Romans Commentary Original by Dr Jeff Hazim

DR. JEFFREY HAZIM LIVING
4 Pastoral Questions to Consider Throughout as a Devotional Exercise:
How does this apply to my life? What actions steps can I take to live this truth?
COMMENTARY
What can I share with an unbeliever? What can I share to encourage a believer? Book: Romans 1-16
AT-A-GLANCE in the side bar summarizes each section. Course # BSC1001
*Read all Scripture references, Paul's and mine!
“ROMANS: Journey Through the
Bible in Sixteen Chapters”
Author: The Apostle Paul (Shaul)
MEMORY VERSES
Romans 10:5-8 Date and Place of Writing: written from the Greek city of Corinth in 57-58 a.d.
“For Moses writes about the
righteousness which is of the History and Background: Paul was the rst to formally formulate in writing, the key
law, “The man who does doctrines that de ne Christianity today. He spent years pressing into Yahweh through
those things shall live by the Spirit and working out what had transpired in him through the Spirit and how that
them.” But the righteousness
related to him (and thereby all of us) as an expert in the Law.
of faith speaks in this way,
“Do not say in your heart,
Recipients & Key People: This letter was addressed to both Jews and gentiles. It
‘Who will ascend into
heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring was not written to a speci c church, but rather to groups of people whom he was
Christ down from above )”“or, preparing for his visit. And it would seem that he felt they were ready to receive the
“ ‘Who will descend into the intensity of this letter as he testi es of the fame of the faith of those in Rome: “First, I
abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring
thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout
Christ up from the dead). But
the whole world.” (v.1:8) Letter was carried by Phoebe, Tertius penned it for Paul,
what does it say? “The word
is near you, in your mouth Gaius hosted Tertius while it was written.
and in your heart” (that is, the
word of faith which we Purpose: "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF YAHWEH" Most important New Testament
preach):” book on doctrine and theology. Written to prepare Christians for his visit; instruct
them in basic doctrine (correct false teachers); explain relationship of Israel and the
KLU Introduction: church; teach duties toward government and each other; and answer slander about
This is the most powerful
himself. The three crosses of Calvary depict three eternal destinies. Romans
book in the Bible on doctrines
elaborates on them; the rebels (ch. 1), rulers (ch. 2-8), and citizens (ch. 9-16).
of the church. St. Augustine
was converted through
Romans is the rst of Paul's letters and the rst of three letters he wrote about
reading Romans. Martin Habakkuk 2:4; “The Just shall live by faith.” (Romas 1:17; Galatians 3:1; Hebrews
Luther launched the 10:38) All Scripture is inspired by Yahweh (2 Timothy 3:16) and useful for: Doctrine—
Reformation on Romans 1:17 Romans; Reproof—1-2 Corinthians; Correction—Galatians; Instruction—Ephesians,
"The Just shall live by Faith". Philippians, Colossians
John Wesley, founder of
Methodism was converted Key Words: Righteousness, Faith, Son’s of God, Sin, Flesh, Carnal Nature,
while listening to someone
Obedience, Transformation, Grace, Law, Salvation, Justi cation
read from Luther's
commentary on Romans. This Summary: This is the book of righteousness and faith based obedience! It is the
book has in uenced the
hope of Yahweh. The word righteousness appear 40 times.
church possibly more than
Righteousness Needed, Chapters 1-2 (sin)
any book of the Bible. As you
read and listen to these Righteousness Imputed, Chapters 3-5 (salvation)
lessons, you will gain a Righteousness Imparted, Chapters 6-8 (sancti cation)
foundational knowledge of Righteousness Rejected, Chapters 9-11 (sovereignty)
New Testament truth. Righteousness Practiced, Chapters 12-15 (service toward God, Government & man)

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AT-A-GLANCE CHAPTER AND VERSE COMMENTARY (Scripture Excerpts from NKJV)

CHAPTER 1 "GENTILE APOSTASY"
Salutation
Romans 1:1-7 SALUTATION: ROMANS 1:1-7

At a glance: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel
of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
#1 Romans is an Old
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David
Testament quote fest.
according to the esh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to
#2 You must follow the the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have
trail or you can never received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His
fully grasp the depth of
what Paul is saying. name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome,
beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
#3 Romans will teach and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
you what it means to
live a life Grace-
What does it mean to be separated? Paul had a radical encounter with Yahshua
Empowered-Faith-
Based-Obendince. on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). That is what it took to open his eyes,
considering his previous intense training in the Law (Torah) and his unwavering
commitment to Judaism, as it was practiced in the rst century. So, he needed to
be “separated”. He had to be called out to an isolated place, alone for years,
before he could be released as an Apostle. He immediately uses his salutation to
establish Holy Spirit and doctrinal authority. He was hand-picked by Yahweh; it
was all promised before through the prophets, and the Messiah is exactly who He
was supposed to be! It is by the power (grace) of Yahweh that he is called as an
apostle, not by his own doing.

