EKKLESIA BIBLE

COLLEGE
GALATIANS AND ROMANS
INSTRUCTOR: MOSES WANGILA
 COURSE PURPOSE

The purpose of Galatians and romans is to

describe the fundamental Christian
understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ as
it relates to concrete situations, such as
Galatia and Rome, and its continuing
influence in the church today.
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Upon completion of this course the student shall be able to:
• 1. Discuss key events in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul,
including the background issues that prompted his letters to the
Galatian and Roman churches.
• 2. Defend Paul’s right to be called an apostle, missionary,
theologian, and servant of Jesus Christ.
• 3. Explain the essence of Paul’s argument to the Galatian church,
the appeal he makes to the church, and the analogy he uses to
emphasize this appeal.
• 4. Summarize Paul’s teaching in Galatians concerning false
teachers, sowing and reaping, and how to develop a Spirit-led
Christian lifestyle.
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
• 5. Compare Paul’s letters to the Galatians and Romans with respect
to thematic elements, doctrinal teaching, and practical instruction.
• 6. Describe how Paul develops in his letter to the Romans the
gospel message involving people’s need of a Savior, God’s
provision of a Savior, God’s shaping process, and the Holy Spirit’s
empowering of the believer.
• 7. Evaluate Paul’s discourse on Israel’s election, unbelief, and
restoration and relate this to his primary ministry to Gentiles.
• 8. Apply in your cultural context and in your own life Paul’s
practical teaching with respect to living the Christian life and
relating to all people, including non-Christians, authorities, and
other believers.
• 9. Preach or teach the gospel message as expounded by the apostle
Paul in his letters to the Galatian and Roman churches.
COURSE CONTENT
 PAUL’S LETTER TO GALATIANS

• 1. Introduction to the Galatians

• 2. Paul Defends the Gospel: Galatians 1-2
• 3. Paul Explains the Gospel: Galatians 3-4
• 4. Paul Applies the Gospel: Galatians 5-6
 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS
(PART ONE)

• 5. Introduction to Romans
• 6. People Need a Saviour: Romans 1:18-3:20
• 7. God Provides a Saviour: Romans 3:21-5:21
• 8. God’s Shaping Process: Romans 6-7
• 9. The Empowering Spirit: Romans 8
 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS
(PART TWO)

• 10. God’s Plan for Israel: Romans 9-11

• 11. Applying the Gospel: Romans 12:1-15:7
• 12. Final Comments: Romans 15:8-16:27
 TEACHING
METHODOLOGIES
 RESEMBLANCES

• Why are the Epistles of Galatians and Romans associated and studied in the
same course? The following are some of the obvious internal evidences.
• 1. The two Epistles were likely written at the same time, and at the same
place, either at Ephesus or at Corinth.
• 2. The same line of argument was occupying the author's mind — to
defend the Apostle himself and the doctrine he proclaimed.
• 3. Several similar phrases and illustrations were on his tongue as he wrote
the Epistles. Compare these:
• Romans 1: 17 — Galatians 3:11.
• Romans 4 (Abraham) — Galatians 3.
• Romans 7:14-25 — Galatians 5:17.
• Romans 8:15 — Galatians 4:6.
 RESEMBLANCES

• Why are the Epistles of Galatians and Romans associated and studied in
the same course? The following are some of the obvious internal
evidences.
• 4. The same theology was on the Apostle's mind as he wrote the
Epistles; namely, justification, liberty, and righteousness of Christ
received by faith.
• 5. The resemblance is more remarkable when we consider the
different circumstances that called for the Epistles. The Epistle to
the Roman Christians was an exposition of Paul's theology to a
church with which he was not acquainted. But the Epistle to the
Galatians was a rebuke to check the perversion of his children in the
faith.
 BOOK ONE
GALAT IAN S
LIBERTY IN CHRIST BY FAITH
 STUDY OUTLINE
• LESSON 1: PROLOGUE TO GALATIANS
• A — Authorship & Date
• B — Background of Area & Church
• C — Concerns of the letter
• D — Distinctive verses
• E — Expository Outline
• LESSON 2: DEFENSE OF APOSTLESHIP
• Chapters I and 2
• LESSON 3: DECLARATION OF RELATIONSHIP
• Chapters 3 & 4
• LESSON 4: DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
• Chapters 5 & 6:1 -10
• Conclusion 6:11-18
 KEY VERSE
"STAND FAST THEREFORE IN THE
LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HATH
MADE US FREE" GALATIANS 5:1
KEY THOUGHT
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
PROLOGUE
 TO GALATIANS

• Authorship & Date p.16

• Background Conditions p.16
• Concern & Occasion p.17
• Distinctive Verses p.18
• Expository Outline p.19
 AUTHORSHIP & DATE

• The authorship of this Epistle is about the least questioned

of any of the NT books.
• Paul states he is the writer in the salutation, and he says in
Gal. 6: 11, "See what large letters I use as I write to you
with my own hand."
• This is probably the first epistle Paul wrote, and the date is
considered by most commentators to be about AD 52.
B. BACKGROUND
CONDITIONS
THE MEANING OF "GALATIA"
 2. NORTH GALATIA & SOUTH
GALATIA THEOREES
• On the Second Missionary journey, Paul & Silas passed through Syria
and Cilicia, confirming the churches (Acts 15:41). Having been
forbidden by the Spirit to preach in Asia, they turned north and went
through the region of Phrygia and Galatia (16:6), still in S Galatia. They
wanted to enter the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit did not
permit (Acts 16:7). Turning west, they skirted Mysia, came to Troas on
the Aegean Sea, and there the call came to go to Europe (16:8-9).
• On the Third Journey, Paul again entered the S Province of Galatia. Acts
18:23 says, "he went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
establishing all the disciples." Therefore, it is logical that Paul would
write to the believers in S Galatia whom he knew.
 CONCERN & OCCASION

• After Paul's departure from Galatia, some false teachers entered

among the Christians and did much damage to the Gospel
message, Paul's doctrine, as well as his reputation. The word
reached Paul, and as a result, he wrote this Epistle, in which he
expresses three errors that caused him much concern.
• 2. APOSTLESHIP . . .
• Another concern Paul had was the attack by the Judaizers on his
authority.
• 3. ANTINOMIANISM ...
• many of the Christians in Galatia were backsliding to the old Mosaic
Law.
 DISTINCTIVE VERSES

• Gal. 1:8 "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a
Gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
• Gal. 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but
through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we
may be justifled by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law, since by the
works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
• Gal. 2:20 "1 have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."
• Gal. 3.6,7 "Even so Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is with those who are of faith who are
sons of Abraham."
 DISTINCTIVE VERSES

• Gal. 3:11 "Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is
evident; for, 'the righteous man shall live by faith."
• Gal. 3:24 "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ,
that we may be justified by faith."
• Gal. 3:28 "There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free
man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus."
• Gal. 4:4 "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His
Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might
redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons."
 DISTINCTIVE VERSES

• Gal. 5:1 (KJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made
us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (See also NIV)
• Gal 5:14 "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word. "Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself. "
• Gal 5:16 "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
• Gal 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."
• Gal 6:10 "If a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a
one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you too be tempted."
 DISTINCTIVE VERSES

• Gal 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ."
• Gal 6:7 "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man
sows, that shall he also reap."
• Gal 6:9 "Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall
reap if we faint not." (KJV)
• Gal 6:10 "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all
men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
• Gal 6: 14 "But for me, may it never be to boast, except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified unto me,
and I to the world."
E. EXPOSITORY
OUTLINE
 REVIEW QUESTIONS

• Write answers to the following in your notebook.

• 1. What are two points in the letter that verify the Pauline
authorship?
• 2. State the probable date of the Epistle. Was it Paul's first, second,
or third letter?
• 3. Where was Paul at the time of writing? Research this and state 3
possibilities.
• 4. From where is the name Galatians derived?
• 5. In the political sense, what did Galatia include?
 REVIEW QUESTIONS

• Write answers to the following in your notebook.

• 6. How many times did Paul visit Galatia?
• 7. What do we conclude as to when he wrote Galatians?
• 8. State 3 concerns Paul had with regard to the churches.
• 9. Memorize at least 5 verses in Galatians.
• 10. What are the main points in the outline of Galatians?
 A. PAUL'S INTRODUCTION ... GAL.
1:1 - 9
• Paul commences his epistle with a declaration of two
important points; namely, he is the writer of the letter, and
he was an Apostle by Jesus Christ whom God resurrected
from the dead.
• Q 1 (v. 1):
• a. Why does Paul state at the outset that he is an apostle?
• b. What is the meaning of the word "apostle"?
• c. What were the requirements of becoming an apostle?
• d If Paul had not been with Jesus personally, how could he
become an apostle?
 ANSWERS:

• a. This was one of the complaints raised by the

Judaizers.
• An apostle was a "sent one."
• In the Christian sense, he was given full authority from
Christ to bear His Gospel to unreached people.
• There were two prerequisites for an Apostle (Acts 1:21-26):
1)
• He had to be an eye-witness of Christ's ministry
• He had to be chosen by the risen Christ Himself.
Q2 (V. 4): WHAT DOES, PAUL MEAN
BY "THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD"?

The word in Greek is "aion," meaning, "age"

or "system." We have to be delivered from the
system and spirit of the age. Our purposes,
goals, and methods are all different from the
world's.
Q 3 (V. 6): WHY IS PAUL AMAZED?

Because the Galatians were so soon moved

from Him that called them. The Judaizers had
swooped down like vultures upon them and
moved the Galatians to "another" Gospel.
Q 4 (V. 6, 7): WHY DOES PAUL USE
THE WORD "ANOTHER"?

In the Greek there are two forms of "another":

"heteros" and "allos! "Hetero" means "another
of a different kind" which Paul uses in verse
6; whereas "allos" means "another of the same
kind," which he uses in verse 7.
Q5 (VV. 8, 9): WHAT JUDGMENT DID
PAUL PRONOUNCE OVER THEM?

Let him who preaches any other Gospel be

accursed, or "anathema," that is, given to
destruction.
Q6 (VV. 10-12): WHAT IS PAUL
ABOUT TO PROVE HERE?

That his apostleship is not from man but from

God. If it was from man, he would not be the
servant (literally, bond-slave) of God. His
apostleship came by direct revelation from
God.
Q7 (VV. 13, 14): WHAT HAD THEY
HEARD ABOUT PAUL?

They had heard of his conduct (anastrophe) of the past;

he had persecuted the Church beyond measure. He
"profited"; that is, he advanced in Judaism more than
his colleagues, and after the stoning of Stephen, he
became chief hatchet man for the High Priest. He had
great zeal to promote the ways of tradition, which were
the very things that Jesus condemned as of man and
not of God (Mt. 15:3, 6; Mk. 7:8, 9).
Q8: WHY DID PAUL REPEAT THESE
EXPERIENCES?

It was evidence of his great change from

persecutor to follower of Christ, and proof
that his revelation was from Jesus Himself.
God could not reveal Christ through Paul until
He revealed Him in Paul.
Q9: DOES PAUL'S CALL IMPLY
"UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION AND
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE" AS TAUGHT BY
PREDESTINATION ADVOCATES?
Not at all! God's election is based on His
foreknowledge. He knew what Paul would do,
but He did not compel him to accept. Paul could
have refused the call, but God's revelation was so
mighty that he had no desire to refuse. Paul said,
"(He) called me by His grace." Grace is
unmerited favor, and the means of obtaining it is
always active faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8, 9).
Q10 (1:16-24): WHAT WAS PAUL'S FIRST
REACTION TO HIS EXPERIENCE? DID
HE GO FOR THEOLOGICAL TRAINING?

He went to Arabia, possibly in the interim period

mentioned in Acts 9:23. How long? It may have been
most of the 3-year period, during which he was led
by the Spriit and the Scriptures to develop his
theology.
C. SECOND VISIT TO
JERUSALEM
. GAL. 2:1-10
Q11 (2:1-5): WHEN WAS THIS
JOURNEY AND WHERE DOES IT FIT
INTO THE RECORD IN ACTS?
The consensus of opinion is that the 14 years
were dated from his previous visit. The Council
at Jerusalem of Acts 15 is dated at about 48 to 50
AD. In verse 2 he conferred privately with the
leaders, but Acts 15 intimates his meeting was
with the whole Council. The private meeting may
have been followed later by the public meeting.
Q12 (VV. 4, 5): WHO WERE THE
FALSE BRETHREN WHO SPIED ON
PAUL?

