The Book of Romans,
The Book of Romans,
Chapters 1:-16:.
By Darren Johnson
A Commentary on the Book of Romans, Chapters 1:-16:.
Publisher’s Note:
The Scripture quotations found herein are from the text of the Old King James, 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible.
Any deviations there from are not intentional.
The publisher owns the copyright and hereby gives anyone permission to reproduce or transmit in any form and any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage, retrieval system, multimedia, or Internet system, any part or all of this publication. However, he may not sell any of it for profit.
Matt. 10:8 “…freely ye have received, freely give.”
The Book of Romans 1:-16:. ©Darren Johnson 2012.
Table of Contents
Introduction …………..…..….……............3
I. Romans 1: .……………...……..4-7
II. Romans 2: ……….……..….…..8-11
III. Romans 3: ….…….…………..12-15
IV. Romans 4: ….…….....………...16-18
V. Romans 5: .……..…..………..19-21
VI. Romans 6: ….…….…………..22-24
VII. Romans 7: ….…….....….…......25-27
VIII. Romans 8: .……..…..………..28-33
IX. Romans 9: ….…….....….….....34-37
X. Romans 10: .……..…..……….38-40
XI. Romans 11: .……………...…...41-46
XII. Romans 12: ……….……..……47-50
XII. Romans 13: ….…….…………51-53
XI. Romans 14: ….…….....………54-57
XV. Romans 15: .……..…..………58-61
XVI. Romans 16: ….…….…………63-66
XXII. Salvation Message .…………….67-68
Introduction
The purpose of this book is to motivate you to study the book of Romans. The average Christian is ignorant of the many truths found in the book of John as well as the other books in the New Testament. For the Bible believing Christian, every book in the Bible is important and loaded with truths and everyday applications(II Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17).
Romans 1:1-3 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Paul was called to be an apostle and was set apart to preach the gospel of God(Acts 9:, download ‘The Book of Acts’ at ). Paul was a servant of Jesus Christ(I Cor. 6:19-20). Notice that the gospel of God was promised before time by the prophets in the holy scriptures(Acts 10:43). We find in the Old Testament that Jesus was the Son of God (Isa. 9:6) that would be born of the seed of David(Matt. 1:, Luke 3:, for complete genealogies). The scriptures are literal writings with God’s perfect words on them(Ps. 19:7, 12:6-7). If you would like a perfect copy of the bible in the original languages alongside the perfect Old King James English translation, go to and download you a free copy.
Romans 1:4-6 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Jesus was the Son of God(John 3:16) that had his title declare with power by his resurrection from the dead. This was done in the spirit of holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16). Remember that holiness is keeping the commandments of God in the power of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 5:18). The commandments of God are found in the Old King James Bible for the English speaking people.
Paul received his grace(unmerited favor-salvation, Eph. 2:8-9) and call to be an apostle from Jesus Christ, the Son of God(Acts 9:). God wants all to be obedient to the faith or teachings of Jesus(Matt. 28:19-20), which includes everyone who is saved in Jesus Christ(Rom. 10:13).
Romans 1:7-9 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Paul is writing to all the Christians in Rome. He was in Rome for two years in a hired house (Acts 28:, download ‘The Book of Acts’ at ). A saint is someone who is saved(not referring to a hell bound Catholic or Catholic saint, etc.). Based on God’s foreknowledge, He knows who will receive Him and hence they are predestined or called to be saints(Rom. 8:25).
Paul thanked God for the Christians in Rome and greeted them with grace in peace in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ(John 1:1). The faith of the Christians in Rome was spoken about throughout the world(in Paul’s day it would have been the Mediterranean region and the countries close to it, etc.). Paul testified that he prayed for the Christians in Rome regularly.
Romans 1:10-12 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Paul was looking forward to seeing the Romans and wanted to impart some spiritual gift(II Cor. 12:12) to the new testament church there to build and strengthen it in the faith(I Cor. 12:). Remember that some spiritual gifts(like speaking in tongues and prophesy) were still around because the word of God wasn’t completed yet(I Cor. 13:10, Mark 16:20). Paul wanted to be comforted by and give comfort to the fellow believers in Rome.
Romans 1:13-15 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul wanted to come to Rome, but God didn’t allow it until he had bared some spiritual fruit amongst the Gentiles in his travels(Acts 12:-28:, go to and download ‘The Book of Acts’). Paul was in debt to all the help he got from the Greeks, the Barbarians(evidently the ones on the island of Melita, Acts 28:1-2), the wise(educated) and the unwise(not educated). As a result, Paul was ready to preach the gospel in Rome.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The gospel of Christ was defined by Paul in I Cor. 15:1-4, that Christ died for mankind’s sins(Acts 10:43) and then rose from the dead. A person must have a repentant heart(turn to God from sin) and put their faith in God’s blood(Acts 20:21) to have all of their past, present and future sins forgiven(Hebr. 10:10, 14). Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel(like your average American Southern Baptist, 2012), but proclaimed it openly and boldly.
The power of God is in the gospel that saves everyone that believes(Rom. 10:13). Remember that Jesus was called to the lost house of Israel in His ministry on earth. So the Jews got the gospel first and then later the Gentiles(Acts 10:) en mass, etc.. A person is saved by faith and lives by faith. Hence the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. The just or saved live by faith through keeping God’s commandments(I Pet. 1:15-16) in God’s power(Eph. 5:18). Christians were saved to sin no more(Gal. 5:13) not live like a bunch of carnal Southern Baptists (I John 2:15-17).
Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
The truth is the Old King James bible for the English speaking people. When you hold truth in unrighteousness, you are using the truth to justify that which is wrong. E.g. the hell bound lost Mormons use the Old King James bible, but teach salvation by works(Tit. 3:5). Many saved people use a King James bible to justify their religious or worldly ways, etc.. When you do this you are promoting ungodliness(Tit. 2:12) and unrighteousness(Rom. 14:17) and it will bring the wrath of God in your life.
Paul says that the God shows people things or manifests it to them(Ps. 19:1-3). The things that are made by God(Gen. 1:1) are proof of the things that God made that you can’t see(soul, angels, third heaven, etc.) that includes his eternal power and Godhead(Col. 2:9) so that all are without excuse for not getting saved and serving God(Rev. 20:12-15).
Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
When people see that God is real, but don’t glorify Him as God nor are thankful for it, they will become vain in their imaginations(Gen. 6:5) and their foolish heart will be darkened(John 3:19-21). Like college professors that teach evolution(I Tim. 6:20, go to ) they will profess to be wise, but in God’s sight will become fools(Prov. 21:30). When you profess to be wise against God, you will make an idol or an image of God to worship(Ps. 115:1-8, like the Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.). This is why you see objects of worship that look like man, birds, animals and insects, etc..
Romans 1:24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Because a person changes the glory of God into a corruptible image(idol, I John 5:21), God will give them up to the uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts(fornication, adultery, etc.). These people will turn the truth of God into a lie(like your average modern bible version translators, etc.). They will worship and serve the creature or God’s creation over the Creator (worship music, movie and sports stars instead of God and serve them by wasting their time and money on them, etc.).
God’s perfect word is blessed(Ps. 138:2) as well as God. Yet, when you openly talk about the bible in America, everyone gets offended(II Tim. 4:2). In America we have a form of godliness amongst people(look godly on the outside), but their heart is against God(on the inside, II Tim. 3:5).
Romans 1:26-28 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Because man makes idols and serves them, God eventually gives them over to vile affections, like homosexuality(burned in lust one toward another) which is against nature(Lev. 18:22). As a result, God gives queers or sodomites a recompense or a reward for their evil doings(like AIDS, it was originally called GRID[Gay Related Immune Deficiency] in Africa). By eventually not wanting to retain God in their knowledge, people are turned over to a reprobate(A morally unprincipled person and one who is predestined to damnation.) mind. So the progression is as follows: a) hold the truth in unrighteousness b) they don’t glorify God c) they worship idols d) they serve idols or the creature e) they are given over to vile affections. As a result people will participate in all kinds of evil that are not spiritually convenient.
Romans 1:29-30 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
These people who reject God are filled with all unrighteousness(don’t do right, sounds like U.S. Congress, 2012), fornication(sex outside of marriage, I Co. 6:9), wickedness(evil: morally objectionable behavior), covetousness(extreme desire to possess something that belongs to someone else), maliciousness(deliberately harmful; spiteful), envy(a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or good fortune), murder(Ex. 20:13), debate(argue against the truth), deceit(Ex. 20:16), malignity(wishing evil to others) and whisperers(gossip in secret). Sadly to say, these are common characteristics of carnal and worldly church members to a degree. Continuing with the list we see those that reject God are backbiters(one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel), haters of God, despiteful(full of malice; spiteful, desire to hurt), proud, boasters, inventors of evil things(come up with ideas to hurt others in some way), disobedient to parents(Ex. 20:12).
Romans 1:31-32 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Finally, the list ends of those that reject God to be without understanding(knowing now wisdom(knowledge applied) relates to God), covenant breakers(make agreements then break it later, e.g. don’t pay bills, etc.), without natural affection(no respect for human life-sounds like a Muslim extremist), implacable(impossible to placate or appease) and unmerciful(compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm). These people know that some of the acts they do(like murder, etc.) are worthy of death. However, not only do they do them but have pleasure in others that do them. This is the fruit of someone that rejects God.
Sadly to say, this sounds like your average so called average American churchgoer(sic). Today, we have churches so called that reject the bible as their final authority(Ps. 138:2), teach salvation apart by faith alone in the blood of Jesus alone with a repentant heart(See ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book) and as a result, you have idolatry(I John 5:21) and worldliness(I John 2:15-17, go to and download ’The Book of I John’) in the churches and the rest of the ungodly nonsense you hear about(the half of it is has not been told) tells the rest of the story, etc.. Now take an atheist(Ps. 14:1) or a homosexual(Lev. 18:22) who openly rejects God and you get the point, etc..
Romans 2:1-3 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Paul is warning here not to judge someone hypocritically(Matt. 7:1-5). E.g. you condemn someone for some sin like gambling, drinking, smoking, etc. and you do it yourself without any guilt, etc.. Paul says that the judgment of God is according to truth against the offender. Hence if you do the same thing that you condemn others for doing, you will be judged the same way.
Paul is for judging righteously(II Tim. 3:16-17, II Tim. 4:2) along with Jesus(John 7:24, 12:48, Matt. 7:2-5),. The bible is full of judgments(what is right, what is wrong, how to keep things right, how to correct a wrong, etc.). Today, we have liberal Christians(sic) who claim that you should ‘love’ and not ‘judge’ someone. They forgot that love rejoices in the truth(I Cor. 13:4) and that if you love someone you will tell them the truth, etc.. Furthermore we have a police force, circuit judges, a supreme court, etc. that make judgments everyday. Also people make judgments in the personal lives everyday as well. In the bible you see a balance of God’s mercy and judgment(Hebr. 12:29). You can’t have one without the other.
Romans 2:4-6 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Forbearance is showing restraint and tolerance whereas longsuffering is being patient. God is good, patient and shows restraint before judging someone. God shows a person goodness and mercy, because he wants him to repentance(sorry that you sinned and turn to God from sin, download ‘Repentance, Part I & II’ at ). When a person despises God’s goodness, it will harden a person’s heart(make it harder to receive God’s word) as well as make it impenitent(not feeling shame or regret about one's actions or attitudes). This will lead to the judgment of God in this life and the life to come(II Cor. 5:10, Rev. 20:12-15).
Romans 2:7-11 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
For the Christian, he is looking for a better resurrection by obeying the truth continually(II Cor. 5:10, Hebr. 11:35). Remember that getting saved gets you eternal life, but obedience after salvation(John 14:15) earns rewards in the next life(Mark 10:29-30).
Indignation is anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment, wrath is extreme anger, contentious is causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial, anguish is severe mental or physical pain or suffering and tribulation is a state of great trouble or suffering.
Christians who don’t obey the truth(I Pet. 1:15-16) will get God’s chastisement(Hebr. 12:6-7). They will argue against the truth to justify their lifestyle and/or get extremely angry when you point out their ungodliness(Tit. 2:12, sounds like your average Southern Baptist). However, this judgment is not to be confused for suffering for righteousness like Job did(download ‘The Book of Job’ at ).
Notice that it says to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. This is because the nation of Israel is God’s chosen nation because of Abraham(Gen. 12:2, 15:6, etc.). Jesus went to the Jews exclusively with a few exceptions and the apostles went to the Jews first. Hence, they are more accountable if they reject and were the first to be blessed if they obeyed, etc.. However, for the Christian that obeys God or does good works(Eph. 2:10, Eccl. 12:13), he will get honor, peace and glory in this life and the life to come.
Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
The Gentiles didn’t have the law of Moses or Mosaic law as well as no one had the written law before Moses got it(Exod. 20:). Remember that Adam got the spoken word in the garden of Eden and it was passed down word of mouth until Moses put it in writing(download ‘The Test of Man and the Bible through the Ages’ at ). Anyways, those who have the law written will be judged accordingly and those who didn’t have it will be judged accordingly. Remember that to more is given more is required. God judges according to your ability and exposure to the truth, etc.. Judgment day for all who get saved before the rapture occurs at the judgment seat of Christ(II Cor. 5:10) whereas everyone else will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment(Rev. 20:12-15). In that day all secrets of men will be revealed and judged according to the gospel of Jesus Christ which Paul believes in or his gospel.
Along with the scriptures and/or spoken word of God, God gives light to every man(John 1:9), a conscience to know right from wrong, as well as the creation to testify of God’s greatness (Ps. 19:1-3). Everyone will get a chance and those who believe will get saved(Acts 10:43) and those who obey will be blessed(Mark 10:29-30) as well as justified before God in holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16).
Notice that it says that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law(don’t lie, steal, cheat, murder, commit sodomy, etc.). Certain things in life are obviously wrong and against nature. E.g. this is why fornication leads to sexually transmitted diseases. People are sinning against their body which is against nature.
Romans 2:17-20 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Paul points out that the Jew rests in the Mosaic law and boasts about his belief in God. The Jew knows God’s will and approves of excellent things that are taught or instructed out of the law. The Jew is confident that he is a guide of the spiritual blind and a light to those in darkness, etc.. The Jew believes he is mature in the faith and can instruct the foolish and the spiritual babies(I Pet. 2:2). However, the Jews that Paul is talking to have a form of knowledge and truth of the law(II Tim. 3:5). However, obeying the truth and having a form of the truth(outward image-looks good, politics-sounds good, etc.) are two different things.
Romans 2:21-23 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Paul points out that there were Jews who didn’t practice what they preached. They were telling others not to steal(Ex. 20;15), commit adultery(Ex. 20:14), abhor idols(I John 5:21) and not commit sacrilege(violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred), yet they were guilty of the same. When a person breaks the law(I John 3:4) he dishonors God(Eccl. 12:13). So the Jews were boasting in keeping the law while breaking it(sounds like your average Southern Baptist).
Romans 2:24-26 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Because of the hypocrisy of the Jews, the Gentiles blaspheme or curse God, etc.. E.g. before I got saved, my biggest reason for not being a Christian was the behavior of Christians. I grew up going to the Lutheran church and it was a joke to put it mildly. However, I learned later that the standard was God’s perfect scriptures(Ps. 138:2, Ps. 19:7, 12:6-7) and not the behavior of another. However, when you are lost, you won’t get convicted of your sins listening to the teachings of a hypocrite who doesn’t have the power of God on him, etc..
The Jews were circumcised according to the Mosaic law, just like a Christian gets water baptized after he gets saved. Both ordinances pictured the salvation process and were commanded by God. However, today we have lost people who go through the ordinance of water baptism without understanding and/or getting salvation. So if you keep the ordinance but don’t get saved your heart is lost or uncircumcised, etc.. Remember that the saved Gentiles didn’t get circumcised(Acts 15:, go to and download ‘The Book of Acts’), but were saved(circumcised in heart).
Also, you have people who get saved and then scripturally water baptized who go off into sin(Gal. 5:13). God didn’t call the Christian to sin, but to sin no more. The goal in the life of the Christian is sinless perfection for the rest of his life. When he falls into sin, he needs to confess it to Jesus(I John 1:9, 2:1, go to and download ‘The Book of I John’).