Two immediate doctrinal ideas are of striking signi cance and really do give us a
clue about where Paul is taking us. First he tells us that what he has to say was
promised through the prophets and Holy Scriptures. Oh yes, Romans is an Old
Testament quote fest, and I will warn you now, if you don’t follow the trail you can
never fully grasp the depth of what he is saying. And secondly, he tells us why we
receive grace (the supernatural empowerment from God) and apostleship (to lead
the leaders). It is so we are obedient to the faith. Romans will teach you what it
Explanation means to live a life of Grace-Empowered-Faith-Based-Obedience. So, strap in,
Romans 1:8-15
what he has to say is directly from the throne of heaven.
At a glance:
EXPLANATION-THE DESIRE TO VISIT ROME: ROMANS 1:8-15
#1 The believers in
Rome have famous “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of
faith. throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
#2 Paul was both a gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Torah genius AND a making request if, by some means, now at last I may nd a way in the will of God to
citizen of Rome. come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that

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AT-A-GLANCE you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the
mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that
#3 Paul has been I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some
hindered in visiting fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks
Rome until now, but he and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to
is on his way.
preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
#4 He feels an
obligation to both Jew What is famous faith? Well, if the Apostle Paul is saying that your faith is a topic of
and Gentile. conversation all over the known world, then you have some famous faith. And
following his introduction to obedience, this should give you a clue to where we
are going.

Rome is a mixed bag of all sorts of converted gentiles, and then of course there
are Jews as well (see Romans 7). Rome is also the model for world government in
the rst century. Put aside, for the moment, what we know of Rome’s horri c
history of human rights atrocities, brutal “dictatorships”, and debauchery. That
was not because of their governmental system; it was because of evil Caesars. It’s
an important piece in the puzzle; Paul was both a Torah genius AND a citizen of
Rome. He understood the Government of Heaven and the government of man.

He is intentional about his prayers for his audience and authentic about his desires
to visit them. Paul wants to see them thrive as a center for Christian expansion
(Rome is the perfect place for that to happen), and he also knows that he would
be encouraged in them, as the fruit of his labor. He has certainly engaged is some
intense spiritual warfare regarding his desire to be with them. We will explore this
is vivid detail in this commentary. And knowing what he came from and what he
endured to become what Yahweh called him to be, he feels a legitimate
indebtedness to everyone!

He mentions here how he has been hindered until now to visit Rome and later on
in chapter 15 he tells us exactly why. “And so I have made it my aim to preach the
gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s
foundation, but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.” For this reason I also have been
much hindered from coming to you.”” (Romans 15:20-22)

He’s been everywhere; now it’s time to come to Rome.
The Just Shall Live by
Faith THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: ROMANS 1:16-17
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation
At a glance: for everyone who believes, for the Jew rst and also for the Greek. For in it the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live
#1 The first reference to
the Old Testament: “The by faith.””
Just shall live by faith.”

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AT-A-GLANCE What is the Gospel of Christ? It is the power of salvation by faith. For who? For
anyone who believes. “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the
#2 But it takes faith
empowered by grace to just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) Understanding that faith needs to be
get saved, and then the applied to the Law, resulting in faith based obedience, is a key revelation in the
application of that book of Romans. Throughout the book we will see the full Gospel explained, the
salvation (obedience) to
mature into an adult in Gospel of Salvation (the born-again Gospel) and the Gospel of the Kingdom (the
the faith. mature adult Gospel). But it takes faith empowered by grace to get saved, and
then the application of that salvation (obedience) to mature into an adult in the
faith.
Condemnation
Romans 1:18-32 CONDEMNATION-GOD’S WRATH ON UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: ROMANS 1:18-32

At a glance: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what
#1 Nature testifies to the may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since
identity and glory of the
only true Mighty One. the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by
We can safely call this the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are
the “Creation Gospel”. without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God,
#2 Paul is indicating that nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
creation holds clues and darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the
that should bring you incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-
back to Genesis, back
footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to
to the garden.
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
#3 There is one sin that who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature
is most indicative of the rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them
violation of the Creation
Gospel. up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is
against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
#4 There is no respect in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving
for God’s creative
strategy more basic in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like
than the recognition of to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do
the natural functions those things which are not tting; being lled with all unrighteousness, sexual
and relationship of a
male and a female. immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent,
#5 It’s not only those proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning,
who participate in sin
untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous
that Yahweh sees as
rebellious and deserving judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not
of eternal death, but only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
those who approve of
sin. What does it mean for Yahweh to give you over to your own desires? And what
excuses do you make for choosing to do things your own way? If you reject
#6 There can be no
worse fate than for Yahweh’s ways long enough, He will release you into your sin and the dire
Yahweh to give you over consequences of such (the natural and eternal penalties of your errors). When you
to your own sin.

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AT-A-GLANCE follow the lusts of your heart, vile passions, and a debased mind, it all leads to
death.

Nature testi es to the identity and glory of the only true Mighty One. All else is
futile. I think we can safely call this the “Creation Gospel”. Natural creation itself
testi es to the good news of who the Creator is and how He operates. And it is
important to consider what is stirred in your mind when you think of creation. Here
in chapter 1, Paul is indicating that creation holds clues and that should bring you
back to Genesis, back to the garden. And what Paul is eluding to here is the
corruption of that garden and the decay that has ensued ever since. It’s been a
steady decline since the rst Adam, and in a prophetic stroke of genius, in chapter
8, Paul will tell us what to look for next. Hint: it has to do with creation!