They were either the Judaizers or their

hirelings. They tried to overthrow Paul's
teaching, and bring the converts back under
the Mosaic Law. Paul and the brethren would
not give in to them in the slightest.
Q13 (V. 6): TO WHOM IS PAUL
REFERRING? DOES IT SEEM HE IS
DISPARAGING THE JERUSALEM
ELDERS?
Paul refers to the same "brethren of reputation" in v. 2; that
is, James, Peter and John, the elders of the church in
Jerusalem. It is doubtful that Paul would criticize them so
early in the ministry. Rather, we should understand that he
was so convinced of God's dealing with the Gentiles that
he would never go back on what God had done. No one
could deny the work of God. Man is not infallible,
however, not even the elders, but God is impartial. This is
an early refutation of the Catholic doctrine of the
"Infallibility of the Pope."
Q14 (VV. 9, 10):A. WHY WAS PAUL
RECEIVED?
B. HOW RECEIVED?
C. WHICH RESTRICTIONS DID THE
LEADERS LAY ON HIM?
D. DID HE OBJECT?
a. Because, by the stories he told, they were convinced of the
grace to him. Grace is used in this sense in Romans 1:5.
b. They gave Paul & Barnabas "the right hand of fellowship."
c. That he remember the poor.
d. Paul said he was "always forward to do" just that. He
showed that he always was considerate of the poor, by taking
up offerings on many occasions for the poor Christians in
Jerusalem.
D. PETER'S HYPOCRISY .
GAL. 2:11-17
Q15 (VV. 11-17): A. WHAT ERROR HAD
PETER MADE?
B. WAS PAUL ARROGANT AND
DISRESPECTFUL OF PETER?
a.He had associated with the Gentiles in Antioch; but when brethren
arrived from Jerusalem, he separated himself from the Gentiles,
because of fear. Does this not remind us of Peter's denial of the
Lord? Is there still some of the "old man" left in him?
b. Paul was not arrogant, but the issue of combining Christ and the
LAW was so strong in his mind that he could not let the hypocrisy
pass. Paul was no respecter of persons. Peter's reputation in the
Church could not release him from responsibility. Paul was convinced
that wrong is wrong, error is error, and must be rebuked.
Q15 (VV. 11-17):C. WAS PETER AT FAULT
AND DID HE NEED TO BE CORRECTED?
D. WHY DID PAUL INCLUDE THIS
INCIDENT IN THIS CHAPTER?
c. Peter was to be blamed, and while the Church
was young, all error had to be nipped in the bud.
Other brethren, even including Barnabas, had
fallen into the same error as Peter.
d. This was part of Paul's argument in this section;
namely, "A man is not justified by the works of the
Law but by faith in Jesus Christ; by the works of
the Law shall no flesh be justified! (v. 16).
Q16 (VV. 19, 20) HOW CAN ONE BE
DEAD TO THE LAW, THROUGH THE
LAW?
The Law brought us to Christ, who is the means of death to
the Law (see chap 3:24). In serving its purpose, the Law
severs its relationship with those under its power and
provides the very means of our death to it. A similar
argument is in Romans 6.
Memorize 2:20: "1 am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I
live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I
now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me."
Q I7 (V 21): TO WHAT IS PAUL
REFERRING WHEN HE SAYS HE DOES
NOT FRUSTRATE OR NULLIFY THE
LAW?
Paul means here that to return to the Law makes the grace of God
of no effect. Some people teach that it is not possible to nullify the
grace of God once the believer has received it! But if it were not
possible for a believer to nullify the grace of Christ in him, then
Paul would not have included it in his rebuke to Peter. It was such a
fundamental truth that Paul even took the risk of facing the
"elders."
This calls for another oft-repeated THEME of Galatians: namely:
Going back nullifies what once was possessed. It can happen! Paul
writes this Epistle to warn believers to "NOT let it happen!!"
DECLARATION OF
RELATIONSHIP
 GALATIANS 3 & 4

• Introductory:
• Calvinism vs. Arminianism p.28

• Works vs. Faith

• Chapter 3 p.33

• Sonship vs. Adoption

• Chapter 4 p.35
 INTRODUCTORY - CALVINISM VS.
ARMINIANISM

• concerns the assurance of a Christian's salvation, or

Eternal Security,
• the book of Galatians has been used as a source
book to substantiate the claims of both sides.
 1. POINTS OF AGREEMENT

• a. Both of us agree that not all the people on earth will be saved. Such a
teaching is called "Universalism," and it is denied by both sides of this
issue.
• b. Both sides believe that there is no means of salvation apart from the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• c. We support the fact that Salvation is by a personal acceptance of
Jesus Christ and faith in His redeeming work on the Cross.
• Another thing to remember is that one can over-simplify both sides of this
issue; for example, the statement that Baptists believe in "once saved, always
saved." They will tell you it is not that simple. On the other hand, to accuse
Pentecostals of an insecure position, and not believing salvation is eternal, is to
over-simplify their position.
 DOCTRINAL COMPARISON

• CALVINISM • ARMINIANISM
• T —TOTAL DEPRAVITY. • F —FREEWILL VOLITION
• U —UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION. • R —RESTRICTIVE ELECTION
• L —LIMITED ATONEMENT. • U —UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT
• I —IRRESISTIBLE GRACE. • I —IMPERATIVE FAITH
• P —PERSEVERANCE (OR • T —TRANSITIVE STANDING
PRESERVATION) OF THE SAINTS.
 T —TOTAL DEPRAVITY (CALVIN).

• Man is a fallen creature who cannot approach God

or please Him in his own rights.
• Unsaved man is in bondage to Satan; he is
incapable of using his own will to trust in Christ.
• God must "will" to save him before he can believe
in Christ
 F — FREEWILL VOLITION
(ARMINIUS)

• Arminians agree that man is born in a sinful state,

but he has a free will to choose or refuse the course
he takes;
• He does not inherit Adam's sin, only the Adamic
nature.
• God saves those who exercise their free will to
choose Him.
 U — UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
(CALVIN)

• God determines in His sovereignty who shall be

saved (the elect), and who shall be lost.
• God's foreknowledge is based on His purpose or
plan.
• Election is not based on a condition; it is the result
of the will of God.
 R — RESTRICTIVE VOLITION
(ARMINIUS)

• Arminius stated that those included in God's elect

are based on God's foreknowledge, but that
foreknowledge does not predestinate individuals.
• It is up to each one's volition.
• God plans to save the Church as a group, but to be
in that group is each person's choice.
• Salvation is conditional upon faith.
 L — LIMITED ATONEMENT
(CALVIN)

• The belief that Jesus Christ died only for the elect
who were determined in eternity past.
• All for whom Jesus died will be saved; all for
whom He did not die will be cast into hell.
 U — UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT
(ARMINIUS)

• Christ died for everyone. God is not willing that

any should perish.
• He does not select those who should be saved, nor
those who should perish.
• Salvation is for all, whosoever will may take of the
water of life freely.
• Redemption is not particular but general.
 I — IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
(CALVIN)

• The idea is that those elected to be saved will be

saved, for the grace of God is irresistible.
• It is apart from their own desire, as the Holy Spirit
irresistibly draws them to Christ.
• The elect could not help being saved, even if they
wanted to!
• This is certainly a violation of man's free will.
 I — IMPERATIVE FAITH
(ARMINIUS)

• The will of God is made conditional upon the will

of man;
• the Spirit of God can be resisted if man chooses.
• The Arminian order is: First, man's act of faith;
second, God's gift of life.
• But Calvin's order is: First, God's gift of life, and
second, saving faith.
 P — PERSEVERANCE (CALVIN)

• the idea is that by God's grace we are preserved

from falling.
• This is where Calvinism involves Eternal Security.
 T — TRANSITIVE STANDING
(ARMINIUS)

• One's standing in Christ is dependent upon his faith in

the finished work of Christ.
• Calvinism is a closed system, in that the parts all hang
together, if one accepts one, he needs to accept the
whole.
• Arminianism, on the other hand, is an open system, in
that one can believe part of the Arminian view without
committing himself to the rest.
 3. SCRIPTURAL COMPARISON

• CALVINIST—SECURITY “SAFE”
• John 5:24, John 6:39, John 10:28, 29, Rom. 8:1 , Rom. 8:35 ,
Rom. 11:5, Eph. 1:4, 5 Eph. 4:30 , Heb. 7:, 2Tim. 1:12, 1Pet.
1:2, 1 John 3:19, Jude 24 1Pet. 1:15, 2Tim. 1:12
•
• ARMINIAN—TENACITY “STRIVE”
• Mat. 10:22, John 15:2, 6, Rom. 11:21, 1Cor. 9:27, 1Cor.
10:12, Gal. 5:4
• Col. 1:23, 1Tim. 1:19, Heb. 3:6, Heb. 6:4-6, Heb. 10:26-29,
Heb. 10:38, 39, 2Pet. 1:10, Jude 21, 1Jn. 2:1
 FAITH
GALATIANS 3
Q1 (3:1) WHY DOES PAUL CALL
THE GALATIANS FOOLISH?

Paul used stern language, but they were on the

brink of spiritual disaster. Paul deliberately
chose his words to awaken them. The Greek
word for "foolish" (anoetos) implies lacking
in understanding. They closed their minds to
the truth when they followed the Judaizers.
Q2: HOW CAN PAUL COMPARE
THEIR CONDITION WITH A
"BEWITCHED" STATE?

When a person is bewitched, he feels he is in

the hands of another power, and he does not
listen to reason. The Galatian Christians acted
like that; they were in an unreasonable stupor
because of the deception of the Judaizers.
Q3 (3:2-5): WHAT KINDS OF
QUESTIONS DID HE ASK THEM,
AND WHY?
He asked some rhetorical questions, that is, the
answers were obvious, but his design was to stir them
to consider their state and to stimulate them to action.
Did they receive the Spirit by works of the Law? They
had received nothing by works, and they knew it. No
one could be "made perfect by the flesh"; that is, the
rite of circumcision. The way to salvation began by
faith and it will be finished by faith.
Q4 (3:6-9): WHY DOES PAUL
INTRODUCE THE EXPERIENCE OF
ABRAHAM?

Since Abraham accepted God's promise by faith, God imputed to

him (credited his account with) His righteousness. This theme is
also stated in Romans 4. The children of Abraham are those who
manifest faith as he did; the Mosaic Law of circumcision had
nothing, to do with it. We are sons of Abraham only if we belong to
Christ. Circumcision must be of the heart, not of the flesh (Rom.
2:25-29 and Rom. 9:25-29). Gal. 3:7 is well translated in these
words: "Learn this, lesson, that they who are of faith these are the
children of Abraham." God's plan of justification by faith has been
the same from the beginning.
Q5 (3:10-12): A QUESTION STEMMING
FROM THIS THEN IS: WHY DID GOD
GIVE THE LAW IF HE KNEW THAT THEY
COULDN'T KEEP IT?

He wanted Israel to admit that righteousness

was beyond their ability. As the OT saints
were to live by continuing in the Law, so the
just shall live by continuing in faith. See
Habakkuk 2:4. The Law is not of faith. (This
is further developed in Romans 11.)
Q6 (03): IN WHAT SENSE ARE
PEOPLE "REDEEMED" FROM
SLAVERY?

Redeemed in this case means to buy back from slavery. We

were slaves to sin because of what the Law said, and just as
incapable of redeeming ourselves as the slave on the
auction block. But Christ did this by vicariously taking the
curse of sin upon Himself. His death was the complete
fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that an nations
would be blessed in Him (Gen. 18:18). Accepting the
promise of the Spirit applied the promise of Abraham to
those who are of faith.
Q7 (3:15-18): WHAT IS PAUL'S
INTENT IN DISTINGUISHING
"SEED" FROM "SEEDS"?
God's Promise of the inheritance was to one line
of descent only (See Rom. 9:6-13). Christ is the
ultimate Seed of Abraham; and the Christian who
is in Christ is also part of that seed or descent, for
v. 29 says we by faith are Abraham's seed.
Therefore, it is not necessary to revert to the
works of the Law when the promise given to
Abraham can be received by faith today.
Q8 (3:19): TO WHICH
TRANSGRESSIONS IS HE
REFERRING?
He did not mean breaking the Law of Moses, for it had not
been given. If he referred to man's transgression of the
righteous demands of God, then the first time Abraham
sinned, that would end the covenant. That would make the
promise to be of law, which we have seen is not so.
Therefore the transgression referred to is the Covenant.
When God asked Israel in Ex. 19:5, 6 to keep His
covenant, it was the covenant with Abraham, for the Law
had not been given. It was the covenant that said that
righteousness comes by faith (Gen. 15:6).
Q9 (3:19, 20): HOW DOES THE
WORD MEDIATOR APPLY TO
JESUS?
As Moses was the mediator between God and the Law
when he received it on behalf of the people, so Jesus is
the mediator between God and man. Now a mediator
must represent both parties. Jesus is both God and
man, since His incarnation. As one with the Father, He
is the Mediator between God and man. In that sense
the one God can be Mediator between two parties,
though He is but One.
Q10 (3:21-23): CAN THE LAW BE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE PROMISE?

God forbid! The Greek does not include the word "Gods," it merely
says, "let it not be, never!" If a law could have been found which
could bring righteousness, God would have offered it even to
Abraham. The Law could not provide Righteousness, not because it
was bad, but because of man's weakness. See also Rom. 7:7. All
men are concluded under sin. Before faith came (v. 23), we were
"kept" (meaning under guard) under the law of sin, not of Moses.
But whoever believed, as Abraham did, had God's blessing. The
promise given to Abraham was not annulled by the Law — it still
was in force — and those who accepted it by faith were rewarded
with God's righteousness.
 THE LAW A
SCHOOLMASTER
(CF. ROM. 8:15-17)
Q11 (3:24-25): HOW CAN THE LAW
BE COMPARED WITH A
SCHOOLMASTER?
The Law of Moses is illustrated as a "schoolmaster" to bring us to
the knowledge of Christ. The word is "padagogos" meaning a tutor,
or a trainer of children. Under the Law, God's people were taught
the basic elements of God's righteous demands. It brought them to
the place where they saw their inability to earn salvation within
themselves, but being led to faith in Jesus Christ, they were justified.
Now that the righteousness of God has come within, the Law is no
longer necessary (v. 25). The OT believers were saved by faith just
as we are, but they were not under the covenant of grace, for they
were under obligation to fulfill the Law, which was a covenant
ratified by Israel at Sinai. Anyone may still be under Law if he has
not been brought to Christ.
Q12 (3:26): HOW DOES THE BELIEVER
UNDER THE LAW COMPARE WITH THE
BELIEVER UNDER CHRIST WITH
REGARD TO ADOPTION?
Vine says, "God does not adopt believers as children;
they are begotten as such by the Holy Spirit through
faith. Adoption is a term involving dignity, of the
relationship of believers as sons; it is not a putting into
the family by spiritual birth, but a putting into the
position of sons." We might describe this as
"positional" not generative. Believers in Christ are
called sons of God, a position secured by choice.
Q13 (3:27): WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST?

This expression is also used in Rom. 6:3. Some

interpret this as water baptism, but that leads to the
false doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration, which is
markedly refuted in this epistle. In 1 Cor. 12:13 Paul
calls this the baptism into the. Body of Christ, by one
Spirit; the Spirit of Christ. Paul also says we have "put
on" Christ, from "enduo" meaning "to clothe." The
Spirit also clothes us with Christ.
Q14 (3:28, 29): ARE THE 3 SOCIAL
GROUPS PAUL MENTIONS EQUAL?