Romans 2:27-29 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Paul is saying that the obedient Christian or saved person(although not of the nation of Israel or a Jew-uncircumcised) will judge the Jew(circumcised under Mosaic law) who breaks God’s law(I John 3:4). Salvation is based on a heart belief(repentance and faith, Acts 20:19-21). Salvation is not based on keeping the outward ordinances(like Orthodox Jews(reject Jesus as their Messiah) and Catholics(keeping the so-called Sacraments), Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9).
Spiritual circumcision occurs at salvation when the flesh is separated from the soul and spirit. Today, the Holy Spirit is placed inside a person(Eph. 1:13) and he can choose between the Holy Spirit or the flesh, etc.. The letter of the law is referring to keeping the outward obedience commands without having and inward heart change. Remember that man looks at the outward but God looks at the heart. The same thing goes for Christians who appear to be holy, but are not(II Tim. 3:5, Gal. 5:13). The key thing to remember is that holiness is keeping the commandments of God in the power of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 5:18). E.g. try to iron your clothes without plugging the iron in versus with plugging the iron in and you get the point.
Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Paul is saying that the Jews have an advantage in that God gave them the oracles(a place at which such advice or prophecy was sought) of God or the scriptures(II Pet. 1:19). This was a result of Abraham’ faith(Hebrew history: Gen. 12:-Acts 8: in the bible, etc.). This is why the bible says Jew and Gentile(non-Jew). Serving God has privileges that can bless a nation and the blessings are passed on.
E.g. America was founded as a Christian nation and flourished through the 1950’s. Then the bible and prayer was taken out of the school and replaced with the hippy and liberal movement of the 1960’s & 1970’s. America has gone down hill morally ever since and now is slipping economically(2001-2012, etc.).
Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
We see in the Old Testament as well as the New, that there were many Jews including the leadership that didn’t believe in God. However, the promises of God aren’t based on what man does with them. God’s word and promises are settled in heaven(Ps. 119:89) and are over all in authority(Ps. 138:2).
The bible was revealed to show that man fails the test of God in every dispensation or period of time(go to and download the ‘Test of Man and the Bible through the Ages’). On judgment day(II Co. 5:10 & Rev. 20:12-15) God will be right and justified and man where he disagrees will be wrong and found a liar, etc..
Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Just because the unrighteousness of the Jew commends(present as suitable for approval or acceptance) the righteousness of God, doesn’t imply that God is unrighteous for taking vengeance against the sin of the nation of the Jews(Rom. 12:19). If God was unrighteous, he couldn’t judge the world for being unrighteous.
God can use anything to glorify Himself including the sin of others. It doesn‘t mean that God approved of that sin. There were some Jews evidently that were claiming that Paul was promoting evil so that the goodness of God would follow.
Romans 3:9-11 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Paul goes on to say that whether Jew or Gentile, all are sinners and guilty before God(I Jo. 3:4). By nature, man as a whole doesn’t seek God and doesn’t understand(how wisdom relates to God) who God is or what He is doing. This is why man needs God to intervene and save that person. Afterward, God needs to daily show man the way of God and holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16).
Romans 3:12-15 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Man is born a sinner(Rom. 5:12). Without God intervening in some way, man will go the way of sin and develop his sin as life goes on. As a result, without God man is spiritually unprofitable and doesn’t do good(Is. 64:6). The throat is where the vocal cords are and for the sinner they will act like an open tomb, ready to slay and bury the one listening with his voice of spiritual death, etc.. The tongue is used for speaking and man will use his lying words to deceive and bring spiritual poison into the lives of the hearer.
For the lost sinner against God, his mouth is full of cursing(the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.) and bitterness(resentment: a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will or hostility). By the way, there is a difference between righteous anger or righteous indignation(anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment) versus bitter indignation. Furthermore, the lost sinner against God is quick to shed blood or murder another(Ex. 20:13, e.g. crimes, abortion, etc.).
Romans 3:16-18 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
As a result of lost sinner’s ways against God, destruction and misery are in their ways or lifestyle. They don’t know the way of peace nor can they obtain it. Finally there is no fear of God before their eyes. They act like God doesn’t see it or will judge it.
E.g. this sounds like the fate of most of the actors, singers and sports stars of our day, etc.. It’s funny how in Hollywood, CA that the average marriage lasts three years and rarely lasts a lifetime in our day, etc.. As a result of their influence on American society, now the average marriage lasts only seven years if they even get married. When you don’t have peace you look to fill that empty spiritual void. Some will turn to drugs, gambling, drinking, and/or some other vice that only brings more destruction and problems. Until they get the fear of God in their lives that leads to salvation and/or consecration, their lives will continue down the toilet, etc..
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Mosaic law was given to the nation of Israel to follow(moral(personal), civil(government) & ceremonial(spiritual)). Obviously Gentiles living in a different country wouldn’t be under the Mosaic civil laws like America is today, etc.. However, the moral laws apply to everyone regardless and hence all the world is guilty before God and need to be saved(Acts 10:43). The law of God or the first five books gave the hearer the knowledge of sin(I John 3:4). Hence obeying the law by itself doesn’t justify the sinner in the flesh before God. The sinner needs a Savior(John 1:29, 14:6) to atone for their sins.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
The righteousness of God for salvation was manifested in Jesus Christ. Salvation can be received(Rom. 10:13) without the law or keeping the Mosaic law, etc.. The prophets(Acts 10:43) and the law(Deut. 18:15, 18) witnessed of Jesus, etc.. Hence it is faith in Jesus(Eph. 2:8-9) that saves a person whether Jew or Gentile.
Romans 3:23-25 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
God is sinless(II Co. 5:21) man is not and hence falls short of the glory of God. Hence the sinner needs a Savior or to be justified freely by his grace(unmerited favor, Eph. 2:8) through Jesus Christ(Col. 1:14). Redemption means to recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
Man was perfect under Adam, but when he sinned he acquired a sin nature that he passed on to all men living today. Hence God the Father sent God the Son(John 3:16) to redeem man from sin. Redemption occurs through propitiation or atonement through faith in the blood of Jesus(I John 1:7, see ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book).
In the Old Testament, sins were forgiven for salvation if you put your faith in a Savior to come to die for your sins(Acts 10:43). We see in the book of Leviticus all kinds of types and ceremonies that showed who Jesus was and what He would do for salvation(download ‘The book of Leviticus’ at ). Anyways, those saved in the Old Testament when they died went to Abraham’s bosom(Luke 16:). They didn‘t get into heaven until Jesus died and poured his blood on the mercy seat in the temple in heaven(Rev. 15:). Hence for the Old Testament saint, his sins were forgiven in the past but paid for in the future at Calvary. Forbearance means the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, esp. enforcing the payment of a debt. God didn’t enforce the payment of sin of those in the Old Testament that trusted in the Savior before He died on the cross, etc..
Romans 3:26-28 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
So God’s righteousness is declared through Jesus. Jesus is just and without sin(II Co. 5:21) and hence is the justifier(just if I have never sinned) of those who believe in Him(John 1:29). Hence there is no boasting in your own good works for salvation(Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:9). Hence a person is saved by faith without the deeds of the law. This implies that circumcision doesn’t save a Jew or keep him from being saved(Acts 15:, go to and download ‘The Book of Acts’). Sadly to say, the lost religious pagans(Catholics, Church of Christ, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and anyone else who teaches you can lose your salvation or have to have good works to maintain it) ignore the truth and continue on in their falsehood and heresies, etc..
Romans 3:29-31 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Paul points out that God is the God of all both Jew and Gentiles(non-Jews). Hence whether of the circumcision group(Jews) or the uncircumcision group(Gentiles) all are justified by faith in Jesus. The Mosaic law was given by God to the Jews to follow in holiness. Jesus fulfilled the law by his life and death not abolish the law. The law teaches us truths(Rom. 15:4) and gives the Christians examples of what to avoid(I Co. 10:6, etc.). However the civil laws of the nation of Israel and the ceremonial laws of the temple were no longer required under the new covenant or new testament. Obviously, you can learn how to run a righteous government from the Mosaic law, but God doesn’t require America(2012) to follow it. However, God does require all governments like America to be godly(Ps. 19:7). Since the law is perfect(Ps. 19:7) and given by God from heaven(Ps. 119:89), faith establishes the law.
Sadly to say, most Christians as well as their leaders don’t understand the Old Testament nor do they care. This is a big mistake because all scripture in the bible(Old and New Testament) is important(II Tim. 3:16-17). Because churches so called are more interested in more offerings attendance and prestige(I Tim. 6:5) over holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16), they just disregard most of the Old Testament along with their ignorance with statements like(‘that is the Old covenant’, ‘It’s all under the cross’, ‘it’s not important’, etc.). Don’t fall for that Christian and study and learn your bible from Genesis through Revelation(II Tim. 2:15).
Romans 4:1-3 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham, who was the father of the Jewish nation(Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Israel, 12 sons of Israel, twelve tribes of Israel or the nation of Israel), was justified by faith(Gen. 15:6). He believed in the Lord apart from his works to be justified or made righteous before God(Abraham believed that God would provide him an heir through Sarah as well as being the spiritual father of many nations, etc.). Likewise, a person gets saved by believing in God apart from works(Acts 10:43, Eph. 2:8-9). Remember that a Christian is saved to do good works(Eph. 2:10) or is performing the works of the saved, but he is not working to be saved or to stay saved(Tit. 3:5, Heb. 10:10, 14). A Christian is saved by the blood(Col. 1:14) but is right with God or godly in His presence if he acts holy(I Pet. 1:15-16) or keeps the commandments(John 14:15) in God‘s power(Eph. 5:18).
Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
So sin is forgiven through faith in Jesus and not by being good or working. A lost sinner can’t work of his sin debt since he has no good works in God‘s sight(Is. 64:6). God can see a man’s desire to serve Him and act accordingly(Acts 10:, go to and download ‘The book of Acts’). Notice that God justifies the ungodly by faith and not by any work he does.
Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Imputed(assign to something) righteousness means that God forgives you apart from your behavior. Salvation is by the blood of Jesus alone. He did the work. All a sinner has to do is repent(be sorry that he sinned against God and want to change) and put his faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for salvation(Acts 20:20-21, see ‘Salvation Message‘ at the end of the book).
Romans 4:9-11 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
God’s forgiveness for eternal life is for both the Jew and the Gentile(Rom. 10:12-13). Abraham got eternal life before he was circumcised not after. Hence circumcision has nothing to do with salvation, but a picture of what salvation does(cut the flesh from the soul and spirit) and places the Holy Spirit inside a person. Now a person can chose the Holy Spirit in service to God over his flesh, etc.. Evidently, this was a big stumbling block with the Jews and the saved Jews or Jewish Christians(Acts 15:, see comments there, go to and download ‘The Book of Acts’).
Romans 4:12-14 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Since Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation while uncircumcised, he could be the father to the circumcision(starting in Gen. 17:) as well as the uncircumcision(Gentiles, etc.). Abraham walked by faith or served God while uncircumcised(like every saved person did before Abraham). Hence the promise of salvation and then being heir of the world during the millennial kingdom through Jesus was made through the righteousness of faith and not to Abraham’s seed or the Mosaic law. If the promise of salvation and a millennial and eternal inheritance were based on the law or keeping the Mosaic alone, then faith is made void or empty and the promises made by God through faith have none effect.
Remember that the Pharisees were trying to get to heaven and being holy based on religious works and as a result made the word of God of none effect(Mark 7:5-9, they called legalism, holiness). A person gets saved by receiving Jesus as Savior and obtains holiness by keeping the commandments of God in the power of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 5:18). The problem isn’t the law, the problem is not trusting God the Son for forgiveness and the Holy Ghost for power to live godly(Tit. 2:12). Today we have Sadducee Christians who call holiness, legalism. As a result, they claim to follow the Holy Spirit over the law, etc.. The problem here is that the Holy Spirit will guide you to obey the law(John 16:13, 17:17, 14:15) and not to usurp it(Ps. 138:2). This is why America is full of churches that teach a false gospel and are lost or they teach a false holiness and are carnal and worldly. Both need to be flushed down the drain of ungodliness.
Romans 4:15-16 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
The law works wrath because it tells you what is right, what is wrong, how to get the wrong right and how to keep the right right. This is called teaching and preaching in holiness. How does a person know he is doing something wrong unless God points it out to him. This is why God gave every man some light when they came into the world(John 1:7), why God gave man a conscience, why he created the universe(Ps. 19:1-3), as well as a perfect scriptures either in book form or passed on orally.
When you understand what sin is(breaking God’s law, I John 3:4) and its penalty of being condemned to hell(Mark 9:43-48), you realized that the only way out is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus(John 14:6, 1:29). As a result, those who believe by faith whether Jew(had the Mosaic law as a guide) or Gentile(Acts 10:43, didn‘t have the Mosaic law as a guide) can be saved. The faith of Abraham, who is the father of the Jews(Gen. 12:2), was made while he was not under the law of circumcision. Yet he obeyed God faithfully in everything after his circumcision.
Romans 4:17-19 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Abraham was made a father of many nations because of his faith in God or Jesus to keep his promise(Gen. 12:3). Remember that the genealogy of Abraham includes Jesus(Matt. 1:, Luke 3:) and that Jesus would rule the world with the saved ruling with him(Is. 9:6). Hence, many people from many nations would believe in Jesus for salvation and as a result, Abraham is the spiritual father of many nations.
Remember that God quickens or makes alive from the dead. He can make the spiritual dead person a spiritual living person. He made Sarah’s womb that could no longer bear children to bear children when Abraham was one hundred years old. So against all hope or all odds, Abraham hoped in the promises of God and as a result became the spiritual father of many nations.
Romans 4:20-22 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Abraham didn’t stagger(an unsteady walk or movement) at God’s promises through unbelief, but was strong in faith(Rom. 1:17). Abraham glorified God because he was fully persuaded that God would deliver on His promises, etc.. Hence, Abraham was imputed righteousness for believing God that he would deliver(Sarah would give birth and that he would be a spiritual father to many nations, etc.). Once again, Abraham was blessed because he believed apart from any good work. Likewise, a person has to be fully persuaded that Jesus paid the sin debt for them through his blood on the cross to obtain eternal life. Hence, a saved person gets imputed righteousness or he gets the righteousness of Jesus in having his past, present and future sins forgiven(Heb. 10:10-14).
Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
In conclusion, a person is saved by believing in Jesus by faith with a repentant heart(Acts 20:20-21, see ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book). The righteousness of Jesus(John 1:29) or the eternal sinless state of forgiven sin is given or imputed to the person who believes (Rom. 10:13). Jesus was delivered or crucified for the lost person’s offences or sins against God(John 3:16) and raised again or resurrected from the dead for the saved person’s justification. Note that God or Jesus raising His earthly body from the dead proved He could raise the saved person’s body from the dead. No other religion in the history of planet earth has made that claim(Micah 4:5)).
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
So a Christian is justified by faith apart from any works(Tit. 3:5) through Jesus Christ. After a person is saved, they have further access to God’s grace by faith, just like Abraham had access after he was saved by trusting God for giving him an heir through Isaac and being the spiritual father of many nations, etc.. So the Christian can stand in God’s grace and rejoice in the sure hope of the future of the glory of God, etc..
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Because of the access into God’s grace(unmerited favor or imputed righteousness) a Christian can glory in tribulations(a state of great trouble or suffering), because it will work patience(wait on God to be blessed or delivered, etc.), then experience(learn to trust God when undergoing great trouble and suffering for Jesus) and finally hope(trust God more to do more great things or even greater things by faith, etc.). As a result, the Christian doesn’t have to be ashamed of his hope in what God will do, because he has the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost(Rom. 14:17).
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
When the lost person was without spiritual strength to save himself, Christ died for him or the ungodly. In life, it is rare or scarce that one man will die for another man who is righteous in the eyes of others in this life. For someone who is just good, but doesn’t stand out as great in this life, people may think about or dare to die for that person(less likely or less scarce). However, Jesus died for the sinner who was God’s enemy and not good at all(Is. 64:6).
God showed His love for the lost person by dying for his sins. Notice it didn’t say that God loved everyone or the world but that he loved everyone and the world by dying for their sins. This implies that sin(I John 3:4) or ungodliness is bad and that it needs to be atoned for at salvation apart from any good works. Also, after salvation sin needs to be forsaken and holiness(John 14:15) put it its place, etc..