But the end of chapter 1 also introduces another key prophetic idea. Throughout
Romans, Paul will unveil three eternal classes of people, three eternal destinies. In
the end, every knee shall bow to Yahshua our king (Philippians 2:10). Chapter 1
introduces the rebel class (those under the earth). Chapters 2-8 teaches us about
the rulers of the Kingdom (those in heaven). And in chapters 9-16 we learn about
eternal citizens (those on earth). As a prophetic symbol, picture the three crosses
of Calvary. There is, of course, the perfect man in the middle (the ruler). And then
there are two thieves, one who repents (the citizen) and one who is obstinate (the
rebel). Which cross is your eternal destiny? Your thinking on this matter will reveal
so much about you.

Which class is described here in Romans 1? “Although they knew God, they did
not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and
their foolish hearts were darkened.” (v. 21) We can observe the sinful decline of
mankind in detail here, but if there is one sin that is most indicative of the violation
of the Creation Gospel, it is found in verses 26 and 27. Both women and men
exchange the NATURAL USE of the opposite gender (creation’s design) for what is
AGAINST NATURE, the desire for the same gender (creation’s decline). There is no
respect for God’s creative strategy more basic than the recognition of the natural
functions and relationship of a male and a female. Together, they are created in
Yahweh’s image and commanded to be fruitful, ll the earth, and be rulers over
creation itself (Genesis 1:27-28). Violation of this fundamental truth is a denial of
the very existence of Yahweh.

And it’s not only those who participate in such sin that Yahweh sees as rebellious
and deserving of eternal death, but those who approve of such things (even if they
are not practicing such themselves). If we jump ahead into the modern day, is this
not precisely what we are experiencing? The few percent who practice such sin
are being championed by a majority who want to “protect their rights”, and more
so, label all those who oppose this twist of nature as evil bigots. “Woe to those

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AT-A-GLANCE who call evil good, and good evil.” (You must read Isaiah 5:18-21.) They’ve
become futile in their thoughts and their hearts have become darkened. There can
be no worse fate than for Yahweh to give you over to your own sin. For those who
still have some sense of conviction, read all of Psalm 19. “The heavens declare the
glory of God; and the rmament shows His handiwork.” “Keep back your servant
from presumptuous sin; let them not have dominion over me!” (vv. 1, 13)

Judgment by Truth, CHAPTER 2 "GENTILE CONDEMNATION"
Not Man's Opinion
Romans 2:1-5 RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT BY TRUTH, NOT MAN’S OPINION: ROMANS 2:1-5
At a glance:
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever
#1 The worst type of you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same
hypocrisy is when you things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
condemn someone else who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those
for the very same acts
you are committing. practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of
God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering,
#2 We are called to hold not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance
each other accountable
in the Church, but to do with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath
so in a godly way. in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”

#3 Judgment needs to What is the worst type of hypocrisy? It is when you condemn someone else for
be according to the very same acts you are committing. Here in Romans 2, we see what Yahweh
Yahweh’s truth instead
of man’s opinions (self- thinks of judging others while participating in the same wrong behaviors. It is not,
righteousness). however, a mandate that teaches we should NOT judge one another at all. To the
contrary, we are called to hold each other accountable in the Church, but to do so
#4 Should we judge
unrighteously, we will be in a godly way. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
judged righteously! Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-su ering and teaching.” (II Timothy 4:2)
Judgment needs to be according to Yahweh’s truth instead of man’s opinions
(self-righteousness).

When James, Jesus’ brother penned these words, we have to consider that as the
leader of the Church in Jerusalem, he was called to make many judgements. And
as evidence does point to this James being the actual half brother of Jesus, he
must have witnessed Jesus operate in every type of circumstance. His conclusion
about how to “judge” righteously: “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He
who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and
judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge
another?” (James 4:11-12) And no doubt, should we judge unrighteously, we will
be judged righteously!

Keep in mind the phrase from James above, “But if you judge the law, you are not
a doer of the law but a judge.” It will all come into focus in the next section.

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AT-A-GLANCE JUDGMENT BY DEEDS, NOT STATUS: ROMANS 2:6-15
Judgment by Deeds, “who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by
Not Status
Romans 2:6-15 patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those
who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—
At a glance: indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of
#1 Everyone is the Jew rst and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who
ultimately accountable works what is good, to the Jew rst and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality
to Yahweh's commands with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as
(statutes and
many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the
judgments), without
partiality. law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justi ed; for when
Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although
#2 “Doers of the law” not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in
and “deeds of the law”
DO NOT mean the their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their
same thing. thoughts accusing or else excusing them )”