He is not on the side of the political extremists who

stress civil rights for all beings. He is refuting the
Judaizers who said that in Judaism there are special
privileges. In Christ there is no difference in these
groups. The Jew is not more privileged than the Greek,
nor is the free above the bound, nor is the male above
the female. All are on equal standing in Christ, and can
benefit by all the privileges Jesus offers.
SONSHIP &
ADOPTION
GALATIANS 4
Q15 (4.1-5): WHAT PRACTICE IS
PAUL ALLUDING TO HERE?
In the family of a large estate, the heir though born in
the family, was given over to the tutorship of a
guardian or tutor, and lived in the same conditions as
the tutor. He was not allowed to come into his father's
presence nor speak with him while in tutorship. But
when an appointed time arrived the child would be
adopted as a son, and could be brought, into the
household and speak freely as a son with the father.
Q16 (4:5): HOW DOES PAUL APPLY
THE ANALOGY OF TUTORSHIP?

The Jews were under the tutorship of the Law, where they were the
"elements" (stoicheion) or first principles. Like servants, they were under
restraints and had few privileges of the children of God. But when Christ
came to redeem those that were under the Law, and to place them in the
position of adopted sons, they were no longer servants. Therefore, it is just
as wrong for then to revert again to the Mosaic rites and ceremonies, as
for a full grown son to go back to being a minor under tutors again.
The Law was to teach the first principles of God's righteousness, but in the
fullness of time, Christ came, and opened the door to sonship (see Dan.
9:26, 27). There was readiness for His coming; they were under the
universal rule of Rome, a common language and trade, a good network of
roads, and a citizenship of many peoples.
Q17 (4:5, 6) HOW DID REDEMPTION
AFFECT THE ADOPTION?

God sent His Son to buy our freedom, that He

might redeem and receive the adoption of
sons. No longer are no fellowship with the
Father. Now they have the fellowship
obtained through adoption. The word "Abba"
is like Dear, or Papa, or Daddy.
Q18 (4:7): HOW DOES THE PRESENT
CONDITION OF BELIEVERS COMPARE
WITH THE FORMER STATE OF
SLAVERY?
No longer slaves, but sons. All who believe in Christ are
now heirs of the glories of God through Christ. Therefore,
we are not to live as small children, but as sons and heirs
through Christ. The O.T believers were heirs but were not
able to claim the inheritance of God's presence in this life
on a personal basis, because of unbelief. The heirs of God
are mentioned again in Rom. 8:17. This is that fellowship
and communion with the Father which pertained to Jesus
alone prior to the proclamation of adoption.
BACK TO BONDAGE
ADOPTION REVOKED
Q19 (4:8, 9): IN WHAT SENSE HAD THE
GALATIAN CHRISTIANS EXCHANGED
ONE FORM OF HEATHEN PRACTICE
FOR ANOTHER?
Paul now addresses the Galatians as Gentile Christians. There was
a time when they did not know God. To know God is to be known
of God. They had previously served gods which were not true gods,
but mere carvings of wood and stone. But then they found liberty in
Christ to serve the true God. Therefore, it was absurd to switch to
the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law. To do so is real slavery
and bondage to weak and poor elements, to the first lessons of the
pupil. The absurdity would be as great as for a freed slave to desire
his chains again! They had been freed by the Gospel from the awful
servitude of paganism, and now they had sunk into Jewish
observances.
Q20: HOW IS THIS SERVITUDE
APPLIED TO CHRISTIANS TODAY?

It is like some Christians who backslide. They

sink into a kind of servitude that is as destructive
as the sin from which they were freed. Some
become slaves to ceremonies and rituals in
religion; some to slavery of money, of dress, of
degrading music, of drink, lust, and drugs of
many kinds as if they loved slavery and chains!
Q21 (4:10, 11) WHAT OTHER
JEWISH PRACTICES HAD THEY
FOLLOWED?

They followed the Sabbaths, months, feasts,

and yearly celebrations of the Jewish Law.
Paul was afraid that they had completely
backslid by being converted to Judaistic ways.
But there was still some hope for them, shown
in the fact that he is still writing to them.
Q22 (4:12): WHY DOES PAUL ASK
THEM TO BE LIKE HIM?
Saying he wants them to be as he is, he means
the pure, nonJudaistic faith that is in Christ Jesus.
He says, in effect, "Imitate me. I became like you
as a Gentile, now I ask you to be like me, a
Christian. You have not hurt me personally. It's a
higher matter — it's the very cause of Christ, and
the Church, that suffers."
 PAUL'S INFIRMITY

• Paul had preached to the Galatians with an

infirmity of the flesh. When in Lystra, he had been
beaten and stoned and left for dead. Acts 14:19. He
stayed at Derbe while recuperating, then came to
Galatia.
Q23 (4:14, 15): WHAT WERE THE
GALATIANS WILLING TO DO FOR PAUL
WHEN HE WAS WITH THEM? WHAT
DOES THIS IMPLY?
Paul refers to the sympathy the Galatians had had for
his "temptation." The Greek word can also be
translated "trial" which, from the context, would be
more suitable. They were even willing to give him
their own eyes, which may imply that the sufferings he
endured affected his eyesight. Also, from 2 Cor. 12:7-9
we might gather that this could be the "thorn in the
flesh" he had to endure to keep him humble.
Q24 (4:16-18): HOW HAD THE
GALATIANS CHANGED TOWARD
PAUL?

They had changed in their attitude; he who was their friend

was seen as an enemy, all because of the false doctrine of
the Judaizers. If Paul had not changed, why is he now their
enemy? The Judaizers were zealous, but in the wrong way.
Zeal does not mean right doctrine. The Galatians should
have been just as zealous for him in his absence as in his
presence. He considered them his children, for he had
suffered a great deal, even as a mother with birth-pains, to
win them to the Lord.
Q25 (4:19): HAD THEY LOST ALL
FAITH? DID THEY NEED TO BE
REBORN?

If we see apostasy as death of one's faith, then

that would be the case. He now is in doubt of
them, and wishes he could be with them, and
to change the sound of his voice.
 ANALOGY OF HAGAR

• Gal. 4:22-31 (Refer to Genesis chapters 16 to 21).

• Hagar was the servant of Sarah, by whom Abraham fathered
Ishmael. She was an Egyptian, the land that always meant
bondage to the Israelites. Ishmael is a type of one in
bondage through his birth. He was "born after the flesh," as
Isaac was born after, or according to the Promise. Such a
birth took a miracle beyond the natural ability of the
parents, Abraham and Sarah. Paul says plainly that this is an
allegory (Gr: allegoreo), to speak or illustrate by using
non-literal terms.
Q26 (4.23-31): WHOM DO THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ALLEGORY
REPRESENT?

1. Hagar and Ishmael represent the Covenant of the Law.

Hagar also represents Jerusalem, a city in bondage to
Rome.
Taking Hagar, Abraham reverted to works instead of faith
in the Promise. Israel had done the same at Sinai, when she
refused to act by faith and ratify the covenant of Promise.
Ex. 19:8. (See Q 8 above).
2.
Q26 (4.23-31): WHOM DO THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ALLEGORY
REPRESENT?
Hagar and her son Ishmael have been a thorn in
Abraham's and Israel's side ever since. Had Ishmael
not been born, there would be no Arabs or Muslims to
war against Israel today. The results of turning to the
Law were of huge proportions for Israel, and most of
them are still lost without God.
As Hagar's son persecuted the son of Promise (v. 29),
so the Jews persecuted the early church due to their
remaining under the law.
Q26 (4.23-31): WHOM DO THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ALLEGORY
REPRESENT?

2. Sarah and Isaac represent the Covenant of Grace, and

the son who receives the birthright to that promise.
Sarah also represents the New Jerusalem, the city of God.
Isaac is a picture of free birth.
Mt Sinai is contrasted with Mt Zion (Heb. 12:19-24).
Jerusalem comes down from God to earth (Rev. 2:12, 21).
It is our mother, if we qualify as overcomers (Rev. 3:12).
Q26 (4.23-31): WHOM DO THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ALLEGORY
REPRESENT?
V. 27 is a quote from Isa. 54:1. Children of faith are the children of
Abraham, and Sarah is mother of multitudes of God's promised
children.
V. 28 Believers are children of the Promise by faith.
V. 29 Ishmael persecuted Isaac, as those outside of faith persecute
the children of Abraham.
V. 30 is a quote from Gen. 21:10. Though Ishmael persecuted the
son of promise, still God provided an inheritance for him also
(Gen. 17:20). Hagar no doubt had a hand in his actions, for her
attitude toward Sarah was passed on to her son.
Q27: HOW DO THESE INCIDENTS
APPLY TO THE GALATIANS?

Casting out the bondwoman and her son symbolizes

rejection of the systems and. sins of the flesh.
Unbelievers do not inherit the promise of God. This
applies to the Galatians in that they are casting their lot
with the spirit of Hagar and Ishmael in this life, by
accepting the old system of the Law. Paul teaches them
to return to Faith in the Promise, represented by Sarah
and Isaac the child of faith.
 CONCLUSION:
• The teaching of Galatians shows that it is possible to lose
one's salvation by losing faith in the principles of Christ.
• Two sides of the issue of Eternal Security are taken by
Calvinism and Arminianism, but this Epistle clearly
indicates the possibility of apostasy.
• The bottom line is to do as Paul urges: hold fast and stand
firm in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.
• Hagar and Ishmael who represent the works of the Law are
to be cast out;
• Sarah and Isaac who symbolize the Promise and the
covenant of Grace are to be received.
 LESSON FOUR:
DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
 GALATIANS 5 & 6

• Futility of Circumcision
• Gal. 5:1-12 p.41

• Flesh Versus Spirit

• Gal. 5:13-26 p.42

• Love in Practice
• Gal. 6:1-18 p.46
 FUTILITY OF
CIRCUMCISION
Q1 (5.1): WHAT IS PAUL'S FIRST
ADMONITION IN THIS CHAPTER?

Paul first exhorts them to stand fast in Christ's

liberty (5: 1). The NAS and NIV versions are
close to the original: "It was for freedom that
Christ set us free; therefore stand firm, and do
not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
Q2 (5:2, 3): IN WHAT SENSE IS THE
LAW A YOKE?

The yoke bound one ox to another, making

them go in the same direction. If one ties
himself to the Law, he is bound to all its
requirements.
Q3 (5.4): HOW FAR HAD THE
GALATIAN CHRISTIANS FALLEN?

They had gone so far that Christ became of no effect to

them; they had "fallen from grace." It was a completed
act, and it could not be that they had never come to
Christ (as the Calvinists say)! The language is clear
that it is possible to lose one's salvation if he
deliberately chooses to go the wrong direction. Thus
the doctrine of "perseverance of the saints" is refuted
in this verse.
Q4 (5:5,6): WHAT WAS IT THAT
MADE THE GALATIANS TO FALL?

It seems it was the motive behind circumcision rather than the act
itself. Verse 6 says that circumcision is irrelevant; you are neither
better with it nor worse without it. Paul believed the Law must be
taken as a whole, for offending in one point makes one guilty of
breaking the whole (James 2:10). The main point at issue is where
one's trust lies. If one removes his trust from Christ and places it in
other means, then he has lost his salvation. God works by love, and
love provides the very grounds of our faith. Through faith, love
acts both ways; we love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn.
4:10,11).
Q5 (5:7, 8): WITH WHAT DOES PAUL
COMPARE THEIR FALL?

Christian life is often represented as a race.

Here Paul uses an Olympic term "anakopto"
meaning someone who comes across the race
course to jostle and push a runner out of the
course. Someone hindered the Galatians from
obeying the truth. They lost one persuasion
(from God) by following another (from man).
Q6 (5:9): HOW IS THEIR ACTION
LIKENED TO LEAVEN?

Leaven is usually mentioned as a type of

corruption by sin, as in 1Cor. 5:6. Paul is
saying that the Judaistic doctrine, if left to
spread, would corrupt all others that it
contacts.
Q7 (5:10): WHAT 2 THINGS DID
PAUL STATE CONFIDENTLY?

One, that they would yet return to the way of

Christ, and secondly that those who troubled
them would be brought to judgment.
Q8 (5:11): WHAT DOES THIS IMPLY
ABOUT PAUL'S FORMER
TEACHING?
It implies that Paul had encouraged circumcision, for
he had circumcised Timothy (Acts 16:3). So he refutes
the charge by saying, "If I am preaching circumcision,
then why am I persecuted by the Jews?" If he had done
that, then the offense of the cross would have ceased.
The necessity of depending on the cross would be
taken away if men could be saved by conforming to
the Law of Moses.
Q9 (5:12): HOW FAR WOULD PAUL
GO IN CONDEMNING THE
JUDAIZERS?
Paul uses the word "to cut off" which the NIV
takes to mean to "emasculate themselves."
The NEB uses the words "make eunuchs of
themselves." It is unlikely that Paul would be
so vindictive toward his enemies; rather he
could mean that they should cut themselves
from the company of the Galatian Christians.
FLESH VERSUS
SPIRIT
Q10 (5:13-15): HOW FAR DID THE
GALATIANS TAKE THEIR LIBERTY?

