Rom. 10:16-17 - Faith by Hearing

16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 

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If Only ...

V. 16 - “They did not all heed the good news” - Whoo! What a massive understatement! Jesus predicted that some would not believe even if the dead were to be resurrected. (See: Luke 16:31, see entire story 16:19-31.) If you read through the books Isaiah and Jeremiah, you will see some common themes similar to: “If only you had listened.” Or, “You did not listen.” Or the people saying, “We do not believe you.” (That was directly to God! How’s that for ultimate arrogance and foolishness?)

Some of the saddest words in the Bible are, “If only...”

"LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" - Quote from Isa. 53:1., in which God tells of the coming of the Messiah. This is a lament that although the Savior comes, few will turn to hear and understand.  

V. 17 - “faith comes from hearing,” - Not the physical phenomena of sound waves vibrating the eardrums, but the comprehension and understanding the message delivered. Christ delivered the message, “He who ears, let him hear.” (See: Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 16, 43; Mk. 4:9, 23; Luk.8:8; 14:35) An oft-heard statement from the Lord in the OT, “Listen to my commands!”, with the implication the people would take the commands given, accept them and put them into action. In other words listening involves obedience to God’s commands. 

Faith is placing my life in God’s hands, believing He loves me and has done what is necessary to save me from hell (eternal separation from God).

“hearing by the word of Christ.” - The margin note in my NASB indicates this phrase can be read ‘hearing the word concerning Christ”. All day, every day, we hear lots of words (the 24 hour news cycles, Twitter feeds, internet news, etc.). None of them will lead us to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

This is the cusp, the pivot point - “Who is Jesus Christ?” The answer is absolutely critical. One of the significant responses to this question is “Come and see.” (John 1:46)

“Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?” The church of Jesus Christ is founded on this question.

The answer is binary: Accept Jesus as Savior, and you are in His family, the church.
Reject Jesus as Savior - you are not part of His own people.

Rom. 10:14-15 - Hear & Believe

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

How Does This Happen?

Paul’s great summary of basic evangelism: People can believe in Jesus if they hear about Him. Someone must make the effort to tell what they know about Jesus. We get to do that! The great commission is contained herein, reiterating what Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19) “Repentance for forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations...” (Luke 24:47)

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V. 14-15 - “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” - How do I ask Jesus to save me if I have no idea who He is? How do I even know I need to be saved?

“How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” - How do I understand that He loves me and has wonderful plan for my life if I have never heard of Jesus? Earlier in this letter, Paul says that people can know of God’s glory simply by looking at the universe He has created. It may be difficult, however, to deduce that God personally has acted to save you as an individual. God wants to have a personal relationship and friendship with you. That is the message that must be said and heard.

“how will they hear without a preacher?” - Someone has to do it. God asks us to come to Him and receive salvation and blessings. He asks people to share and tell what He has done for them. Evangelism is not relegated to the professional clergy. Sharing God’s love is the mission of every believer. When you tell others of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, you become the ‘preacher’ noted here. People can accept Christ as Lord and Savior because they have heard and understood what you have said.

“How will they preach unless they are sent?” - “Go!”, Jesus said. Does this mean you need to book a flight to somewhere in equatorial Africa, or Nepal, or India? Maybe. I would guess that you will bump into far more people as you go through life here and now in the good old U.S.A., than if you head to a foreign land. Look around. We are in a “target rich environment” (See: John 4:35). Because you will contact so many people who need Jesus (they may not know or understand they need Him), you are ‘sent’. Live your life to glorify Christ and share Him with those you meet and know.

"HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" - Quoted from Isa. 52:7. - My wife would say, “Not Gary’s feet!” However, the person who shares the gospel has done a beautiful thing, when another hears and believes. Do you thank God for the Sunday School teacher, or Mom, or Dad, or friend who shared and explained how you could be God’s own child? Aren’t you grateful for that person? That person shared, and you began to listen to the call of the Holy Spirit. That person introduced me to Jesus! 

I am so thankful to Bill Bright and Howard Ball, and to Campus Crusade for Christ. I am so thankful to my wife who talked my into going to Explo’72 in Dallas, Texas. There I truly listened to and heard the Gospel; committing my life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus though Bill Bright and Howard Ball broke into my mind and heart. I learned of the forgiveness and the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit. The beauty of Christ came through to me at that conference. The only person more beautiful is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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Romans 10:8-13 - Believe & Confess

8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

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Salvation Is Not Far From Us!

V. 8 - “But what does it say?” - What does ‘righteousness based on faith’ say?

It says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 ) Also, “so that they [humans] would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
It says: "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART" - This is quoted from Deut. 30:14, where Moses is telling the Jews the information they already have what is needed for salvation.

“the word of faith which we are preaching” - Paul is leading us to salvation by faith, not by works. He does not say, “If you go on this mission, you will be saved.” He does not say, “If you complete these tasks, God will be pleased and you will be saved.”

V. 9-10 - “Confess... Believe”, and “Believe... Confess” - Paul uses repetition to enforce the point in these two verses. Our faith in Christ will lead us to say out loud that Jesus is God. Calling Jesus a good teacher, and stopping there, is totally inadequate, only acknowledging He existed in history.

Our faith in Christ as Lord leads us to know He has defeated death by His resurrection.
Christ sacrificed Himself for our sins.
He died because of our sins.
That death was not futile or wasted.
How do we know this? Because of the resurrection!

Because all sin was covered by His sacrifice, He is risen to the highest honor in the universe - King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. All things have been put under His authority.

When we believe in our heart - the mind, the emotions, and the will all agree - we are as Abraham. Our faith is reckoned to us as righteousness. Think of ‘reckoned’ as an accounting term - your faith has been written down in God’s accounting ledger. That ledger will never be erased, the evidence and record is always there.

Believing is more than mental acknowledgment. Believing leads to speaking - out loud to others, witness, as it were - that we believe Jesus is Lord God and is our savior. We confess the truth, the facts, as if in a court of law. We are staking our life and reputation on Jesus Christ. The belief in Jesus is personal between individuals and God. Your father or mother cannot do it for you. Your brother or sister or best friend cannot believe and confess for you. The confession is publicly laying claim to Jesus as our savior. Our word is our bond, stronger than a written contract.

V. 11 - “Whoever believes...” - Quoted from Isa. 28:16. God was telling the people of Israel they have been rebellious. Rebellious to the point they must taught like babies, with simple words. They have exchanged the refuge in God for a deal with the devil, hope exchanged for a lie. He is offering them the chance to cancel the deal with the devil - if they would hear His message and believe in His cornerstone, His foundation!

V. 12 - “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek” - Almost a parenthetical statement inserted between the two “whoever...” sentences in verses 11 and 13. Verse 12 emphasizes the point being made in verse 11, and verse 13 emphasizes that in 12.
Paul has been building the case: Gentiles are children of God by faith, just as Jews are children of God by faith. Neither Gentiles nor Jews come to salvation by works. “Greek” used here is not a reference to Grecian, but as a stand-in for Gentiles. (Although they all lived in a Roman controlled world, the Greek culture was predominant.)

“the same Lord is Lord of all” - There is not one God or Lord for the Jews, and another different God or Lord for the Gentiles. There is only One Lord God Almighty over all. He does not have one standard or requirement for salvation for the Jews and a different requirement for everyone else.

“abounding in riches for all who call on Him” - This is one those amazing statements! Can you comprehend:

Jesus gave His life to save you from the penalty of your sin, AND, all that is His is now also yours. Isn’t salvation enough? It is more than you deserve. But that is not all!

Wrap your mind around that! Your journey in Christian faith is not in economy: with a small seat and no legroom. It is not in steerage: in the bottom and back of the ship near the engine room. Your journey with Christ is First Class - you are His and he has been highly exalted.

V. 13 - "For Whoever will call on the name ..." Quoted from Joel 2:32, in which God is encouraging the Jews to return to Him. He will pour the Holy Spirit on those He is rescuing. He will deliver them; it will be awesome. All they need to do is call.

The sermon this Sunday was on Matt. 16:13-22: Which was a watershed moment in Jesus’ earthly ministry.
It asks the all-important question, “Who do you say Jesus is?”
The answer is (must be), “I believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

This is a most profound and powerful statement, a sharp dividing line that separates - those who confess are saved, from everyone else. Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32 NASB) We say out loud (i.e., confess) what we believe in our hearts and minds. When we are baptized, we affirm that Jesus is Lord. We acknowledge who He is - not just another messenger in a long line of messengers sent by God.

Jesus is the representation of God, Jesus is what God is like. What is God like? Jesus Christ. My Savior, the Son of God.

Note: It is possible to say things out loud and not mean or believe them. Listen to almost any modern day politician - it does not matter, Republican or Democrat - we KNOW they are lying to us. And thus we do not trust what they say, and sometimes cannot trust what they do.