#3 Doers of the Law There is a lot going on here. First of all, judgment begins in the house of Yahweh (1
refers to faith based Peter 4:17), and it is according to your personal deeds not your position or
obedience in keeping
the Torah; deeds of the heritage. Everyone is ultimately accountable to His commands (statutes and
Law refers to keeping a judgments), without partiality. Yahweh is no respecter of man. All will be laid bare.
list of commandments The gentile who was raised without Torah is still accountable to Yahweh’s ways.
by legalism.
Sorry! And of course, those raised with Torah will be judged rst by it.
#4 Our faith must
translate into action. It Here we have one of the rst great misunderstandings of Paul's deep writing style
needs to be applied to in Romans. “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which
something! are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to
their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” (II Peter 3:16).
Verse 2:13 teaches “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but
the doers of the law will be justi ed.” The doers of the Torah will be justi ed. Yet,
just one chapter later, Paul will declare, “Therefore by the deeds [works] of the law
no esh will be justi ed in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
(Romans 3:20)

So, Paul is either schizophrenic, “the doers of the law will be justi ed; by the
deeds of the law no esh will be justi ed.” Or, doers of the law and deeds of the
law DO NOT mean the same thing. Here is the reality. Doers of the Law refers to
faith based obedience in keeping the Torah; deeds of the Law refers to keeping a
list of commandments by legalism (a checklist kept by self-will or self-
determination in order to ful ll requirements without the heart behind it, in other
words self-righteousness). This is like you telling Yahweh that your opinion of what
it means to obey Him takes precedence over His! Or as James says, “you are not
a doer of the law but a judge of the law.” The Torah must be written on our hearts,
through faith, in order to be pleasing to Yahweh. Nevertheless, it can’t just remain

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AT-A-GLANCE in our hearts as some intellectual ascent. It must translate into action. Our faith
needs to be applied to something! Again, James addresses this directly:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if
anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his
natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty
and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will
be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25)

“What does it pro t, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have
works? Can faith save him?… Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is
dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your
faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works… But do you
want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:14,
17-18, 20)

The works here are NOT “works of law” empowered by self-righteousness, but
instead re ect faith based obedience empowered by grace.
Judgment by Gospel, JUDGMENT BY GOSPEL, NOT RELIGION: ROMANS 2:16-29
Not Religion
Romans 2:16-29
“in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my
At a glance: gospel. Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in
God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed
#1 The Jew approves of out of the law, and are con dent that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to
what is excellent
(superior) and knows those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the
the will of Yahweh form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not
because they have been teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who
instructed out of the Law
(Torah). say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you
rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through
#2 Those who will rule breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because
and reign with Christ
of you,” as it is written. For circumcision is indeed pro table if you keep the law; but if
must be well-versed in
grace empowered you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
administration of God’s Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will
commands. not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically
#3 Those coming from uncircumcised, if he ful lls the law, judge you who, even with your written code and
Israel into faith in circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly,
Yahshua have the initial nor is circumcision that which is outward in the esh; but he is a Jew who is one
calling and opportunity
to be teachers and inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose
mentors to those who praise is not from men but from God.”
come in from the pagan
world, simply because The Jew (Israel) who becomes a Christian (believes Yahshua is Messiah) does
they have the start o with a clear advantage according to Paul. They approve of what is
upbringing to do so.

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AT-A-GLANCE excellent (superior) and know the will of Yahweh because they have been
instructed out of the Law (Torah). However, don’t instruct others and not follow
#4 To claim you your own teachings. Those who understand the Law are meant to be guides to the
represent Yahweh and blind, a light to those in a dark world, teachers of those who know so little, and
then disobey Him was mentors to those who are young. Please take note of this potential in those who
already not good. It’s
even worse when are discipled with the Law of Yahweh. Ultimately it matters not if you started out
believers who come into as a Jew or Gentile. Any ruler must become adept at the proper administration of
the faith with Torah the laws of his kingdom. And it is no di erent for those who intend to be part of
training misrepresent
the intention and the ruling class in Yahweh’s eternal Kingdom. Those who will rule and reign with
application of Yahweh’s Christ must be well-versed in grace empowered administration of God’s
commands and cause commands. Even the ancient Kings of Israel were commanded to inscribe a
those weaker in the faith
to stumble. complete Torah in their own hand and to study it daily as training to rule well.

#5 Keeping the Law is a ““Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for
matter of the heart. Your himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.
motivation, intention, And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may
inspiration, and what
empowers your learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law
obedience is what really and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may
counts. That does not not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he
discount what you must
may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
be obedient to, just how
you accomplish or fulfill (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
it.
Later on, when we get to chapter 14 and Paul distinguishes those who are weak in
#6 Paul is teaching what the faith from those who are strong, try to recall the immense value that
is consistent with the
understanding the Law had for the Kings, as described here in Deuteronomy.
writings of Moses as
first introduced to us. Those coming from Israel into faith in Yahshua have the initial calling and
opportunity to be teachers and mentors to those who come in from the pagan
#7 Your discipleship world, simply because they have the upbringing to do so. But, please don’t boast
training is really
rulership training. You in the Law and violate it at the same time; it is a horrible witness. To claim you
are supposed to learn represent Yahweh and then disobey Him was already bad enough when Israel was
how apply the power doing it before the Messiah came, just as Paul refers to in Isaiah 52:5; “the name
that comes from God’s
grace to His Laws. And of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” It’s even worse when
then you should practice believers who come into the faith with Torah training misrepresent the intention
implementing that and application of Yahweh’s commands and cause those weaker in the faith to
grace-empowered
obedience on earth. stumble.
That is how the
Government of Heaven This is where what Paul is saying gets a bit tricky. He’s a brilliant man who writes
comes to earth. and teaches with complex thought patterns (2 Peter 3:16), and it’s imperative we
keep what he says in context. Let’s just establish this early on in this Romans
commentary. Here in chapter 2, is Paul teaching us that we should NOT bother
trying to keep Yahweh's commandments because if you break just one, you’ve
broken them all anyway, so don’t waste your e orts?