They had corrupted it to license, lusts of the flesh, and

quarrels and debauchery of many kinds. In contrast they
should have been building up themselves in love. The Law
that the Judaizers were promoting had many rules and
regulations, but the Galatians thought if they had liberty,
they could indulge in fights, factions, and fornication.
Excessive ideas of liberty always have that effect. But Paul
explains that the Law could be summed up in one word:
Love. If they love one another, all the interpersonal
conflicts would be resolved.
Q11 (5:16-18): WHAT IS THE
SECRET OF OVERCOMING THE
FLESH?
Walking in the Spirit. That is, not an occasional prayer, but a life in
the Spirit. Memorize verse 16. The flesh wars against the Spirit and
the way to overcome fleshly desires is to keep fined with the Spirit.
If we are led by the Spirit we will not obey the lusts of the flesh
(Rom. 8:14), but use our liberty as occasion to serve God and love
others.
Arrange the above according to I John 2:16:
TITLE: All that is in the World
1. Lust of the Flesh: Numbers:
2. Lust of the Eyes: . "
3. Pride of Life: " "
Q11 (5:16-18): WHAT IS THE
SECRET OF OVERCOMING THE
FLESH?
Walking in the Spirit. That is, not an occasional prayer, but a life in the
Spirit. Memorize verse 16. The flesh wars against the Spirit and the way
to overcome fleshly desires is to keep fined with the Spirit. If we are led
by the Spirit we will not obey the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 8:14), but use
our liberty as occasion to serve God and love others.
Arrange according to Elements of Personality as below:
TITLE: Elements of Carnal Personality
1. Mental realm Numbers:
2. Emotional realm "
3. Physical realm. "
Make a chart to indicate the Contrast between the Works of the Flesh and
the Fruit of the Spirit.
 FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
1. The Fruit is the RESULT of walking in the Spirit.
2. The Fruit is addressed in the "singular," not as "fruits,"
meaning each is related to one species; not "apples and
oranges", but different types of "apples." It is the fruit of
ONE Spirit.
3. Each is revealed in a hostile atmosphere. In other words,
people of the world can show "Love when others show a
loving attitude to them; but he who walks in the Spirit can
show God's "agape love when all around is unlovely.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT .
GAL. 5:22, 23
Q12 (5:23): WHY DOES PAUL SAY,
"AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO
LAW?
There is no law against these just as there is no
law which can bring them about. The Law
condemns sin. They who produce the Fruit of the
Spirit are the true freemen, free from the
condemnation of the Law, free in the service of
God. These attributes are produced by the life of
Christ within the Christian. They are His life, not
our deeds.
Q13 (5:24-26) HOW DO LIFE AND
DEATH APPLY TO WORKS AND
FRUIT?
Those who are in Christ have put to death the
deeds and lusts of the flesh. Those who are
alive in the Spirit should walk in the Spirit.
We are not to compete with one another, but
provoke or challenge each other to be more
spiritual, cooperating with each other in the
world whose ethics are opposite to these.
LOVE IN PRACTICE ... GAL. 6:1 - 18

Paul now shows how to treat one who

had not produced the Fruit of the Spirit,
but was guilty of some of the works of
the flesh.
Q14 (6:1): HOW SHOULD WE
UNDERSTAND THE WORD
"OVERTAKEN"?
The NAS and NIV use the word "caught" in a
sin. The Greek "prolambano" is to take before, or
anticipate. Vine says, "the meaning is not that of
detecting a person in the act, but of his being
caught by the trespass, through his being off his
guard." It is not a premeditated act of evil as in
5:21, but suddenly entrapped in sin.
Q15: DOES THIS FAULT OR
TRESPASS MEAN LOSS OF
SALVATION?
The Greek form "paraptome means a false
step; it is a stepping over, God's boundary line
of sin. The man is a brother in Christ, for no
one can otherwise be "restored." It does not
indicate complete apostasy, nor loss of
salvation. Neither is there a hint that if this
man persists in the trespass, it cannot lead him
to apostasy.
Q16 (6:1-3) WHO IS TO RESTORE
THE FALLEN AND HOW IS IT
DONE?
It is the spiritual ones, meaning that there are still some in
the church who have not fallen, but are still walking in the
Spirit. The word restore is from "katartizo" meaning to join
together, to mend, as a broken bone or a broken net. The
man is not to be cast away, but repaired and brought back
to Christ.
It is to be done in a spirit of meekness, and considering
oneself, not taking for granted that we will not fall. We are
to bear one another's burdens (Gr: bare), and by showing
such love, we fulfill the law of Christ. We are nothing if we
consider ourselves better than others.
Q17 (6:4, 5): WHY DOES PAUL
EXHORT EACH TO EXAMINE HIS
OWN WORK?
Proving one's own work will result in proper grounds of
glorying. Boasting because someone else fell into sin of
which you are not guilty is unreasonable. The only grounds
of comparison is between our deeds and the WORD, not
the deeds of others.
Verse 5 does not contradict v. 2, for 2 different words are
used. Here, "burden" is "phortion" which means that which
is carried. We must take responsibility of our own deeds,
but we can help a brother carry the heavy load of his
weakness.
ACT OF SHARING.
GALATIANS 6:6-10
Q18 (6:6): WHAT IS THE FIRST
AREA OF SHARING?

It is with those who teach. The one who

receives spiritual training should financially
support the teacher. Paul is not asking for
financial help, but he names the principle that
applies to all ministers.
Q19 (6:7, 8): WHAT IS THE GREAT
PRINCIPLE QUOTED IN VERSE 7, AND
HOW DOES IT APPLY TO THE
CONTEXT?
It is the principle that "like seed bears like
fruit." In relation to the context, it means that
not supporting your teacher is sowing to the
flesh, as is refusal to do good by helping all
men, especially those of the household of
faith.
Q20 (11, 10): IN WHAT SHOULD
ONE NOT GROW WEARY?

We must sow continuously. We will reap if we

do not faint. We are to do all we can to help
all in need, especially fellow Christians.
FINAL ADMONITION
& BENEDICTION
GALATIANS 6:11-18.
Q21 (6:11): WHAT DO WE INFER
FROM PAUL'S SAYING HE IS
WRITING WITH LARGE LETTER?

The letters of the alphabet are large due to his

infirmity. He could not see clearly enough to
write with small characters. This fits in with v.
17 where he refers to the marks of Jesus that
he bears.
Q22 (6:12): HOW DOES
CIRCUMCISION RELATE TO
PERSECUTION?
Paul explains that the Judaizers were
compelling the Galatians to be circumcised so
they could avoid persecution from their
Jewish brethren, and gain converts. But many
circumcised do not keep the whole Law
themselves. All they want to do is to boast of
numbers.
Q23 (6:14): IN WHAT DOES PAUL
BOAST?

Only in the cross of Christ. His own works

count for nothing. His only basis for boasting
was the work of Christ. Because of this, the
world is crucified to him, and he to the world.
Q24 (6:15,16): WHICH IS
IMPORTANT, CIRCUMCISION OR
UNCIRCUMCISION?

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision

amount to anything, but a now creation.
Circumcision has nothing to do with
salvation. Those who follow this rule, pea and
mercy be upon them.
Q25 (6:17): HOW MIGHT WE DESCRIBE
PAUL'S WORDS, "FROM NOW ON, LET
NO ONE CAUSE TROUBLE FOR ME"?

The word literally means beating the breast in

grief. We might describe it: "Let everyone
stop bothering me with these false claims."
Q26 (6:17B) HOW DOES PAUL
CONTRAST HIS SCARS WITH THE
CIRCUMCISION THE JUDDIZERS WERE
PROMOTING?
Paul bore the scars of Christ in his flesh,
which he suffered in the persecutions. They
were the "brand marks" by which any can tell
he is a disciple of Jesus. This is in contrast to
the mark of circumcision that the Judaizers
were promoting as the "brand-mark" of
Judaism.
Q27 (6:18): HOW DOES PAUL CLOSE
THE LETTER, AND WHAT IS THE
SIGNIFICANCE?

He prays that the grace of Jesus Christ be with

their spirit. In all of Paul's letters he uses
similar words, thus indicating that the letter
was really the work of Paul, and not a
counterfeit.
BOOK TWO: ROMANS
 DOCTRINAL
• LESSON 5 —INTRODUCTION
• —BAD SINNERS & GOOD SINNERS
• Chapters 1—3:23
• LESSON 6 —SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH
FAITH
• Chapters 3:24-31, 4, 5
• LESSON 7 —SINNER WITH A HALO
• Chapters 6, 7 & 8
• LESSON 8 —GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE
• Chapters 12, 13, 14
 PRACTICAL

• LESSON 9 — RIGHTEOUSNESS
DEMONSTRATED
• Chapters 12, 13, 14

• LESSON 10 — RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXEMPLIFIED
• Chapters 15, 16
 AUTHOR

• We mentioned in the Course Syllabus that our

exposition of Romans is taken from the book,
"Declare His Righteousness", by Dr Morris O.
Williams, who gave permission for the book to be
produced in the Key Series. This is a slightly
abbreviated form of his book.
CHALK TALK
 GLOSSARY
• CONDEMNATION — Judicially pronouncing guilty.
• CONVERSION — to turn around (spiritual about-face).
• FOREKNOWLEDGE — to know beforehand.
• FREE WILL — the power to choose.
• IDENTIFY — to understand, share another's experience.
• IMPUTE — to credit or put to the account of a person.
• INCARNATION — to take on human form and nature.
 GLOSSARY

• JUSTIFICATION — the process of being declared legally right.

• PREDESTINATION — to determine beforehand.
• SALVATION — deliverance from damnation.
• SANCTIFICATION — to set apart for a sacred purpose, purify.
• STATE — a condition of being.
• STANDING — a position of being (imputed).
• SUBSTITUTION — to take the place of another.
 LESSON FIVE:
BAD SINNERS, GOOD SINNERS
 ROMANS 1—3:23

• Introduction
• Romans 1:1-16 p.56

• Condemnation of Gentiles
• Chapter 1:17-32 p.56

• Condenmation of the Jews

• Chapter 2 to 3:23 p.60
ROMANS CHAPTER 1
A. CONDEMNATION OF THE
GENTILES
 INTRODUCTION ... ROM. 1:1-16.

• Verses 1 - 16 of chapter one contains the introduction to the book

of Romans as well as the Theme of the book (v. 16). Paul
introduced himself to the Romans as a servant and as an apostle
sent to preach the Gospel, which he declared to be God's message
of salvation to the wicked and condemned world. The message
was about the Lord Jesus, the Son of God who became man, did
mighty miracles, was crucified and buried, and proved himself to
be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead (v. 3).
• Q1 Paul wanted to go to Rome because he felt that he was a
debtor to all the Gentiles (v. 14).
Q2 THE GOSPEL REVEALS THREE
THINGS ABOUT GOD.

• 1. It reveals the POWER of God (v. 16).

• 2. It reveals the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (v.
17).
• 3. It reveals the WRATH OF GOD (v.18).
Q3 . "WHAT ABOUT THE GENTILES
(HEATHEN) WHO HAVE NEVER
HEARD THE TRUTH?"
• In verse 19 Paul states that ALL men know the truth, for God has
shown it unto them.
• The Gentiles know 2 things about God. They know there is a God
(v. 20), and they know the judgment of God (v. 32). But what
does the Gentile do with his knowledge about God? Ile answer is:
• He glorifies not, and
• He thanks Him not (v. 21).
• Paul uses strong words about the Gentiles. He calls them "fools."
Why? He names three reasons:
• 1. They changed the incorruptible for the corruptible; (v. 23).
• 2. They changed the truth of God into a He (v. 25).
• 3. They changed the natural use into the unnatural (v. 26).
Q4 BUT IF GOD DID IT THAT WAY,
TWO THINGS WOULD GO WRONG:

• God would no longer be holy, because He would be

accepting men with unjudged and unpunished sin;
and
• He would be unfair, because those close to the
middle on the "lost" side would be almost as good
as those in the middle on the "saved" side.
 STATE AND STANDING
• In the plan of God, we find that men are "counted" or
"imputed" to be in the places where we said that no man, by
his deeds, ever stood.
• When a man has "all bad" imputed to him that is his
"Standing' in God's record book. Man's "State" however is
what he is in his deeds/character.
• We have seen that all men are a mixture of good and bad in
their "state, but God has refused to count their "good" as
sufficient for salvation. So while they are a mixture in their
"State", they are "imputed" to be "ALL BAD" in God's
books.
CONDEMNATION OF
THE JEWS
 ROMANS CHAPTER TWO

Because they were doing the same things as

were the Gentiles! But were they? The Jews
could point to many "good" things they were
doing that the Gentiles do not do.
 Q7 THE JEWS WERE VERY
RELIGIOUS.
• They prayed regularly to God.
• Barney fasted often.
• They paid their tithes.
• They obeyed the Law.
• The Jew did not kill . . . but they were full of hatred.
• They did not commit adultery but they allowed a man
to look on a woman to lust after her.
• The Jews did not "swear" in court, but they did not
hesitate to tell a lie!
 Q7 THE JEWS WERE VERY
RELIGIOUS.
• They demanded justice (an eye for an eye), but they would not forgive one
another.
• They loved those who loved them; but they hated all enemies.
• By their hardness and impenitent hearts, they were "storing up wrath" of
judgment (Rom. 2:3-6). Paul says that each person will be judged
according to the knowledge he has; that is, the deeds he commits against
the light he has received.
• The fact that salvation is "not of works" does not mean that God doesn't
notice or judge sin.
• Nor does it mean that He won't reward good works.
• Sinners will be lost because of their unbelief, but they will be punished
according to their WORKS!
 SO LET US PARAPHRASE THE WORDS
(VV. 17, 29) THAT PAUL WOULD HAVE
USED IF HE WERE WRITING TO
CHRISTIANS TODAY.
• "Behold, you are called a Christian, and make your boast of God, and
know His will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being
instructed out of Scriptures; and are confident that you are a guide of the
blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher
of babes.
• "You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who
preach that a man should not steal, do you rob God of His tithe? You
who say a man should not commit adultery, do you look upon a woman
to lust after her in your heart? You that abhor idols, do you make a god
out of money or pleasure? Do you dishonor God by disobeying the
Scriptures? The Name of God is blasphemed by unbelievers because of
you.
 SO LET US PARAPHRASE THE WORDS
(VV. 17, 29) THAT PAUL WOULD HAVE
USED IF HE WERE WRITING TO
CHRISTIANS TODAY.
• "Christian baptism is profitable if you obey Christ's Word,
but if you disobey it, your baptism a not valid . . . He who
has never been baptized, if he obey God's Word, shall he not
judge you who, despite your Bible knowledge and water
baptism, transgress that which is written in the Bible?
• Q13 "For he is not a Christian which is one outwardly;
neither is that baptism which is outward in the flesh; but he
is a Christian which is one inwardly; and baptism is in the
Spirit, and not of the letter; whose praise is not of men, but
of God? (Rom. 2:17-29).
C. CONDEMNATION
OF ALL MEN
 ROMANS 3:1-23

The first 23 verses of Romans 3 are the conclusion

of the section entitled "Bad Sinners & Good
Sinners."
 Q14 FOR "ALL HAVE SINNED AND
COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF
GOD" (ROM. 3:23),
• and are therefore condemned and without excuse,
because:
• The Gentiles refused the light of God's WORD, and
• Be Jews refuse the light of God's WORD.
 IN ROM. 3:1-12, PAUL ASKS 4
QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS THEM:

• 1. What profit to the Jew is circumcision (verse 1)?