Just saying the words, “I believe in Jesus,” if you do not believe in Jesus as Savior is meaningless and worthless.

 

Romans 10:5-7 - Law vs. Faith

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.
6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down),
7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."

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Who Will Go Into Heaven for Us? Who Will Go Into Hell for Us?

V. 5 - “righteousness which is based on law” - See: Lev. 18:5. A theme repeated in the Old Testament, as seen in Neh. 18:5; and Eze. 20:11, 13, 21. A man who keeps and obeys God’s statutes and judgements will live.

V. 6-7 - “righteousness based on faith speaks” - People who really do not know or understand God will say, “Where will we find God? Where will we find salvation?” Or, “We will go on a quest! We will search high and low for someone to save us. We will search the heavens! We will go to the depths of the sea!” The person of faith understands the salvation from God is not hidden, it is not a secret for only a select few.

“WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?” - Quote from: Deut. 30:11-15. “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’  And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity."
Jesus is not hiding in heaven, to be coaxed to come save us. We don’t need to go there to get His attention, to remind Him that He needs to save us. He’s there with the Father advocating for us. 

“WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?” - This is similar to a verse in Job 28:14. “The ocean depths say, ‘It’s not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘I don’t have it.’ ” Jesus is not held captive by a superior being in Hell, and needing one of us to set Him free.

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! He has defeated death. He has defeated the grave.

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Romans 10:1-4 - Sorrow for Jews

CHAPTER 10
10:1-4 - Sorrow for Jews
10:5-7 - Law vs. Faith
10:8-13 - Believe & Confess
10:14-15 - Hear & Believe
10:16-21 - Faith by Hearing
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1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

They did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God

Paul continues the train of thought begun in chapter 9 - remorse for His ‘people’ - the Jews. (See the introduction to Chapter 9, above.) Again, Paul expresses his desire that the Jews would come to Jesus as Lord and Savior. He notes the Jews have zeal, but it is misplaced. The Jews attempt to set up their own branch of righteousness based on works. Righteousness in God’s economy is based on faith: that is, believe and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Whoever believes will be saved. The distinction between Jew and Gentile is erased - when righteousness is based on faith it makes no matter what your assumed birthright might be. When the gospel is preached, people can hear it. When people hear the gospel, they can believe. When they believe, they are saved.

But perhaps the Jews never heard.
Yes. They heard.
Perhaps the Jews didn’t know? Yes. They knew.
God has been calling out to them from the beginning.

V. 1 - “heart's desire and my prayer.” - A continuation of the hope the Israelites would come to faith in Christ Jesus. Verses 9:32-33 points out the Jews pursued righteousness by works and not by faith. Therefore they tripped and fell over the very one who could save them. Despite the persecution by the Jews, Paul prays for their salvation.

V. 2 - “they have a zeal for God” - One of the best things that can be said for the religious leaders is that they were passionate about their beliefs.

“Not in accordance with knowledge.” - They operate in ignorance. Just because you fervently believe, it does not follow that the end result of your beliefs is correct, or will end well for you. For example when you correct someone’s spelling of a word, and their reply is, “That’s the way I spell it”, does not make their personal ‘spelling’ correct.
This is a harsh reality. Think of all the religions in the world. Whether they are pagan and worship animals or plants, or various and sundry gods or goddesses; whether they are spiritualist in nature or works; whether they are "woke" or not - if the 'religion' is not based on salvation in Christ alone, the end is death. Not just physical death - all humans face that - but spiritual death, separated from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for eternity.

V. 3 - “Not knowing about God's righteousness” - God’s righteousness is beyond our comprehension, being perfect and holy. Our righteousness is based on faith and belief in Him. (See: Rom. 4:3, 9; 5:1)
How could the Israelites not know?! How could they miss that God is righteous? It was said and taught from the very first encounter between God and the Jews. I am not picking on the Jews. It is human nature to place our trust in the things we do. It is hard to measure faith - to determine if my faith is sufficient to appease the Lord. Am I believing correctly? Am I praying correctly? Will God hear me when I pray? How will I know?  We can see what we do, measure the accuracy or correctness of what we do. The acts of worship become more important than the one we worship. This is the basis of a religion based on works. 

“Seeking to establish their own” - Defining your own rules for righteousness tries to declare this sacrifice or that offering makes you righteous and acceptable to God. However, baptism does not make you sinless. Taking communion does not guarantee salvation. Neither of these activities make you a Christian - that is, a child of God, a co-heir with Christ.

The human reasoning may fall along these lines:
You can see that you are doing something.
Therefore that doing is significant.
For, if the doing is not significant, why are you doing it?

“They did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” - I will place us in the same condition of rebelliousness as the Jews - we do not wish to do it God’s way. Gentiles are no different than the Jews in turning our backs on God’s salvation. Paul here is using the rebelliousness of the Jews to show how they have rejected Jesus as Messiah, and rejected God’s calling of them. Look back briefly at their history. See: Num. 14:22; Deut. 15:5; 2 Ki. 21:8; 2 Chr. 6:16; Isa. 48:18.
Jesus knew they were stubborn. (See: Luk. 16:29-31.) The stubborn Jews were the first of many who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for you and me, and was raised from the dead to show us He has defeated sin and death.
It is not the works we do, but the person we place our lives upon that saves us. (See: John 6:28-29.) Nothing else matters except Jesus Christ.

V. 4 - “For Christ is the end of the law” - A couple of translations (NLT and NIV) read that Jesus is the “fulfillment”, or the “culmination”, of the law. The law stops at Jesus. It is no longer necessary. There is no other sacrifice needed in order to come to God. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. No more lambs, no more bullocks, no more rams, no more blood needs be shed.

Some will ask, “What part of the law is null and void? The Ten Commandments? The ceremonial sacrifices and offerings? The inter-personal, community living rules and regulations? What remains?”
Jesus answered these questions. See: "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?And He said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’" (Matt. 22:36-40.)

There is no longer any efficacy in performing the ritual sacrifices and offerings. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and His resurrection fulfilled the requirements of the law and thereby obviated any need for such activities. The person who commits his life to Jesus, and lives in His power does not need to contemplate how to keep the 10 commandments.

Does this concept negate what Jesus said about the Law? "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.” (Matt. 5:17-18 (NET))
I don’t think so.

“for righteousness to everyone who believes” - Loving God and your neighbor will be a natural outgrowth of your faith in Jesus. We do not earn righteousness. We cannot. The Law showed that clearly. Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - God will confer upon you the righteousness of Jesus. Jesus will say, “This one is mine! This one has his name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” God does not want your lamb, or your ram, or your bullock, or your grain offering. God wants your life, your commitment to Him through Jesus Christ. Worrying about the law, and which piece still remains or still applies becomes a diversion.

 

(Rom. 10:1-4)

Rom. 9:30-33 - Gentiles Gained Righteousness

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;
31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
33 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

How Come the Gentiles Attain Righteousness?

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V. 30 - “What shall we say then?” - What does all this mean? What is meant by ‘not my people’ and then ‘my people’? (See: Rom 9:25-26) Paul here is saying, “Let me explain it to you.”

“Gentiles... attained righteousness... which is by faith” - This message was as true for Peter as it was for Paul. See Acts 11:15-18 “‘Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, as he used to say, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Therefore if God gave them the same gift as he also gave us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder God?’ When they heard this, they ceased their objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted the repentance that leads to life even to the Gentiles." Peter was reluctant to accept Gentiles as Christians, or part of God’s family, because… they were Gentiles. All his life, as well as back into history, the Gentiles were reviled and rejected by the Jews. You would think that Paul trained as a Jewish leader, a Pharisee, would have agreed completely with Peter. Yet, by God’s grace and His power, Paul realized, almost immediately Gentiles were Jesus’s people if they accepted and believed in Him. Paul had a special desire to save the chosen people, and started almost every mission in a new town in a synagogue. If anyone would understand and accept Jesus as Messiah it would be those people who had waited for a thousand years. Paul did not shun or reject Gentiles because he saw that Jesus meant salvation for all.  

Look at Paul’s and Barnabas’ message: “Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, ‘It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ' “have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ‘ When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed. So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region.” (See: Acts 13:46-49.)