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AT-A-GLANCE This has certainly been the prevailing belief propagated in Christian theology
throughout history. If you believe obeying God’s commandments is a necessary
part of your faith as a Christian, then you will be judged on that basis, and if you
break one command you're culpable to all of them. In modern vernacular, you
can’t have your cake and eat it too, meaning you can’t eat your cake and still
retain possession of it. Incorrect biblical application: “You can’t fall short on one
command and not be blamed for all of them. So, don’t go down that legalistic
path.” This is the overwhelming sentiment in Christianity. It’s the exact bias
commonly used to interpret Moses’ words in Leviticus 18:5 that Paul quotes later
on in Romans 10:5, “The man who does those things will live by them.” If you
believe you are responsible to keep Yahweh's Law, you will have to live by that
standard and be judged as such, so don’t go there!

But what is Paul really saying? It’s all a matter of the heart. In other words, your
motivation, intention, inspiration, and what empowers your obedience is what
really counts. That does not discount what you must be obedient to, just how you
accomplish or ful ll it. What would Jesus do (WWJD)? ““Do not think that I came
to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to FULFILL. For
assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by
no means pass from the law till all is ful lled.” (Matthew 5:17-18) Ful ll means fully
preach, fully demonstrate, or ll to the fullest. With a circumcised heart, you too
can do what Jesus did. The result is obedience to God’s commands, yet the credit
for your capability of now doing so goes to Yahshua’s work on the cross and not
your own abilities.

Then Paul says, “Let’s use circumcision as an example.” If you are physically
circumcised, which is a commandment, and yet openly neglect other laws, it’s as
if in Yahweh’s eyes you are not circumcised at all. On the contrary, if you are not
circumcised, yet still keep His commandments with faith based strength, it is as if
you are circumcised in Yahweh’s eyes. The circumcised heart is what Yahweh is
looking for. That is not a new idea; it has always been the case and that is the
point Paul is making. He is teaching what is consistent with the writings of Moses
as rst introduced to us. “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be
sti -necked no longer.” (Deuteronomy 10:16)

Moses originally taught this truth; the only way Yahweh's commands would not be
too di cult to obey was after He changed our hearts. “And the LORD your God
will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD
your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live… For this
commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it
far o .” (Deuteronomy 30:6, 11) We will go into much more detail on this in our
Romans 10 commentary; stay tuned.

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AT-A-GLANCE And even Jeremiah the Prophet expounded on the same truth when he told us
about the soil of our hearts. “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among
thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your
hearts” (Jeremiah 4:3-4) No doubt Yahshua was referring to this very prophecy as
he taught the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 13:1-23 (thorns vv. 7, 22).

What is the outcome of a circumcised heart? “I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your esh and give you a
heart of esh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you TO WALK IN MY
STATUTES, AND YOU WILL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM.” (Ezekiel
36:26-27) This should be abundantly clear by now!

Hold this high concept in mind. Your discipleship training is really rulership
training. You are supposed to learn how to apply the power that comes from
God’s grace to His Laws. And then you should practice implementing that grace-
empowered obedience on earth. That is how the Government of Heaven comes to
earth. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:10)

CHAPTER 3 "THE WHOLE WORLD IS GUILTY"
The Bad News -
Condemnation Under THE BAD NEWS—CONDEMNATION UNDER SIN: ROMANS 3:1-20
Sin
Romans 3:1-20 “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the pro t of circumcision? Much in
every way! Chie y because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if
At a glance:
some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
#1 Romans, arguably Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You
the most theologically may be justi ed in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” But if our
dense book in the Bible,
unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God
written to establish and
expound on the truths of unjust who in icts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God
the Christian faith, to judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why
explain what happens am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may
and what is available
when one comes to come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some af rm that we say. Their
Christ, used by scholars condemnation is just. What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have
throughout history to previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written:
identify and develop
Christian doctrine, was “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none
written by a Jew. who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become
unpro table; There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open
#2 Paul concludes that
the advantage of being tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under
a Jew is only an their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to
advantage in as far as shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they
Yahweh can use you for
have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that
a specific task, but
makes you no better whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may
than anyone else.

