Romans; Introduction

Romans; Introduction
Romans; Two Great Lies



Romans; Introduction

There is no greater urgency in our day in time for mankind to have an understanding of the Doctrine of the book of Romans.  For in it is the Power of a living God to rescue mankind from doom and impending misery.  For it's message and instruction is the solution to all of the problems we face today.  When I use the word "all" I am not by any means exaggerating.

It was the Doctrine of the book of Romans that was very popular and attractive to the Gentiles during the first century, so much so that all Asia heard this gospel within two years and three months under the ministry of the apostle Paul.

It was the Doctrine of the book of Romans that reached into the slavery of the dark ages and freed the common people.  Most, if not all ninety nine thesis that Martin Luther nailed to the door of the church that enslaved the people was based on the Doctrine of the book of Romans.

Today, in our day in time, two thousand years after it was written, God sends a message to mankind in the form of a compilation of writings called the "Church Epistles" specifically addressed to a class of people it refers to as "saints" where evidence of God's literary and artistic handiwork is well defined and established in structure, the use of Figures, the use of words and is only realized when the instruction is actually applied and practiced.

Romans is the first of these seven "Church Epistles" and Romans is the first and foundational to the three main Doctrines to the saint.

1. Romans comes first in order of the three great doctrinal epistles (A1,A2,A3; Ap. 192). (see: Appendix 192 Companion Bible ) And rightly so, for it contains the A B C of the believer's education.  Until its lesson is learned, we know and can know nothing.  The Holy Spirit has placed it first in Canonical order because it lies at the threshold of all "church" teaching, and if we are wrong here we shall be wrong altogether.   (Companion Bible P. 1661 notes)

Although Romans is addressed to the saint, as well as the other church epistles, Romans has a message addressed to the entire race of mankind.  Although again, it is not addressed to the God-rejector,  or the skeptic or the unbeliever, but for those who are searching for God and searching for answers to life itself.  God promises in His written Word that those who actually believe there is a living God, that He is a rewarder of  those who would search diligently for Him.

[Heb 11:6 KJV] 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This is a foundational truth.  It is only within God's written Word that we may know God.  God is not arbitrary or abstract.  You cannot just make up a god and expect that to be God.  God is well defined and very specific.  This is why God had His Word written.

God's literary and artistic handiwork is notable and recognized by its accuracy.  Of all God's handiwork in creation, the greatest of them all is His written Word.

[Psa 138:2 KJV] 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

God's written Word is magnificent to the eyes when it is seen and realized in its accuracy.  We can recognize God's handiwork within its own integrity.  If God lied to us in one place, how can we trust it in other places and then how can we trust God when He promises something?

[Psa 12:6-7 KJV] 6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

God's Word is pure, that is, it is not contaminated with error.  God's written Word is "... purified seven times..."  that is, God took the Hebrew language and purified it seven times.  (see also: Figures of Speech E.W.Bullinger pp. 71-74  Fig of Speech p.71 )  Not only that, but God watched over, protected and preserved His Word, in written form in such a way that no man could ever ruin it.  This becomes evident when we understand that God protected His Word by it's own integrity.

Once it is established that God is living and real, and that it was God that had His Word written, and that this written Word is accurate and held together by its own  integrity, and that it is God's written communication of His Will to mankind, it places us in a magnificent position to actually know God.

The Church Epistles

Introduction

When the Apostle Paul preached the good news concerning Christ and His Church, at Ephesus, his ministry continued in Asia for the space of two years (Acts 19:10). We read that the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed, and that "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus." And yet, at the close of his ministry, and of his life, he writes his last Epistle to Timothy, when he says "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand" (II Timothy 1:15): "This thou knowest that all they that be in Asia have turned away from me."

     We are told, on every hand, today, that we must go back to the first three centuries to find the purity of faith and worship of the primitive church!

     But it is clear from this comparison of Acts 19:10 and II Timothy 1:15, that we cannot go back to the first century. No, not even to the apostle's own lifetime!