• ANSWER: (v. 2) Much in every way. The Jew was given the
Word of God which contained God's promises.

• 2. Will God be unfaithful because man is unfaithful

(v. 3)?
• ANSWER: (v. 4) Perish the thought! Those who accuse God
of unfaithfulness will be proved liars. God will be true to His
promises.
 IN ROM. 3:1-12, PAUL ASKS 4
QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS THEM:

• 3. If man's sin comends the righteousness of God, is

God unrighteous to punish man for sinning (v. 5)?
• ANSWER: (v. 6) God forbid! A righteous God must judge
sin.Those who say, "Let us do evil that good may come,"
deserve damnation.
• 4. Are Jews better than Gentiles (v. 9)?
• ANSWER: In no way! For both Jews and Gentiles have been
proved to be sinners!
• The following diagram illustrates what we are saying:
 Q17 ROMANS 3:10-18 ... IN THESE
VERSES GOD LISTS HIS CHARGES
AGAINST ALL MEN.
• His accusations may sound harsh, especially since He gives
no "credit" to man for his goodness. But God has ruled out
"goodness" as a way of salvation. Man is so proud and is
such a boaster that, if God were to give "credit" for man's
WORKS, man would always be trying to save himself, and
would never accept God's way of justification.
• The whole world is guilty before God. There is no
difference. All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God."
 LESSON SIX:
SALVATION BY GRACE
THROUGH FAITH
 ROMANS 3, 4, 5

• JUSTIFICATION:
• The Way, Rom. 3:24 p.65

• B. JUSTIFICATION:
• The Witness, Rom. 4 p.69

• JUSTIFICATION:
• The Work, Rom. 5 p.71
A. JUSTIFICATION...
THE WAY
ROMANS 3:24 31
 MAN'S PREDICAMENT

• A love without choice has no meaning.

• The answer is that Adam's a weakness is the
weakness of all men.
 THIS IS MAN'S PREDICAMENT.

• He is guilty and unfit to stand before a holy God.

He has no way to erase his past, and no ability to
obey God's standard of holiness. As long as he
justifies himself, he cannot be justified!
 Q4 ADAM'S WAS THE SIN OF
REBELLION AND DISOBEDIENCE.
• Ask any ruler what he considers the greatest sin, and he will tell
you that rebellion or disobedience against his authority, is the
greatest sin.
• If that is so with a mere earthly ruler, what about rebellion
against Almighty God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe?
• Q5 Now the third step is the "Incarnation", God becoming
man
• . "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us ... full of grace
and truth" (Jn. 1:14).
• 1Tim. 1:15: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
• In Mat. 9:13 Jesus said, "I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance."
GOD'S PROBLEM
 Q6 HOW CAN GOD BE BOTH JUST
AND JUSTIFIER?

• God is HOLY.
• He is absolutely JUST and RIGHTEOUS.
• He does not sin, and He does not wink at sin!
• A JUST and HOLY God must punish sin,
NOW, GOD IS NOT ONLY HOLY, BUT
"GOD IS LOVE."

• He is not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter

3:9).
• God's problem then is how to judge justly the sin of
man, and at the same time, find a way where He
can JUSTIFY man, in order to fellowship with him.
• He sent Jesus to be born, and He lived in a wicked
world.
NOW, GOD IS NOT ONLY HOLY, BUT
"GOD IS LOVE."

• The world was not a perfect place and with perfect

fellowship.
• But where Adam failed in a PERFECT WORLD,
Jesus overcame and was victorious although the
world around Him was WICKED.
• Jesus was the only one that ever lived who was
"ALL GOOD." Like this:
Q7 THE TRUTH OF SUBSTITUTION.

• Because of substitution, it became possible for man

to be justified and restored to fellowship with God.
• God's Plan was for His Son to become a
SACRIFICE for man's sin.
• God IMPUTED all the sins of all men to Jesus, and
He who knew no sin, became sin for us (2Cor.
5:21).
 Q9 HE HAS MADE POSSIBLE THE
JUSTIFICATION OF ALL WHO
WOULD BELIEVE.
• Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:21: ". . . that we might be
made the righteousness of God in Him."
• God "credits" us with it, He imputes it to us,
because of what Jesus did.
• This is the Way of Justification by Substitution.
 Q10 "DOES FAITH
CANCEL THE LAW?"
B. JUSTIFICATION ... THE
WITNESS
 ROMANS CHAPTER 4

• Q11 Abraham was the "father of the Jews," and

David was the Jewish king from whose throne "the
sceptre would never pass." Since these two
patriarchs were regarded so highly by the Jews,
Paul uses them as witnesses to God's Plan of
Justification by Faith.
Q12 THE "KEY-WORD" IN ROMANS
4 IS THE WORD "IMPUTE"

• God "counted" these men righteous because of what

the "believed! not because of their works.
• 1. The WITNESS of ABRAHAM
• V.2: Abraham was not justified by WORKS.
• V.3: Abraham "believed" God and it was "counted" to him
for righteousness.
• V.4: If WORKS could justify a man, then salvation is God's
"wages" to man for doing good. But if it is FAITH that
justifies the ungodly, then salvation is a GIFT, for man did
nothing to earn it.
 Q13 2. THE WITNESS OF DAVID

• V.6: David said that a man is blessed to whom God

imputes righteousness, without works.
• Vv. 7, 8: David said a man is blessed whose sin is
covered and to whom the Lord will not IMPUTE
sin.
3. MORE WITNESS
OF ABRAHAM
 CIRCUMCISION AND FAITH ... VV.
9 -12

• QUESTION: Is Justification only for those who

are circumcised, that is, for the Jews?
• He was a BELIEVER before he was a JEW!
Abraham was "father of all believers" through
FAITH before be was "father of all Jews" through
circumcision. Therefore, he is "father" of Gentiles
as well as Jews who have the same faith that he
had!
 Q16 B. THE LAW AND THE
PROMISES ... VV. 13 - 16
• What was true of Circumcision and Faith is also true of the
Law and the Promise.
• The Promise came BEFORE the Law was given, and
therefore the Promise could not have. come through the
Law (v. 13).
• The Promise came by Faith, proving two things:
• 1. "They which are of the Law" cannot receive the Promise. The
Promise to Abraham was that his "seed" would be heirs of the
world (vv. 13, 14).
• 2. The Promise is to ALL who have FAITH ... that is, ALL who
BELIEVE are the "seed" of Abraham (v. 16).
 C. THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM ... VV.
17 - 22

• It was through Faith alone that Abraham received

the Promise. "He staggered not ... but was strong in
Faith, believing that what God had promised, He
was able to perform" (v. 21). Therefore Faith was
IMPUTED to him for righteousness (v. 22).
 D. ABRAHAM'S LESSON

• Q17 What God did for Abraham, He will do for

us! He will impute Righteousness to US... "if we
believe on Him that raised up our Lord Jesus from
the dead" (v. 24).
C. JUSTIFICATION ...
THE WORK
ROMANS CHAPTER 5
 Q19 "THEREFORE BEING
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. . ."

• We are going to talk about FAITH ... about believing ...

for this is mans part in God's Plan of Salvation.
• There is no WORK that man can do to save himself.
• There is only one thing that he can do ... and that is to
BELIEVE in what God has already done for him; that
is, to accept Jesus Christ as God's Sacrifice for sin.
 Q20, 21 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
HAVE FAITH?

• It means to change from unbelief to belief. It

means to be CONVERTED; that is, to turn around.
Because of unbelief, man's back was toward God,
and his face was toward Satan. When conversion
takes place, the sinner turns back on Satan, and
turns his face toward God in Faith, believing what
God has done for him. You see, before conversion,
it was like this:
 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SINNER
BELIEVES.

• His face is now toward God and Heaven.

• He is now on "the upward way!"
• He is no longer counted "all bad."
• He is immediately counted "all good."
• His sins are forgiven.
• He becomes a child of God.
 THE BENEFITS OF JUSTIFICATION
BY FAITH

• We have peace with God v. 1

• We have access into grace v. 2
• We rejoice in hope of the glory of God v. 2
• We glory in tribulations also, knowing:
• Tribulation brings about perseverance v. 3
• Perseverance brings proven character v. 4
• Proven character brings hope v. 4
• Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
 CHRIST'S DEATH ACCOMPLISHED
THE FOLLOWING:

• It showed God's great love for us who were sinners (vv.

6-8)
• It provided justification and saved us from wrath (v. 9)
• It reconciled us to God while we were enemies (v. 10)
• It assures future salvation by His resurrection life (v.
10)
 ADAM AND CHRIST. "DEATH BY
SIN .." (V. 12)

• By one man (Adam) sin entered the world.

• By one man (Adam) death entered the world.
• The Results:
• All men sin
• All men die.
 "SIN IS NOT IMPUTED WHEN
THERE IS NO LAW" (V. 13)

• The curse came not only upon Adam, but upon his
"seed." But when the Law is known (whether it is
the law of the heart or of the conscience or the law
of God's Word, Rom. 1:19; 2:17, 18), men
deliberately break the Law, and they are then held
guilty before God.
 "DEATH REIGNED (V. 14)

• As sin was in the world, but was not imputed,

because there was no law, so death is in the world
and comes to every man, but it does not come as a
punishment for sin.
• This is shown by the fact that even babies die. The
insane also die. But they die because they are under
the curse that came through Adam, but not because
they are guilty of sin!
 Q26 D. ADAM'S OFFENCE &
CHRIST"S FREE GIFT.. (VV. 15-21)

• One man (Adam) "opened the door" for sin to reign

unto death.
• One man (Christ) "opened the door" for grace to reign
through righteousness unto eternal life (v. 21).
• By the offence of ONE — judgement came upon ALL
MEN.
• By the righteousness of ONE — the gift came upon
ALL MEN.
 Q27 THUS:

• Those who CHOOSE to reject Christ are made

sinners, and
• Those who CHOOSE to accept Christ are made
righteous!
LESSON SEVEN:
SINNER WITH A HALO
 ROMANS 6, 7, 8

• SANCTIFICATION AND LIFE :

• Romans 6 p.76

• SANCTIFICATION AND LAW:

• Romans 7 p.81

• SANCTIFICATION & LIBERTY:

• Romans 8 P.82
 Q1, 2 CHRISTIANS ARE NOT
PERFECT PEOPLE – JUST
FORGIVEN.
• They are saved by faith, and they are kept by faith. Meanwhile,
as Christians, they press toward the mark of becoming Christ-
like, in a continuing and progressive process of Sanctification.
This concerns a person’s STATE, or what he actually is in his life
and walk, as a result of his faith. We will show how God enables
the believer to become in “state” what he is already credited with
in “standing.”
• Justification is God “counting” the sinner righteous” on the
books.”
• Sanctification is God enabling him to be r righteous in life and
walk.
A. SANCTIFICATION
AND LIFE
ROMANS SIX
Q3 DOES IT MATTER WHAT WE DO
IF DOING DOESN’T SAVE US?”
• “If doing evil gives God a chance to demonstrate His love
and grace, aren’t we doing God a favor by sinning so that
His grace may abound?” (See Romans 6:1).
• Such questions show that man is looking for an excuse to
justify his sin... and this can be dangerous!
• When a sinner is converted, he isn’t saved because he
“stops sinning,” but because he “starts believing.”
• A man is saved when he stops his UNBELIEF and starts
BELIEVING in Jesus as his Savior.
 Q4, 5 SHALL WE CONTINUE IN
SIN?

• Paul says, God forbid!

• How shall we that are “dead” to sin “live” any
longer therein?
 Q6 A FAITH THAT DOES NOT
IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST’S DEATH
IS NOT REAL FAITH.
• You can’t believe and remain unchanged in the way
you live!
• Faith not only changes our STANDING before
God.
• Faith also changes the STATE of our actions and
character.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES
THAT TAKE PLACE:

• 1. We are “crucified” with Christ – v. 6

• 2. We are “dead” to sin – v. 2
• 3. WE are “buried with Christ – v. 4
• 4. We are “raised” with Christ – v. 4
• 5. We “walk in newness of life” – v. 4
• 6. We are “freed from sin” – v. 7
• We are “alive unto God” – vv. 8, 11.
 Q7 THERE ARE TWO NATURES
WITHIN US:

• The “old man” (called the “body of sin” or “the

flesh,” “the law of sin in our members”), and
• The “New Man.”
 Q8 EVERY MAN HAS A MASTER.

• Some ignorant and willful sinners say they have no

master; they say they are free, and they are servants
to no one! But they are wrong...absolutely wrong!
Paul says in Rom. 6:16 “Know ye not that to whom
ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or
of obedience unto righteousness?”
 Q9 “GOODNESS” AS A WAY OF
SALVATION, AND “GOODNESS” AS
A WAY OF LIFE.
• God is not against Goodness.
• He is against the sin of Self-righteousness that
refuses HIS righteousness.
• He is against WORKS as a Way of Salvation.
• We need OUTSIDE HELP.
• We need power to overcome.
• We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
 THE “SERVANTS OF SIN” WITH
THE “SERVANT OF GOD,”

The Servant of Sin The Servant of God

Free from righteousness Free from sin;
Fruit of shame Fruit unto holiness;
End is death End is eternal life.
SANCTIFICATION
AND THE LAW
ROMANS CHAPTER SEVEN
 THE LAW CANNOT SAVE

• Sanctification and the Law are not opposed to each

other. Just as God is the Author of goodness and
wants those who believe in Him to serve
righteousness (even though they cannot be saved
by their righteousness); so also, God is the One
who gave the Law and wants those who are of His
Kingdom to obey it.
 Q11 WE ARE NOT SAVED BY
WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Works cannot save men.