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AT-A-GLANCE be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds
of the law no esh will be justi ed in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

#3 No one is better than What advantage has the Jew, those of the circumcision? Romans, arguably the
anyone else. We all most theologically dense book in the Bible, written to establish and expound on
need God’s help and it the truths of the Christian faith, to explain what happens and what is available
is the Law that tells us
so. when one comes to Christ, used by scholars throughout history to identify and
develop Christian doctrine, was written by a Jew. Yahweh picked a Jewish Torah
#4 Knowing the Law is scholar to write it! Why? Psalm 51:4; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes
only profitable when
7:20; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7; Isaiah 59:7-8; and Psalm 36:1, all of
mixed with humility to
follow the Holy Spirit’s these scriptures owed from Paul's pen (mouth) as he composed just this part of
leading in obeying it. his letter. Could have a pagan, raised outside of the faith of Israel done that? Of
course not. [Preview Matthew 13:52, much more on this later.]
#5 “Doers” of the Law
means faith-based
Paul, the Jew, was brought up on the oracles of God, the word, the Scriptures.
obedience; “Deeds” of
the Law means And no doubt they were misunderstood and misapplied over the centuries. Even
legalism. Paul used them to become self-righteous, living for the law without love and
grace. Knowledge can make someone feel superior; love doesn’t do that (I
Corinthians 8:1). Even the very scriptures he is referring to here have a common
theme, the evil that dwells in a man! Ironic, isn’t it? And in the end Paul concludes
that the advantage is only an advantage in as far as Yahweh can use you for a
speci c task, but makes you no better than anyone else. All people are bound
under sin and are deserving of punishment.

Man’s propensity to sin only accentuates the righteousness of Yahweh so maybe
that’s good. “My sin serves to prove God’s truth; so why not sin, it would be
wrong for God to punish me for something that ultimately made Him look good.”
Paul has been accused of advocating such heresy. He makes his defense by
quoting a litany of scriptures eluding to the evil propensity of man and how they
will be held accountable. That’s right, no one is better than anyone else. We all
need God’s help and it is the Law that tells us so.

Then what advantage does the Jew have who has studied the oracles of God?
Just ask Paul's spiritual son, Timothy. “But you must continue in the things which
you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned
them, and that from childhood you have KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, which
are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro table for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:14-17)

But this edge is only pro table when mixed with humility to follow the Holy Spirit’s
leading in obeying it. Paul understood the di erence, certainly having lived on
both sides—the law without grace and now the law with grace. Both Jews and

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AT-A-GLANCE Gentiles rejected Yahweh, all will be judged by His perfect standards, and all need
His grace.

Then we see this phrase “deeds of law” and that by them no esh will be justi ed.
Here is that interesting twist on Paul's words in chapter 2:13 that we covered
earlier; “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of
the law will be justi ed.” Obviously, there is a necessary contrast between “doers
of the Law” and “deeds (works) of the Law.” We will see this again in the book of
Romans (and in Galatians chapters 2 and 3) and it is important to keep in mind in
order to properly understand Christian doctrine (theology). “Doers” means faith-
based obedience; “Deeds” means legalism. Both, ironically, might look the same
on paper. Yet, one produces obedience empowered by grace and inspired by the
love, reverence, and appreciation for Yahweh; the other produces obedience to
ful ll a heartless checklist of do’s and don’ts. But rest assured, what Paul is NOT
saying is that faith is the OPPOSITE of keeping the Law. He puts the exclamation
on that truth in the last verse of this very chapter, “Do we then make void the law
through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
The Good News - THE GOOD NEWS—JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: ROMANS 3:21-31
Justification by Faith
Romans 3:21-31
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed
At a glance: by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus
Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and
#1 The Law and the fall short of the glory of God, being justi ed freely by His grace through the
Prophets were really
witnessing the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
righteousness of through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had
Messiah all along to passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present
anyone who has faith.
time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justi er of the one who has faith
#2 It matters not if you in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by
are a Jew or a Gentile, the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justi ed by faith apart from the
all fall short of Yahweh’s
deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the
standards and need His
power (grace) that Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the
comes through the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the
redemption. law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
#3 Yahweh cannot let
Righteousness “apart from the law” does not mean you get to do an end-around
sin slide without a
punishment (payment). and not make the Law part of your Christian walk. The Law and the Prophets
Faith in the work of the were really witnessing the righteousness of Messiah all along to anyone who has
cross pays that price.
faith. Again, it matters not if you are a Jew or a Gentile, all fall short of Yahweh’s
#4 Faith does not make standards and need His power (grace) that comes through the redemption, the
the Law obsolete, faith price Yahshua paid to ransom us. He (His shed blood) was the substitute for the
reveals the truth of how death we had coming to us because of our sin.
the Law is to be
implemented by grace.

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AT-A-GLANCE Here is the deal, in order for Yahweh to set the righteous standard and then judge
if we meet that standard, He must be just. That means He cannot let sin slide
without a punishment. (It would not be just to let a demanded penalty go
unenforced.) But, He is also the justi er/redeemer, meaning He made a way for it
to be paid, and that is by faith in the work of the cross. Because this is true, there
can be no boasting in “works” of the law. We (both Jew and Gentile) are justi ed
by faith apart from the deeds of the Law (which again means legalism).

And then the exclamation point! Does all this talk of faith nullify the Law? Is it no
longer part of your responsibility as a Christian? Can you relegate the Law to the
annals of the Old Testament and just be a New Testament believer? CERTAINLY
NOT! Faith does not make the Law obsolete, faith reveals the truth of how the
Law is to be implemented by grace, and it always has. The Law was always and
will always be meant to be kept with faith. Faith without works is dead (James
2:26).