     This turning away could not have been merely personal; but must have included his teaching also. For in chapter 2, verse 18, he speaks of those "who concerning the truth have erred." In chapter 3, verse 8, he speaks of those who "resist the truth." In chapter 4, verse 4, he speaks of those who "turn away their ears from the truth" and are "turned unto fables."

     It was Pauline truth and teaching from which all had "turned away."

     It was this turning away from the truth as taught by the Holy Spirit through Paul, especially as contained in the Epistle to the Ephesians, that led necessarily:

(1) To the loss of the teaching concerning the Mystery; that truth concerning the one Body of Christ. The effect of this was at once to put everything wrong ecclesiastically, and to make room for all the various and different "Bodies," so-called, with all the consequent divisions and schisms of the church.

     Instead of recognising "the One Body" which God had made, men set about making their own "Bodies" and Sects! and with this ecclesiastical confusion came the loss of the truth as to the Christian's perfect standing in Christ as having died and risen in Him.

(2) Next, after this, went the truth of the Lord's promised return from heaven; and of resurrection, as the one great and blessed hope of the church. Other hopes, or rather fears, came in their place, and "death and judgment" took the place of those lost hopes. Having lost the truth of what God had made Christ to be unto us, and the joy as to our standing thus given, in looking for that blessed hope, preparation for death and judgment was the necessary result, and therefore:

(3) The next thing to go was the truth as to what God had made us to be in Christ; and "justification by faith" and by grace was lost. The way was now open for the full tide of error to come in: and it came in, like a flood, with all the corruption and superstition which ended in centuries which have the significant description "the dark ages."

     Everyone is familiar with the term, and with the fact. But what were the dark ages? How did they come? They were not brought on suddenly by some untoward event. There must have been some cause, something that made them possible. The corruption was historical. The Eastern churches today are in similar darkness. And the Western churches, where the Reformation has not removed it, are in the same darkness.

The Reformation itself -- what was it, but the beginning of a recovery of these great truths? The remarkable fact is that the recovery of these truths has taken place in the inverse order to that in which they were lost.

     Justification by grace through faith was the first great truth recovered at the Reformation. This was the truth over which that great battle was fought and won, though the victory was far from complete. For not until the nineteenth century had well begun did the Lord's return from heaven begin to become again the blessed hope of His church. In later years the subject has become more and more precious to increasing numbers. But this great and "blessed hope" is not yet really learned, because it ought to be the natural outcome of truth received and held, instead of being treated as an independent subject artificially produced. It must come from the heart into the life, and not be merely held and retained in the head, if it is to be productive of the blessed results seen in the Thessalonian church. It must be learned experimentally as a vital and essential part of our standing as Christians, and not be studied as if it were an extra subject, in order to produce Thessalonian fruit. Hence, it is that we more often see prophecy taken up as a study, rather than as the result of waiting for God's Son from heaven.

     The last of the three truths to be recovered is the truth taught in Ephesians; and it is only in our own day that we see any real sense of the loss, with any real effort to recover it.

     The truth of the Mystery, as it was the first to go, so, it seems, is the last to be recovered.

It is with the hope of doing something to recover this truth that these papers have been written on the Church Epistles. May the Lord use them to bring back vital truths to their proper place, that their power may be felt in the hearts and seen in the lives of an increasing number of the members of the Body of Christ.

     The cause of all the confusion around is that thousands of those who profess to be Christians know little or nothing of these Church Epistles. There is no other profession which they could enter without being able to pass a satisfactory examination in the text books set forth for that purpose. There is no position in life that anyone could apply for without being asked how much one knew of its duties and responsibilities. But the Christian "profession" is treated in quite a different manner, and as quite a different matter. Anyone may undertake that, and all the while be totally ignorant of these Church Epistles: -- "The Creed, the Lord's prayer, and the Ten Commandments" are considered as sufficient for Christian position and profession. Hence the almost total neglect of these Epistles. The four Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount are taken as the essence of Christianity, instead of the Epistles specially addressed to Churches. Hence the great ignorance of Christians as to all that God has made Christ to be unto His People, and all that He has made them to be in Him. Not knowing their standing in Christ, and their completeness and perfection in Him, they are easily led into error concerning their state and their walk. Many, who know they are justified by grace, yet seek to be sanctified by works.