Today, the carnal Christian or lost religious person are always trying to put some kind of spiritual air conditioning in hell and/or lessening the badness of the sin in man in general. They will say things like ‘God loves the sinner and not the sin’ instead of saying God hates sin(Ps. 5:5), He is angry with the sinner every day(Ps. 7:11) and He showed love to the sinner by dying for his sins(I John 1:7). Until the sinner gets saved, the wrath of God is on the sinner(John 3:36) and if he dies lost he will go to hell(Mark 9:43-48) where there will be much suffering(weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth). His spiritual body in hell will become like a worm and the unquenchable fire will torment him continually because of the unforgiving sin on his soul.
Romans 5:9-11 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
A saved person is justified by the literal blood of Jesus which He shed on the cross and poured out on the mercy seat in heaven(Heb. 9:24-26). Beware of the false doctrine that the blood of Jesus is only symbolic and has no cleansing power(I John 1:7, download ‘The Book of I John’ at ). When a person gets his past, present and future sins washed away by the blood, he is saved from the wrath of God in this life(John 3:36) and the life to come(Luke 16:23, Rev. 20:15).
So a lost person is God’s enemy until he gets saved. This goes contrary to those who say ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life’, etc.. It is true after you get saved, God wants to bless the saved person if he acts godly(Tit. 2:12, John 10:10). So as an enemy to God, a sinner gets saved and reconciled(cause to coexist in harmony) to God by the death of Jesus on the cross. Because Jesus rose from the dead or His resurrection, the Christian can rest assured that his body one day will also be saved or resurrected into an eternal sinless state. Hence, because of what Jesus did for the Christian on the cross and resurrection(took His blood to the mercy seat in heaven(Heb. 9:24-26), the Christian can rejoice or joy in God and the future because he has received the atonement(John 1:29, I Pet. 2:24) by faith.
Romans 5:12-14 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Adam was the original Son of God(Luke 3:38). He had a sinless nature and had he and his wife(Mrs. Adam) eaten of the tree of life, they would have gotten eternal life and their kids would have been born with a sinless nature. Unfortunately, they ate of the tree of good and evil and died spiritually(go to and download ‘The Test of Man and the Bible through the Ages’). As a result, Adam acquired a sin nature(spiritual seed of the male is passed on through birth, etc.) and everyone born into this world has a sin nature(except Jesus who was born through the Holy Ghost(male)). Hence Jesus was born with a sinless nature and because he didn’t sin as the Son of God, all who believe in Him today are born again spiritual and given the sinless seed of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 1:13). Hence the sons of God(John 1:12) are a spiritual race that will live forever once they get their eternal bodies.
Sin was in the world since Adam ate the fruit of the tree and died spiritually(Gen. 3:, see comments there, go to and download ‘The 1st Eleven Chapters of Genesis’). Because of sin, people die physically like Adam and Eve did. Sin reigned or ruled from Adam to Moses(who got the Mosaic law from God, Ex. 20:). Notice that sin is not imputed(assigned to something) when there is no written law versus when you have the written law. In other words God doesn’t make you accountable for what you didn’t know. However, if you have the law and you reject it, then you are accountable and judgment is assigned to you or imputed to you, etc..
So having the written law of God makes you more accountable for your sin than if you didn’t have the law. Either way, you are still accountable for sin, it just boils down to what degree you are accountable and hence the punishment in this life and the life to come is given accordingly. By the way, this is why a child isn’t as accountable as a teenager who knows better when they do something wrong. Hence the punishment isn’t as severe, etc..
Romans 5:15-19 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The offence(a thing that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right) was obtained by the first Adam or Son of God and passed on to all men(hence many or every man born except Enoch and Elijah has died physically). However, the second Adam or Son of God lived a sinless life(II Co. 5:21), died on the cross to atone for mankind’s sin(John 3:16, 1:29, see comments there go to and download ’The Book of John’). Hence eternal life(John 10:28) and the abundant spiritual life(John 10:10) are obtained as a gift by grace(Eph. 2:8) through Jesus Christ, which has been obtained by many(all who get saved through the ages, etc.).
Adam’s sin led to the condemnation of all mankind, but the free gift Jesus led to many offenses against God to be forgiven(justification-just if I never sinned). So spiritual and physical death reigns on earth because of the sin or fall of Adam in the garden of Eden. However, the abundant life on earth and as well as eternal life reigns through Jesus Christ. Likewise, one man’s sin led to all of mankind being born sinners(Rom. 3:10-11), yet through the obedience of Jesus Christ to God the Father on earth, all who believe by faith are forgiven or made righteous.
Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
In conclusion, Paul tells the Roman Christians that the law of God or the scriptures were given to make the offense against God or sin to abound or become more sinful(more obvious to all that God disapproves of it and judgment will follow thereof, etc.). However, as sin became more sinful, grace abounded or became more graceful, because you understand the depth of what God is forgiving you of, etc.. Hence sin reigns to physical and spiritual death but grace reigns through righteousness and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
By the way, God doesn‘t make any allowance for non-biblical religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.(Micah 4:5, John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to heaven(I John 5:12). If you don’t get the forgiveness of Jesus for eternal life you are doomed forever to the lake of fire to pay for your sins(Rev. 20:15, no exceptions, etc.).
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Evidently there were those who thought that continuing in sin would bring more grace into their lives. The truth is that God is merciful and gives everyone a chance to be saved(II Pet. 3:9) regardless of their sin history. However, there comes a day when God gives you over to a reprobate mind(Rom. 1:28) and then it is too late. Hence in life, a man needs to immediately utilize the grace given to him by God, whether for salvation or to promote further consecration (Rom. 12:1-2). So Paul rightfully concludes that a Christian is dead to sin(because he has been forgiven of it) and hence should utilized the Holy Ghost within him to live godly(Eph. 5:18, Tit. 2:12).
Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
When a person gets saved, he is baptized into the body of Christ(I Cor. 12:13) through the Holy Ghost(Eph. 1:13). When you are baptized into Christ or His body, you were also baptized into his death. When Jesus died, his spirit went into hell(I Pet. 3:19) and dropped off your sin that He died for in there(Heb. 9:28). Hence in God’s sight, you are now sinless. Also, when Christ was resurrected, He had an eternal sinless body. Therefore the goal for the Christian is sinless perfection in obedience in this life. God didn’t save the Christian to sin but to sin no more(Gal. 5:13, Eph. 2:10). When he does sin, he needs to go to Jesus and confess it to restore his fellowship and spiritual power with God(I John 1:9, 2:1).
Romans 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Since the Christian is planted(the seed is completely buried in the ground) together in the likeness of the death of Jesus(completely buried physically in a tomb), he will also be resurrected like Him one day(I Th. 4:16-18). Hence the old man in sin has been crucified and buried once for all. Therefore a Christian is dead to sin, freed from sin and should utilize the Holy Ghost within himself to stop sinning.
Romans 6:8-11 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Since a Christian is dead with Christ, he should also live with him(I Pet. 1:15-16). God wants the Christian to be sold out to God’s will(Rom. 12:1-2) and live godly(Tit. 2:12) by keeping His commandments(John 14:15). Remember that holiness is keeping the commandments of God in the power of the Holy Ghost. The commandments of God in English are the Old King James bible.
Since Jesus resurrected from the dead, death no longer has dominion or the victory over Him. Jesus only had to die once(not every week according to the Catholic mass) and afterward lived to and for God. Likewise the Christian has died once to sin(got eternal life, can’t lose your salvation, John 10:28) and hence afterward can live for God(Eph. 2:10, Tit. 2:12).
Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
After a person gets saved, he has the ability to sin(follow his flesh) or stop sinning and obey God(follow the Holy Spirit within him). Remember that when a Christian gets saved, he has the power to sin no more and to live a sinless life. The reason why he still sins is because he is not continually accessing the power within him from God to live a sinless life. Therefore a Christian shouldn’t yield or give in to is fleshly desires or the desires of his members(body parts), etc.. A Christian should yield(like the Yield sign commands on the roads to oncoming traffic) himself to God’s will and treat his members as instruments of righteousness(tools for God to use for His glory) to God like one that is spiritually alive from the dead(like Christ, etc.).
Romans 6:14-16 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
A Christian is under grace or under the blood of Jesus or made alive by the unmerited salvation through Christ(Eph. 2:8). A Christian is no longer under the law or the condemnation of the law because of sin. Because a saved person has the Holy Spirit from salvation put into his body, he has the power to stop sinning and hence sin shouldn’t have dominion or control him. It should be the other way around, a Christian should be in control of his sin(spiritual self-control) through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Although the Christian can still sin because he still has his flesh nature, he is commanded to stop using that power and utilize the power of God to stop sinning or to sin no more. So a Christian after salvation has a choice between two natures: 1) follow the desires of the flesh to sin 2) follow the Holy Spirit to righteousness or holiness. The nature he yields to is the nature he will obey or the nature he is a servant to.
There are so-called Christians who think that because they are not under the law that therefore keeping the law or the commandments of God is legalism. Hence they follow the Holy Spirit apart or above the law of God. Remember that legalism is making up man-made rules and keeping them. Then you judge everyone’s spirituality based on those man-made rules, etc.. Holiness is keeping the commandments of God in the power of the Holy Ghost. God commands the Christian to keep the commandments(John 14:15) and be holy(I Pet. 1:15-16). Also, the Holy Spirit will guide the Christian into all truth(John 16:13) which is the commandments of God(John 17:17) or the law of God. The Holy Spirit will never point you away from the scriptures. Beware of those who claim they follow the so-called Spirit(false spirit) while rejecting the laws of God. These Christians so-called forgot that the law tells you what is right and wrong and hence convinces and condemns you for your sin. Hence the law brings spiritual death and accountability and shows your need for a Savior.
Romans 6:17-19 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Before a Christian gets saved he is the servant of sin. He doesn’t have the seed of the Holy Ghost in him through salvation and hence can only obey his flesh(Isa. 64:6). However, when a lost person believes with his heart(Rom. 10:9, 13) the doctrine or teaching of salvation(see ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book) he gets saved and receives the power to sin no more or stop sinning. After salvation, the Christian is free from having to serve sin or his sin nature or flesh and has the power to sin no more or serve the Holy Spirit within him(Eph. 5:18). So a Christian shouldn’t yield to his infirmity of his flesh(flesh has been made sick or corrupted by sin) that leads to uncleanness and iniquity(grievous sin). Since iniquity leads to more iniquity, it is best to deal with the iniquity at hand.
A Christian may say, ‘you don’t understand my situation’, ‘it is easy for you to say’, or ‘When you go through this, then you can talk’, etc.. My response to these excuses are to take it up with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost understands all situations and can give you the power to overcome all situations if you trust him, end of story. Personally, I don’t have to experience or be in the same situation as another to qualify to speak, etc.. I just need to tell these people who complain that they have the all powerful Holy Ghost within them and they need to learn how to get a hold of God to access it.
Romans 6:20-23 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When you are a servant of sin then you can’t serve righteousness(hence free from righteousness, which is bad). The fruit of sin are shameful activities that bring no reward at the judgment seat of Christ(II Co. 5:10). Also, the end of sin when full grown is physically death (Jam. 1:14-15) and if you are lost, spiritual death as well(Rev. 20:12-15).
When a person gets saved, he becomes a servant of God that is free to having to always serve sin or his flesh. When he serves the Spirit his fruit is holiness or keeping God’s commandments in God’s power(I Pet. 15-16, Eph. 5:18). The end of getting saved or being made free from sin is everlasting life or one day getting a sinless eternal body. Hence the wages(payment for something you worked for) of sin is death(spiritual death), but the gift(something you didn’t work for, just received by faith with a repentant heart) of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord(John 14:6).
Romans 7:1-3 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
The Jews knew the Mosaic law. The law dominates a man as long as he lives because it is always telling you what is right(doctrine), what is wrong(reproof), how to get the wrong right (correction) and how to keep things right(instruction, II Tim. 3:16-17). Man always falls short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23) and commands.
Paul points out hear that a woman who is married to her husband is bound to her husband in marriage for life(hence the marriage vow ‘until death do us part’). If a woman marries another man while the first is still alive, she is called an adulteress(provided her spouse didn’t fornicate or her spouse was lost and chose to leave). However, if her husband dies, she is free from the law of her husband and can now marry another without being and adulteress.
Romans 7:4-6 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Paul makes the analogy that the woman who is married to her first husband is like a lost sinner who is married to the law. He is bound by it for life. However, when the first husband dies, she is free to marry another, which in this case would be Christ. Likewise, when you get saved you become dead to the law by the body of Christ. You are no longer bound to the penalty that the law brings(death), because the law or penalty of the law dies. Hence you are married to another or to Jesus who is raised from the dead to bring forth fruit to God(John 15:7).
Before a person gets saved, they can only serve their flesh and hence the motions of sins that were made known by the law(I John 3:4). Sin works in the members or the body parts of the flesh that bring fruit to death(physical and spiritual). However, through Jesus a lost person gets saved or delivered from the law and its penalty of condemnation. As a result they can now serve God(newness of the spirit) with their spirit by being able to choose the Holy Spirit over their flesh(oldness of the letter).
Romans 7:7-9 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Paul correctly states that the law is good and not sin. It is always telling you what is right(doctrine), what is wrong(reproof), how to get the wrong right (correction) and how to keep things right(instruction, II Tim. 3:16-17). Without the law, you wouldn’t have a written document or scriptures telling you what God required. E.g. you know that lust(desire to have what doesn’t belong to you) is wrong because the law says though shalt not covet.
Concupiscence means a strong sexual desire. Any sex outside of marriage is a sin(Lev. 18:, go to and download ‘The Book of Leviticus’). Sin works in a person all kinds of strong sexual desires that are harmful to the body(E.g. fornication, adultery, homosexuality, beastiality, etc.). Sin is dead without the law, but when a person gets to the age of accountability(understands the law) and then disobeys it(commandment), sin revives and that person dies spiritually.
Romans 7:10-12 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
The commandments of God bring life(eternal life, John 10:28) and well as spiritual life(John 10:10) to the saved person. However to the lost person it brings condemnation, the wrath of God(John 3:36) and eventually spiritual death(Rom. 6:23).
Through the commandments of God, we find out what sin. Later, sin comes along, deceives a person and kills them spiritually. Hence they now need a Savior(John 14:6). So the law and the commandments of God are holy, just and good(Ps. 19:7, 119:89, 138:2, Ps. 12:6-7). God wrote the bible and is sinless. Hence the scriptures or the words of God are sinless as well as holy, just and good. The bible that condemns a person can bless a person if he gets saved(Eph. 2:8-9) and then right with God(Eph. 2:10), etc..
Romans 7:13-14 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
The law and the commandments of God are good in that they make sin exceeding sinful. God gave mankind the law to bless him with it. However, man is only blessed if he obeys it for salvation and then consecration. So the law is spiritual because it was given and written by God(II Pet. 1:20). However, man by his own sin nature is carnal or fleshly and given to sin or sold to sin. This is why God gave man His Holy Spirit within him to help him choose holiness or obedience to the laws of God, etc..
Romans 7:15-17 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The Christian can sin. He can do things that he forbids himself to do because the bible says so. E.g. Lying, sinful thoughts, etc.. Also, he can forsake things that the bible says he is supposed to do. E.g. study God’s word, pray, etc.. It is the sin nature in the flesh that desires to do wrong that influences your soul and spirit to follow it. As a result you break God’s law against your spiritual desires(your soul and spirit keeping the law through the Holy Spirit) and you consent or agree that the law of God is good(you should have obeyed it).
Romans 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The flesh of man is corrupted by sin as a result of breaking God’s law. Man inherited the sin nature from Adam and the result of his initial transgression(Gen. 3:). The will or the desire to choose(which comes from your soul) wants to do right. However, the lost person only has one choice, which is to choose the sin nature. However, the saved person has two choices, which is the sin nature to do wrong or the Holy Spirit(sinless nature) to do right.
So the saved person has the dilemma with every action to do it in the flesh(serve the sin nature) or do it in the power of the Holy Spirit or serve God. Having the Holy Spirit within you doesn’t mean you automatically choose it. Hence, Christians find themselves breaking God’s law and not accessing the Holy Spirit to do right(don’t do good and/or do evil).