• Neither can the Law.
 THE LAW AS A HUSBAND ...
ROMANS 7:1-6
• Q12 In verses 1–6 Paul likens the Law to a Husband, and
he likens those who trust in the Law to save them to a Wife.
He says that as long as they trust the Law to save them, they
cannot be saved by faith, because they are bound to their
living husband (the Law). But, if they stop trusting the Law
to save them, then the Law will become “dead” to them, and
they will be free to marry (believe) another husband, that is,
to accept Christ as Saviour. They cannot be married to two
husbands. They cannot trust both the Law and Christ to
save them.
 THE LAW’S PURPOSE ... ROMANS
7:7–13

• Q13 In verses 7-13, Paul shows that the Law is not

a bad thing, even though it cannot save. In fact, the
Law actually helped people realize their need of a
Saviour, for, while it had no power to save them
from sin, it did reveal their sinfulness, and it made
them aware that they would die in their sins, unless
they accepted God’s Plan of Salvation.
THE LAW’S WEAKNESS ... ROMANS
7:14-25

• Q14 Laws can condemned but they cannot

convert. Laws can punish but they cannot prevent.
Too many people and churches trust Law to help
them to be righteous. But Law has no power to
change character. It can only control crime.
Q15 PROGRESS IS OFTEN SLOW IN
SANCTIFICATION.

• Some believers go through life and change very

little from the time they are saved. Because of the
law of the Church and the “standard” set by the
saved, they stop doing the fleshly sins that are
easily seen and judged; but they struggle with the
“spiritual sins” of hate, envy, greed, pride and
deceit.
 Q16 THE BELIEVER FINDS TWO
LAWS WITHIN HIMSELF THAT ARE
AT WAR WITH EACH OTHER.
They are:
• 1. The law of SIN in one’s members (the law of the
flesh); and
• 2. The law of the MIND (the law of the
Conscience).
SANTIFICATION AND
LIBERTY
ROMANS CHAPTER 8
 1. THE SPIRIT AND THE LAW ...
ROM. 8:1-4

• Q17 a. Freedom through the Spirit

• Paul found that Christ has provided an answer to
the conflict he described in Chapter 7. It was a
THIRD law that made him free from the “law of
sin and death.” It was the “Law of the Spirit of Life
in Christ Jesus” (8:2).
Q18 THE SPIRIT HELPED US WHEN
WE WERE SINNERS.

• The Spirit helped us when we were converted.

• The Spirit helps us to be witnesses.
• The Holy Spirit helps us to overcome the flesh (old
man), sin, and the devil.
 Q18 THE SPIRIT HELPED US WHEN
WE WERE SINNERS.
• In Romans 7, we saw that the law of the flesh was stronger than the law of the
conscience. The believer was in trouble. Then, in this Chapter, a third law is
found, the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” that could do what the law
of Sinai or of Conscience could not do. With the help of this Third Law, the
believer can now move toward God’s predestined goal for him; that is, to
become in STATE what he is credited with in STANDING ... to be like Jesus!
This is “Spiritual Growth.”
• Q21 The period of INFANCY is the NO LAW period.
• The period of YOUTH is the period when a person lives by the LAW.
• The objective of the believer is to reach MATURITY... to become an ADULT
spiritually.
2. THE SPIRIT AND
THE FLESH ...
ROMANS 8:5-13
A. GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT ...
WHAT ABOUT “SINNING
CHRISTIANS”? ARE THY SAVED?
• Mature believers don’t need to be commanded to
do right (See Gal. 5:22-24 “against such there is no
law”).
• It is the infants and the youth who have to be told
to do right, and therefore need the law.
 Q22 WHEN IS A CHRISTIAN NO
LONGER A CHRISTIAN?

• Is he lost every time he sins?

• Is he lost when he quarrels with his wife?
• Is he lost when he loves money?
• Is he lost when he breaks the Speed Limit?
• Is the Christian on a “turnstile”, so that he’s a Christian
one moment, and a sinner the next?
• It is when we quit pressing toward the mark that we are
in spiritual danger.
B. QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT ...

• The grace of God does not give us a “license” to live in

the flesh.
• When Paul asked, “Shall we sin that grace may
abound,” he answered his own question with a
resounding, “God forbid!”
• There is a definite relationship between SIN and
FAITH.
• They cancel each other out! Sin destroys faith.
 Q23 SIN IS FOREIGN TO THE NEW
NATURE.

• Any act of sin on the part of the believer grieves

the Holy Spirit, and continued deliberate sin will
lead to a quenching of the Spirit, and a rejection of
faith, which is the basis of our standing.
• When is a Christian not a Christian? When he loses
his faith!
 3. THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION ...
ROMANS 8:14-17

• Q25 These things we can learn from the word

“adoption:”
• a. An adopted child is not a “natural” child.
• b.An adopted child receives all the privileges of a natural
child.
• c. We receive the spirit of adoption, that is, all the provision
and initiative is on the part of the parent.
• d.We become children of God by Faith; that is, accepting
what the “parent” has done for us.
• e. Not all are children of God.
4. THE SPIRIT OF HOPE ... ROMANS
8:18-25.
• Q26 Remember that this world does not recognize the sons
of God. They recognize nations, races, the rich and poor, the
educated and ignorant; they even recognize religions! But
the world does not understand anything about the family of
God. Therefore, we should not be surprised about
persecution. The world did not understand our Lord either,
and they crucified Him. Paul warns that we must be
prepared to suffer in this world, but our suffering of the
present cannot be compared with the glory of the future
which shall be revealed in us (vv. 17, 18).
 Q27 THE CREATURE AND THE
CREATION.

• even though we are sons of God, we are still

subject to the curse.
• Children of God suffer; they get sick; they have
trials; they die.
 5. THE SPIRIT OF HELP ...
ROMANS 8:26-30

• Q28 It is the Spirit that keeps our hope alive, and

helps us when we are at the end of our patience;
and that helps us see the unseen (vv. 24, 25). It is
the Spirit that helps us pray as we ought (v. 26). It
is the Spirit that knows the will of God, and with
“groaning that cannot be uttered” makes
intercession for us (v. 27).
Q29 WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HIS SONS
TO SUFFER, TO GO THROUGH
PERSECUTION, TO GET SICK?

Let us remember what the Spirit is interceding for;

the Spirit knows the will of God, and His praying is
directed toward bringing things into our lives that
will make us like Jesus. This “good” will come out
of the “bad” that happens to us. Suffering is
accomplishing something for us because we are the
sons of God.
 6. THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE
... ROMANS 8:31-39
• Paul ask 5 important questions, and his answers prove one thing:
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us “ (v.
37).
• Question: What shall we say to these things? (v. 31).
• Answer: We will say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
• Question: If God gave us His own Son, will he withhold lesser
gifts?
• Answer: No! He that gave His best will not withhold the rest!
• Question: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?
(v. 33).
• Answer: No one! If God Himself pronounces us righteous, no one can
accuse us of being evil.
 6. THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE
... ROMANS 8:31-39
• Question: Who is he that comdemneth? (v. 34)
• Answer: No one! If Christ both takes our punishment and pleads our
cause, can any pronounce us guilty?
• Question: Who shall separate us from the love of God?
• Answer: No one! There is no EXTERNAL power or person that can
separate the believer from Christ. This stops the mouths of those who
blame circumstances or people for their backsliding and final apostasy.
If a believer is separated from the love of God, it will be because he
himself desired it, and not because he was “forced” to turn his back on
Christ. What a warning to the carnal Christian! But what an assurance
to the believer who WANTS a victorious life! Eternal Security can
be pictured like this (Eph. 6:13-16):
 Q30 THE BELIEVER’S CHIEF
DEFENSIVE WEAPON IS HIS
“SHIELD OF FAITH,”
• So long as he uses it and keeps it between him and
the enemy, no device of the enemy can tough him.
He is eternally secure. However, he can abandon
his shield at any time, for he controls it. As long as
the believer WILLS to be secure, God’s power will
keep him, and he cannot be lost.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER:
• 1. In Christ, we are eternally secure. The fact that some do not avail
themselves of it does not make it less eternal nor less secure.
• 2. This secure position is obtained and maintained through FAITH.
Faith is the shield that turns back the fiery darts of the devil.
• 3. God’s power guards the believer. No enemy can touch the man “in
Christ” or take him out of God’s hand.
• 4. Of his own free will the believers received Eternal Security. Of his
own free will he remains secure, kept by Christ through faith. The
believer’s responsibility is to ABIDE in his security. “If any man abide
not in me, “Christ said, “he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John
15:6).
LESSON EIGHT:
GOD’S CHOSEN
PEOPLE
 ROMANS 9, 10, 11

• Explanation of election
• Romans 9 p.91

• B. Explanation of Rejection
• Romans 10 p.95

• C. Explanation of Restoration
• Romans 11 p.97
Q1 THE POSITION OF THE JEWS IN
RELATION TO GOD’S PLAN OF
SALVATION.
• As God’s chosen people, the Jews did not consider themselves in need
of Salvation. The Jew was a “Predestinarian” in the sense that he
believed that his Salvation was fore-ordained of God. He considered
himself one of the ELECT, and was convinced that Salvation was
for the Jew alone.
• Q2 The Jew resented the thought than an uncircumcised Gentile could
be a child of God. He believed that, being a descendant of Abraham, he
was automatically entitled to all the blessings of God’s covenant with
Abraham – that justification and glorification were the exclusive right of
the Jew through natural birth. He believed that God was bound by His
covenant to save the Jew, and he believed, just as strongly, that God was
covenant-bound to exclude the Gentile.
Q1 THE POSITION OF THE JEWS IN
RELATION TO GOD’S PLAN OF
SALVATION.
• Q3 It was against the background of this
entrenched opinion that Paul wrote this glorious
exposition on the plan of Salvation as it relates to
the Jew, and with a logic inspired of the Spirit, he
put the Jew right back with the Gentile, making the
Salvation of both dependent upon “Faith” rather
than heredity or works.
A. EXPLANATION OF
ELECTION ...
CHAPTER 9
 “MY BRETHREN” .... VV. 1–3

• Q4 Paul begins by telling of his intense sorrow for

his kinsmen “according to the flesh.” He is willing
to forgo his personal salvation if, through so doing,
they might be saved – a clear indication that he
considered them eternally lost apart from the faith
he was propounding.
Q5 “TO WHOM PERTAINETH ... (VV.
4, 5)

He next lists the advantages that the Jew enjoyed,

showing their privileged position:
• To whom pertaineth the adoption, glory, covenants,
law and service and the promises.
• Whose are the Fathers, namely, Abraham, Isaac &
Jacob.
• Of whom, concerning the flesh, Christ came.
 “NOT AS THOUGH ... (V. 6)

• Paul is not writing to explain that the promises are

void, but to clarify a misunderstanding concerning
them. The Jews thought that ALL Jews were the
ELECT. Paul corrects this misconception and
shows that ALL BELIEVERS are the ELECT.
 Q6, 8 “THEY ARE NOT OF
ISRAEL....(V. 6)
• Paul makes what to the Jew was a startling statement. “For they
are not all Israel which are of Israel.” In other words, “They are
not all God’s chosen people who are Jews!” Spiritual Israel is one
thing; Physical Israel is another! This means that the Jews’ way
of calculating the benefactors of covenant and promise was
wrong. Their argument was based upon a fleshly relationship to
Abraham. Paul is telling them, “You have it all wrong. You are
building upon a false premise. The covenants and promises are
not to be the NATURAL seed of Abraham, but to his
SPIRITUAL seed, that is, to all who like him, believe!
“THEY ARE NOT ALL CHILDREN OF
ABRAHAM WHO ARE HIS SEED ..”
(V. 7)
• Abraham had seven sons besides Isaac, but neither they nor their
children were Jews. Isaac alone was counted. Ishmael was the
natural seed of Abraham, but he was not included in the covenant
and promise. Paul makes it clear that the Jews could not base
their claim to “election” upon their fleshly relationships to
Abraham. “The children of the flesh are not the children of
God; but the children of the promise are counted for seed.” It is
important to grasp the full import of this statement in verse 8, for
on it hinges the understanding of the whole explanation in
chapters 9–11, and particularly the correct interpretation of
verse 11.
 “THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH
ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD”
(V. 8)
• How contrary to the Jew’s thinking! How contrary
to popular teaching that the Jews, as a nation, are
God’s chosen people. Paul here flatly states that
they are not, and goes on to say that the children of
the Promise are counted for seed.
 “THE PURPOSE OF GOD
ACCORDING TO ELECTION” (V. 11)

• This is a key phrase. What does it mean? First, let

us consider what is meant by “the Purpose of God,”
and second, let us understand what is meant by
Election.”
 1. THE PURPOSE OF GOD ...

• In Romans 8:29, Paul stated God’s Purpose: “Whom

He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be
the first-born among many brethren.” God Purposes to
have a “family” of sons, all of whom look and act like
Jesus. God’s whole plan boils down to just that! But
what a purpose! What a task! The “why” of creation, of
man, of redemption, of struggle and of hope, is
bound up in that declaration of God’s purpose.
 2. ELECTION ...

• Two concepts put forward by man as a basis of

election have now been eliminated by Paul’s
argument:
• Election based on the “flesh” (v. 8);
• Election based on “works” (v. 11).
 Q7 “JACOB HAVE I LOVED, BUT
ESAU HAVE I HATED.”

• God PEFERS those who believe.