Gentiles received salvation by faith, and immediately became God’s own people. Jesus indicate we are His, and no one and no thing can take us from Him. (See: 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 8:38-39) Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father's hand. The Father and I are one." (John 10:28-30)

V. 31 - “But Israel... did not arrive at that law.” - I too often jump straight to “salvation by works” when I hear “law”. However, James writes of “the perfect law of liberty” bringing peace and freedom in Christ. (See: Jam. 1:25) Jesus replied to the question about works -  that believing the one the Father sent, Jesus, is the only ‘works’ necessary. (John 6:28-29)

V. 32 - “Because they did not pursue it by faith,” - Why didn’t they accept Christ? Israel balked at accepting Jesus as Messiah, and were putting themselves in peril. Jesus warned them, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.” (Matt 21:43)  It goes even deeper. It appears that the Jews did not come to God in faith under the Law, but came to Him by rote. They did what they were told, but did not receive it into their hearts. Look at the number of times the Israelites, especially in the southern kingdom, that the king and priests were following God and the nation prospered. It only took one bad king - and not a long-reigning king at that - and the people fall into abominable practices. The actions were there, but not the faith.

V. 33 - "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,” - Quoted from Isa. 28:16. See also: Isa. 8:14; Zech. 10:4; Gen. 49:24 (a Messianic prophecy); Psa. 118:22; Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6-8 .

Jesus is both the cornerstone of His body, the church and, the stone non-believer stumble over.  I have read in a commentary (don’t remember the source) that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, but not the foundation. The foundation (per that writer) is the gospel taught by the apostles. Jesus being the starting point, the source and beginning of the church. Architectural designs for factories (or other large structures) always have a starting point (0,0 or zero-zero) which is usually a corner. Exterior walls, column lines, wall locations for rooms are referenced from  that point. The foundation is the good news of salvation  preached by apostles, that is, faith in Jesus Christ the starting point. We, the church, are built upon that salvation.

Please do not construe that I mean Christ is not our ALL-IN-ALL. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Christ is our only way to God, by faith in Him - the whole and complete support of our salvation. The apostles and the church today must build on that foundation to reach the world for Christ.

I am not quite sure of that line of thought (that faith in Jesus is a starting point with more for us to do to merit or received salvation), because Jesus is our all! “Salvation is found in no one else...” (Acts 4:12) He is more than a starting point (starting point for me implies there is more to be done after you make it past the starting point). He is the end as well as the beginning. He is the source of power. Without Christ there is no salvation. For me, that is far more than a starting point. The preaching of the gospel is how people learn about salvation through Jesus. The preaching is not the salvation. Learning about trusting in Him as Lord and Savior is not salvation, however necessary learning may be (it is necessary!). 

Trusting and believing in Jesus is salvation.

Jesus has the ‘last word’ for those who choose not to believe. Unfortunately (for the doubter, the atheist, the non-believer), God has given us the choice to accept or reject Jesus. People seldom reject the idea of living in a paradise, or reject being forgiven, or reject heaven, etc. They reject the idea they need Jesus. They reject that they can’t do it themselves; that they are dependent on some one (Jesus!) to pay for them. The scary part of this imagery regarding the stumbling stone is not that you might stub your spiritual foot on Him, and fall. How frightening to realize the person you reject will be the thing that crushes you. You reject Him; your name is not added to the Lamb’s Book of Life. That simple misstep on your part means rejection at the final judgement - in other words, eternity separated from God. You reject the stone, that stone crushes you. (Matt. 21:44)

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End of Chapter
Romans 9: 1-33

Rom. 9:22-29 - God’s Patience

22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?
23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
25 As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'"
26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD."
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;
28 FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY." 29 And just as Isaiah foretold, "UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH."

My People!

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In which Paul makes the case for Gentiles being God’s people, just as the Jews were God’s people. This paragraph is a continuation of the thought began in this chapter - God has chosen who will be saved by setting the conditions which must be met. God has chosen Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David. None of these people earned his way into God’s grace - He decided. He bestowed, by His mercy. Paul extends this line of reasoning to us.

V. 22 - “What if God...” - I want to think about this: Paul presents a case showing God’s patience and judgement in order to show that both Gentile nations and the Jews are a means to show His mercy to both Jews and Gentiles.

“although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known” - God is so patient with people who defy Him. He waits, and calls them to Him, encouraging them to return to Him.

• People decided they could be like God, until He destroyed the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:9). 
• Mankind refused to acknowledge God until He cleansed the world with the flood (Gen. 6:13ff). 
• Nineveh was godless and rebellious, until God sent a reluctant prophet and evangelist (Jonah). 
• Sodom and Gomorrah suffered destruction because there were no righteous people found there (Gen. 18:20ff). 
• God tolerated a defiant Pharaoh for a while, but demonstrated His power (Exo. 14:17-28).
• God was patient with the Israelites as they transversed the desert to the promised land. They rebelled at the border, and so wandered another 38 years until a new generation was willing to enter (Deut. 1:8-35). 
• Also there was the time of the Judges, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Assyrians, and Babylonians or Medes and Persians...

“endured with much patience” - Not once did God immediately destroy a nation, a people, or a person when they disobeyed or rebelled (OK. There was the incident with Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant. See: 1 Chr. 13:9) Look at the patience shown to Israel during the times of the Judges - 450 years of the cycle - rebellion, oppression, crying to God, a deliverer raised up, rest, repeat. God was patient with the Northern Kingdom, and then had them carted away by the Assyrians. God was patient with the Southern Kingdom, and the Babylonians were used to get their attention. A remnant returned to Jerusalem after 70 years in exile.

V. 23-24 - “Make known the riches of His glory” - It would have been so easy for God to wipe it all out, and start with a clean slate. Poof! It all disappears. Prang! A new universe. But that would not have been a demonstration of mercy, patience or forgiveness. There is no glory in destruction done in a fit of pique. There is no forgiveness there. God demonstrated mercy to the Jews by rescuing them from famine and destruction - they came to Egypt, being saved by the brother they had abused. Joseph was sold into slavery, but rose to power by the grace of God. Moses was spared the Pharaoh’s verdict of death, and went on to lead the Jews to Canaan. God was merciful to the rebellious and stubborn Israelites - ten (10!) incidents in which the Jews grumbled or rebelled against God and His authority (Exo. 5 through Num. 14). God delivered them from the Egyptians, the Amalekites, the Canaanites, Edomites, Midianites, etc.
God delivered the Jews from oppression to show His power and His glory to the world around.

“upon vessels of mercy,” - The Jews received the mercy shown in God’s power. Inanimate objects do not need mercy, nor do they rejoice in God’s glory. (I’m guessing that animals do not receive mercy, nor do they acknowledge or worship the Lord. I have no theological basis for saying this, other than no animals are mentioned as having a relationship with God.) The image of people being vessels is a good reminder that a pot, a crock or a pitcher do not seek to have stuff put in them. They are receptors of what is poured in.

“Even us, whom He also called,” - That is, we are the vessels. We likewise, do nothing to earn the mercy from God. It is poured upon us when we accept the gift of Christ Jesus. It is also important to note the Jews were called to be God’s own people as we are called to be Christ’s own, children of God. Look back to verse eight of this chapter: the children of God are those who accept and believe the promise. Physical birth comes to every one, spiritual rebirth does not. All of us are called to be one of His children, not all of us respond to the call.

“From among the Jews... also among the Gentiles.” - We know the Jews were called or chosen by God. The OT is the story of God and His people. Here Paul pivots from the Jews to the Gentiles. Paul was chosen by God to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. Just as the Jews were called by God to be His own, Christ has called us to be His own.

V. 25-26 - “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, “MY PEOPLE,” - Quoted from Hos. 2:23, 1:6, and 1:10. The life of the prophet Hosea was an object lesson for the northern kingdom of Israel (the 10 tribes that split away after Solomon died). His wife, Gomer, was as faithful to him as Israel had been faithful to God. Hosea was instructed to name his children:
(1) A son “Jezreel” after an atrocity committed (Jezreel was the city where the last of king Omri's dynasty was destroyed - a whole city put to the sword!), what was about to happen to Israel was a disaster for them;
(2) a daughter “Lo-ruhamah” (‘no compassion’) because the Lord would show no compassion to Israel because of their infidelity; and
(3) a son “Lo-ammi” ('not my people') for God was declaring His divorce from Israel - He would not be their God, they would not be His people.

The message to Israel: The Gentiles were never called God’s own people. The Gentiles were not the children of the promise. They were never called His beloved people. It is not that God hated the Gentiles. Similar to the Jacob/Esau situation, the Jews were favored by God’s grace to be the light in the world and the vessel for the arrival of the Savior of the world. The Jews are blessed because of a promise made to Abraham, and based on that promise the Gentile are not. So here God is saying those who were not blessed (beloved) will be blessed! Those who were not His chosen people will be His. In fact, there is one step better - the Gentiles will be called Sons of God! That is a quantum leap, going from being outside to heirs of the Almighty God!

Look at Isaiah 65:1 - "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name.” Telling the Jews that He, God, is welcoming those who had not been called ‘His people’. You may ask, “Why is God doing this?” The answer is found in Isa. 65:2-5, where God lists nine (9) rebellious acts of His chosen people.