Romans 7:21-23 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
The Christian has two natures inside of him competing for his obedience. The Christian delights in the law of God after the inward man because that is the source of all his spiritual blessings(he won’t get it from the flesh). The flesh of the Christian is at war with the Holy Spirit inside the Christian. The flesh is competing for your mind or your soul to choose it over the Holy Spirit. The flesh, which is in his members or body parts, wants to take the Christian’s mind captive to choose it(the law of sin or the desires of the flesh) and break God’s commandments or sin against God(I John 3:4).
Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Man is wretched(in a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable) because of his flesh that has been corrupted by sin. Man needs to be delivered from his body of death. Hence he needs to get saved by Jesus(John 1:29, 3:16, 14:6, go to and download ‘The Book of John’) so one day he will get an eternal body with a sinless nature(I Th. 4:16-18). After a person is saved, he doesn’t have to sin any more. He can serve the law of God(desires of God) with his mind or soul through the power of the Holy Ghost. When he sins, he is using his flesh to serve the law of sin(desires of his flesh) and he needs to repent and get right with God in that area(I John 1:9).
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
When you are saved, you are in Christ Jesus and no longer condemned for your sin. You are walking in newness of life(II cor. 5:17) and no longer in the flesh alone. If you are walking in the flesh alone you are condemned because you didn’t get saved and receive the Holy Ghost(Eph. 1:13).
The law of sin(Rom. 7:23-25, see comments there) are the desires of the flesh. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is salvation(Rom. 10:13), which frees a saved person from the law of sin and death(the end result of sin, Rom. 6:23, see comments there). So the law here or the law of sin(desires of the flesh) is weak through the flesh. Hence God the Son(I Tim. 3:16) had to die for sin coming in the likeness of sinful flesh(had a mortal body) and hence condemning sin in the flesh. As a result of being saved, we walk after the Spirit and the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us.
There are those who use this passage to teach you can lose your salvation if you don’t walk after the Spirit(obey God’s commandments) and walk after the flesh(don’t obey God’s commandments). Others take the law of sin(desires of the flesh) and refer it to the Mosaic law or the laws of God and hence justify following the Spirit apart from or above the laws of God. These people then interpret the rest of the bible through their false interpretations of this and other mishandled passages(II Pet. 3:16). This is how cults, false salvations, false holiness teachings, as well as bad hermeneutics get started and flourish. If you don’t have the Spirit of God to warn and teach you about this, you will fall for it. Don’t let that happen to you Christian.
Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
The Christian that has the Holy Spirit within, or after the Spirit, has his mind on the things of the Spirit(John 16:13) or God’s will for his life(Rom. 12:1-2). The lost person, after the flesh, has his mind on the desires of the flesh(I John 2:15-17, download ‘The Book of 1st John’ at ).
The carnal mind is on the things of the flesh and world that lead to death(Jam. 1:14-15), whereas the spiritual mind is on the things of God that lead to life and peace(Isa. 26:3). Note that the natural man refers to a lost person, a carnal man refers to a saved person who isn’t living godly(e.g. like your average Southern Baptist) and a spiritual person is a saved person living godly(like your average bible believer).
The Christian can sin against God and he does it with a carnal mind(the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something). The fleshly mind or brain is not subject to the law of God. Hence a Christian needs to access the power of the Holy Ghost to control his mind to act spiritually. When the mind is in control(II Cor. 10:5) by the Holy Spirit, then your body of flesh is in control by the Holy Spirit. So the lost person in the flesh can’t please God with his behavior(Isa. 64:6) and the saved person can’t please God with his behavior when he chooses to serve his flesh or the Holy Spirit within him(E.g. its like ironing your clothes without plugging in the iron. The motions are correct, but the power isn’t on, etc.).
Romans 8:9-11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
A saved person who received the Holy Spirit at salvation(Eph. 1:13) is by definition in the Spirit and not in the flesh. However, if you don’t have the Spirit of Christ or the Holy Spirit in you, you are lost, in the flesh and don’t belong to Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit at salvation, the Spirit of Christ or Christ is in a saved person. As a result the body is dead to sin but the Spirit within is life because of righteousness or keeping the commandments of God through the power of the Spirit(Rom. 14:17).
Notice that the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of him(male personality, I John 5:7) raised Jesus’ physical body from the dead. The analogy here is that Jesus’ physical body that bore all of mankind’s sin on it is likened to a person’s physical body that has sin in it. The same Holy Spirit can make alive or quicken the Christian’s mortal body through obedience to God’s commands(II Cor. 4:16, John 14:15). Also one day, the same Holy Spirit can give the Christian an eternal sinless body.
Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Christians are in debt or owe God to live in the Spirit(I Cor. 6:19-20). The Christian was bought for a price(blood of Jesus) to be a servant of God. A servant(Christian) is obligated(in debt) to serve his master(Jesus). Hence, Christians are not obligated to live in the flesh or serve the flesh and its desires. If a Christian lives in the flesh, it will eventually kill him physically and destroy his spiritual walk with God. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Christian lives by mortifying(to subdue the flesh and its needs and desires) the deeds or works of the flesh or body.
Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The sons of God(John 1:12) are saved people who are led by the Spirit of God. Today a son of God receives the indwelling Holy Spirit(Eph. 1:13) which occurred after the death of Jesus on the cross(John 7:38-39). Hence a saved person has the Holy Spirit in him that leads him everyday to do right and not wrong. This is why when you don’t want to do right you will feel very guilty or won’t have much peace. The Spirit is warning and convicting you whereas when you were lost, those same things didn’t bother you, etc.. Likewise a Christian fells good and has peace when he is doing right because the Spirit is encouraging him.
A saved person receives the Holy Spirit of adoption. Before they were a child of the Devil, but after salvation they through adoption have become a child of God. The flesh brings a spirit of bondage and fear whereas the Spirit brings freedom to do right and not serve the flesh and peace.
The saved person has inside information that he is a child of God(the Spirit inside of him bears witness that he is saved). By the way, does the Spirit of God bear witness to you that you are eternally saved? If there is no peace, or you are always worrying about losing your salvation (false doctrine), it is because you never got saved in the first place.
A child of God is an heir of God or joint-heir with Christ. A heir is a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death. Jesus will one day rule as king of the world from Israel on mount Zion in the millennial temple sitting on the mercy seat. The saved will rule with him(Rev. 20:4, go to and download ‘The Book of Revelation’). The saved get glorified(sinless and eternal) bodies at the rapture(I Th. 4:16-18), which occurs seven years before the second coming when Jesus takes over the earth to rule for 1000 years. Hence when we suffer for righteousness down on earth(I Pet. 4:12-17) we get an eternal reward in heaven(II Cor. 5:10). Hence it pays to always serve God in everything we do all the time.
Romans 8:18-21 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Reckon means to think or figure. Earnest means to be marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness. Paul is saying that the sufferings for Christ in the present are nothing compared to the glory and rewards a Christian will get in the future(II Cor. 5:10). The creature in the flesh or a person waits for the manifestation of the sons of God or when all of the saved get an eternal sinless body.
Man is subject to vanity based on being born with a sin nature because of Adam’s transgression in the garden of Eden. Hence, God has made man the subject of hope through salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. As a result of being saved, the creature of man will be delivered from the bondage of corruption(flesh) and transformed into an eternal sinless body or the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For that matter the whole creation has been tainted by sin and as a result groans and travails (engage in painful or laborious effort) in pain together as a group. Likewise the Christian that has the first fruits of the Spirit within him through salvation(Eph. 1:13) groans for his corrupt fleshly body to be redeemed or be adopted with an eternal sinless body.
Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
The Christian is putting his hope or is sure that because he was forgiven of his sins to go to heaven, that one day God will redeem his physically body as well. A Christian can’t physically see his hope or future physical redemption. If he could see it then he wouldn’t have to hope for it. Hence, he waits patiently for his future hope of an eternal sinless physical body.
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The Holy Spirit within a Christian helps him with his infirmities(physical or mental weakness). As a result of infirmities, the Christian doesn’t always know what to pray for. Hence the Holy Spirit intercedes or prays for the Christian on his behalf through the Christian in groanings that can’t be uttered or spoken. The Holy Spirit within the Christian searches the heart of the Christian to see what the problem and need is according to the will of God, etc..
By the way, we have a false Charismatic movement that claims they can speak in tongues today contrary to the scriptures(I Cor. 13:10) and that it is a heavenly prayer language through the Spirit. However, we clearly see hear that when the Holy Spirit prays through a Christian it is in words that can’t be spoken(Spirit prays silently). As usual, when you believe the scriptures literally from Genesis to Revelation, all of the false doctrine in American Christianity(2012, which is a lot) becomes blaringly obvious.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God allows things in life sometimes that in appearance don’t make sense. But higher up in the third heaven where God dwells it makes perfect sense(Is. 55:6-9). E.g. I make television shows where all I do is video myself preaching at the camera or preaching to the wall. In the show, I put a website where people can access more free Christian information including all of my books, etc.. I have reached more people by at least 10 fold in all my other ministries combined along with more in depth information as a result of preaching to a wall by faith. That ministry led to other television ministries that have had similar effects. However, when you read the Old Testament and you see what God told the prophets to do to get the word of God out, I guess preaching to the wall isn’t so crazy or out of the ordinary to God’s will and plans, etc..
Rom. 8:29-31 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Foreknowledge or God’s infinite knowledge of the future comes before God’s predestination (pre-determines what you will do). God gives a person free will to choose or not choose Him. As a result of God knowing the future(omniscient) He knows what your choice will be and hence can predestine you to heaven or hell. The mistake that Calvinists make is that they leave out foreknowledge. Hence they believe that no matter what they think or do, they will end up in a certain place in life because they are predestined(beware of the Calvinist T.U.L.I.P. system). Some Christians who believe this don’t evangelize because they figure God is going to save them anyway, etc.. So the Devil uses predestination without foreknowledge to promote false doctrines to deceive the masses, etc..
So in foreknowledge, God predestinates, which leads Him to call a person to be saved, that leads to that person getting saved or justified, that finally leads to that person getting and eternal sinless body or glorified. Because God knows the future, is in control and always keeps His side of the bargain, if God is for us, no one can be against us, Hallelujah!!!
Romans 8:32-34 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
God the Father didn’t spare God the Son from dying for mankind’s sin(John 1:29). As a result, if God gave His Son, He will also freely give the Christian all things in eternity, etc.. Also, no one can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect(saved) because it is God that justifies or forgives a saved person of all their past, present and future sins(Heb. 10:10, 14).
God condemns sin as well as forgives sin through Jesus Christ(Rom. 6:23, see comments there). Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, has been resurrected and is currently serving as the High Priest in the temple of heaven to make intercession for us to God the Father(I John 2:1, go to and download ‘The Book of 1st John’). This is why the New Testament Christian confesses to Jesus directly in heaven after he sins and gets right(I John 1:9). In the Old Testament they brought a sacrifice to the Levitical priest(picture of Jesus, Lev. 1:-5:, download ‘The Book of Leviticus’ at ) when confessing their sin or sins to God, etc.. By the way, the Catholic priesthood along with any other priesthood in new testament times is of the devil and has nothing to do with truth or the bible, etc..
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Paul shows that nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love. In other words, once you are a child of God, you always are a child of God. Once saved, always saved. Paul gives a list of things that covers every situation in a Christian’s life. Regardless of the situation or living thing, once you get eternal life you are saved forever. That is why it is called eternal life(John 10:28).
Tribulation is a state of great trouble or suffering. Distress is extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain. Persecution is to be oppressed or harassed with ill-treatment. Famine is lack of food, nakedness is lack of clothing, peril is being in serious and immediate danger and the sword is being in danger of getting killed. None of these above things can separate a saved person from the love of Christ. God knows that we go through these things and allows them for a reason (Rom. 8:28, Isa. 55:6-9).
So the Christian is under constant attack by the world as is accounted as a sheep that is ready to be slaughtered in the slaughter house. However, in spite of the situation and the world’s attitude towards the Christian, we can overcome or conquer over things in life through Jesus Christ(John 16:33).
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In conclusion, Paul correctly states that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing includes death(how you die), life(how you live), angels(supernatural creatures can’t take it away), principalities(those in charge of a region whether in the flesh like governor, kings, etc. or in the spiritual like devils, etc.). Powers refer to people with power whether in government, work, physical strength, financial influence, social persuasion, etc..
Current events refers to things present and future events refers to things to come. Remember that when you get saved all of your past, present and future sins are forgiven(I John 1:7). People usually don’t get confused over forgiven past sins, but fall into false doctrine on present and future sins that false brethren claim can make one lose their salvation(which Paul is rebutting here). It doesn’t matter how high you go(third heaven), how low in the earth, or what creature you run into(animal, human, supernatural) at the end of the day it can’t separate you from God’s love which is obtained at salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Paul had a burden for his fellow Jews that greatly affected his heart and mind. The conscience is the mind(physical-brain, spiritual-soul) or an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior. By the way the spirit of man is the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating(bring to life) the body or mediating between body and soul. So Paul wanted his fellow Jews to be saved so bad, that he wished he could be accursed or under a curse from God, so that they could be saved.
Romans 9:4-5 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
The Jews or Israelites were given the promises starting with Abraham, were given the law starting with Moses, covenants(with Moses, David, etc.), service of God(tabernacle, temple, priesthood, etc.) and glory of God. They were adopted by God as a people for Himself(that’s why the bible always says ‘the God of Israel’, etc.). Christ came from a Jewish lineage based on the Jewish fathers(Matt. 1:, Luke 3:). Christ is over all or every person that ever lived and hence will judge everyone at their final judgment one day(John 12:48, by the word of God). Christ is God as well as blessed by God forever.
Romans 9:6-9 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
:9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
The analogy here is that Abraham, who was the father of the Jews, had two sons(Isaac and Ishmael). Ishmael was born from the Egyptian handmaid Hagar who wanted nothing to do with the promises of God, hence Ishmael is a child of the flesh. Isaac was born of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, that believed the promises of God. Hence Isaac is a child of the promise or the promises of God(go to and download ‘The Test of Man and the Bible through the Ages’). Therefore, because you are born into the nation of Israel doesn’t make you saved or a child of promise. You have to get saved like everyone else(Rom. 10:13) or believe the promise of salvation to be a child of promise and counted for the holy seed.
Romans 9:10-13 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Isaac married Rebecca who conceived twins(Gen. 25:23). God knew in His foreknowledge (Rom. 8:25, see comments there) that Jacob would get saved(heed the call) and then serve Him whereas Esau would not. Hence God predestined the two kids to their fate based on election and not works, according to His calling(Esau didn’t heed the call). As a result, the elder(Esau came out first) served the younger(Jacob came out second). God loved Jacob and hated Esau based on their accepting and rejecting of God.
Notice that God loves and hates. God hates sin, He hates all workers of iniquity(Ps. 5:5), He is angry with the wicked everyday(Ps. 7:11) and His wrath abides on the lost person continually (John 3:36). God loves the sinner or showed his love for the sinner by dying for his sin. He showed the sinner mercy and compassion in hopes that they would repent and get saved. Hence, God doesn’t completely love the sinner while hating the sin. He hates the sinner in his sin and wants him to repent. That’s why God provided a payment for his sin and revealed it to the world through the bible as well as individually while walking the earth(I Tim. 3:16, John 3:16). This must be pointed out because in America we have the ‘all love gospel’ where God doesn’t hate the individual for any reason. We have the ‘no repentance’ gospel where you don’t have to be sorry that you sinned, desire to change and believe you deserve eternal damnation because of your sin. These false teachings have destroyed and/or watered down the power of churches.
Romans 9:14-16 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
God is not unrighteous because he loves and hates people in advance because He is omniscient(knows the future, foreknowledge). Remember that man still chooses freely or has a free will to get saved or not and afterward to serve God or not. Mercy is forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. God doesn’t have to show anyone mercy and compassion to be righteous and holy. However, God showed mercy and compassion to the world by having Jesus die for their sins(John 1:29) and give them a chance to receive it or be redeemed(Col. 1:14). After salvation, God can show the believer mercy and compassion if he chooses. The only way to guarantee God’s blessing in this life and the life to come is obedience (John 14:15) or living godly(Tit. 2:12). Hence, when you do wrong or refuse the right, it comes down to God showing you mercy and how you respond to it, etc..