• God REJECTS whose who do not.
• In His foreknowledge God knew which of the
twins would believe, and he “preferred” him, as He
prefers any man who “believes.”
• GOD STANDS APART FROM TIME. The future
is as clear to Him as the past.
 Q9 SOME OF THE ELECT WILL BE
GENTILES AND SOME WILL BE
JEWS.
• And how wonderful that the Gentiles as well as the
Jews can benefit from this Plan! God is not a
respecter of persons. He will that all should come
to repentance! He has prepared a WAY, a
predestined WAY, and all who believe at the Elect,
no matter what their race or record!
• The Elect are those who BELIEVE on Christ, be
they Jew or Gentile!
EXPLANATION ON
REJECTION
 ROMANS CHAPTER TEN

• Q10, 11 Let us remember that “Salvation” is the theme

of the book of Romans, and that in chapters 9–11, Paul
is dealing with the salvation of the Jews in particular.
In Chapter 9 Paul has shocked the Jews with the news
that neither race nor works are grounds for Election,
and that God, in His sovereign Purpose, has decreed
that “whosoever believeth on Christ shall be saved”
whether Jew or Gentile. Further, he has intimated that
comparatively few Jews will accept the Lord.
 Q 12, 13 THE JEWS ZEAL IS NOT
ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE

• their concept of what constitutes righteousness is

not at all the same as what God accepts as
righteousness – and that by insisting on their own
concept of righteousness, they have rejected the
righteousness of God. He then states what the
righteousness of God is. It is Christ. To accept
Christ is to accept God’s righteousness. To reject
Christ is to reject God’s righteousness! (Vv. 1–4).
Q14 THE JEWS’ RIGHTEOUSNESS
WAS BASED UPON OBEDIENCE TO
THE LAW.
• Paul reminds the Jews of the demands of the Law
as stated by Moses. The Law required compete and
absolute fulfillment. To break one law was to break
them all. Since no one fulfilled all the Law, no
one could live by the Law. Only those who “do
those things” shall live by them, and since no one
did them, the Law, as a means of salvation, failed
(v. 5).
 Q15, 16 THE “RIGHTEOUSNESS
WHICH IS OF FAITH”

• shows how it accomplishes what the “righteousness

of the Law” failed to do. No longer was there a
need to bridge the gap between man and God.
Christ had stepped in between, not far removed in a
remote Heaven, inaccessible and unconcerned, but
the Word was made flesh, was now near by Faith.
 Q17 THE PURPOSE OF GOD
ACCORDING TO ELECTION
• “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed” (v. 11). Paul
reminds the Jews that they are no longer a “special” people when
it comes to the Plan of Salvation, saying, “for there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord
over all is rich unto all that call upon Him (v. 12).
• Q 18 That’s the secret! ALL THAT CALL! How wonderful!
How just! How merciful! God makes no difference. He has no
respect of persons. He elects to save ALL WHO CALLS! They
are His chosen people. They are the Israel of God. “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
 Q19 PAUL NOW TURNS HIS
ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM ASKED
IN 4 QUESTIONS:
1. How shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed?
2. How shall they believed in Him of whom they
have not heard?
3. How shall they hear without a preacher?
4. How shall they preach except they be sent?
 THE WORD PREACHED –THE
WORD HEARD – THE WORD
BELIEVED.
• The preacher’s job is to preach the Word in the
hearing of men. God will do the rest, for “faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God.” Even so, all who hear will not believe. The
onus is then no longer on the Preacher, but on the
individual who will give an account of himself to
God.
C. EXPLANATION OF
RESTORATION
 ROMANS CHAPTER ELEVEN

• Q20 It has been a rude awakening to the Jews to realize that the
Gentile is included in God’s plan of “whosoever will.” All they
had been taught by their leaders has been proven a false hope. It
is apparent that they never understood what their own prophets
had predicted, and it now seems as though the Gentiles are to
reap all the benefits of the covenants and promises. Paul foresees
their feeling, and hastens to show them that all is not lost – that
the same door that is open to the Gentiles is open to them. “Hath
God cast away his people?” Paul answers: “God forbid!” He then
uses himself as an example. He, like them, is a Jew, and yet he is
saved! (vv. 1, 2).
 Q21 GOD WILL NOT CAST AWAY
THOSE THAT HE “FOREKNEW,”

• He reminds them of Elijah, who thought he was alone,

only to be told that there were many more beside
himself who had not bowed knee to Baal. Then Paul
states that at that very time there was a “remnant
according to the election of grace.” Note that he now
refers to God’s election as “the election of grace” (v.5),
and in v.6 he shows that this election is based upon the
grace of God apart from works.
 Q22 GOD’S CONTINUING LOVE
FOR THE JEWS.

• Have they stumbled that they should fall? Are they

beyond hope of salvation? Have they forfeited
their right to be included in God’s mercy? Paul
answers, “God forbid!” Because of the Jews’
unbelief, the Gospel has been preached to the
Gentiles. If their unbelief has caused the heathen to
be blessed, how much greater then the blessing will
be when the Jews believe!
 Q23 THE “NATURAL” BRANCH,
THE JEW, WAS BROKEN OFF THE
OLIVE TREE (CHRIST).
• A branch of the “wild” olive tree, the Gentile, was grafted
into the olive tree (Christ). As the Jew could be a “branch”
and then be cut off because of unbelief, so a Gentile, grafted
“into Christ,” can be cut off by rejecting his faith! The
believer is not “once saved, always saved.” He is secure so
long as he keeps his active faith. Notice verse 22:
• “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on
them that fell, severity; but unto thee, goodness, if thou
continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut
off.”
 Q24 AS THE BELIEVER IS SAVED
BY FAITH, SO HE IS KEPT BY
FAITH.
• “Thou standest by faith!” Take away faith, and there is
no STANDING.
• Hope is now held out to the Jew in verse 23: “They
also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted
in; for God is able to graft them in again.” Praise God
for these reassuring words! They are a ray of hope, not
only for the Jew, but also for those who, like them,
have turned away from God in unbelief.
 Q25 “THAT BLINDNESS IN PART IS
HAPPENED TO ISRAEL, UNTIL THE
FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES TO COME
IN.”
• This mystery indicates that the Jews’ blindness will one
day end – the ending to coincide with the “fullness of
the Gentiles.” Can we not take hope from this that the
day will soon come when the veil will be lifted from
Jewish eyes and many will recognize Him as their
Savior? And the “fullness of the Gentiles” – does this
not relate to the preaching of the Gospel in all the
world, at which time the end will come? (Mat. 24:14).
Q26 “ALL ISRAEL MUST BE SAVED

• God is obliged to save all of Israel!” it is as though

Paul uses their own words in reply, saying, “And so it
shall be: all Israel SHALL be saved; but not the Israel
you have in mind! It is the Israel that God has
recognized as His from the beginning; the Israel that is
the true seed of Abraham, not of the flesh, but
according to the Promise; the Israel that believes; the
Israel that by Faith stands redeemed in Christ; the
whosoever will; the spiritual Israel of God.”
 Q27 “GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF
GOD.”
• Keep this in context! He is not going to change or repent
of His purpose according to the election of grace whereby
whoever believes on Him will not be ashamed.
• Both Gentiles and Jews (vv. 30, 31) have been guilty of
unbelief, and now have obtained mercy. For the Plan of God
is a leveller of all people. In His wisdom, “God hath
concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy
upon all.” This is the story of Romans concerning Salvation,
both for the Jew and for the Greek (Gentiles), for the bond
for the free!
LESSON NINE:
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
DEMONSTRATED
 ROMANS 12, 13, 14

• Toward Others
• Romans 12 p.101

• Toward Authority
• Romans 13 p.104

• Toward the Weak

• Romans 14 p.107
Q1 HOW THE PLAN OF SALVATION
WORKS IN PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE.
• The Gospel is not only the power of God unto
Salvation, but is also provides power for daily
living. The believer is not only saved by faith, but
is also enabled by faith to become in PRACTICE
what he is credited with being in POSITION.
A. DEMOSNTRATED
TOWARD OTHER—
ROM. 12
1. THE BELIEVER’S
MIND …
ROMANS 12:1-2
Q2 “PRESENT YOUR
BODIES
(V. 1)
 Q3 THE WORD “PRESENT” IS AN
ACTIVE VERB, INDICATING
SOMETHING THE BELIEVER CAN DO.
• You see, you can’t make yourself holy. You can’t be
Christ-like of your own power or will. The only thing
you can do is to PRESENT yourself to God. The, it is
God who does the work. His Spirit enables you to
overcome. It’s somewhat like getting a sun tan. You
can do nothing to tan yourself other than to PRESENT
yourself to the sun. However, having presented
yourself, the sun will do the rest!
 “BE NOT
CONFORMED…”
(V. 2)
 “BE YE TRANSFORMED…” (V. 2).

• Q5 Once again we have a passive verb. “Being transformed” is

something that happens to us without our TRYING. We merely
“present” ourselves to the right things, and “Christ likeness”
happens to us. As we present ourselves to God’s Word, to God’s
house, to God’s people, and most of all to God Himself, we are
transformed by the renewing of our minds. We begin to think
right, to love the right things. This is a great secret and an
important lesson. Many Christians try and try. They struggle to
be good, to overcome sin, to resist temptation, to Christlike;
AND THEY FAIL, because they are trying to do it by their own
strength and will.
 “THAT YE MAY PROVE…” (V. 2)

• Q6, 7 By presenting ourselves we “prove something.

We prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of
God. And what is the WILL of God? We’ve said it
many times, but we’ll say it again. The WILL OF
GOD is that every believer be like Christ. So, the
secret of “proving” the will of God to an unbelieving
world is to present ourselves to God so that our
MINDS will be transformed, and we can “declare His
righteousness” by demonstration!
THE BELIEVER’S
MINISTRY …
ROMANS 12:3-8
“THINK SOBERLY…”
V. 3
 Q9 “MANY MEMBERS IN ONE
BODY…” (V. 4)

• Believers are likened to a body of which Christ is

the Head. The lesson Paul wants to teach is the
interdependence of believers and the variety of
ministries in the body. I Cor. 12 should be studied
and compared with Romans 12:3-8. Note the
following:
• *One body; *Many members; *Many
ministries.
 ONE BODY…
• the body of Christ is a spiritual body. The unity of believers
is a spiritual unity, brought about by the common FAITH of
believers in Christ as Savior. The unifying element is
FAITH and the binding element is LOVE. Some have
sought to bring about “oneness” of the body by organizing
all believers into one “church.” In their zeal, they have
thrown overboard standards of Christian conduct and
doctrine in an effort to bring about unity.
• The true Church, or body of Christ is one, but its unity is
achieved by the fact that every member of it recognizes the
Lordship of Christ.
 MANY MEMBERS…

• The body has many members but is one integrated entity. To

make this possible, it is necessary that each member recognize
his relationship to, and dependence upon other members. No
member is independent of his fellows. This means that believers,
big and small, white and black, rich and poor, wise and unwise,
famous or ordinary, are equally important in the body of Christ.
The “eye” cannot say to the “hand”: I have no need of you.”
Neither should the “ear” say, because I am not the eye, I am not
of the body.” In other words, there is no room for superiority”: in
the body neither is there room for “inferiority.” Everyone is
important…regardless of his ministry.
 Q10 MANY MINISTRIES…

• Paul lists different ministries, and he reminds us that

these are not of our own making, but rather are “gifts”
that differ according to the grace that is given unto us
we have nothing but that which we have received,
therefore, we should be humble, and “think soberly
according as God has dealt to everyman that measure
of faith.” Paul lists the following:
• Prophecy Ministry Teaching Exhortation
Giving RulingMercy
 3. BELIEVER’S MANNER …
ROMANS 12:9-21
• The believer is to declare, by his actions, the righteousness
of God, He is to practice what he preaches. This portion it
spells out, in practical daily living, what it means to be a
Christian. It is a manner of life that can only be achieved
by presenting ourselves to God, by constant exposure to the
Son of God until we are transformed in our minds and our
thought patterns are established. Then it is that we will
PROVE the good and acceptable and perfect will of God!
Q11 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
IS DECLARED BY
• the believers’ love for that which is good (v. 9),
• by their love for one another (v. 10),
• by the diligence and service to God (v. 11),
• by their hope and patience (v. 12),
• by their generosity and hospitality (v. 13),
• by forgiveness to their enemies (v. 16),
• by returning good for evil (v. 17), and
• by living at peace with all men (v. 18).
 AN INVINCIBLE STRATEGY.

• Q12 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but

rather give place unto wrath; for it is written,
vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt
heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome
of evil, but overcome evil with good!” Romans
12:19-21.
 B. DEMONSTRATED
TOWARD AUTHORITY
ROM. 13.
1. OUR DEBT TO
AUTHORITY
OBEDIENCE
ROMANS 13:1-7
Q13 “LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT
… (V 1)
• Q14 In a day of defiance of civil authority, this verse needs
emphasizing. No government or ruler wields power except
God allows it. Therefore, it can be said that the powers that
be are “ordained of God.” The policeman and the soldier, as
well as the head of state, should have the respect and
obedience of every Christian. This should not be difficult,
for the believer has already given up his “rights” for the
sake of Christ. It is the self-centered man that has trouble
with this verse.
 Q15 “WHOSOEVER THEREFORE
RESISTETH THE POWER…” (2)

• To break a civil law is to break God’s law; for civil

law is recognized by God and the believer is
expected to obey it. In a real sense, “what is bound
on earth, is bound in heaven,” even with civil
government. Consequently, those that resist
“receive to themselves damnation,” which is not
only censorship of the State, but punishment from
God!
 Q16 “RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR
TO GOOD WORKS…(V 3)
• The uniform of authority only strikes fear to the guilty. The man
with nothing to hide can look the officials straight to the eye.
What a peace the man with a clear conscience has! Pity the
believer that stoops to dishonesty and law-breaking! He will be
terrified by the “corps.”
• How can we avoid the nervousness we feel around authorities?
“Do good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Drive within
the speed limit. Pay full taxes. Report all you have to the
customs official. Be absolutely honest with your boss. Give a
full tithe. A guilty conscience is a high price to pay for a small
“gain” you win by deception.
 Q17 “HE IS A MINISTER OF GOD…
(V. 4)

• Notice that rulers are

• a.Minister of God for good…to them that do good.
• b.Ministers of God for wrath…to them that do evil.