1. They are rebellious; 
2. Following their own thoughts; 
3. Provoking Him to His face; 
4. Offering strange sacrifices; 
5. Burning incense; 
6. Sit among graves (worshipping the dead); 
7. Eat pork; 
8. Eat unclean meat; 
9. Say they are holier than God! 

God’s answer is seen in Isa. 65:6-7. The behavior of His people has stoked a fire in Him that will not be quenched, and He will repay.

At the same time, see Isa. 65:8-25. He is going to produce a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem and His beloved - those who seek Him - will rejoice and be glad there. God will rejoice and be glad there.

V. 27-28 - “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA..." - Quoted from Isa. 10:22-23. Because of their rebellion, the Jews will be decimated - only a remnant will remain with God. The promise is made to all Jews, yet only a few will benefit, will see His face. The result is similar for the Gentiles. Jesus died once for all (1 Pet. 3:18), but not all will benefit (See: Heb. 2:10; Matt. 22:14).

V. 29 -"UNLESS THE LORD OF SABBATH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY ..." - Quoted from Isa. 1:9. If not for God’s mercy, we would have all been wiped out. For the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is found in Gen. 18:20-19:29. Utter destruction, despite Abraham’s intervention. The evil was so great that in two huge cities, ten (10) righteous people could not be found.

***

Rom. 9:19-21 - Why find Fault

19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"
20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

Who Are You, O Man...

***

V. 19 - “Why does He still find fault” - The cry in our culture is, “It’s not my fault!” Or, “It’s not fair!” Or, “That is too strict!” We want to define how we will be saved. If it is God’s decision and not ours, why blame us? These complaints almost completely miss the point.

The book of Job puts it succinctly: “Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.' Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.” (Job 34:31-33 [NIV])
The key is: shall God give you a kings-x because you choose to not accept or believe what He has told us? You admit that you’re not perfect, but you are ‘trying’. Besides, you’re not all that bad, are you? Surely He can overlook my ‘little white sins’. There is a simple problem with that way of thinking...

V. 20-21 - “who are you, O man, who answers back to God?” - You are deciding what is acceptable to God. You, who admittedly is imperfect, are telling a perfect God how to run His universe! We have the same right to tell God what to do as glob of clay can tell the artist what to make out of the clay. If you fold a paper airplane from a sheet of paper, you decide what form the plane will take. If you want to bake a pie, you decide whether it will be blackberry or apple. Neither the paper nor the fruit decides for you. If you have children, do they proscribe the parameters of their curfew, or the amount of their allowance? If they violate a family rule, do the children decide what the discipline will be? (I would hope not.)

In human terms: The government decides which streets are 25 mph speed limits, and which are 70 mph. You may choose to drive 70 in a 25 zone, but don't be surprised when you get a speeding ticket. God has set the parameters. You must decide for yourself; I cannot decide for you.

***

Rom. 9:14-18 - It Depends on God

14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."
16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."
18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

***

God’s Mercy and Compassion Shown

V. 14 - “There is no injustice with God, is there? “ - I think this NASB translation of verse 14 is mildly confusing. Other versions or translations eliminate the ‘double negative’ by putting it “Can we say God is unjust?” The answer to this rhetorical question is, “Of course not!”. One of the themes in scripture is that justice and righteousness dwell in the Lord. (See: Gen. 18:19; Job 37:23; Psa. 33:5; Isa. 15:5; Jer. 9:23, 24; Mic. 6:8, as a sample). God’s justice is not capricious, or unpredictable.

V. 15 -"I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY..." - Quoted from Exo. 33:19. It is part of a conversation Moses is having with God. (See also: Exo. 33:12-23.) Moses wants assurance that God is going to go with or before them. It is a good question because this is just after the golden calf incident. Moses does not want to go anywhere with these people unless God goes with them. Without God, how will anyone know that the Israelites are any different than any other nation on earth? God assures Moses He has chosen Israel and Moses to lead them. God will show His compassion and mercy on them because He has chosen them. The choice is based on the promise made to Abraham, and God will not change that promise.
Interestingly enough, God responds that it is His “goodness” that will be shown to Moses (and ‘Thy people”), not God’s glory. HIs glory would overwhelm, in fact it would slay anyone who sees because they are not ready. God’s grace and mercy (or compassion) once proclaimed will not be withdrawn. I tell you, we WANT to see His goodness toward us, His mercy toward us, His grace for us. These characteristics are part of the reason God sent His Son to take our penalty upon Himself.

V. 16 - “So then it does not depend “ - What is the “It” called out here? My salvation. My righteousness. My sanctification.

“On the man who wills or the man who runs” - My salvation does not happen by my exertion and effort, nor by my willing it to happen.

V. 17 -"FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU ..." - Quoted from Exo. 9:13-16. The event referenced is after the sixth plague has struck Egypt, and still the Pharaoh refuses to let God’s people go. Pharaoh is warned that he and all the Egyptians could be wiped out, but God is allowing Pharaoh to exist to demonstrate God‘s power to the whole world. Neither the Pharaoh’s actions nor his will power would have any impact on the outcome. God will free His people!
The connection is that it is God who saves us, not ourselves.

V. 18 - “He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” - I do not think this is a Calvinist statement, in that God points you, you and you - (indicating salvation); and points him, him and her - (indicating condemnation). God does not capriciously choose who will or who will not be saved. God’s mercy is shown to those who accept Him (including Jesus, of course) because that is how He has decided it will be done. Those who reject the gift of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be hardened to the point of condemnation. His desire is to save all who believe. Those who reject Him will receive their just desserts.

From a commentary by Matthew Henry, concerning this verse: "The various dealings of God, by which he makes some to differ from others, must be resolved into his absolute sovereignty. He is debtor to no man, his grace is his own, and he may give it or withhold it as it pleaseth him; we have none of us deserved it, nay, we have all justly forfeited it a thousand times, so that herein the work of our salvation is admirably well ordered that those who are saved must thank God only, and those who perish must thank themselves only, Hos. 13:9. We are bound, as God hath bound us, to do our utmost for the salvation of all we have to do with; but God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind himself by his own covenant and promise, which is his revealed will; and that is that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to Christ; but the drawing of souls in order to that coming is a preventing distinguishing favour to whom he will. Had he mercy on the Gentiles? It was because he would have mercy on them. Were the Jews hardened? It was because it was his own pleasure to deny them softening grace, and to give them up to their chosen affected unbelief."
***

Rom. 9:9-13 - Sarah & Rebekah

9 For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON."
10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,
12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."
13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."

***

God’s Purpose Shown

V. 9 - “For this is the word of promise:' - Quoted from Gen. 18:10, 14. God had promised Abraham earlier he would have a son by Sarah (See: Gen. 17:5, 15-19). Both Abraham (17:17) and Sarah laughed (18:12) at the absurdity of two really old people having a child. Truly, Isaac was a miracle. “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (See: Gen. 18:14, compare to Luke 1:37)

V. 10 - “Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;” - See: Gen. 25:24.

V. 11-12 - “for though the twins were not yet born... God’s purpose according to His choice” - Pointing out the obvious - it was God’s choice, not because of any works the unborn children had done to earn the blessing.

“it was said to her, ‘THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.’ " - quoted from Gen. 25:23. Look forward to the advent of our Messiah: the father of John the Baptist and Mary and Jospeh were told their babies would be called by God for a purpose. (See: Luke 1:11-20; 1:26-38; Matt. 1:18-25) This is not too far to leap: John the Baptist was chosen by God to be a ‘voice in the wilderness’ a herald announcing the arrival of the Messiah. (See: Matt. 3:3; Luk. 3:4; Jn 1:23; Isa.40:3-5).

V. 13 - “Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED." - Quoted from Mal. 1:2-3a. The book of Malachi is a soliloquy by God in which He lists 10 offenses the Israelites have committed against the Lord. He tells the Israelites they are loved. They demand to know when! God replies He chose Jacob over Esau - before they were born. These words - love and hate - in this verse express election and rejection, not emotional commitment.

***

Rom. 9:6-8 - God’s Word Did Not Fail

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

***

They Are Not All Israel

V. 6-7 - “But it is not as though the word of God has failed” - Given all the advantages the Jews had (see verses 3-5, above), why the failure of the Jews to thrive? Should not the Jews have been wildly successful? Of course they should. Just as with faith in Christ is voluntary - God does not force us to believe in Jesus - the Jews were not forced to follow His covenants.

IF they had followed: “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’” (Isa. 48:17-18) One of the saddest statements in scripture is found in those verses: “If only you had paid attention...”
Jesus’ lament as He entered Jerusalem echoes this sentiment. (See: Matt. 23:23) The word of God did not fail. The people failed to follow. God does not ask us to be robots, programmed to respond. He asks us to be friends, or to be His children - responding with love to His love for us.