Romans 9:17-18 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Pharoah(Exod. 1:-15:), title of the Egyptian ruler, rejected the word of God when it was presented to him. Every time you reject the word of God, God will harden your heart spiritually, which will make it harder to receive next time. God knew in his foreknowledge that Pharaoh would reject God and his word, so He decided to use his rejection to manifest His power throughout all the earth(God destroyed the economy of Egypt and the Egyptian army that was the most powerful in the world at that time). One thing about God, he uses everything. Hence you can be used by God and get a blessing or you can be used by God and not get a blessing. This is why it pays to get saved and serve God continually.
Romans 9:19-21 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
The lost person tries to find fault with God by saying ‘I never had a chance’ or ‘it’s not fair to me’, etc.. They think that because no one can resist the will of God, that they are being forced to serve or they don’t have a real choice, etc.. However, God gives light to everyone ever born John 1:7) so that no one will have an excuse not to get saved(Rom. 3:4) and later serve Him(II Cor. 5:10). The problem isn’t a sinless God, but sinful man(Rom. 3:23). God has all of the solutions that man needs. He is the solution not the problem and He is always readily available to those who will receive Him and then serve Him.
God has a right to make any person any way he chooses. He can make a person male, female, white, black, or Hispanic, etc.. He can make you with abilities to do math, English, build things, do physical things, etc.. God makes everything for His purpose and glory. Based on how the person He creates responds depends on how God uses that person for His glory(whether to honor or dishonor). The creation has no right to argue with God on how or why he was made, etc.. The potter has power over the clay(of which he makes the pottery to be used for a purpose) and not the other way around. Today we have people who want God to be their genie. They rub their lamp(bible) and tell God what they want Him to do. Rather, they should study their bible and say, Lord what will you have me to do.
Romans 9:22-23 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Paul is saying that God will endure with much patience those that oppose Him(vessels of wrath) and/or won’t get saved(fitted to destruction) to make His power known through them. Likewise He will use the saved that serve Him(vessels of mercy) to show the riches of His glory. The saved included Paul and those saved in his day whether Jew or Gentile(non-Jew).
Romans 9:25-26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Osee(Hosea, Hosea 1:10, 2:23) was an Old Testament prophet(download ‘The Minor Prophets’ to get the book of Hosea at ). Hosea and Isaiah were preaching at the same time and were preaching for the Jews to get right with God before the Assyrian captivity(where the ten northern tribes of Israel were overrun, II Kings). It is true that in the millennium that the nation of Israel will be saved again and serving God. So even though the nation as a whole rejected the Messiah in Paul’s day, a day will come when the as a nation receive Him as their Savior again(Rev. 20:, go to and download ‘The Book of Revelation’).
Romans 9:27-29 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
This is a quote from Isaiah 10:22-23(go to and download ‘The Book of Isaiah’). Even though the nation of Israel would grow to that of the sand of the sea, only a small part or remnant of saved Jews will return to the nation of Israel under Jesus in an eternal body (resurrected at the rapture) or an earthly body that survived the seven year tribulation period. God has decreed the consumption of the people of Israel because of their sins as well as the restoration of the nation under God during the millennium.
This is a quote from Isaiah 1:9. If it wasn’t for God’s promise to the nation of Israel, they would have been destroyed just like Sodom and Gomorrah(Gen. 19:24-25) because of their sins. The nation of Israel is likened or addressed like they are the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah. By the way, whenever the nation of Israel tolerated sodomites or homosexuals in their land(Lev. 18:22), the nation was out of God’s will.
Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
In conclusion, the Gentiles obtained salvation or God’s righteousness because they sought it by faith(Eph. 2:8-9). The nation of Israel had the law of righteousness or the Old Testament up to that point, but hadn’t attained to the law of righteousness for salvation(Acts 10:43), because they didn’t seek it by faith, but by being good or the works of the law(Tit. 3:5). Remember that a person is saved to do good works(Eph. 2:10) in the power of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 5:18), but his good works don’t save him or maintain his salvation, etc.. Today, we have several lost and hell bound religions teaching and practicing this false doctrine, like the Catholics, Church of Christ, Pentecostals, Mormons, Jehovah Witness, Orthodox Jews, etc.. Like the Jews in Paul’s days, they stumbled over the stumbling stone(Jesus Christ) of whom a person must believe in apart from their works to get saved(Rom. 10:13). By the way, Sion is the heavenly Jerusalem(Hebr. 12:22) which is located in heaven where Jesus currently abides.
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Paul’s desire and prayer for the nation of Israel is that they get saved. The lost Jews of the nation of Israel have a zeal for God in that they are very religious and think they are serving God(Mark 7:5-9). However, the lost Jews were zealous without knowledge and were ignorant of God’s righteousness(John 1:29) and as a result established there own righteousness(Mark 7:5-9) against God’s will.
Romans 10:4-5 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
In terms of salvation, Christ is the end of the law. The law condemns a person, but Jesus forgives a person of sin(John 3:16). The righteousness of the law or Mosaic law is for a saved person that keeps the commandments(Eccl. 12:13-14) in the Old Testament.
Romans 10:6-10 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The righteousness for salvation through Jesus is by faith. This is the same faith that would save a person in the Old Testament(Act 10:43) of which many Jews of the past believed. The problem with the lost Jews in Paul’s day was that they were trying to get to heaven by keeping the commandments of the law or their good religious works, etc..
God’s righteousness is not bringing down Christ from above(which the lost Catholic priests do in every mass(mess), etc.) nor is it bringing up Christ again from the dead(only happened once three days later, etc.). God’s righteousness is the word of faith that is preached or the gospel of salvation. This gospel is believing in your heart that God raised Jesus physically from the dead(resurrection, I Cor. 15:1-4), believing in your heart to righteousness(includes repentance and faith, Acts 20:21, see ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book). By the way, confessing with the mouth is the outward manifestation of believing from within.
Beware of people who claim to be saved, live like the world(I John 2:15-17), are ashamed of identifying with Jesus in any way and never confess with their mouth(assuming they are not mute, etc.) to anyone. They are probably lost and need to get saved. Also, there are those who confess with their mouth without repenting(Luke 13:3), showing proper faith(Hebr. 10:10, 14, once saved always saved) or proper understanding who Jesus is(I John 5:20, I Tim. 2:5, etc.).
Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The scripture is the perfect written word which Paul had a copy in his day(Ps. 19:7, 12:6-7). Anyone or whosoever believes on Jesus won’t be ashamed of it. God wants to save everyone(II Pet. 3:9) including Jew or Greek(non Jew), male or female, any race(E.g. White, Black, Asian, Hispanic), rich or poor, etc.. The only requirement for salvation is belief that is constituted by repentance and faith(Acts 20:21). So anyone anywhere can call upon the Lord to be eternally saved(, see ‘Salvation Message’).
Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
A preacher(Matt. 28:18) preaches and teaches the gospel of salvation to be heard. A person who hears the gospel can believe it and hence call upon the Lord to receive it. He can’t receive it if he doesn’t believe it, he can’t believe it if he doesn’t hear it and he can’t hear it if someone doesn’t preach it. Hence preaching the gospel of peace or gospel or salvation is the first work of the Christian(II Tim. 4:2), whereas the first love of the Christian is holiness(John 14:15).
Notice that the gospel is brought with the feet, implying you have to go to the sinner to get him to hear it. This is why new testament churches have public(street preaching, set up a booth at a fairgrounds to witness to people, etc.) and house to house ministries(knock doors, Acts 20:20) to get God’s word heard. This is why tracts with the written word on it are passed out to all(you can get saved by reading the word and believing it as well, etc.). This is why I have a television and webcast ministry. It takes advantage of modern day technology so people can hear the word in greater numbers and greater geographical areas at the same time. This is why I have a free download internet ministry where you can get my books, teachings, sermons, etc.. The goal is to get the gospel of salvation out there and/or encourage others to grow in Christ which will lead to more evangelism, etc.. By the way glad tidings means of good things means good news of good things in terms of salvation and the eternal blessings thereafter, ect..
Romans 10:16-18 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Paul is quoting Isa. 53:1(go to and download ‘The Book of Isaiah’). Not everyone that hears the gospel believes it. Remember, to believe the gospel requires faith in Jesus(John 1:29, I John 1:7). If you are trusting in your good works as part or all of your salvation(Eph. 2:8, Tit. 3:5), you are not believing by faith. Paul also correctly claimed that the whole world has heard the gospel before. It is the job of every saved generation to make sure that the world of their generation hears the gospel.
Obeying the gospel means to receive it with a repentant heart and faith. To do this you must believe you have sinned against God, deserve to go to hell because of your sin, want to change and turn to God from your sin. Afterwards you must believe that Jesus died on the cross to forgive you of all your past, present and future sins by His blood. Also, you must believe that Jesus was(sinless, II Cor. 5:21), was God, I Tim. 3:16) and resurrected from the dead(I Cor. 15:1-4).
Romans 10:19-21 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
The nation of Israel got the promises of God from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(later named Israel). Israel had twelve sons that made up the twelve tribes of Israel. God gave Moses the law (Exod. 20:, etc.) to give to the nation of Israel which still exists today(Old Testament). Israel knew the truth but rejected it that they could keep their man-made tradition(Mark 7:5-9). So the nation of Israel knew of salvation but rejected it.
Paul quotes Isa. 65:1, that promises that others (such as another nation) will accept God’s plan of salvation(Acts 10:43). In Paul’s day it was the Gentile believers including the Greeks. The fact that the Gentiles got the gospel provoked the Jews to jealousy(Acts 22:21-22, etc.). Even in Isaiah’s day, there were non-Jews getting saved. They weren’t seeking nor asking for God, but when he showed up they got saved. However, God stretched forth his hands out daily to the nation of Israel to receive Him as their Savior, but instead trusted in idols and idolatry(I John 5:21).
By the way, because of rejecting God, the nation of Israel split into two nations. Furthermore the ten northern tribes(Israel) went into Assyrian captivity and around 142 years later the two southern tribes(Judah) went into Babylonian captivity. After both nations came out of Babylonian captivity(Babylonians took over Assyria that was over Israel), they got right with God. However, five high priests later they were in sin and rejection mode again. As a result, when Jesus came on the scene some 400 years later they were in total rejection of salvation, etc..
Romans 11:1-4 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
God hasn’t cast away his people the Jews because one day Jesus will reign over the nation of Israel and the world for 1000 years(Rev. 20:). Paul was a Jew of the seed of Abraham and the tribe of Benjamin. God in His foreknowledge(Rom. 8:25) knew that the nation of Israel would reject Him in Paul’s day and as a whole until the seven year tribulation(Re. 6:-19:, download ‘the Book of Revelation’ at ).
Paul quotes I Kings 19:14(by the way, Paul knew and used his Old Testament to convince people of salvation and other truth, Rom. 15:4). Here Elijah cried out to God because of what king Ahab of Israel did along with his wicked wife Jezebel. They killed God’s prophets and dug into the ground to remove God’s altars. As a result, Elijah thought he was the only one left in Israel to serve God. However, God reminded him that he had 7000 others who hadn’t bowed the knee to the image of Baal or Satanic religious worship. Paul uses this example to show that although it may seem that the nation of Israel has rejected Him as a whole, there will be a few or a remnant that will worship and serve Him, even if they do it in secret. From these Jews(that will survive the seven year tribulation), God will make a nation for Himself in the millennium (Matt. 25:31-46) and hence all of the Old Testament prophecies on Israel will be fulfilled. Romans 11:5-6 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
In Paul’s day there was a remnant or a small group of Jews that believe in the Messiah(Acts 10:43) just like there are today(2012, E.g. Messianic Jews, etc.). The election of grace or those that are elected by God for salvation are saved by grace(Eph. 2:8-9) based on His foreknowledge (Rom. 8:25, see comments there). By the way, if you are saved by grace(unmerited favor) you are not saved by works(merited favor). If you were saved by your works or partly by your works then you are no longer saved by grace(merited + unmerited = merited, etc.). Likewise if you are saved by grace then it can’t depend at all on your works. Hence anyone who teaches that you can lose your salvation based on your works or that you need to maintain your salvation by your works is teaching a works salvation which has nothing to do with God’s grace. These lost people will claim that they are trusting in God’s grace plus future behavior to stay saved. However, according to Paul ‘grace plus future behavior’ is not grace or God’s grace to be saved.
Romans 11:7-8 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
The election are those who freely chose to get saved or those that God elected in His foreknowledge because He knew they would receive Him as Savior in the future(omniscient). Those who didn’t receive salvation were blinded by their sin, etc., which includes most of the Jews in the nation of Israel. The spirit of slumber is when God blinds your eyes and deafens your ears to the gospel because of your sin and sin of rejection of salvation.
Romans 11:9-11 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Paul quotes Psalms 69:22-23. A table is a piece of furniture that supports things on it(like a dinner table, a display table, etc.) that is used for nourishment, fellowship and council. When your table becomes a snare(a trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord), a trap(fall into), or a stumbling block(trip and fall over), the thing that should support what your doing is the thing that knocks you down, etc.. When the Jews rejected the Savior, their heart got harder which made it harder to believe as well as their eyes became dark(dim, can’t see as good spiritually). To bow down your back implies that you are laying on your back in praying in the opposite position or direction of one falling on his face to pray. The idea here is that your spiritually backward or your prayers are going in the wrong direction to the wrong person, etc..
Paul is saying that the nation of Israel has stumbled and fell in rejecting the Messiah for salvation(Acts 10:43). As a result of their rejection, the Gentiles got to hear the gospel more that lead to more of them getting saved. This of course provoked the nation of Israel to jealousy because they were the chosen nation of God(Acts 22:21-22, download ‘The Book of Acts’ at ).
Romans 11:12-14 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Hence the fall of the nation of Israel against God has led to the spiritual riches to the rest of the world, etc.. Obviously God wants both Jew and Gentile to be saved(Rom. 10:11-13, see comments there) and when Israel as a nation is saved, more truth is preached worldwide(E.g. in the millennial reign of Jesus).
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles because God sent him as an apostle to mainly the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22). Obviously, Paul preached to Jews along the way(preached in the synagogues for three Sabbath’s), but his main function was to reach the people in the Gentile cities for Jesus, etc.. Likewise, Peter was called an apostle to the Jews, even though he witnessed to Gentiles as well(Acts 10:). The point here is that God sends his believers to preach the word in certain places for a certain reason. It doesn’t imply that since Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles that therefore as a Gentile I only need to worry about the bible from Romans through Philemon (Pauline epistles, II Tim. 3:16-17). So as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul can preach with the authority of an apostle to the Gentiles(II Cor. 12:12), like the other eleven Jewish apostles under Christ did to the Jews, etc..
Emulation means ambition to equal or excel. Paul magnifies his office as apostle to the Gentiles to provoke the Jews(same nationality or flesh as Paul) to equal or excel the Gentiles in getting saved.
Romans 11:15-16 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Paul is saying that the rejection of the Jews of the Messiah led to the nation being cast away or rejected by God. As a result, the rest of the world or the Gentiles(non-Jews) will get more opportunities to get saved or be reconciled to God. E.g. we saw in the British empire as well as in America how fundamental Christianity took hold for awhile, that led to missionaries being sent worldwide(roughly over last 400 years, etc.). However, during the seven year tribulation period, the nation of Israel receives the Messiah and becomes a saved nation again. During the millennium that follows, Israel will be over the world in power with Jesus as their king.
Paul is saying that the nation of Israel started out right(Abraham, Joshua, etc.), hence their first fruit was holy and so the lump following is holy to God. Likewise, if the root is holy the branches that grow from the root is holy.
Romans 11:17-18 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
However, because of sin some of the branches of the tree bad or unholy and hence were broken off from the holy tree(John 15:7). As a result, a wild olive tree(Gentiles) was grafted in the place of the bad branches and they had access to the holy root(Jesus) and the fatness of the olive tree(body of saved people). Paul is telling the Gentiles not to boast against the lost nation of Israel(or the lost Jews) because they are just branches of the tree and not the root(Jesus, John 15:7).