• What rulers are in the MINDS of men depends

entirely upon what men are themselves. The man
who does good will pray for his rulers. The law-
breaker will not. Do you pray for authorities?
 “FOR CONSCIENCE’ SAKE…(V. 5)

• Q18 The Christian should obey the law, not just

because he is afraid of being punished, but
because his conscience tells him that it is the right
thing to do.
 “PAY TRIBUTE…(V. 6)

• Those who work in the government are God’s

workman. As we pay our TITHE to the church, so
we should pay our taxes to the State. We should do
it willingly and cheerfully, for both are God’s
work, and their appointed deputies, God’s
ministries.
 Q19 TO ALL THEIR DUES…(V. 7)

• a. Tribute… pay your taxes

• b. Customs… pay your import duties
• c. Fear… respect authorities over you
• d. Honor… honor your leaders
 THE CHURCH V. THE NATION

• Establish by God Establish by God

• Governed by Christ Governed by Head of State
• Authorities are ministers Authorities are politicians
• Controlled by love Controlled by law
• Members are believers Members are citizens
• Financed by tithes Financed by taxes
 Q20 DIVINE LAW MUST TAKE
PRECEDENCE OVER CIVIL LAW.
• We must obey God, rather than man. However, the disciples
submitted themselves to the penalty of their “disobedience” to the
State without resistance. This is the Christian position. There are
times when in obeying divine commands, the believe must disobey
the government of man.
• A Christian does not condone injustice and misery; “a changed man will
change his environment.” To say that he will not do so is to imply that
there is such a thing as “faith without works.” James declares that all
such Faith is dead, and has no saving value. The most humane society
must be the Christian society. When a Christian society fails to bring
healing and justice, it can no longer be called “Christian.”
2. OUR DEBT TO
SOCIETY…LOVE
ROMANS 13:8-14
“OWE NO MAN ANYTHING…” (V. 8)

• Borrowing is curse. Borrowing without intention

to pay back is stealing; it’s a sin! Nothing spoils
neighborliness like a debt. If you want to keep your
friends, don't borrow from them. The only debt a
believer should have is the love he owes his
neighbour. That debt he should pay daily!
 “HE THAT LOVETH ANOTHER
HATH FULFILLED THE LAW…” (V.
8).
• Q21 All the commandments are briefly comprehended in
this saying, namely, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself” (v. 9). “Love is the fulfilling of the law” (v. 10).
Men are great doers; and they use their “doing” to
substantiate their claims to acceptance in society. The Lord
is saying to us: “Doing doesn’t count unless loving
motivates it.”
• Conversely, “love worketh no ill to his neighbor” (v. 10),
which means that love is not an abstract sentiment, but a
concrete reality that takes active form in the treatment of
those around us.
 Q22 CHRIST IS SOON TO COME!

• Therefore,
• Let us cast off the works of darkness.
• Let us put on the armor of light.
• Let us walk honestly as in the day.
• Q23 Let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Let us make no provision for the flesh.
• By so doing, we will declare “God’s Righteousness” to
society.
 C. DEMONSTRATED TOWARD
THE WEAK —ROMANS 14
• Nine times in this chapter, Paul refers to “things.” He
mentions two of them by name; namely, (1) Meat and (2)
Days. There are many others, but the FOUR rules Paul lays
down in dealing with them apply to all THINGS that
become bones of contention in the local assembly.
• Q24 The four rules will now be considered:
• 1. A rule for an Assemblies of Believers
• 2. A rule for contentious Believers
• 3. A rule for individual Believers
• 4. A rule for strong Believers
1. A RULE FOR AN
ASSEMBLY OF
BELIEVERS
ROM. 14:1, 2
THE RULE: “HIM THAT IS WEAK IN
THE FAITH, RECEIVE YE” (V. 1).
• Weak faith makes for weak walking. The tendency is to expel from
fellowship those who do not “measure up” up to the standards of the
group. The church is not a “strong Believers Only” club, but it is a
fellowship of believers of every kind where the strong assist the weak to
overcome and to triumph.

• Q25 Membership should be meaningful, and confined to those who are

an example of the believer.
• However, the doors of the assembly should be open to all; the weak as
wells as the strong.
• The weak in faith should be received, but NOT to doubtful disputations.
 2. RULE FOR
CONTENTIOUS
BELIEVERS
ROMANS 14:3, 4
Q26 THE RULE: “LET NOT THE STRONG
DESPISE THE WEAK, AND LET NOT THE
WEAK JUDGE THE STRONG.”
• Every assembly will have its “standard for the believer” and it is
right; however, when the rule-book is written, there will always
be a vast “marginal area” between right and wrong that is
undefined. Things are too numerous to be listed in the standard.
There will be many “things” too, about which no rule can be laid
down. It is in the area of undefined “things” that Paul’s rule is
applicable. Paul is not talking about lying, murder, fornication,
stealing, etc. the Word of God is very clear in its denunciation of
these sins, and the “standard” should cover them. But things like
“meat” and days” and a myriad others, are the things that make
for strife in the assembly unless Paul’s rule is heeded.
 Q27 A THING IS EVIL WHEN:

a) It causes one to sin.

b) It causes our brother to stumble.
c) It defiles the Temple of God.
When the above “rule of thumb” is applied to the question of
“days” we reach the following conclusion:
• a. When we worship is not important, but what we worship is
• b.When we worship is not important, but how we worship is.
• c. When we worship is not important, but why we worship is.
3. RULE FOR
INDIVIDUAL
BELIEVERS
ROMANS 14:5-12.
 Q29 THE RULE: “LET EVERY MAN
BE FULLY PERSUADED IN HIS OWN
MIND” (V. 5)
• Paul again uses the matter of “days” and “meats” to
illustrate this rule. “When” a believer worships
isn’t as important as “what, how, and why” he
worships. If Christ is central in all the believer
does, that is really what matters.
 Q30 HE MUST CONSIDER THAT
“WE ARE THE LORD’S” (V. 9)

• The believer is not free to do as he pleases. NO

man is his own master. No one lives to himself,
and no one dies to himself. Christ is Lord both of
the dead and of the living. Therefore, our decision
must be that which pleases Him rather than which
pleases ourselves.
 B. HE MUST CONSIDER THAT
“WE SHALL ALL BE JUDGED” (VV.
10-12)
• No one will escape judgment. The brother whose
activities offend will meet his Maker. Furthermore,
it is ourselves we will answer for, not our brother.
So, when we are deciding what THINGS we can
allow, it will be well to remember that “every one
of us shall give an account of himself to God.”
“Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the
thing which he alloweth.”
 4. A RULE FOR
STRONG BELIEVERS
ROM. 14:13-21
 THE TRUE: “LET NO MAN PUT AN
OCCASION TO FALL IN HIS
BROTHER’S WAY…” (V. 13).
• Paul states that nothing is unclean of itself. This is true.
Things are, for the most part, inanimate. They have no
moral qualities. They cannot, of themselves be said to be
good or bad. It is MEN who are unclean, whose thoughts
and actions are good or bad. Man is a moral agent, and can
therefore be called sinful or righteous. Not so with things.
• Q31 Let us therefore follow after the things that:
• Make for peace
• Edify one another.
 Q33 “HAST THOU FAITH?” (V. 22).
• In other words, Are you one of the strong ones? Could
you eat meat and drink wine with a clear conscience?
You could? Then keep it to yourself before God! Don’t
bring condemnation on yourself by insisting on eating
and drinking, and thereby cause your brother to
stumble.
• Finally Paul says, “Are you in doubt?” then by all
means don’t touch meat and drink. You will condemn
yourself if you do, because you have eaten with a
guilty conscience! You have not eaten in faith, and
whatsoever is not of faith, is sin!
LESSON TEN:
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXEMPLIFIED
 ROMANS 15, 16

• BY CHRIST AND BY PAUL

• Romans 15 112

• BY THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE BELIEVERS

• Romans 16
A. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXEMPLIFIED BY CHRIST
AND BY PAUL
ROMANS 15
THE EXAMPLE OF
CHRIST
ROMANS 15:1-13
 Q1 “NOT TO PLEASE
OURSELVES…” (1, 2)

• Paul continues to talk about the strong and the

weak in the Church. He exhorts the “strong” not
merely to put up with the “weak” but to “bear their
infirmities.” The “strong” are not condescendingly
to tolerate the “weak”, but are to be concerned
about them and help them.
 Q2 “CHRIST PLEASED NOT
HIMSELF.”

• The Lord, who emptied Himself of glory that the

fullness of glory might come to man, is our Great
Example (Phil. 2:5-8).
 “WRITTEN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE
HOPE…(V. 4)

• How fortunate is the Christian, who has the

example of men of faith who have lived before, and
from whose record in Scripture be can take hope.
 Q3 “ONE MOUTH…”(VV. 5, 6)

• Here is a strange proposition. Paul suggests that the “strong” and

the “weak” who disagree concerning THINGS, would speak with
“one mouth” and be “like-minded!” Yet he has shown that every
man must be persuaded in his own mind, and that there is room
for differences of opinion in the church concerning THINGS. Is
Paul contradicting himself? No! What he is saying is that, while
believers may not be like-minded or in total agreement
concerning things, they can and should be in agreement in this:
that none should please himself but rather his neighbor for this
good to edification (v. 2). With the one mind of self-denial,
brethren can with one mouth glorify God!
 “AS CHRIST
RECEIVED US…”
(V. 7)
“AS CHRIST RECEIVED US…” (V. 7)

• Christ did not demand that we all agree on “meats”

and “days” BEFORE He would save us, and we
should receive our brother as Christ us! Paul now
summarizes all he has said in the previous chapters.
Since the church in Rome was made up of both
Jews and Gentiles, he shoes that both were
included in the plan and promises of God.
 Q4 “CHRIST WAS A MINISTER…TO
CONFIRM THE PROMISE… (V. 8)
• All of God’s promises to the Jews found their fulfillment in Christ. Christ is the
“end of the promise” for both Jew and Gentile (Rom. 4:16). The promises of
God to the Jews also included the Gentiles, as is evident in reading the
prophecies of David and Isaiah.
• For the Jew…the truth of God was confirmed in Christ’s coming.
• For the Gentile… the mercy of God was conferred in His coming.
• Paul concludes the message of his letter to the Romans in verse 13 with a prayer
of benediction.

• Q5 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye
may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
2. THE EXAMPLE OF
PAUL
ROMANS 15:14-33
 I HAVE WRITTEN…(VV. 14-16)

• Q6 Paul explains why he wrote this letter. Not

that they did not know these things (v. 4), but to
remind them of what they knew: that the Gentiles,
who were Paul’s special charge, might worship
God acceptably.
 “ANOTHER MAN’S
FOUNDATION…” (VV. 17-21)

• Paul would testify only of those things that God

had wrought through his own ministry. Paul would
preach only in those places where Christ was not
named!
 Q7 “HAVING NO MORE PLACE…”
(VV. 22-24)

• The unreached places had been many, and his reaching

them had hindered his coming to Rome, but how he
had covered the area and there was “no more place,” so
he was free to come. What an example Paul was of a
missionary pioneer! Let those who want to pastor only
established congregations copy a page from Paul’s
book! Let them look to the regions beyond, where men
have never heard the name of Christ!
 Q8 “CERTAIN
CONTRIBUTION…(VV. 25-28)

• Q9 The Jews had brought to the Gentiles: Spiritual

things.
• The Gentiles were paying their debt in: Carnal
things.
 Q10 “STRIVE WITH ME IN YOUR
PRAYERS…” (VV. 29-33)
• Paul’s Prayer Request:
• a. That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Jerusalem.
• b. That my ministry may be accepted by the believers there.
• c. That I May come to you in Rome.

• Paul’s Prayer answered: (Not altogether as he has

expected)
• a. He was saved from a plot on his life by unbelievers in Jerusalem.
• b. He was well received by the believers in Jerusalem.
• c. He was made a prisoner and sent bound to Rome.
B. EXEMPLIFIED BY
THE FELLOWSHIP OF
BELIEVERS
ROMANS CHAPTER 16
Q11 “I COMMEND PHOEBE…” (VV.
1,2)

• It appears that Phoebe was the bearer of Paul’s

letter to Rome. Paul says, “Help Phoebe…because
Phoebe has helped many!” Though we are not
kind for pay, yet it pays to be kind!
 Q12 “THE CHURCH THAT IS IN
THEIR HOUSE…” (VV. 5-16)

• The church in a house! The church is not a building of

brick and mud. The “church” is the believers
themselves. We see here the nature of early church. It
was composed of small groups of believers who met in
homes. This is not necessarily the “model” for today,
but was rather the result of the persecution and poverty
of that day that made large gatherings and buildings
impossible.
 Q13 I GIVE THANKS…(V. 4)

• Thankfulness is a wonderful virtue. Paul

remembers the kindnesses people showed him and
he thanks them, a good thing to emulate!
 “GREET PHILOLOGUS…” (V. 15).

• Paul never says, “Greet what’s his name!” He

took the trouble to learn and remember names.
Every soul-winner should take a lesson from
this.
 Q14 A HOLY KISS…” (V. 16).

• Kissing was strictly a Jewish form of greeting, and

is equivalent to a worm handshake nowadays.
 Q15, 16 “THEM WHICH CAUSE
DIVISIONS…” (VV. 17-18)

• Mark them…that is, keep an eye on them.

• Avoid them…that is keep away from them because:
They serve not the Lord,
• Q17 b. They serve their own bellies,
• c. They deceive the hearts of the simple.
 “I WOULD HAVE YOU…” (V. 19)

• Q18 Wise…unto that which is good; and

Simple…concerning evil.
 Q19 “THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL
BRUISE SATAN…” (V. 20)

• Since the fall of man in Eden, Satan has been

causing divisions and strife; but the day will come,
and shortly, when the God of peace shall bruise
Satan under the believer’s feet, as was
promised in Eden! On that day, his power to take
peace from the earth will be finished!
Q20 “I, TERTIUS WHO WROTE THIS
EPISTLE…” (VV. 21-24)

• Paul spoke the words of the Epistle, and Tertius

wrote them down. Only the letters to the Galatians
did Paul write with his own hand.
 Q21 “FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF
FAITH…” (VV. 25-27)
• Paul closes his letter to the Romans with a benediction:
• To God…
• That hath power to establish you,
• According to my Gospel,
• Which was a mystery kept secret,
• But now is made manifest to all nations,
• For the obedience of FAITH.
• To God…
• The only wise,
• Be glory through Jesus Christ forever, Amen!
 Mark the underlined words.
They are the story of the book of romans.
It is:

MY GOSPEL…TO ALL NATIONS

FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF
FAITH…THROUGH JESUS
CHRIST!”