“For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” - Just because your parents went to church does not mean you are a Christian. Each person is judged for his own response to the Lord. (See: Eze. 18:4, 19-23) A person descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is physically a Jew (or Israelite, or Hebrew). 

“nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants” - Referring to “children of God”. They MAY be a spiritual descendant of Abraham, IF they respond to God in faith! Just because some people are descendants of Abraham does not mean they are ‘children of God’.

To wit: Abraham had two sons: Ishmael with Hagar and Isaac with Sarah. Ishmael grew up, moved away and became prominent, having twelve sons who formed tribes or clans and prospered. (See: Gen. 25:12-18). Isaac had two sons (fraternal twins) - Esau and Jacob. Esau and his descendants moved away from the Canaan area (See: Gen. 36:1-43). Note: the Edomites are (were) descendants of Esau. They have been a problem for the Israelites, even until now - then they refused passage through their land on the Jew’s journey from Egypt to Canaan. They plotted against and attacked Israel. David subdued them, but later they rebelled and freed themselves. Abraham also had sons by a second wife, Keturah. The promise was not fulfilled through any of these children, either.

Ishmael’s and Edom’s progeny definitely are NOT blessings for the world! Plus, the Messiah did not come from this line of Abraham but through Jacob’s family. Specifically through the family line of Judah. He, Judah, was not the first born, Reuben was. In that culture, most of the inheritance went to the first born son. (This is true in many countries that have ‘royalty’ - an example can be seen in the story line of “Downton Abbey”, where the son was died on the Titanic and the result was turmoil in the household.) 

V. 8 - “the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” - This a reiteration of the statement in verses 6 & 7, above. “Children of the promise” are those who believe the Lord as did Abraham. Abraham received the blessing, or promise, from the Lord because He believed and acted on the commands of a God. (See: Rom. 4:2, 3, 9; Gen. 15:6, 18-20; Gal. 4:22-31)

***

Rom. 9:1-5 - Concern for Jews

Chap. 9
***

Chapters 9-11 looks at the role of Israel in God’s plan for salvation of the world. Looking back at Chapter 3 we see that the Jews had a distinct advantage over Gentiles in knowing about God, but they turned their backs on His commands. Chapter 4 gives us Abraham, the ancestor for the Jews through Isaac and Jacob, as an example of faith as the path to God.

In some ways, chapter 9, is a sharp turn in the letter. The Israelites were adopted into God’s family with glory, and covenants, the Law, the temple, and all their ancestors that led to Jesus. They were sons by birth, but not by faith. God had chosen them, not Israel choosing God. It is God’s plan, not man’s. Israel rejected God’s plan. The result was that now Gentiles were shown/given the way to be children of God. Gentiles have a shot at righteousness even though they have not pursued it. A remnant of Jews will be saved.

***

Outline
9:1-5 - Concern for Jews
9:6-8 - God’s word did not fail
9:9-13 - Sarah & Rebekah
9:14-18 - It Depends on God
9:19-21 - Why find Fault
9:22-29 - God’s patience
9:30-33 - Gentiles gained righteousness

***

1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

***

V. 1-2 - “I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.” - After the joy and exultation we saw in chapter 8, this is jarring change in tone. Paul wants to impress on us how much he care for the Jews - he’s telling the truth; he’s not lying, and the Holy Spirit confirms it in his conscience.

V. 3-5 - “I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ” - This is an astounding statement! Paul would be willing to go to Hell if it would mean Jews would come to Christ as Lord and Savior! Jesus Christ died and went to Hell for you and I, separated from the Lord, and then was resurrected to eternal life.

“My brethren, my kinsmen... Israelites...” - Paul asked a rhetorical question back in Rom. 3:1 “Then what advantage has the Jew?” His answer then was simple, “Great!” He will spend the next couple of chapters working out the details. Paul rues the fact that his fellow Israelites have worked so hard at ignoring God’s call to them.
The Israelites are special in God’s economy. He chose them, through His promise to Abraham - adoption as sons. The Jews did not pick God to bless them. A child does not tell a family it will adopt him. That adoptive family makes the choice. It is God who chose them. (Deut. 4:37, 10:15) 
The Israelites did not generate a pillar of fire, or column of smoke to proceed or protect them. (Exo. 13:21, 22)They did not part the Red Sea, or collapse it again on the Egyptian army. (Exo. 14:15-31) They did not provide the water, or manna, or quail in the dessert to feed and sustain them. (Exo. 16) They did not generate the glory that proceeded them as they entered or conquered the lands. They did not cause fear in the nations because of Israel’s prowess. The nations feared Israel’s God.
The Israelites did not author the Law. They did not write the covenants and give them to God for Him to sign off. They did not design the tabernacle, nor the altars, or Ark of the Covenant.
The Israelites did not choose David to be king, nor did they sustain his family line from David time until that of Joseph and Mary.

“From whom is the Christ... who is over all,” - All the world is blessed because of the Jews. Jesus was a Jew, from the family line of King David. (See: Matt. 1:1-16; Luke 3:3:23-28)

I use the past tense tentatively, because Jesus is alive - He is not a “was” as in dead and gone. He was killed on the cross, was buried, and resurrected. I do not know if His re-birth ends the claim of Jewishness, because He is born anew and rules in heaven with God the Father. ”He is seated at the right hand of God." (Col. 3:1) In heaven, as God’s children, Jewishness or Gentileness would seem to be irrelevant, for there is no difference - we are God’s children. That is all that matters. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:34)

***

Rom. 8:31-39 - Who Can Stop Us?

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

***

If God is For Us...

Verses 31-35 are a collection of rhetorical questions. The primary thought is “Who?” Who is against us? Who will charge us? Who will condemn us? Who will separate us? (Verses 31, 33, 34, & 35, respectively) Each is answered, but verses 37-39 give a joyous and thunderous reply. I feel that Paul starts with the “no condemnation” (8:1) and gets on a roll. By the time he gets to the end of the chapter he has built a crescendo. (Read verses 38 and 39 and try to stay calm.)

I can imagine Paul pacing around the room as he dictates this part of the letter. Up to this point Paul has been logical, laying out the message methodically in chapters 1 through 7. The pacing becomes faster as he continues in this chapter. By the time he gets to “I am convinced...” he stops with his hands and face raised in praise, speaking loudly and rapidly. He finishes with “Christ Jesus our Lord”, eyes closed, arms raised in prayer, and basks in the glory of Christ. I wouldn’t be surprised if a tear rolled down his cheek at the pure joy of knowing Jesus has done it all for us. (I get a little choked up just reading what he wrote!)

V. 31 - “What shall we say...” - Having made the previous statements, starting with “no condemnation” through “predestined”, “called”, “justified”, and “glorified”, what more could be said?

“If God is for us, who is against us?” - ‘Nuff said! The capper. We are God’s own. We are in Jesus. All that He has, we have also! Looking back at Moses’ last message, “Be strong and courageous... Be strong and courageous... Do not fear... I the Lord am with you...” (See: Deut. 31:6, 7, 23) God also encourages them through Joshua and David (See: Josh. 1:6, 7, 9; Psa. 31:24) The exhortation continues in the NT: (1 Cor 16:13; 2 Cor 13:9; Eph. 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:1)

There will be someone who notes there may be many who oppose us! Haven’t we been warned that we will suffer persecution because our Savior suffered persecution? We will be hated because Jesus is hated. (John 15:18)

V. 32 - “He... did not spare His own Son” - God did not spare Himself. (Jn 3:16) This is an answer to the question in verse 8:31, “Who is against us?” Answer, “It doesn’t matter. The God of the universe spared NOTHING to bring us to Him. “

“How will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” - Do you think God will hold back anything? He has already freely given us eternal life in Jesus Christ. He has already forgiven our sin through Jesus Christ. Having given mercy to us (not payment for services provided), is it reasonable to think God would become miserly from this point forward? It is not.

V. 33 - “Who will bring a charge?” - The charge: you are a sinner, and are not worthy to be in God’s presence. Satan brings the charge. He is the accuser. (See: Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1; Job 1:11, 2:5; 1Pet. 5:8)

“God is the one who justifies” - None of us, believers and non-believers alike, can determine that we are righteous. We cannot claim we are acceptable to God - blameless and without blemish with any certitude beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no such thing as “almost perfect” in the presence of The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Do not panic.

Jesus says of every believer, “This one is mine! I died for him. (I died for her.) My justification is his. My righteousness is hers.” The Father looks Jesus in the face, and agrees. Verdict: Justified!

