The Scriptures —Study 24 — Romans 14

Study 25 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 14

1.      ‘A Christian man is a most free Lord of all, subject to none’ (Luther). What do verses 1-12 teach about Christian liberty?   

2.      ‘A Christian is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all’ (Luther). For what reasons should Christian liberty be qualified? What are the most important things to be preserved at all cost, in the Christian community?

3.      If in doubt ourselves about the lawfulness of a thing, can we do it because we see other true Christian people doing it? If not, why not?

Notes

1.        Verse 1. Cf. NEB: ‘Accept him without attempting to settle doubtful points.’

2.        Verse 5.  There is no need to suppose that Paul was thinking of the weekly Sabbath here, but rather of Jewish holy days?  

3.        Verse 6.  There is an important principle here, akin to that of verse 23b. It is that if we can thank God in what we do, receiving it as His gift, it is right to do it; otherwise not.

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The Scriptures —Study 23 — Romans 13

Study 23 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 13

1.      What three main reasons does Paul give in verses 1-7 why it is right to submit to the civil power?  How will this submission express itself in practice?

2.      What single guiding principle should control the Christian’s life in society? See verse 8-10.

3.      Verses 11-14. Paul gave in 12:1 one powerful motive for living the life set forth in these chapters, namely, ‘the mercies of God’.  What further motive does he present here?  What will wearing the armour of light mean for you, both negatively and positively?

Note.  Verse 2. “ The state can rightly command obedience only within the limits of the purposes for which it has been divinely instituted—in particular the state not only may, but  must be resisted when it demands the allegiance due to God’s alone” 

                            

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The Scriptures —Study 22 — Romans 12

Study 22 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 12

In the second part of his letter now shows what quality of life should characterize those who believe in the gospel as set out in chapters 1-11. The close connection between belief and conduct in emphasized by the significant word ‘therefore’ in 12:1.

1.      What should be the believers’ attitude (a) to God, and (b) to the world? What results should such a right attitude produce?  

2.      It has been suggested that the teaching of verse 3-8 might be summed up in the word ‘humility’ and that of verses 9-21 in the word of ‘love’.  How far is this true? At what points do I particularly come short of these standards?

Notes

1.        Verse 2. ‘Transformed’: the same Greek word is used three other times in the New Testament, in Mt. 17:2   and Mk. 9:2 (‘transfigured’); and in 2 Corinthian 3:18 (‘changed’).

2.      Verse 20. ‘Burning coals’: a figurative emblem of severe pain, here the pain of shame and contrition.  

         

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The Scriptures —Study 21 — Romans 11:25-36

Study 21 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 11:25-36

1.      What is God’s ultimate purpose for Israel, and how do the scriptures cited confirm that purpose?

2.      Consider the plan of God as revealed in chapters 9-11.  By what successive steps has God acted, and will He still act, to bring about the result stated in verse 32? Does the argument of these chapters lead you as naturally as it led Paul to the doxology of verses 33-36?

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The Scriptures —Study 20 — Romans 11:11-24

Study 20 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 11:11-24

1.       If a man trips and stumbles, he may either rise again or fall and perish.  What reasons does Paul give here for his confidence that Israel’s rejection is not final?

2.      Against what spirit does he warn Gentile believers? What lessons ought we to learn for ourselves from God’s dealings with Israel?

3.      How does this passage encourage the vigorous prosecution of Christian mission to the Jews?    

Note.  Verse 16. Cf. Nu. 15: 17-21. As the offering of the first-fruits was regarded as consecrating the whole harvest, so in the choice of the patriarchs the whole nation became set apart for God.  Cd. Verse 28. 

     

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The Scriptures —Study 19 — Romans 11:1-10

Study 19 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 11:1-10

1.    What three reasons are given in this passage to show that God has not cast Israel wholly away?  

2.      How have the remnant who have been saved come into that blessedness, and how have the others failed to obtain salvation?  What has been God’s part in the result, and what man’s?

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The Scriptures —Study 18 — Romans 9:30-10:21

Study 18 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 9:30-10:21

1.      What are the two ways of seeking acceptance with God which are here contrasted? How are they shown to be mutually exclusive? See 9:30-10:9. What was the cause of Israel’s failure?

2.      Righteousness by faith (10:8-15).  What does the apostle say regarding (a) its simplicity; (b) its universal application; and (c) the necessity of proclaiming it?

3.      What light does 10:14-21 throw upon man’s responsibility (a) in proclaiming the gospel; (b) in hearing it?

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The Scriptures —Study 17 — Romans 9:14-29

Study 17 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 9:14-29

1.      How does Paul show that in His election of men God retains absolute liberty of action (a) without compromising His own righteousness, and (b) without giving man any just ground for complaint? See verses 14-22.  At the same time, observe how Paul lays emphasis upon God’s mercy.   See verse 15, 16, 23-26.

2.      What is the purpose of God’s election, and how do the scriptures which Paul quotes illuminate that purpose? How does this truth concern me?   

                                    

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The Scriptures —Study 16— Romans 9:1-13

Study 16 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 9:1-13

In chapters 9-11 Paul deals with the great problem of the rejection of their Messiah by the bulk of the Jewish nation, and God’s consequent rejection of them. Two questions arise: (a) ‘Has God broken His promises? And (b) if not, how are they to be fulfilled?’ Paul answers the first question in chapters 9 and 10, and the second in chapter 11.

     1.      Chapter 8 is full of triumphant joy. How, then, can Paul speak of having great sorrow and unceasing pain in his heart? See especially 9:3. What made him sorrowful?  How much of this Christian Joy and how much of this Christian sorrow do we ourselves know?

2.      Verses 9-13. The question with which Paul is here dealing is: ‘If God reject those Jews who reject Jesus as Messiah, has not His word come to nought? For were not the promises (verse 4) made to the Jews?  How does Paul answer this question? And what two principles of God’s election does he find in the Old Testament stories of the births of (a) Isaac and (b) Jacob and Esau? 

                                              

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The Scriptures —Study 15 — Romans 8:18-39

Study 15 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 8:18-39

1.      What threefold ground of confidence does Paul give in verses 18-27 that the present time of suffering will issue in glory? See verses 18-22, 23-25 and 26, 27, nothing the words, ‘groan’, or ‘sighs.’  Cf. Ex. 2:23-25; Rom. 5:3-5.

2.      In verses 28-39 how many distinct reasons does Paul give for the Christian to rejoice, though everything in this world should seem against him?

Note. Verse 28. Cf. NEB: ‘In everything, as we know, he (the spirit, verse 27) co-operates for good with those who love God.’ Cf. 1 Cor. 2:9

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