Romans 11:19-22 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
The same root and tree(Jesus) that broke off the evil branches(lost Jews) because of unbelief, can also one day break off the Gentile branches through unbelief. Paul is warning the Gentile believers to not take God’s salvation and scriptures for granted lest they end up like the nation of Israel that went into apostasy over time. He is warning them to not be high minded or proud (Jam. 4:6) but to fear God and keep His commandments(Hebr. 12:28-29). God wants the Gentiles to continue in God’s goodness or holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16). When you forsake holy living, it leads to carnality and worldliness(I John 2:15-17), which leads to the power of God being lost. As a result, the new testament church lacks power, which effects new people from getting saved and/or living godly. If the church survives, they will become like the Sadducees (call holiness legalism(proclaim that God made rules are really man-made rules) and/or become like the Pharisees(call legalism holiness(proclaim that man-made rules are really God-made rules, Mark 7:5-9).
Sadly to say, this is where America Christianity is today(2012). They are proud of their sins while claiming to be good Christians, which has resulted in worldliness, carnality and false doctrine to take over most churches. We have a country where 5 out of 6 people claim to be Christian, yet when dealing with the multitudes, it seems that less than 1 out of 10 are saved and less than 1 out of 100 are serving God in holiness(I am being generous with the proportion estimates, etc.).
Romans 11:23-24 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Paul says that the Jews that were grafted out because of unbelief, can be grafted back in if they believe(Rom. 10:13) or abide not in unbelief. It is easier to graft a branch into the tree it came from then grafting it into another like tree.
The analogy here is that you have two olive trees(one good and bad). You have two religions in this world(believe in Jesus(John 14:6, I John 5:12) or don’t believe in Jesus(Micah 4:5)). When you get saved, you are cut out of the tree of Satan and grafted into the tree of Jesus(John 15:7). The nation of Israel was God’s chosen nation that as a nation was grafted in. However, for the individual Jews to be grafted in or stay in the good tree, they had to get saved(Acts 10:43). Because the nation as a whole rejected Jesus, as a nation they were cut out of God’s tree, etc.. Likewise, when a Gentile nation as a whole receives Jesus as their Savior, the nation will be grafted into the tree of Jesus and the nation will be blessed for it.
Romans 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
So Paul is referring to the Jews as a nation that rejected Jesus or has experienced spiritual blindness. Paul is warning the Gentiles and their nations not to follow the same mistakes as the nation of Israel(Ps. 9:17). God used and is using the rejection of Israel to reach more and as many Gentiles as possible(II Pet. 3:9). The fullness of the Gentiles ends at the rapture(I Th. 4:16-18).
One day during the middle of the seven year tribulation, the nation of Israel will be born again in a day or receive Jesus as their Messiah. Sion is a mountain in heaven(Hebr. 12:22) that is typified by mount Zion. During the millennial reign of Christ, Jesus will reign in the nation of Israel, from Jerusalem, on mount Zion, in the millennial temple, from the mercy seat. God uses the 144,000 Jews(not Jehovah Witnesses(sic)) to evangelize the world after the nation of Israel gets saved by the Deliverer or Jesus. It appears that Jesus will either make a guest appearance to the nation of Israel in the middle of the tribulation or that just believing on Him refers to turning away ungodliness from the nation of Israel. Obviously, some event happens that turns the nation to Christ. We know that the abomination of desolation or the offering of an unclean animal, makes the nation of Israel realize that the antichrist is not the true Messiah(Matt. 24:15). As a result, when Jesus reigns for 1000 years from Israel, he will have a millennial covenant or agreement with the nation of Israel(Ezek. 40:-48:, go to and download ‘The Book of Ezekiel).
Romans 11:28-29 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Because the nation of the Jews as a whole rejects Jesus as their Messiah or the gospel of Jesus for salvation, they are enemies for the sakes of the Gentile believers. However, because of Abraham, Moses, David, etc., the nation of Israel touching the election is promised to be in charge of the world with Jesus as their king for 1000 years before eternity with God beings(Rev. 20:-22:, go to and download ‘The Book of Revelation’. Hence the nation of Israel in the future is beloved for God the Father’s sake, because spiritually the nation of Israel is the wife of God the Father, whereas the Gentile believers make up the bride of Christ, etc..
God gifts a believer(I Cor. 12:) as well as calls a believer to different ministries and duties in the faith to build and edify the body of Christ based on His will for that person and not based on that person getting saved and/or getting right with God(repentance-turn to God from sin and be sorry that you sinned). The body of Christ is made up of individual saved people with different functions, like the body has different members with different functions. God didn’t save, gift and call people to be clones. By the way, beware of churches that are cliquish(have to act the same way as the others to be right with God) and/or clannish(the church operates like a family business, children and in-laws of the pastor or leadership get all of the advantages and breaks and must be in charge or control of everything, etc.).
Romans 11:30-32 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
The nations of the world(Gen. 10:, go to and download ‘The 1st Eleven Chapters of Genesis’) were created by God after Noah’s flood. Before the scattering at the tower of Babel(Gen. 11:) the world was in rebellion against God. After the scattering from the tower of Babel, Abraham was the only one who had faith in God. As a result, God made a nation out of him, via the nation of Israel. Hence, because of unbelief in times past(e.g. since the tower of Babel), the Gentile nations as a whole have forsaken God(Micah 4:5). As a result, the way a Gentile found out about salvation(Acts 10:43) would have been from a saved person(Jew, Jewish prophet) and/or from the Jewish scriptures(Old Testament).
Since the Jews rejected their Messiah, the gospel of salvation is now more readily available to the Gentiles and their respective nations as it is today(‘obtained mercy through their unbelief’). Also, because the Gentiles believed, they can preach the gospel to the Jews and the nation of Israel(that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy). God has concluded that all the nation of Israel is in unbelief so He could have mercy on them all.
Romans 11:33-36 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
The riches of wisdom and knowledge of God as well as His righteous judgments are infinite and hence past finding out(God is an eternal Spirit, Rev. 1:8 and is infinite in greatness when compared to man, etc.). Hence, no man can ever completely know the mind of the Lord nor be his counselor or advisor, etc.. God created the world and gave every living thing life(Gen. 1:). No one ever gave God anything to help Him get started or keep his universe going such that God owes him or should reward him. God is self-sufficient. God exists in three persons(I John 5:7, Col. 2:9) in holiness and perfect fellowship. God doesn’t need man nor His creation. It is the other way around. God is the source of all good things in this life(Col. 1:17) and as a result He is worthy of man’s glory for now and forever, etc..
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Paul is encouraging the Christians to sell out to God in holiness and His will for their lives. This goes contrary to your average so-called American church(sic) where holiness has been replaced with a form of godliness(II Tim. 3:5) and God’s will has been replaced with the will of the pastor or religious organization(Mark 7:5-9). As a result, a Christian so-called in these churches can be worldly(I John 2:15-17) and teach Sunday school whereas the bible believer who lives godly(Tit. 2:12) is a church outcast. This is why I started a church in Lafayette, LA so the outcasts of religion who want to live godly have a place to go to.
God wants the Christian to be transformed spiritual(II Cor. 4:16) starting with his mind(II 10:5) so he can find out God’s will and do it(Phil. 4:6-7). The purpose of the new testament church is provide a training grounds for Christians to learn and apply the bible as well as learn how to get a hold of God. If you can get a hold of God and you know what He requires(holiness), you can find out God‘s will and do it. For more information on living godly, go to and download ’Separation Part I & II’.
Sadly to say, the average American so-called Christian is given to worldly entertainment(sports, music, movie) as well as carnal living(dress, talk and act like the world, I Pet. 1:15-16). Most don’t even read the Old Testament regularly let alone understand why it’s there. For that matter they don’t understand nor read much of the New Testament either(II Tim. 2:15). Their church so-called is more interested in bigger crowds and offerings as well as more prestige than they are in doing God’s will(Rom. 14:17). This is why in America you have churches everywhere, but little to no power of God and/or holiness present and a country going to hell at the speed of light(Ps. 9:17).
Romans 12:3-5 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Paul warns Christians against thinking higher of themselves spiritual than they ought to or the Christian celebrity or superstar mentality. When you have been dubbed a Christian celebrity, people will start following you over the bible, you will not be as accountable for your actions and division in the church will occur.
Remember that Christianity is about Christ and the edification and building of the body of Christ(I Cor. 12:) through evangelism(II Tim. 4:2) and holy living(Tit. 2:12). When you are sober or not drunk on yourself(pride), you will stay focused on the spiritual job at hand and will use your God given talents by faith to the glory of God, etc.. Like the physical body, it is one unit made up of many parts. For the body to be running optimally for the benefit of the whole body, every part must be doing its job in humility, etc..
Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exh ortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The spiritual gifts are listed in I Cor. 12:, which were given for the edification and building of the body of Christ(all believers). Prophecy was the ability to give God’s word, like a prophet did in the Old Testament, before it was put in writing in the scriptures. However, when the scriptures were finished(I Cor. 13:10, II Pet. 1:20) the need for the prophets was done away with in the church age. Ministry means the act of serving others in the Lord or the duties and services of a minister(pastor, deacon, evangelist, missionary, apostle). Teaching is the ability to teach others(E.g. Sunday school teacher, teaching kids, teaching adults) and exhortation (motivate-an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something).
When giving your time, money and energy, it should be done with simplicity and not fanfare. Beware of churches and pastors whenever they do something that may be considered big, they blaze the news abroad so that every Christian possible finds out about it. Yet, when someone else does something big and they hear about it, they act like nothing happened because their name isn’t being uplifted or they had no participation in it(they love to have the pre-eminence, III John :9).
Diligence means careful and persistent work or effort. One that rules or is in authority(E.g. police officer, research scientist, pastor, etc.) needs to do his job well and consistently. Mercy means compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power. When showing mercy when it is in your power, it should be done gladly or with cheerfulness(not with an attitude or expecting something in return, etc.).
Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Dissimulate means to disguise(one's intentions, for example) under a feigned(pretend to be affected by) appearance. When you love someone, it needs to be sincere and not fake. E.g. Independent Baptists are notorious for this. They are taught when visiting people’s homes, to pretend that they like you and what you do is important. They will look for something in your house to compliment you with(brown nose) to get on your good side. They will flatter you(insincere praise) to get you to come to church, get involved in church activities and/or stay involved in church activities. All the while, they usually could care less about you(physically, financially, mentally and/or spiritually) or God’s will in your life(your ministry). Usually, all they care about is your number, your offering and you doing the what they say without thinking, arguing and/or making them accountable for their sinful actions.
However, the bible believer(like me) cares about you and your ministry for God. He will do what it takes in humility to help you serve God better and get a hold of God. He will give you space to disagree and act independently to learn and grow. Finally, the bible believer pastor(like me) will always be accountable for any action he takes and will own up to sin when he is wrong, etc..
Abhor means to regard with disgust and hatred. Cleave means to stick to like a man and wife as one flesh in marriage(Gen. 2:24). So Paul is encoring the saved to stick to the good stuff or holiness with all of your might and treat with disgust anything that is evil. Beware of so-called churches that call holiness legalism(Isa. 5:20-22) and then love the things of the world(I John 2:15-17, worldly entertainment(music[country, rock, rap whether claiming to be Christian or not], sports, movies etc.], download ‘I John’ at ’). By the way, God finds homosexuality(Lev. 18:22) an abomination, etc..
Romans 12:10-12 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Affectionate a means readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness. So kindly affectionate means you really care and you want to do whatever it takes to please the other person, even if it means you give the other person preferential treatment at your expense. Slothful means lazy and fervent means to show great emotion or zeal. In a Christians secular work or business, he should work hard at everything he does and not be lazy in any way. When serving the Lord(non-secular) or in business(secular), a Christian should be zealous and ready to work hard with a great attitude, etc..
A Christian should be rejoicing in his future hope(rapture, second coming, millennial reign of Christ, eternity, etc.) and patient in tribulation(a state of great trouble or suffering, I Pet. 4:12-17). He should be continuing instant in prayer(always ready to pray and praying regularly every day, go to and download ‘How to Get your Prayers Answered, Part I & II’).
Romans 12:13-14 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Paul is encouraging Christians to give to the needs of other saved people or saints (Acts 2:45). Just like the every part of your body has needs and special needs, the body of Christians at the local church has needs whether financial(mentioned here) as well as spiritual, physical and mental, etc..
Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. The Christian should be hospital to all(visitors-people you know who you see regularly, guests-people you know who you don‘t see regularly, strangers-people you don’t know). You never know if the person you are entertaining is an angel of God(test of God), a lost person who you can influence to be saved, or a saved person you can encourage to serve God better or keep serving God, etc..
Also, when a person sees a Christian, they should see Christ in you. If the Christians didn’t act godly in the power of God, who would want what they have in God, etc..
Bless means to confer well-being or prosperity on. A Christian shouldn’t curse(an appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something) those that persecute them, but to pray that God would save them and/or change them to live godly (Tit. 2:12). The Christian will be persecuted(II Tim.3:12) and God will reward the Christian(I Pet. 4:12-16, II Cor. 5:10) for everything he does including enduring persecution for the glory of God.
Romans 12:15-16 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
A Christian should rejoice with those that rejoice in the Lord and weep with those that weep because of their situation, etc.. In other words, when the Lord does something good for someone, praise the Lord. Don’t be jealous or glory hungry. When someone is sad, show compassion for them and sincerely be sad with them(John 11:35, download ’The Book of John’ at ).
Christians should have the same mind towards each other. In other words don’t show favoritism(cliquish-same group or clannish-family) put think about every Christian the same way with the same attitude based on the situation, etc.. Paul is warning Christians not to mind high things(show favoritism based on fame, political, social, or financial standing, etc.) but to condescend(lower yourself) to men of low estate(people who are not famous, poor, unhealthy, different nationality, children, etc.).
Conceit is excessive pride in oneself. Christians shouldn’t be wise as a result of their pride in themselves. E.g. you may be a good mechanic and as a result judge yourself as an expert in all areas of life. Also, you judge everyone based on their mechanical understanding and ability, etc..
Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
A Christian shouldn‘t reward or pay back(recompense) an evil act with an evil act. Give God time and space to give vengeance or payback to the worker of evil and iniquity, etc.. God. In the meantime, the Christian should feed his enemies when they hunger and give them drink when they thirst(both physically and spiritually). In other words you fight evil with good not evil with evil. As a result, it will be like heaping(pile on top of) hot spiritual coals on their unspiritual head(cause great conviction and/or make them think, etc.).
Without being a pacifist or walking mat, you should answer the foolish carefully(Prov. 26:4-5, II Tim. 3:16-17, I Pet. 3:15), be consistent in your life and don’t give in to sin(compromise) or the sinner in his iniquity, etc.. E.g. I never really get mad at the sinner who is mocking or arguing against God and His word. I realize that they are lost and just need someone to put up with them long enough to give them the gospel and/or spiritual direction, etc.. That’s how I was reached with the gospel and learned a lot of bible.
He should provide things honestly in the sight of all men(make an honest living, etc.). He should live in peace with all men. He shouldn’t be the source of trouble because of his sin. However, like in America(2012), when you peaceably stand for the obvious(e.g. creation of the universe(Gen. 1:1), against abortion(Exod. 20:13), homosexuality(Rom. 1:27, Lev. 18:22), etc.), trouble and persecution will come knocking at your door(II Tim. 3:12, etc.). At the end of the day, the Christian should have a testimony of living godly and handling situations with others in a godly manner, etc..
Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
There is an authority structure in this life. The bible or scriptures are above all(Ps. 119:89, 138:2, Old King James for the English speaking people). God is under the scriptures or the authority of His word and the government, home, new testament church, teacher, employee and personal accountability are under God, that is under the scriptures(download ‘Proper Authority’ at ).
The government, home, new testament church, teacher, employee and personal accountability are separate authorities that usurp one another. E.g. the government doesn’t run the church nor does the church run the government. God wants both to be holy. This is what was originally called separation of church and state or separation of powers. In America(2012) to justify being anti-God, they demand that the government and its influence not be based on the bible(sic). Also, the government doesn’t run the home, nor does the church run the home. The husband runs the home, with his wife under him and the kids under the wife. A child is not the property of the state, but is under the authority of the home. To usurp the authority of another or to rebel against a God given authority is sin. When you resist God’s ordinance(an authoritative order; a decree from God) or authority structure, it will lead to judgment in your life.
Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Paul here is referring to civil government rulers. Their job is to punish evil doers within a country(criminals, lawbreakers, etc.) and defend against evil doers outside of a country(national defense, invasion, etc.). They are not responsible for public school education(the home is responsible to train their kids, etc.). Because the civil government has power to punish you for doing wrong, you should be afraid to do wrong or break the civil laws or fear the civil government. As a result, you will be a law abiding citizen and the civil government will praise you for it or be on your side, etc..