     Nothing but full knowledge of what is revealed for our instruction in these Church Epistles will effectually deliver us from all the new doctrines and schools of thought which find an entrance into our midst.

     May the great Head of the Body the Church, own this effort, and use it and bless it to the deliverance of many from all the variable winds of doctrine, and build them up in their most holy faith. 

.(The Church Epistles  E.W.Bullinger Introduction )

If the doctrine in these Church Epistles can effect such change like it did during the reformation, can you imagine what change could take place when it is believed in all its fullness?

Romans; Two Great Lies

Romans; Introduction
Romans; Two Great Lies

Romans; Two Great Lies

"...ye shall not surely die..." , "...ye shall be like gods...". (Gen 3:4,5)

Mankind's condition is because of the failure to believe God.  This has been a persistent failure since man (Adam) disobeyed God.  God had His Word written so that mankind would have a means to know God and to know His Will.  

These two lies were proposed to mankind (the Woman) by what Genesis calls the Serpent.  Apart from all speculation and arguments, obviously this serpent was and is God's enemy.

As a result of mankind (both Adam and Woman) believing the words of the serpent, by default they became servants to this enemy of God.

[Rom 6:16 KJV] 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?

Immediately, God went to work with His great plan of redemption.

[Gen 3:15 KJV] 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

The presence of evil in this world today is the evidence mankind has failed to believe God.

These two lies are presented to us today, both in the religious and the secular, in a different form and in a different way, yet they are the same two lies.

They have caused war, slavery, hopelessness, helplessness and in a few cases, nearly the end of humanity.

Romans reveals to us today, the condition of mankind from God's point of view.  A man or a person may consider that things are fine and dandy, however, my question would be, why is there so much evil in the world today?  If things are so hunky dory, why are there people which have a desire for an ultimate Utopia?

It is questions like these, which are valid and honest, where only the Bible can provide answers and solution.

---

Prerequisites

In order to fully understand and appreciate the doctrine of the book of Romans, the very first thing that is required to learn anything from God is meekness.

If we follow the same path as many Christians have, and continue to drag half of Babylon out of the dark ages with us, the doctrine of Romans will be grossly tainted with religion and fables.  It would be like pouring water in our gas tank and expect the vehicle run properly.

This means that we must be humble enough to allow God to speak to our hearts.  If we eat ourselves full, do not expect to be hungry when its dinner time.

If we approach Romans as already knowing, we will never learn it.

Meekness is the ability, by our own free will, to set aside our own beliefs and allow God to teach us what His Will is.  It is being coach-able, teachable, the willingness to be taught.

Moses learned this.  Although it took some work ( see: Exodus ch 3 - ch 4 ) because Moses continued to argue regarding his shortcomings, fears and faults.  However, he did eventually obey as God commanded.  As a result:

[Num 12:3 KJV] 3 (Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.)

It is marvelous that this word "meek" is repeated in the Hebrew.  Moses was "meek meek".

( Bible Hub: http://biblehub.com/interlinear/numbers/12-3.htm )

One of the most famous men of God in the Bible, who delivered about two and a half million people out of bondage and slavery with such great power, still echoes throughout history even to this day when his name is mentioned, was meek above all men upon the face of this earth.

So the question is, are you willing to allow God to teach you?  If so, you just might be a candidate to learn the Doctrine of the book of Romans.

[2Ti 2:15 KJV] 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This would be the another prerequisite.

Would you be willing to take on the title "Workman"?  This is a job God has assigned to each saint.  We are "Workman" because God says so.  Whether we know it or not, whether we believe it or not, we already are "Workmen".  Just as God commissioned Moses to deliver His people from tyranny, God assigns us with a job and our title is "Workman".

Just as we go to our place of employment and work, we do our job as assigned and earn a paycheck.  If we do a poor job or do not meet the requirements for which we are assigned, we place ourselves in jeopardy to stand unapproved before our supervisor or customer.  On the other hand, if we do a good job and it is done efficiently and professionally, the customer will be pleased and our supervisor satisfied.