At this point, all charges against us vanish. They are nothing because Christ has paid the price. How does this work? He, Jesus, has paid the price, has taken the punishment. His death and resurrection brings us into the light, and we can see we are saved because of His sacrifice. His vindication - resurreection from death - is our vindication. See: "I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication." (Micah 7:9)

V. 34 - “Who condemns?” - Satan is there willing you to reside with him in Hell. He leads other non-believers to convince you, others, even God that you are only worthy of condemnation.

“Christ Jesus... died... was raised... at the right hand of God... intercedes for us.” - This the same scenario as in verse 33, i.e., the false claim is smacked down. The cross and the resurrection are answer to any smear against the believer!

V. 35 - “Who will separate us?” - Can anyone, or anything stop the love of Jesus Christ being showered upon the believers? Whether natural disasters, or human caused, nothing physical or in the spiritual realms can keep God’s Love from us. We are destined for glory, Christ’s glory. We surrounded by the Love of Christ.

“Tribulation... distress... persecution... famine... nakedness... peril... sword” - A short list of possible problems you as a Christian could face. Some have nothing to do with your faith, but can happen to all humans. Some are directly related to your faith, directly related to the world hates that you live for Jesus. Note: It is most likely you will not be persecuted if you do not live for Jesus.

V. 36 - "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG" - This is a quote from Psalm 44:22, which is part of a plea to God. God has done so much for Israel, but when Israel rejected God’s commands they are punished by nations that God lifts up. If God does not support and sustain them, their weapons and strength are useless. Israel is ridiculed among the nations. Israel claims they do not deserve this punishment, this persecution. I think they are conveniently forgetting the golden calf (Exo. 32:4, Num. 11:1), the refusal to enter Canaan (Num. 13:22-14:4; Deut. 1:22-26), their refusal to cleanse the land (Joshua), the time of the judges (Jud. 2:11-19), in other words - their general disobedience.

That being said, their reputation as being God’s chosen made them targets of Satan’s ire and the focus of surrounding peoples.

“As sheep to be slaughtered...” - David and the people claim, “We didn’t deserve this. We’ve done nothing to warrant this.” God acknowledges persecution of the saints is undeserved. Just as sheep have no idea what or why this is happening to them, we can be equally confused. We are following the commands of Christ; why is this happening to the faithful?

***

V. 37 - “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer” - God want us to keep our eyes on the prize. I just watched an interview with one of the Tusckegee Airmen. He admitted there was racial persecution as he worked to become a fighter pilot in WWII. He said over and over again, “I kept my eye on the prize.” He wanted to fly, wasn’t going to let these things distract him.

For us: Jesus, God the Father, New Earth, New Jerusalem, God’s glory, Jesus’ glory, eternal life. These are ours. They will much more magnificent than anything wonderful we know now. Even more, the troubles will be bad, but they are temporary and pale in comparison to what awaits. Jesus conquered Satan and death. Jesus is waiting for us. Nothing can change God’s plan or purpose.

V. 38-39 - “will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - The big finish! I will not try to expand or expound on this. By itself - totally amazing! We are protected through God’s power. See: 1 Pet. 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

***
End of Chapter 
Romans 8:1-39 (NASB)

Romans 8:26-30 - God’s Plans

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

***

God Has Plans for Us - For a Future and a Hope...

V. 26 - “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness” - What, “in the same way”? We are children of God, waiting eagerly for eternal life. We have it, and have had it since we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. We just don’t comprehend what that eternal life will be. It is too far a beyond our imagination. He has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house (Jn 14:2, 3). We are pretty sure it is not a log cabin, or a “mid-century modern”, but beyond a Ritz-Carlton, or Buckingham Palace or the Versailles, we begin to lose comprehension.

So, we know we have eternal life, but our weakness is we don’t really know how wonderful it may be. The Holy Spirit, the Helper, is given to reassure and teach us. Some of the descriptions in scripture are pretty amazing, see: Rev. 21:1-17; Isa. 65:17-25. The Holy Spirit, in perseverence and with eagerness, is in our lives to help us have hope and to help us in our weanesses and failures. Our Christian life is not defined by our failures, but by the hope and power of the Holy Spirit to live life abundantly.  I suspect these are wholly inadequate, but we get the idea, “It’s wonderful. You will really like it!”

“for we do not know how to pray as we should” - It is so amazing, we do not know what to ask God. Even Paul told the Philippians “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.“ (Phil. 1:22-23)

“the Spirit Himself intercedes” - The Holy Spirit knows us, and knows our deepest needs. The Holy Spirit knows the Father, and thusly knows what the Father has planned for us. The Holy Spirit conveys what we need to know from God the Father. The Holy Spirit expresses our deepest needs, those we cannot even put into words because we do not perceive them clearly, to God the Father. (See: 1 Cor. 2:9-12)

God the Son intercedes - steps between God’s justice and our sin, taking the penalty of death upon Himself for us. God the Holy Spirit intercedes - in essence is an interpreter speaking to God the Father for us, for our language is inadequate, and speaking to our heart and spirit those things God wants us to know but cannot be expressed clearly in our language.

V. 27 - “He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is” - The Holy Spirit who is in us, conveys to God our needs, our wants, our hopes, our desires. I do not imply that God does not know some things about us or thoughts in our minds. There is nothing that can be hid from God (Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13). The image is for you and I to know that God personal to each one of us. He is not a ‘fly-over’ God, or an eavesdropper overhearing snippets of our thoughts and prayers, He is with us. He is in us. He is facilitating our communication both ways - God-ward and to us. We do not have to wonder if God has heard us; wonder if He knows our needs.

V. 28 - “we know that God causes all things to work together for good “ - Let’s look back at the previous 27 verses in this chapter. That which is ours in Christ Jesus includes, but is not limited to:

No condemnation for those in Jesus.     The Spirit is life and peace. The Spirit of God dwells in you.   The Spirit raised Jesus to life, and the same Spirit is in you!   The Spirit in you means you are a child of God.   We have the Spirit of adoption as children of God.   Glory will be revealed to us and in us.   Nothing can be compared to the glory that awaits us!   We are set free from sin and corruption.   We are waiting eagerly for Christ to come again.   The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray - us-to-God, and God-to-us.

This is a partial list of the blessings and glory that is saved up for His children. Of course all things end up good for believers! We have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). Persecuted for living for Jesus? That means people recognize you are living life differently - in a good way. The world hates it when you live for Jesus. Keep it up, for it glorifies Jesus.

“those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” - This is two ways of saying the same thing. If you love God, then you are fulfilling His Purpose! Jesus came to save the lost. (See: Luk 19:10) You in Jesus. Jesus in you. God in you. You in God. The Holy Spirit in you, teaching and guiding you. The purpose of God is that you will believe and be saved. (See: Jn 6:28, 29; Acts 16:30, 31) We who love Jesus will also love the Father, then Jesus and the Father will love us and be revealed to us. They will make their home in us. (See: Jn 14:21, 23)

His purpose is our salvation. We can reject His offer, but not without cost. (See: Jn 3:35-36)

V. 29 - “Those whom He foreknew... predestined... become conformed... among many brethren.” - Foreknowledge and predestination are not two sides of the same coin - the doctrine that God picks and chooses who will be saved. “Foreknew” - (He knows beforehand who will believe and who will not. Of course that is true. We are bound by timelines, God is eternal Spirit and is not bound by time. He sees the beginning from the end, and the end from our perspective of the beginning. It does not mean He picks one person out of a lineup, and may leave those to the right and left out. God is not capricious. We can know if we are in His will. (See: 1 Jn 5:13)

He “predestined” means He determined the method or process by which all things work together for good for those who love Him. That is: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for your sin, and you accept Him as Savior.

Christ in us - we become as He is - we “become conformed” to Him - blameless, spotless, pure and righteous, not by our doing, but by Him and the Holy Spirit. (See: 1 Jn 3:1-2; Tit. 3:5-6; Col. 1:12-14; 2:10, 13; 3:3; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-4; etc.)

We will be gathered around the throne of God, part of a great cloud of witnesses. God has offered salvation through Jesus Christ to all. Unfortunately, not all will believe and accept - it is our choice after all, and God honors that choice. (See: Matt. 22:4)We are not robots, doing only what is programmed. We are free beings who can choose Jesus and the Father. (See: 1 Pet 2:9; Rev. 17:14) Paul shares the gospel in 1 Tim 1:15-16 - “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” God is merciful and patient with us, giving the testimony and the time we need to turn to Him and believe. Jesus is the first to be raised from the dead and conquering sin. He is the head of the church, His body. (See: Col. 1:15-20)

Time out for a caveat from me. I will confess Rom 8:28 is not one of my favorite verses in the NT. I think it is used out of context by many well-meaning Christians. It seems to be quoted when you are going through a crisis (e.g., diagnosis of cancer, or some other tragedy), and a loving fellow believer quotes this to you. It’s supposed to make you feel good in spite of the problem you face, because God will make it all right. It only seems bad right now, but it is really good because God loves you. They are not being cruel, but are trying to console you. While their sentiments may be true - God will comfort you in times of trouble - the persecution you face is a mere bagatelle compared to the wealth and glory that awaits; I am not sure that is what Paul is saying.