The civil government official(police officer, sheriff, judge, mayor, governor, etc.) is a minster of God in that he has been given the power to enforce the authority in a legal manner. God is a god of order and not confusion(I Cor. 14:40). Civil government keeps everyone in line and prevents massive chaos or anarchy(everyone does that which is right in their own eyes in terms of civil law). When a person breaks the civil law, he should fear the one in charge that holds the sword and the authority to use it. It is the civil government official as well as the civil government to make sure that evil is quickly avenged. If they are soft on crime or take forever to execute judgment, it will encourage people to do evil. If the punishment doesn’t outweigh the crime by a lot, then people will look at getting caught like a business expense, etc..
Romans 13:5-7 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
The Christian needs to obey the laws of the civil government not only because they fear the penalty for disobeying, but also for conscience sake. It is a sin to disobey the civil government laws. Hence, it is required for a citizen to pay taxes or tribute to fund the civil government. Custom is the tax levied on imported goods. Custom is the place where officials check incoming goods, travelers, or luggage, etc.. So the Christian needs to give honor or respect as well as fear to civil authority officials when it is their right to have it(e.g. while on duty).
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
The Christian shouldn’t owe any man anything in terms of debt, taxes, honor, respect, etc..
Like the civil government, the Christian should give what is required to whatever person who is in charge of whatever at whatever time. Also, he should do the same to other Christians in terms of debt, taxes, honor, respect, etc.. The Christians are to love and not hate one another. This is accomplished by keeping God’s commands(John 14:15) and loving the truth(I Cor. 13:4).
It doesn’t imply that you can’t borrow money to buy a house and/or car(by the way, both are used as collateral to back up the debt), use a credit card, etc.. As long as you pay your bills as promised(by the due date without complaint), you are okay.
When loving one another, it implies you won’t commit adultery(have sex with another that is not your spouse), kill(murder someone and take their life away), steal(take away something that belongs to someone else), false witness(lie or testify falsely at another’s expense) and covet (desire to have what someone else has). Notice that the commandments are part of the original ten commandments give to Moses by God(Exod. 20:) and they all relate to how you treat someone else or your fellow man. To love your neighbor as yourself implies that you will treat your neighbor like you treat yourself(honor, dignity, fairness, equity, etc.). You treat your neighbor righteously in holiness, like you want to be treated in righteously in holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16). When you love your neighbor, it is a blessing and not a curse to him. Ill means to treat badly or wrongly. Hence when you love your neighbor by obeying God’s commands, you are fulfilling the law in terms of how you treat your fellow man. Remember that the Mosaic law can be divided into laws relating to God and laws relating to your fellow man(which includes personal behavior).
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Paul is admonishing Christians to be sober or alert spiritually in this life. They need to wake up and smell the coffee as they say. You are not promised tomorrow. Everything you do in this life as a Christian will be graded and rewarded accordingly(II Cor. 5:10). Everyday is one day closer to when Jesus returns at the rapture(pre-tribulation resurrection of living and dead Christians, I Th. 4:17-18). In that day the flesh or body of the Christian will be saved and it will be changed from a corrupt and mortal sinful body to a sinless and immortal eternal body.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
In the bible, darkness is related to the lost sinner or worker of darkness(John 3:19-21). Hence the Christian is called a worker of light or child of light. So, for the saved person, he is saved and his past as a lost person is far spent and behind him(II Cor. 5:17). As a Christian, it is his job to change his behavior to please God or to cast off the works of darkness(e.g. like in I Cor. 6:9-12, Gal. 5:19-21) while replacing it with the armor of light(e.g. like in Gal. 5:22-23). By the way, armor is a piece of equipment that protects your body from harm. Likewise, spiritual armor protects you from spiritual as well as physical harm(E.g. smoking can lead to an addiction(a hard sin pattern to break) along with the physical destruction that it brings(Jam. 1:14-15).
Romans 14:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
When walking during the day, people are usually sober an honest, whereas at night time on the weekends they are getting drunk on alcohol and sometimes display riotous behavior(any bar on Friday and Saturday night in America, 2012, etc.). Chambering means to reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers whereas wantonness means the trait of lacking restraint or control. You also find this every weekend in your typical American bar room. The Christian shouldn’t be a busybody or a coach potato as they say, but someone who works diligently and efficiently with their time. Also, a Christian should always be in spiritual control of his life through the Holy Spirit(Eph. 5:18) physically, personally, financially, socially and mentally.
Strife means the angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues(conflict), whereas envy means a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. So the Christian shouldn’t be in conflict with other Christians. Sometimes on smaller issues, you just need to agree to disagree, pray for each other for God to resolve the issue and live in peace with each other in the meantime. Remember that every Christian is growing at a different rate and usually is at a different spiritual level at the time you are talking to them. Also, Christians shouldn’t be jealous of and hateful towards others whom God has blessed for whatever reason, etc..
In summary, a Christian needs to put Jesus on him(serve the seed of the Holy Ghost in him) and to put the flesh off of him(deny the fleshly body desires or make not provision to obey it). With the physical corrupt flesh of the body not redeemed yet, a Christian has to daily put on Jesus or submit to the Holy Spirit within him(Eph. 1:13). When he does that, he won’t serve the law of the flesh or his sin nature and as a result fulfill the lusts thereof(e.g. the very strong sexual desires of a person, etc.).
Romans 14:1-3 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
In the faith of serving Jesus, some will be weak(I Pet. 2:2) whereas others will be strong(Hebr. 5:13-14). In the growing process certain things will be on or off limits to the individual believer based on where he is spiritually. These certain things are things of the faith that aren’t strictly prohibited, but a believer has freedom in Christ(freedom to do right and not sin) to do or not do them. E.g. In terms of eating food, I can eat anything I want in Christ and I am okay. Some think that consuming certain foods, like caffeine and pork, is sinful whereas others do not. The bible says that all food is clean(Acts 10:, Peter’s rooftop vision). However, not everyone may understand that scripture. Salvation is just based on receiving Jesus as Savior(Rom. 10:13, see ‘Salvation Message’ at the end of the book) not on understanding all the teachings of holiness, etc.. Hence the brother who forbids himself to eat certain things is weak in the faith, but isn’t sinning by not eating. Likewise, the brother who does eat certain foods isn’t sinning either.
The stronger Christian needs to recognize the weakness of the brother, yet still receive him as a fellow believer. Likewise the weaker Christian needs to recognize the liberty of the stronger brother and receive him as well as a fellow believer. Remember that
churches aren’t supposed to be cliques but training and fellowship centers for the believers to find strength and encouragement to serve the Lord. Christians need to learn how to agree to disagree in areas where you have freedom to do something or not do something. The Christian never has the right to sin(I John 3:4). The Christian has freedom within the commandments of God to live for God. Hence Christians come out individuals for God with individual wills from God to serve Him. If your church is producing a bunch of clones and/or yes-men to the leadership, etc., something is wrong and sin isn’t very far around the corner, etc..
Romans 14:4-6 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
A Christian is servant to His master Jesus Christ(I Cor. 6:19-20). He is not a servant to another Christian. By the way, beware of churches that have dictators (unlimited authority) as pastors instead of team leaders(limited authority) as pastors(go to and download ‘Proper Authority’). When dealing with the issue of personal accountability, the Christian is only accountable for God for his behavior and no one else. Hence, when a Christian has freedom to chose or not, another Christian shouldn’t be the judge of his freedom of choice, but only God.
Another area of Christian liberty is how you treat certain days. The only requirement is that you rest one day a week. I usually choose to take Sunday off because it is the most efficient day of rest for me, etc.. God didn’t say which day in the new testament, but that it is good to rest. Even God worked six days and rested one to give man an example. The body of man wasn’t designed to work everyday without rest or a day off once in awhile, etc..
Also, some days are treated as special by some Christians(birthdays, certain American holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, etc.) whereas to other Christians (like myself) treat everyday as the same. A Christian shouldn’t judge a Christian based on how he treats a certain day, if he is doing it to serve the Lord better and/or to honor Him. Likewise, what day he chooses to rest is between him and the Lord. Everything a Christian does should be to serve and honor the Lord. Otherwise, it is sin to behave in anything without giving any regard to what the Lord thinks, etc..
Sadly to say in American Christianity we have a clone and cliquish mentality to make doctrine of what you can and can’t do on certain days as well as what you can and can‘t eat, where God says you have freedom to chose that falls under personal accountability. These same churches will impose their will on others rather than deal with issues on a personal basis. That is where the joke about these churches of ’leave your brain at the door’ comes from(i.e. don‘t think but just do what we say regardless whether it is right or wrong).
Romans 14:7-9 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Everything a Christian does will affect someone else in some way. Hence a Christian should live to please the Lord and encourage others to serve the Lord(I Pet. 1:15-16). Likewise his behavior shouldn’t discourage others to serve the Lord nor be displeasing to the Lord. Every Christian belongs to the Lord(I Cor. 6:19-20) and should sell out to the Lord’s personal will for his life(Rom. 12:1-2, see comments there).
Christ came to earth so that people could serve Him in the power of the Holy Ghost. Hence Christ died on the cross, resurrected and gave the Holy Ghost to revive the lost from the spiritual dead as well as make the believer more spiritually alive or active, etc..
Jesus is Lord over the spiritual dead(lost) and spiritually living(I Jo. 5:12).
Romans 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
At the judgment seat of Christ(II Cor. 5:10) every Christian will give an account to Christ for everything they did or didn’t do as well as their thought life(II Cor. 10:5). In terms of certain personal choices of which he has freedom to so do, the believer only has to give an account to Jesus for his actions.
What this passage doesn’t say is that you can’t judge a person at all(E.g. the ‘love don’t judge’ crowd). The Christian is to judge everything righteously(John 7:24), based on God’s word(John 12:48) and according to the spirit of God(I Cor. 2:14-15). Preaching is about what is right(doctrine), what is wrong(reproof), for correction(make the wrong right) and instruction(keep the right right, II Tim. 4:2). Beware of so-called Christians who use this verse to discourage correct judging and preaching, etc..
The only area where he can’t judge is in an area where the Christian has freedom to choose between several right things(personal accountability). That is between the chooser and God.
Romans 14:13-15 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Hence in an area of Christian liberty or freedom to do right(or sin no more), Christians shouldn’t judge one another nor put a stumbling block to make the other Christian fall into sin. E.g. you make a Christian honor or dishonor a certain day, eat something or not eat something, etc. against his conscience towards God.
In Paul’s case, everything is clean(doesn’t defile) in itself when it comes to having liberty or freedom to chose between several right things. However, if someone esteems or regards something in particular way to be unclean, then to that person in terms of personal accountability to Christ, it is unclean.
So if you have liberty to eat something whereas your brother has a problem with it, it is good to respect the other brother’s request out of charity(love in action) and not eat that certain thing when he is around. Otherwise, it could cause the other brother to react wrongly and sin against God in some way(spiritually destructive). Over the years, I have found that my liberty to do certain things has grown as my knowledge, wisdom and power from God has grown. I have also learned to be more hospital and respectful of other’s needs and wishes in areas where it is neither a sin to do it or abstain in it, etc..
Romans 14:16-18 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
So the freedom to choose what is right is good. It shouldn’t be evil spoken of. Christians need to learn the difference between choosing right over wrong(holiness) versus liberty in choosing between right and something else that is right. The kingdom of God or God reigning within a person(go to and download ‘The Kingdom of God’) is not about your liberty to eat and drink or not eat or drink something that isn‘t sinful. It is about righteousness(do what is right, John 14:15), peace(Phil. 4:6-7) and joy from the Lord(Neh. 8:10). The person who practices holiness in the power of God serves Christ, is accepted by God and approved of men that are spiritual, etc.. By the way, holiness is keeping the commandments in the power of the Holy Ghost and the commandments are the Old King James bible for the English speaking people.
Romans 14:19-21 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hence a Christian should live amongst other Christians in such a way that promotes peace in Christ and not division. Christians should build up or edify one another and not tear down or divide one another over issues of Christian liberty(where a Christians has personal freedom to choose between certain righteous behaviors and actions). The mistake most churches make is that they allow for sin under the guise of freedom in Christ(Gal. 5:13) and take away personal freedom in Christ under the guise of sin, etc..
What you eat or drink doesn’t destroy the spiritual work of God since all unclean food has been pronounced clean(Acts 10:, Peter’s heavenly vision). However, if you eat with offense or a bad conscience it is sin to you and that isn’t acceptable before God. Likewise, it is good for the mature Christian to abstain from certain foods and drinks as we as other activities he has liberty to do if they cause a fellow brother to be offended, weaken their conscience or stumble(sin against God with their conscience).
Romans 14:22-23 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
If you have faith to serve God that includes great liberty to do many things that others wouldn’t do, you should have that faith before God alone along with the actions that follow. E.g. At dinner time, I can eat whatever I want when I am by myself, because I have liberty in Christ to eat it. However, if you eat something in doubt, you are not eating it by faith and hence you are sinning against God. So the person who doesn’t have liberty to eat or drink certain foods should abstain from them. Finally both brothers should respect each other in Christ. The mature one should temporarily surrender his liberty to do something and/or the other brother should respect the other’s right to do something, while abstaining himself.
A Christian as well as a Christian leader should never try to impose his will on someone else in these matters. Beware of the Christian leader (dictator) who tries to use his authority as a leader in the church to impose his will on areas of Christian liberty. Remember that a Christian leader has limited authority that pertains to the direction of the church and making the final decisions in areas of importance relating to the church. He has no authority in terms of a Christian’s personal accountability relating to Christian liberty(go to and download ’Proper Authority’).
Romans 15:1-2 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
An infirmity is a bodily ailment or weakness, especially one brought on by old age. Those who are healthy should bear the infirmities of the weak in terms of respect and behavior. The weak will be physically restricted on what they can and can’t do so I need to accommodate for their weakness in fellowship and service in Christ. E.g. in church, we have several used high end quality chairs with multiple ergonomic accessories. That way, regardless of your back problem, we have a chair and position that will be comfortable for you when in attendance. One time we had a person that was hurting so bad, we laid down a portable mini bed for him to lay on while the teaching and preaching was going on. We didn’t say, ‘stop complaining and just grin and bear it’ but ‘how can we ease or stop the pain so you won’t be distracted from the preaching’. In some cases I gave away aspirin and Tylenol whereas in some cases I told the brother to stay home and rest(i.e. It is so bad that it doesn’t pay to kill yourself to attend. Not to mention your mind will be distracted from why you came in the first place, etc.).
By pleasing the one in need with the physical infirmity, it will encourage and edify him in Christ. Also, others will see that the church is compassionate and be encouraged and edified. It is good to know that regardless of the infirmity, the new testament church you are attending will do whatever it takes to accommodate you or the visitor in need.
Sadly to say, most churches couldn’t care less about the needs of others. E.g. I had a back problem that affected by sitting. I put it on the church prayer list and people didn’t seem to take it seriously. I brought a special chair to church to accommodate for my back pain. One day another brother was sitting in my chair before I got their because he had a similar problem. So I brought another chair and later I came to church with two brothers sitting in the chair with a similar problem. I brought another chair(three total left in the church) and one day the pastor’s wife’s father was sitting in the third chair and rebuking me for not letting him have my chair. Moreover, her husband the pastor, looked down on me for complaining about the chairs not being ergonomically friendly, yet when his family in-law was in need, he had no problem using my chair and then rebuking me for being selfish(even though I had brought three chairs and the pastor wouldn’t spend money on his own chair). I found out later that about 10% or more of the people in church had back problems and that better chairs would be a blessing to them. Nevertheless, hypocrisy in the Baptist church reigned and I left with my chairs. Last I checked they had no good chairs and others ended up leaving as well. It turned out that this church had more problems than the chair problem. It was just a symptom of their real problem.
Romans 15:3-4 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
A reproach is to express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in someone or something. So a Christian should use his liberty to adjust his behavior for the things that others disapprove or bear their reproach for the good of Christ, etc..