The word "study" would be better translated as exerting a diligent  effort with respect to time.  This means that we should endeavor diligently to show ourselves approved unto God by Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.

For the serious Bible student, I would refer to a book called "How To Enjoy The Bible" by E.W.Bullinger (see: online version  http://www.markfoster.net/rn/how_to_enjoy_the_bible_bullinger.pdf )

It is this Bible that is our source for truth.  This is why it is referred to as "Word of Truth".  The emphasis is that Truth only comes from God, God had His Word written and when, and only when it is Rightly Divided we will have truth.

Just as a skilled and experienced, Journeyman level Construction Worker can walk on a job with the proper tools and from the blueprints and specifications build what the customer has ordered, so it is with the Workman of God.  It does take skill and experience, just as it would a construction worker.

However, do not consider that even the least among us is unqualified.  The greater part of the Bible will interpret itself, right where it is written, just by reading it.  It is an on the job training in itself.  It begins by picking up that old dusty Bible and reading it once in a while.

Which brings us to another prerequisite.  In order to understand the Doctrine of the book of Romans, at least a general knowledge of the Bible is required.

Again I would refer to the serious Bible student to the book mentioned above "How To Enjoy The Bible" by E.W.Bullinger.

The Bible is unique from all the other books and literature available to us today.  The use of words, figures of speech and structure all contribute to its integrity.  God, with His infinite wisdom, protected and preserved His written Word from human error. (Ps 12:6,7)

[1Co 1:17-25 KJV] 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The wisdom of men, very well educated in science and modern technology, will consider God's solution for mankind as foolishness.  This is why the Bible is not addressed to the Bible rejector or the God rejector.

Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the Bible and is the very Subject of the Bible.  This would be another prerequisite for the Doctrine of the book of Romans.

There is one great division in the Bible which marks a clear and well defined before and after.  Without this event, Christianity is only a religion.  That is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  All of the law and the prophets prophesied of this "Coming One" and all of the prophecies of his sufferings were fulfilled in the Gospels.

The Gospels; that is Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are a completion and fulfillment of the Old Testament.  In fact, these four Gospels belong in the Old Testament.  Placing them in the New Testament has caused no end to confusion and also have deflected many Christians from the great spiritual value written in the Church Epistles.

God breathed life into this dead corpse, no more to return to corruption.  Which brings us to the next prerequisite, and that is the book of Acts.

The book of Acts is considered Transitional, that is from the former conditions to that which is after, which is primarily concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Conditions changed after this event.  Holy spirit was no longer conditional but God poured out holy spirit as a gift!

The book of Acts is vital to understanding the Doctrine of the book of Romans indicated by the very first word in Romans .. "... Paul ...".  The book of Acts gives us the background to the apostle Paul.  All seven Church Epistles were written by Paul.

[Gal 1:11-12 KJV] 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 If this is true, of such a bold statement, then it would only be to our own benefit to learn this Gospel of which he was "...separated unto ..." (Rom 1:1)

These seven Church Epistles are specifically addressed to the saint.  This is why it is so important to learn how to Rightly Divide this Word of truth.  Not all of the Bible is specifically addressed to us.

[Rom 15:4 KJV] 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Things written before are for our learning, but they are not specifically addressed to us.  In fact there are some things, if not all,  which were written, that only Jesus Christ himself could properly interpret.

[Luk 24:26-27 KJV] 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

This was Jesus shortly after being raised from the dead.  He is the master key to understanding the Bible as a whole.  Without Jesus Christ, the Bible would be endless loops of mystery, conjecture and would never properly fit together.

The two lies, which I've mentioned before, have held us hostage to fully understanding God's Will.  While disguising themselves as truth, have hindered us from the great deliverance the Doctrine of the book of Romans proclaims.

The doctrines of life after death has a full spectrum of religions that so many people have been seduced into believing.  The word death, by any sound definition is the complete absence of life.  Yet so many Christians believe today, that when a person dies, they either go to heaven or go to hell.  There are people that would be upset with me if I told them that Jesus went to hell.