(For another verse often misquoted - See note 1, below).

V. 30 - “Whom He predestined... called... justified... glorified.” - We will share in Christ’s glory because we are His, and are now children of God. We are free from sin. (See: 1 Pet. 4:13)

From many years ago, there was a mnemonic for “justified” - “Just as if I had never sinned.” This word has a legal sense in that God declares the believer to be righteous and acceptable because Christ took our sins upon Himself on the cross. We are now declared righteous. (See: 1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 3:24, 25.) This is not a purely New Testament (or New Covenant) concept. God pleads the case of the sinner and executes the justice for the sinner in the OT also. The accusers are put to shame, for the sinner has seen the light and lives! (See: Mic. 7:9-10) The judgement against the sinner has been executed. The sentence does not fall on the sinner, but on God Himself.

God does not force us to hear and believe in Him. He calls us, He beckons. He stands outside the door of our life (Rev. 3:20) knocking, requesting access. Jesus does not kick the door down, storm in and take you captive. C. S. Lewis said in The Screwtape Letters, “God does not coerce. He only woos you to come to Him.” Jesus calls us to come to Him, then we are called His own, we are called God’s children.

***
Note 1 - Another misused verse is John 8:32, which is quoted only partially, “... and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ***

 

Romans 8:18-25 - Creation Longs for Freedom

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

***

We Have Been Saved

V. 18 - “The sufferings of this present time” - See notes on verse 17, above.

“are not worthy to be compared with the glory” - The glory we will see will be so fantastically better than anything here on earth. As an analogy, think of professional athletes. The hours, days, and years of practice are worth it when the football players hold the Lombardi trophy, or put on the Green Jacket. (See note 1, below ) Paul calls his persecution “momentary and light” - we was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, left for dead, and shipwrecked, to list some of his sufferings. (See: 2 Cor. 4:17) We are encouraged to endure because of the awaiting glory. (See: 2 Tim. 2:12; Jam. 1:12; John 12:24-26; Matt. 5:10-12, 44; 1 Pet. 4:13)

“That is to be revealed to us” - It is not our glory that will be revealed, but Jesus’ glory. And we will share in it because we are His own. (Col. 3:4; Tit. 2:13; 1 Pet. 5:1) To Him every knee will bow and every tongue confess He is Lord. (See: Phil. 2:10, 11; Rev. 19:16; 21:5-7)

V. 19 - “creation waits eagerly“ - All creation - the world, the sun and stars, the living beings - are in a holding pattern waiting for God to make the final checkmate move. The only things left to be done is Christ being re-introduced to the world as King of kings, and Lord of lords, the final judgement, the new Jerusalem, to list a few. Christ was given to the world as Savior in the first advent. He was rejected, as God knew he would be, crucified, buried and raised from the dead. (See: 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Tim. 3:16. For longer reading: Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.) Since Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:6-11) the universe has been waiting for the proper time for Jesus’ return. (See: Daniel, chaps 6-12; Revelation to John, chaps 1-22) The broken and fallen creation will finally be made whole and pure.

“for the revealing of the sons of God.” - Not only the sons of God, but the Son of God, will be revealed. This is a interesting turn of phrase. Hasn’t Jesus Christ already been ‘revealed’ to the world? Indeed, to seek, serve and save the lost. (See: Luk. 19:10, Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45) Those who are lost may be won to the saving grace and mercy of God the Father. The world and mankind has not been willing to receive Him as such. Christ died for all, but not all have accepted His sacrifice. (Acts 13:48; 1 Pet. 3:18) When Christ is revealed again it will be a different situation. When Christ first came it was as servant. When He returns, it will be as conquering Lord. (See: Phil 2:9-11) That is what we are waiting for!

At the first advent, people had the choice (or in present tense, have the choice) to acknowledge Him. When He returns, all (the Bible means ALL!) will admit that Jesus is God, and He has the right to judge all (again, ALL) persons. I suspect there are many, many people who do not want to do this. At the point it will not matter whether they want to or not. They waited too long. They will have “chosen poorly”. Believers eagerly await, because it is a vindication of our faith in Him. (See: 1 Cor. 1:7, 8; Col. 3:4; 1 John 3:2; 1 Pet. 1:7, 13).
Not only will Christ be revealed, God will show all of creation we are children of God! We are His own! We will be like Him! (See: Hos. 1:10 (2 Cor. 6:16); Matt. 5:9; John 1:12; Rom. 8:14, 16; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2; Rev. 21:7.)

V. 20-21 - “Creation was subjected to futility” - Adam sinned, Eve was tricked by Satan, and the result is creation is subjected to the curse. (See: Gen. 3:14-19) I know the question has been raised: why didn’t God just speak it all out of existence and start fresh. There is no good answer to this hypothetical. However, I think that God created us in His likeness so we could have a relationship, a friendship with Him. There is always some who will exercise their free-will to not be friends with Him - because we can choose to do so. Without the choice, we would be meat-puppets, human robots. For example, we may love our cars, but the cars do not love us in return.

The world sees the futility of life, because it is seeing the future of life without God. (Not the future after the Great White Throne judgement, that’s too far out.) The paradox is the world wants to deny that God exists, or that a relationship with God is needed, and at the same time sees the natural sequence of things is futile. The wise men of the Bible saw this. (Psa. 39:5; 62:9; 144:4; Eccl. 1:2>)

In answer to the futility, God provided the access to an abundant life in Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. God does not want robots to love Him, but people to freely and willingly surrender to His love and mercy.

“Creation itself also will be set free” - Creation is now bound by sin and corruption. At the right time, all creation will be set free to be as it was in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. We will no longer hide ourselves from God, driven by shame and guilt. (Gen. 3:7, 8)

“freedom of the glory of the children of God.” - We will see Him face-to-face. We will behold HIs glory, and be blessed by it. (See: 1 John 3:1, 2) Jesus will be able to say to all creation, “These are Mine! They are under my protection. They are enveloped in My love. My Glory is also theirs! They are God’s own children.” No one will be able to object. None will be able to argue with the Father or the Son. There is none like God Almighty. We have a future and a hope.

V. 22 - “the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth” - In verse 19 above, creation is described as waiting eagerly, and here the waiting is likened to being pregnant. When a couple decide to have a baby, they are excited when they find out ‘they’ are pregnant. They look forward to the day, about nine months away, when they will hold their baby in their arms. As the time draws near, it seems that it cannot come soon enough. All creation knows the day is coming when Christ will return in power and glory. All creation knows there will be a time when God executes His judgement.

V. 23 - “we ourselves groan within ourselves” - We must wait until God says, “It’s time,” and we can hardly wait - it can’t get here soon enough!

"waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” - The emphasis here is waiting for the day we see Jesus face-to-face, when God confirms my (and your) name is in the Book of Life. Positionally, we are children of God as soon as we believe and accept Christ as the Lord and Savior. As we grow in our faith, we become closer and closer to the blameless and blemish free child of God. Ultimately, when Christ is revealed as Lord, we will finally realize what being a child of God actually means. There are hints and allegations, there are guesses and informed speculations, but since we cannot fully imagine how glorious that will be, we can only wait and hope.

V. 24-25 - “in hope we have been saved,” - Hope - “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation” our confidence is is in Christ’s promises and His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

He said He would be killed (Mt. 16:21; Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22; Jn 12:33, 18:32)...
He would be raised up (Mt. 16:21, 20:19; Lk 9:22)...
We would be with Him (Jn 14:24, 26)... and
the Father would be in us (Jn 14:23, 17:24-26)...
He would be going away (Jn 7:33, 13:33, 16:5, 16:7, 16:28)...
He would send a Helper (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)...
Our hope is not based on a fancy tale, but on the promises of God, and fulfillment of those.

"hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” - Our salvation is secure in Christ, but we hav not yet experienced the final result. We have eternal life, but have not yet transitioned to our new body and life. We are confident that Jesus can do this, because He lives. We can joyfully look forward to being with Him because He ascended into heaven. For example: Sitting on the beach in the sun in Hawaii, with a breeze wafting off the ocean no one thinks “I hope this is going to be a nice day.” You are sitting in the middle of a nice day, you don’t have to hope for it. You may hope tomorrow will be a nice day, but no guarantee tomorrow will be nice. However, based on the promises made and fulfilled by Jesus, your hope for eternal life with Him is secure.

