

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS 

Chapter 1 to 4

Overview

(The Bible Project)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s longing to visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

God’s wrath against sinful humanity

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is for ever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worth while to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practise them.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Romans 1: ”Rome” (v.7)

The Roman Empire was the dominant world power for several centuries. Their authority even in the Holy Land, and across Europe, is recorded in Scripture at the time of Christ and after. Remember the census that took Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem (Luke 2)?  Or how the Jewish leaders needed Roman approval to execute Jesus?  

When the apostles undertook to preach the gospel worldwide, Italy and “Rome” (v.7)  - despite distance and other difficulties – had to be high on their list. It’s a job still not completed yet. 

Who do you feel you should talk to?  By phone?  By email?  Or old-fashioned letter?

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READING 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS

Chapter One 

Read by David Suchet

===

OVERVIEW 

The Letter of PAUL to The ROMANS 

Chapter 1 to 4

Overview

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/ej_6dVdJSIU

===

Romans 1-4 "The Bible in 5”

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/Ng0FZNnmJVo

===

Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part1

David Pawson

===

Unlocking the New Testament - Romans part2

David Pawson

https://youtu.be/TiCXzATXLmo

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The Letter of PAUL to PHILEMON

The Letter PAUL to PHILEMON 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker – 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier – and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for ever – 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 

24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Philemon: “useful” (v.11)

Who is truly free?  Philemon was a believer who hosted a church in his own home (v.2). One of his slaves ran away, but became a Christian through Paul (v.10). The apostle, who was in prison at the time, writes to tell Philemon how his slave called Onesimus (the name means ‘useful’) has been transformed (see v.11), and is now the opposite from what he had once been (i.e. “useless”). 

The change is so great that Onesimus now bears Paul’s letter, coming back from his illicit ‘freedom’ to voluntary ostensible slavery. 

What a shining example!  Copy it!  Be “useful” – as Jesus’ slave!

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READING 

The Letter to PHILEMON

Read by David Suchet

===

OVERVIEW 

The Letter to PHILEMON 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/aW9Q3Jt6Yvk

===

Paul's Letter to Philemon 

Eyewitness Bible Series -

https://youtu.be/pExxeWRH3-o

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