The things written before or aforetime would be the Old Testament scriptures. Once again, Paul is upholding the Old Testament as important. It is for the Christian’s learning and to develop their hope in the future through patience and comfort. Beware of those who discount the Old Testament as a whole in the name of being under a new covenant (hence we only need the New Testament, etc.) or that everything is ‘under the cross‘. All scripture is important and has a place in the Christians life in some way(II Tim. 3:16-17).
Romans 15:5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
God is a God of patience or longsuffering as well as consolation or comfort. Likewise the Christian should show patience and consolation towards one another especially in the areas of Christian liberty or freedom to choose right. God wants the Christians to be unified or likeminded on what is right(I John 3:4) and the freedom to roam in the region of right when making personal choices. E.g. a Christian should cover himself and dress modestly. Whether he wears a white or blue shirt e.g. is up to him, etc.. In my new testament church, I taught people to have and use as much of their Christian liberty as possible. The more right options you have and are aware of the better.
God wants the local new testament church to glorify God as one unified body in mind and mouth, whether the Father or the Son(I John 5:7). Remember that the body operates at its optimal level when every member is healthy and working together as a unit(I Cor. 12:). Hence, God wants the Christian to receive or accept everyone given their realm of Christian liberty, just like Christ received the believer(Rom. 10:13) to the glory of God. Once again, this is why new testament churches that are clannish(family business), cliquish(exclusive group of friends or associates), or clone like(have to act exactly the same in everything) are bad. They will put family, their exclusions and/or their personal liberty choices equal to or above the word of God. As a result, certain individuals will be belittled and others will be exalted not based on the word of God, but on how they fair with the family, clique and/or other clones, etc.. Further down the road, Pharisee-ism will over take and control the church that will eventually destroy its spiritual efficacy(Mark 7:5-9).
Romans 15:8-11 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Jesus was called to go to the lost house of Israel or the nation of Israel when on earth. Hence, He was the minister to the circumcision(Gen. 17:, the Jewish nation) for the truth of God and to confirm the promises made to the Jewish fathers in the Old Testament(i.e. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). As a result, the Gentiles who later believe will glorify God for the mercy He has showed them(e.g. Acts 10:43-48). Remember that Paul was sent to the Gentiles by Jesus and hence he preached to them Christ(Acts 20:20-21) and as a result sang to God in praise, etc.. God commands the Gentiles or non-Jews to rejoice with the Jews for the salvation given by Jesus(John 3:16). Also, God wants all the Gentile nations and the people thereof to praise the Lord(Ps. 117:1-2). Laud means to sing a song or hymn of praise and this is why they sing hymns in the new testament church as well as listen to hymns on tapes and CD‘s when not in church, etc..
Romans 15:12-14 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Remember that Jesse was the father of David of whom God promised that from his lineage would arise a king who would reign over the world forever(which turns out to be Jesus, Matt. 1:, in David’s lineage). Once again Paul quotes the Old Testament to back up what he is saying. During the millennium, Jesus will reign over the world including all of the Gentile nations(Rev. 20:, go to and download ‘The Book of Revelation’). The saved Gentiles or non-Jews will trust in Jesus then as well (when Jesus takes over-Matt. 25:31-48, to the end of the millennium).
God is a God of hope and will fill the believer with joy, peace and hope as a result of believing the promises in the scriptures about the present and the future, etc.. Notice that this is obtained only through the power of the Holy Ghost(Eph. 5:18). The lost world can’t experience this because they don’t have salvation(Eph. 1:13).
Paul is persuaded or convinced that the believers in Rome are full of goodness and knowledge. As a result, the believers are able to admonish or warn one another to live for God on a daily basis(I Pet. 1:15-16).
Romans 15:15-16 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Because of the maturity of the believers(Hebr. 5:13-14) in Rome, Italy in the first century, Paul is able to be more bold in his presentation as well as depth of doctrine with application, etc.. Paul is proclaiming by his calling in God(Acts 9:, 21:, etc.) that he is the minister to the Gentiles with the gospel of God(I Cor. 15:1-4). He wants to make sure that the offering up of the Gentiles(the number of saved as well as the holiness of the saved) is acceptable to God, because it is sanctified or set apart by the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:17-18 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Paul glories in Jesus Christ in those things that pertain to God and not things of the world(I John 2:15-17, like sports, movies, music and the events related thereof, etc.). Wrought means to put together. Paul won’t glory in things that God didn’t do through him to make the Gentiles obedient to Christ by word or deed. E.g. he won‘t take credit for the work of another Christian. It‘s like a pastor who does a great work in his community and the pastor who trained him brags about it like it was all because of him, etc.. Christian leaders shouldn’t be glory seekers nor power hungry, etc.. They should be examples to others in service to the Lord.
Romans 15:19-21 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Paul preached the gospel of Christ in God’s power that were authenticated by signs and wonders(II Cor. 12:12). Paul preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum(east of Italy across the Sea, go to ). Paul strived to preach the gospel where it was never preached before. His goal wasn’t to build on someone else’s work, but to be a church planter or start works for God. This is what a missionary does, to start new testament churches around the world where a church currently doesn’t exist, etc.. The three missionary journeys of Paul are recorded(Acts 13:-28:, download ’The Book of Acts’ at ).
Romans 15:22-24 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
Paul is his ministries was much hindered in going to Rome, Italy. The eastern border of Spain is around 600 miles west of Rome. However, Paul’s place in certain regions is over and it is time to move on to new locations. Paul planned to go to Rome on his way to Spain, etc.. Paul believes that if the people in Rome want to see him, they will support it financially so he can go. Remember that missionaries get the support from local new testament churches to do greater works than what they could afford if they had to work to pay their way.
Romans 15:25-29 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
At the time of the writing of this epistle or letter to the Romans, Paul is going to Jerusalem to bring a financial contribution from the saints in Macedonia & Achaia(east of Rome, ) to the poor saints or believers in Jerusalem. Paul points out that the Gentiles benefited spiritually from the faith of the Jews in Jerusalem. Hence, it is good that the poor saved Jews should benefit in carnal things(Matt. 6:33) from the Gentiles etc..
So after Paul drops off the offering of the Gentile brethren in Jerusalem or sealed to the Gentiles the fruit or reward of their offerings, he will go back to Rom on his way to Spain. Paul believes that when he arrives in Rome that he will have the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ on him.
Romans 15:30-33 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul beseeched or begged for urgently for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake as well as the love of the Holy Spirit for the brethren in Rome to strive together for Paul in their prayers. Paul requested that he be delivered from the non-believer’s in the region of Judaea(southwest of Jerusalem) and that he would be accepted by the believers or saints in Jerusalem.
Paul wants to come back to Rome with joy by the will of God so that they believers in Rome will be refreshed or be renewed or revived with new spiritual strength for the Lord. Also, Paul wants to be refreshed as well. God prays that the God of peace or Jesus would be with all the believers in Rome continually(John 14:21, 23).
Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Phebe was a faithful Christian or servant of the Lord of the new testament church in Cenchrea (seaport of Corinth, 500 miles east of Italy, ). She was a succourer(assistance and support in times of hardship and distress) of many Christians including Paul. However, she had some current needs herself and now needed some assistance. Sadly to say in American churches, when you are helping in a specific church need the church loves you, but when you are in need they usually leave you to fend for yourself(just like the world, I John 2:15-17). Christianity should be different from the world and we shouldn’t judge people based on their needs, but their spirituality.
Romans 16:3-5 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Priscilla and Aquila were from Corinth and Paul stayed with them when preaching there(both Paul & Aquila were tentmakers, Acts 18:, go to and download ‘The Book of Acts). Both Priscilla and Aquila risked their life for Paul and his ministry. There impact not only helped Paul but also all of the Gentile churches. Notice that Paul doesn’t take all the glory and credit for his ministry, but gives everyone their proper due. The way some independent Baptists and others talk, you think they did it all themselves and without them, nothing would have gotten done(III John :9, love the pre-eminence).
Priscilla and Aquila had a new testament church in their house, like I do. Unfortunately in Louisiana, there more worried about the facilities(outward, form of godliness, II Tim. 3:5) than the spirituality of the preaching and teaching in a church. For every ten calls I have had from my television ministry that invited the community to church, nine of them almost immediately thereafter hang up when I tell them we are meeting in my home. It’s funny how they love my television show that consists of teaching and preaching filmed in my home. But if they came in person to the exact same spot to hear the same teaching and preaching, it is evil(sic) because it’s done in my house and not a million dollar facility. Epaenetus was Paul’s first convert in the region of Achaia().
Romans 16:6-8 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
:8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Bestowed means to present as a gift or an honor; confer. Mary gave Paul much labor, Andronicus and Junia were fellow prisoners with Paul implying they suffered similar persecutions that Paul suffered. Beloved means dearly or much loved person. Notice that the brothers and sisters in Christ had a bonding godly love in the Lord. Also, it must be noted that Andronicus and Junia were not apostles, they just had a over and above testimony in their service to Christ.
Romans 16:9-15 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
:12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
:14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
:15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Salute means to give a gesture of respect, homage, or polite recognition or acknowledgment. Kinsman means a relative or one of a person's blood relations, esp. a male. Paul is recognizing the brethren who sacrificed and serve the Lord with him to the glory of God. Remember that every new testament church consists of a local body of believers that work as a holy unit to promote the gospel and holy living(I Cor. 12:, Matt.28:18-20). I counted twenty eight people Twenty people, two households plus others in this chapter that are worthy of praise and honor for their service for Jesus in their local church and ministry to Paul. re mentioned here.
Romans 16:16-18 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
In the Mediterranean area, they greet each other with a kiss, whereas American culture uses a handshake. The Christians in Paul’s day greeted each other with a holy kiss. Usually a kiss is associated with a man and woman in marriage who are in love or a child kissing her parents in compassion. Hence a holy kiss is one of respect, like the one I give my mother when I see her, etc. or like when I greet a friend with a handshake to show respect.
In the new testament church there are those who cause division based on false doctrines that go contrary to the bible. E.g. Salvation doctrine that includes works(Tit. 3:5), the bible isn’t perfect(Ps. 19:7) nor preserved perfect(Ps. 12:6-7), bringing the world’s music, entertainment, dress, behavior, etc. into the church(I John 2:15-17, go to and download ‘The Book of I John’ and ‘Separation Part I & II’). The list goes on but the point here is that the false doctrines go contrary to the bible and its teachings(II Pet. 1:20). People who teach and preach false doctrines(e.g. Catholics, Church of Christ, Jehovah Witness, Mormons, Pentecostals, Methodists, etc.) don’t really serve the Lord but their own belly or physical desires(more money, attendance and prestige, etc.). They know how to talk like an orator but what they say isn’t spiritual because of their false doctrine(I Tim. 4:1-3). If you don’t know your bible, you will fall for their false doctrines. If you study it(II Tim. 2:15) you will know how to rebuke it.
Sadly to say that in most churches, it is the bible believer that is singled out as offensive and the divider because he goes contrary to the lost and carnal flow of the congregation(I King 22:14, etc.). If holiness doesn’t reign in your church, it is time to find another one(I Pet. 1:15-16).
Romans 16:19-20 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The obedience of the Christians to the Lord(John 14:15) in Rome, Italy was of such high purity and consistency that all the Christians in the Mediterranean region in Paul’s day heard about it. Paul was glad for them yet pointed out that it is good to be wise on what is right and simple or ignorant of things that are evil. E.g. I don’t need to study pornography, experience with illegal drugs, gamble a little, etc. to know that those things are wrong.
In banks, they have the tellers handle real money for three weeks(so I am told) so that when someone gives them a counterfeit, they can identify it by feeling it without looking at it. In other words they don’t study the counterfeits to identify counterfeits but just study the original. Anything that varies from it is counterfeit. This is why I spend 99% or more of my time studying the bible(II Tim. 2:15) and 1% or less of my time looking at false doctrines, etc.. If it differs from the original (Old King James bible for the English speaking people) it is wrong.
At the end of the seven year tribulation, Satan will be bound for 1000 years and at the end of the millennium will be cast into the lake of fire forever(Rev. 20:, download ‘The Book of Revelation’ at ). Knowing this future fact that Jesus and the Christians have victory over the Devil or Satan gives the believer confidence and courage to remain faithful to God and active in the ministry for his entire life. The Christian serves God in the power of God or is under God’s grace. Paul is encouraging the believers in Rome to continue in God’s grace to obey God’s commands and fulfill God’s will for their lives(Rom. 12:1-2, see comments there).
Romans 16:21-24 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Paul salutes eight more people. Whether it is a relative(kinsmen) or not, Paul recognizes Christians based on their holiness. Paul was never clannish(family members or relatives got special treatment) nor cliquish(prefer one over another) with the believers. Paul neither showed preference to those in civil authority over the common man. He distinguished them by their holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16). A chamberlain is a chief officer in the household of a king or nobleman. By the way, the letter or epistle to the new testament church in Rome was written by Tertius. Evidently Paul dictated while Tertius wrote. Paul once again repeats for the grace of God be with all the believers(Rom. 16:20, see comments there).
Romans 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
The Godhead(Col. 2:9, I John 5:7) has the power to establish the Christian in the faith so he can spiritual grow and prosper, etc.. Paul’s gospel was the same one that all the apostles taught(I Cor. 15:-14, Matt. 28:18-20). Beware of those that say Paul’s gospel was different from Peter’s gospel, etc.. ‘My gospel’ means that Paul believed it for his own personal application(Rom. 10:13) as well as taught others to believe it. Paul’s gospel is the Christian’s personal gospel as well. Paul preached Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world(John 1:29, 3:16, download ‘The Book of John’ at ). The mystery that was revealed was of God being manifested in the flesh(I Tim. 3:16) who was Jesus(John 1:14). Everyone in the Old Testament who was saved put their faith in Jesus(Acts 10:43).
God in the flesh or Jesus as the Savior of the world was made manifest in the 1st century to the Jews and in Paul’s days was being preached to all nations(Matt. 28:18-20). Salvation through Jesus is also found in the Old Testament prophets(download any of the commentaries on the prophets at ).
Wisdom begins with God or the fear of the Lord(Prov. 9:10).Eternal glory will only be to Jesus in eternity(Rev. 21:-22:). Therefore it pays to be saved, sell out to God and do God’s will for your life. It will pay eternal dividends(II Cor. 5:10).
Salvation Message
Because of sin we got to see the judgment of God on mankind in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. However, there is another judgment of God. That is when a person dies without Christ and being forgiven of his sin and wakes up in hell. I don’t want that to happen to you. If you would like to be 100% sure you are going to heaven, please read carefully the salvation message below. All verses can be found in the King James Bible. There are two places where a person can go when they die, either heaven (Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.) or the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.).
Now nobody really wants to go to the lake of fire when they die. However, people go to the lake of fire because of sin (Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;). Now sin is when you break God’s law. Have you ever made a foolish thought?(Prov. 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.). Have you ever lied before? (Exod. 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.). Have you ever gotten punished as a kid for being bad (Exod. 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.). Plain and simply we all have sinned.
God will punish your sin. Do parents have a right to punish kids if they are bad? Sure they do. Well doesn’t God have a right to punish us? Yes he does, and that is why there is a hell and a lake of fire. We all deserve it, but God doesn’t want us to go there (Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.).
We must be sorry that we have sinned against God and repent (IICor. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.). Repentance means to turn to God from our sins (we want to change, not just sorry we got caught). It is a change of heart toward God. Our desires toward God changes. Our ‘want to’ changes.
We must understand that Jesus was God in the flesh (I John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.). Jesus is God, he is man(the Son of God), and he is eternal life. Also we must believe that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day in an eternal resurrected body(I Cor. 15:2-3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures).
We must put our trust or faith in the blood of Jesus who is God to have all of our sins forgiven. That is the past, present, and future sins, from the time we are born to the time we die, once for all (I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.). Once we are forgiven we are born again into God’s family (Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,). Once you are in a family would that ever change? In the same way, once you are in God’s family it is forever and you get eternal life. Understand that though God wants you to be good, like doing good works, getting baptized, and going to church etc., being good can’t save you (Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;). Only the blood alone, once for all can save you.
If you would like to have all your sins forgiven, this is what you must do. Pray to God in your heart to be saved. You can use your own words or the sample prayer below. Now praying this prayer won’t forgive you unless you understand it and mean it in your heart. Otherwise God can’t forgive you.
THE SALVATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I deserve the lake of fire, but I want to change, please forgive me, for all of my sins, by your blood, once for all, so I can go to heaven. Amen.
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