Don’t put too much emphasis on the physical side of the word “seen”, or “sees”. When someone asks you, “Now do you see what I mean?”, they have not actually shown you any object, but are asking you if you understand or comprehend what you have learned. You don’t hope to understand what you already have grasped. From the devotional book Jesus Calling, “you may sometimes feel alone because your union with Me is invisible. Ask Me to open your eyes so that you can find Me everywhere.“ (See note 2) That is one of the reasons we “wait eagerly eternal life” - in our present physical, natural man, we cannot see the eternal with our eyes. Help me, Jesus, to see You all around me.

We have eternal life in Jesus Christ. We are now just waiting for the next step.

“with perseverance we wait eagerly” - Secured by the promises of God, our “hope is based on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” (See note 3) We “hang in there” because we hang our hopes on our faith in the faithfulness of Jesus. We hang in there with joy and confidence because He is Risen!

***
Note 1: Football’s Super Bowl Championship trophy, and professional golf’s Masters championship, respectively
Note 2: “Jesus Calling”, Sarah Young; Harper-Collins 
Note 3: From hymn “The Solid Rock” , Mote & Bradbury.

Romans 8:12-17 - Spirit Testifies

12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

***

We Are Led by the Spirit of God

V. 12 - The wording of this sentence is muddled. I like the way the New Living Translation (NLT) handles the last half of the sentence: “you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.” We (believers) are under obligation to Christ, not to our fleshly nature.
Look what we have in Christ: the Holy Spirit, new life, freedom from death, peace with God, freedom from sin.

However, the NLT translation seems to emphasize the lack of obligation to obey the fleshly nature. This is undoubtedly true - as children of God, saved by Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit we are no longer captives of our old worldly nature. Until we meet Jesus face-to-face in our next life, the old nature will continue to have influence in our daily lives.

What is lacking in the NLT version is the obligation we owe to Jesus. The grammar of the NASB indicates believers are under obligation, just not to the flesh. We can all agree that our salvation is free to us - it personally costs us nothing. But a great price was paid. Our obligation is to Jesus Christ - it is He who saved us. Jesus indicated perseverance in the faith will indicate we love Him. (John 15:4, 6, 10) Paul prayed for our steadfastness and patience so we could grow in knowledge and spiritual strength so we could live worthy of the cost. (Col. 1:10-12) James exhorted perseverance. (Jam. 1:22-24) We are to remain faithful to the One who saved us. (See: 1 John 2:24, 26; 1 John 1:9; Rev. 2:10, 17:14)

It is possible for us to think that since our salvation cost us nothing, we are free and free to act as we please. We think we are not obliged to behave in any certain way, i.e., there is no requirement to live for Jesus. To quote Paul, “May it never be!”

V. 13 - “For...” - This conjunction (see note 1 below) links the two following thoughts, i.e.:

“Living according to the flesh... you must die” - The premise: Following the way of the “flesh” is a choice. The conclusion: that way leads to death - permanent separation from God. Before Christ came to save us, there was no power to overcome sin. The Law provided warning signs about sin, You would know you have sinned, but with no the power to overcome sin.

If we choose to reject the saving grace of Jesus, we are doomed to sin - we are led inexorably to act out our sin nature, committing sins. Choose the old nature and you are obligated. It is like being on a single lane mountain logging road - cliff to left rising into the trees and chasm to the right, falling down to the river below. There is no turning around, no backing up; the only way is forward.

“By the Spirit... you will live” - the premise: Believing in Christ and following Him is a choice. To be His followers and disciples, we are obliged to obey Christ, not our old fleshly nature. The conclusion: you are Christ’s own possession and you have the Holy Spirit; following Christ means putting aside the things that lead to death and picking up those that lead to life. We cannot have both at the same time. We cannot waiver from one to the other, choosing one today, and the other tomorrow.

Living by the Spirit means you have the power to not sin.

V. 14 - “Led by the Spirit of God” - Here is the BIG difference between knowing about God and believing in Him through Jesus Christ. When you believe and receive Jesus as Lord you have the Holy Spirit. God promised that His Spirit would be put in us. (See: Ezek. 36:25-28) Jesus promised that when He went away the Holy Spirit would be given. (See: Ezek. 36:24-27; John 7:38, 39; John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15; Acts 1:4-8; Gal. 3:14)

Note that in both the OT promise and from Jesus that we will not be left to our own devices, but God will be in our hearts and minds to show us, lead us the way we should go. God reminded Israel, “This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.’” (Isa. 48:17-18 - NIV)
In some ways, verse 18 has one of the saddest phrases in the Bible - “If only...” If only they had listened; if only they had obeyed... But they did not have God living in them, teaching them, leading them. We have the power. We are no longer captive to the wiles of sin.

“Sons of God” - This is the transformation given to us: We have gone from being at odds with God, from enemies to friends (See: John 15:14, 15; Col. 2:21; Jam. 4:4). But, wait! There’s more! We have have been transformed from friends to children of God. (See: 1 John 3;1, 2; 5:1, 2; John 1:12, 13; Phil. 2:15). In the OT, the Israelites were called “my people” by the Lord (See: Lev. 26:12), but never called God’s children (as best as I understand it). He chose them. He loved them. He protected and chastised them. Those who believe in Jesus as Savior are HIs own. God lives in us! He loves and protects the Jews. How much more will He protect and guide His own children.

V. 15 - “Not received a spirit of slavery” - You have received the Spirit of the Most High God, as promised by Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not given to scare you straight. The Holy Spirit is to teach and to lead. If you have not believed in Christ there is reason to fear, for the wrath of God remains on you (See: John 13:36). However, if you are Jesus’ own, you are no longer slaves to sin.

“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons...” - We are adopted into God’s family. See the notes on verse 14, above. Transformed from enemies, to friends, to children of God.

I would much rather be a friend of the God who spoke the universe into existence. The God who is so big, the heavens fit into the palm of his hand, the span of the heavens is less than the span of His hand (Isa. 40:12; 48:13). Imagine, our Hubble Telescope shows galaxies thousands of light-years away from earth, yet to God that distance is not even bigger than His palm! We are staggered by the distance and size. He is not.

I would much rather be a child of God than a friend. A friend may benefit from God’s grace and mercy. Children of God have all that is HIs. God holds nothing back from His own.

V. 16 - “Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit...” - See: “ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 NIV) Jesus also said, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father--he will testify about me.” (John 15:26 NIV) The Holy Spirit is our guarantee from God as part of the promise, the good news. See: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Cor. 1:21-22)

V. 17 - “Children... heirs of God... fellow heirs with Christ” - A child has all that his parents have. Why would we think that God is holding back some (or, any) blessings from us? He died to pay the penalty for sin, although sinless Himself, for us. He paid the price we could not possibly pay. We cannot buy our way into heaven, into God’s grace. We cannot do anything to be there. (See: Luke 18:18) We can be in God’s grace because He has mercy upon us. When we commit to Him, God comes to make a home in us. We are joined together with God. God in us, we in God, just as Jesus prayed for us. (See: John 14:19-21; 15:4; 17:21-26).

‘Heir’ is an interesting choice of words for this statement. Typically, an heir only inherits in the event of a death (e.g., a child only inherits on the death of a parent). God is not dead.
In some cultures, only the first born son can receive the inheritance. Jesus is the first born from the dead, and we are in Him, so we are heirs as He is. (See: Col. 1:18 ) Since we are in Him, any glory (for us any future glory) we will share in as well - not our doing but His alone.

All things have been given to Jesus. (John 17:24) He has been made the heir of all things. (Heb. 1:2) God is the source of anything we receive. (Psa. 16:5) The following is a little bit of a stretch, but it makes some sense: The Levites received no land as an inheritance in the Promised Land - they were the priests and God was their portion, their inheritance. (See: Num. 18:20) Similarly, since we are a priesthood in Christ Jesus’ church. He is our God and our inheritance. (See: 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 21:3) (See note 2)

“If indeed with suffer with Him” - This is an amazing paradox of Christianity: we are to have joy and life abundantly, and yet suffer persecution and hate from the world. So, persecution should be expected if we indeed live our lives for Christ. Jesus said we are blessed if men hate us and ostracize us because of our faith in Christ (Luke 6:22, 23; Matt. 5:10-12, 44). He also said the world would hate us, because it hated him (John 15:18-21).

I don’t particularly like the idea of being hated and persecuted. On the other hand, I would rather have Jesus’ approval than men’s. We are warned in other letters, by Paul and Peter, to be sure that our suffering is because our faith and life are centered in Jesus, not because we break laws, or are obnoxious. (See: 1 Pet. 4:12-16) Never, never confuse suffering for (because of) evil deeds with suffering because of your faith in Christ. If it is because of evil, it is deserved and there is no glory.

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Note 1: [“Conjuction junction; what’s your function?”]
Note 2: Notes taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Romans, as seen in “Blue Letter Bible” App for iPad. ***