Download Audio Romans chapter 9, verse 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” Commentary It’s an impertinent question. It deserves—and gets—a sharp rebuke from the apostle. Curtly he says, in effect, “Mind your mouth, mister!” Romans chapter 9, verses 20 and 21 […]
Download Audio PART SIX God’s Righteousness in Dealing with “Israel” (chapter 9, verse 1 through chapter 11, verse 36) Paul closed chapter 8 with the firm assurance that nothing can separate the believer in Christ from God’s love. Christians may rest secure knowing that they are the objects of God’s loving care, chosen by him […]
Download Audio Romans chapter 8, verses 18-21 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the […]
Download Audio Romans chapter 7, verses 18-20 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not […]
Download Audio Freedom from the domination of the law In the section just completed, Paul urged the Romans, on the strength of their baptismal connection with Christ (chapter 6, verses 3-23), to consider themselves dead to sin and free from its slavery. In chapter 7 he will speak of a similar type of liberation—this time, […]
Download Audio PART FIVE Righteousness in Christian Living: Sanctification (6:1–8:39) With chapter 6 of this letter, Paul takes up a new topic. However, before we turn to a discussion of that, it might be useful to retrace our steps to see where Paul’s epistle has taken us so far. Actually, we can review Paul’s two […]
Download Audio The effects of justification Romans chapter 5, verses 1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of […]
Download Audio The principle of faith illustrated: Abraham We have noted that the recipients of Paul’s letter to the Romans were a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles. When Paul now speaks of Abraham as “our forefather,” he is including himself among the Jewish readers. In doing so he is picking up on a point […]
Download Audio PART FOUR Righteousness Credited: Justification (chapter 3, verse 21 through chapter 5, verse 21) Sinners cannot provide the righteousness a holy God justly requires. Acquiring such righteousness is possible only by the grace of a loving God, who gives righteousness freely as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ. This exchange whereby God […]