[Act 2:25-31 KJV] 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

29 Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Jesus' soul "... was not left in hell ...".  Just like it says.  So Jesus went to hell.

So many minds have been corrupted by this original lie "... ye shall not surely die ..." that it has even overwhelmed the secular, much less the religious.  Many people today, who are not even Christian and not even religious will believe that the hell of the bible is some place of fire and torment.

Actually it is, but it did not come from the Bible. It most likely came from Babylon of which Greek mythology originated.

A word study on that word "hell" reveals to us that it just means the grave.  It is not a place of eternal torment. (see: http://bibleenthusiast.blogspot.com/p/hebrew-word-study.html )

[Act 2:34 KJV] 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

If anyone of the old testament would have deserved to go to heaven, would it not have been David?  It is written very plain and clear that he did not ascend into the heavens.

This separates out the believer from the unbeliever.  If God said "... thou shalt surely die ..." and the Serpent says "... thou shalt not surely die ..." then it draws a line in the sand as to who is willing to believe God and who is willing to believe the Serpent.

Not one place in the Bible, that I know of, does it promise that heaven is available except in Ephesians where it says " ... seated in the heavenlies ... " and from what I understand, that is a seat reserved only for what Ephesians calls the saints some time in the future.

Now bear with me please.  If this is true, then the majority of the Christian religion is in error when it comes to an understanding of death.

If anyone could have gone to heaven, or hell for that matter, why did Jesus need to die such a horrible death?  Why would he need to have been raised from the dead if dead people were already alive?

This resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, sends a message to mankind that there is a sure hope for mankind, if and only if Jesus Christ was the only one who has ever survived death.  This places God in the equation for a salvation for mankind.  Religion and even secular beliefs, removes God from the equation.  For it is God, and God only that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and so it is God and God only that has the power to breathe life back into mankind.

What about the other lie "... ye shall be like gods ...".

I have heard it said that a more proper translation would be "... ye shall be like the most high ..."

In either case man has been struggling to worship something other than the true God.

To worship is to serve and glorify.  From a religious point of view, it is to serve a god and to glorify that god.  From a secular point of view it is to serve something or someone and to glorify some thing or some one.

Anything outside of God's Will is what the Bible refers to as "sin".  Sin in its most simple definition is "missing the mark".  On the opposite side of the spectrum there is what the Bible refers to as "Righteousness".

Mankind does not realize it, but because of Adam's failure to believe God, it placed such a void in the heart of mankind, mankind has sought futilely to fill this void, trying to achieve an unattainable righteousness.

In the attempt to fill this unattainable righteousness, and the failure to serve and glorify God from the heart, only served to further magnify this "missing the mark".

All of this contributes to an understanding of this lie, "... ye shall be like gods ...".

The only safe place now, in our day in time for a man or a woman who has the desire to know God, is to learn His Will and to learn His plan (or strategy) of redemption.

[Mat 6:33 KJV] 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

"... ye shall be like gods..." is indicated throughout the Bible, throughout history and is evident even today in our day in time.  Man, apart from God, replaces God with either himself or someone else and at times, with something else.

The Doctrine of the book of Romans lays these truths out in detail, much better than I can.  This is why I am promoting this doctrine and trying to fervently to get people interested in it.

There is enough information in just the first four chapters that if a person were to read it and believe it, they too can receive this gift of salvation and begin this new life Jesus Christ worked so hard to obey God's plan of redemption and laid down his life for.

The Doctrine of the book of Romans lays out in detail, mankind's condition.  It lays out in detail as mankind being held hostage from reaching this unattainable righteousness.  It lays out in detail Jesus Christ the atonement and propitiation (or payment).  It lays out in detail the HOW of receiving this unattainable righteousness as a gift.  Then it lays out in detail the HOW of walking in "... newness of life...".

The Doctrine of the book of Romans is specifically addressed to the saint and is the first lesson to be learned.  It is the very foundation towards what Jesus himself said  "... the works that I do, shall you do also...".