CHAPTER 4 "JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH"
Justification by Faith,
Not Works
Romans 4:1-8 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH, NOT WORKS: ROMANS 4:1-8

At a glance: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the esh?
For if Abraham was justi ed by works, he has something to boast about, but not
#1 To cause the law to before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was
stand firm it must be
wrapped in faith. accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not
counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him
#2 Sin, iniquity, and who justi es the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also
transgression, are all
words that speak of describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart
violations against God’s from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins
laws. are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.””
#3 With repentance There is no better way to understand the context of Romans 4 than to
Yahweh does not
impute iniquity; with emphatically restate the last verse of Chapter 3. This will help to keep our
repentance Yahweh theology consistent and protect us from becoming Christians who use isolated
does impute soundbites to develop doctrinal beliefs. You simply can’t develop sound doctrine
righteousness.
from small, out-of-context bits of Scripture. It is also helpful to remember what
#4 Imputed Paul and other writers of the New Testament said elsewhere on the topic. “Do we
righteousness is free then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish
and puts you in right the law.” Establish here means “cause to stand rm.” To cause the law to stand
standing with Yahweh;
earned righteousness rm it must be wrapped in faith. Obedience by faith is Paul's message throughout
has a cost and comes his writings and is the delicate balance he displays throughout the Romans
from what you do with rollercoaster of law and grace. So, he emphatically states that the law is NOT
that right standing.
made void by faith, but then again reintroduces the idea that works without faith
are of no value. Abraham did put Isaac on the altar, a work for sure (see James

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AT-A-GLANCE below), but he did it in faith that Yahweh would still make him the father of many
nations. It was that action mixed with faith that made him righteous. Even Moses
#5 James distinguishes
“earned righteousness” knew that, as he is the one who Paul is quoting on the subject, “Abraham believed
that comes from works, God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) Paul gives
from “imputed more details on this concept in Galatians 3.
righteousness” that
comes from faith.
Then Paul draws from King David’s experience as recorded in Psalm 32:1-2. This
#6 There’s no love in a Psalm is likely inspired by David’s history with Bathsheba. He’s contemplating his
faith that watches sin, iniquity, transgression, all words that speak of violations against God’s laws.
someone go hungry.
For David, the o enses were serious: lust, abuse of power, adultery, causing
#7 The only way a another to sin, and premeditated murder. And yet, the penalty for sin is not
sinner can approach imputed when there is genuine repentance. Oh, but David’s repentance was not
Yahweh is through immediately forthcoming; Yahweh hounded him and his bones ached with
repentance and faith.
However, once we are conviction before he turned. Paul, as is his custom, brings us clarity from the
saved by His grace, it is words he draws from the Old Testament. The Psalm tells us that with repentance
mandated that we walk Yahweh does not impute iniquity; Paul tells us that with repentance Yahweh does
in good works.
impute righteousness. Throughout the Scriptures we can recognize two types of
righteousness, imputed and earned. Imputed righteousness is free and puts you in
right standing with Yahweh; earned righteousness has a cost and comes from
what you do with that right standing. Do you obey or not?

I will paraphrase what Yahweh also says in the same Psalm, “I will instruct you in
My ways; follow them, don’t be like a stubborn mule!” (vv. 8, 9) This means you
just can’t repent and then go back to doing your own thing. Your faith must be
mixed with obedience. Let’s revisit what James says on the topic, as it brings the
perfect understanding to what it means to establish the law by faith, to make it
stand rm. Notice how James distinguishes “earned righteousness” that comes
from works, from “imputed righteousness” that comes from faith, using the very
same scripture about Abraham. ““What does it pro t, my brethren, if someone
says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or
sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in
peace, be warmed and lled,” but you do not give them the things which are
needed for the body, what does it pro t? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not
have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”
Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and
tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER JUSTIFIED BY WORKS WHEN HE OFFERED
ISAAC HIS SON ON THE ALTAR? Do you see that faith was working together with
his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was ful lled
which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for

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AT-A-GLANCE righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6] And he was called the friend of God. You see then
that a man is justi ed by works, and not by faith only.” (James 2:14-24)

The “works” that Paul is against is the legalism we’ve de ned and been
discussing in Romans 1 and 2. But Paul, no doubt, tells us elsewhere that we are
saved for “good works” (faith-based obedience). “For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,
lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that we should WALK IN
THEM.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) James speaks of good works above, like clothing the
naked and feeding the hungry, both inspired by faith. Yahshua said, “Love your
neighbor.” There’s no love in a faith that watches someone go hungry.

Yet, those good deeds are merely lthy rags without faith (Isaiah 64:6). We, like
King David so poignantly declared in Psalm 32, and as Paul so eloquently states
in Ephesians 2, must understand that the only way a sinner can approach Yahweh
is through repentance and faith. However, once we are saved by His grace, it is
mandated that we walk in the good works that He has prepared for us. What good
works are those? Obeying Yahweh's commands! Otherwise your declaration of
faith is just a mental ascent and has no real substance. Yahshua said it like this,
“You will be known as a disciple by your fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-20) The question
then remains: is your fruit sweet and juicy or spoiled and rotten?

JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE, NOT LAW: ROMANS 4:9-17
Justification by Grace,
Not Law “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the
Romans 4:9-17 uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for
righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or
At a glance:
uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the
#1 The heart (mind) sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still
change takes place first uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are
and then the physical
action. uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of
circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the
#2 If we think we can go steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the
directly to “obeying the
law” without first having promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed
faith, then we have a through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law
bleak and dark future are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law
ahead of us.
brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is
#3 The grace of Yahweh of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all
is what empowers us to the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith
obey Him; the Law was of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of
given to show us that
we would always fall many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the
short without it. dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;”

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AT-A-GLANCE What a masterful follow-up! Abraham was made righteous by faith and then took
an action (faith-based obedience) by becoming circumcised. He was not
#4 Your background
need not keep you from circumcised rst, and so it is with everyone. The heart (mind) change takes place
Yahweh, whether you rst and then the physical action. Obeying the Law rst does not establish the
were a pagan or a heir. Faith does! We are the seeds of Abraham through faith. And if we think we
Hebrew.
can go directly to “obeying the law” without rst having faith, then we have a
#5 Abraham was neither bleak and dark future ahead of us. Doing so would be telling Yahweh that we
a Jew nor an Israelite. don’t need His promises; we can do it on our own. That would be a bad thing to
#6 All people become do because the Law without faith brings destruction. The grace of Yahweh is
righteous by faith what empowers us to obey Him; the Law was given to show us that we would
whether a Jew, Greek, always fall short without it.
Hebrew, or pagan.
And let’s just use some genealogical logic here:

Abram (exalted father, covenant Genesis 15)

Renamed Abraham (the father of many nations, Genesis 17:4-5. Circumcision
as a sign, vv. 10-11. Promise of Isaac, v. 16)

Isaac, son of Abraham (seed of promise ful lled Genesis 21, then faith tested
Genesis 22)

Jacob, son of Isaac (Genesis 25:26, Jacob I loved; Esau I hated, Rom. 9:13)

Jacob, renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28; 35:10, one who overcomes with the
Almighty)

Israel (had 12 sons, become tribes of Israel, Genesis 29:31-30:24; 35:16-18,
22-26)

Joseph (11th son/tribe, Genesis 35:24, who saved the lives of all brothers/tribes
in Egypt, Genesis 37-50)

Egypt gone bad (430 years [*including Exodus and years in Canaan], Exodus
12:40, as prophesied in Genesis 15:13, see also Galatians 3:17)

Levi (3rd son/tribe, Genesis 35:23, given priestly duties. Note: Judah was the
4th son)

Moses (came from Levi, Exodus 2:1-10)

Then Passover-Exodus-Freedom-Mount Sinai—The Law (Book of Exodus)

*by studying the timeline, you notice that the 430 years must have include all the years from
the exodus forward.

The covenant of faith came centuries before the Law.

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AT-A-GLANCE “What I mean is this: The law, introduced [*]430 years later, does not set aside the
covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”
(Galatians 3:17 NIV)

Being the seed of Abraham through faith also levels the playing eld, meaning
your background need not keep you from Yahweh, whether you were a pagan or a
Hebrew. Note: Abraham was not a Jew, nor was he an Israelite, Jews and the
nation of Israel came much later. Abraham-Isaac-Jacob; Jacob renamed Israel;
Israel had 12 sons; Judah was the forth son, Judah and Levi (third son) became
the southern Kingdom of Judah after King Solomon died. They were called by the
slang term “Jew” later on. So you can see, Abraham was neither a Jew nor an
Israelite.

Bottom line: all people become righteous by faith whether a Jew, Greek, Hebrew,
or pagan because it is Yahweh “who gives life to the dead and calls those things
which do not exist as though they did.” (Romans 4:17) And “Faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). When you
believe, you can see things that do not yet exist as if they already do, whether it is
the birth of a nation, the healing of your body, the restoration of your marriage, or
your vision to impact the world for Yahweh.

Justification by JUSTIFICATION BY RESURRECTION POWER, NOT HUMAN EFFORT:
Resurrection power - ROMANS 4:18-25
Not Human Effort
Romans 4:18-25
“who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many
At a glance: nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not
being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was
#1 Abram and Sarai
about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at
were well was beyond
child bearing years, so it the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to
could not be in the God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to
things of this world, the perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not
natural, that Abram
could have believed written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be
such promises. imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who
was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our
#2 The account of
Abraham was to teach justi cation.”
us that the promises of
Yahweh are fulfilled in Look to the Heavens Abram, and count the stars; this is how expansive your
all those who have faith. ancestors will be (Genesis 15:5). Abram and Sarai were well was beyond child
bearing years, so it could not be in the things of this world, the natural, that Abram
could have believed such a promise. It was only by faith in the one true Mighty
One that he could believe such a promise. And that faith is what accounted as
righteousness.

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AT-A-GLANCE Is this just a history lesson? Let it not be! The account of Abraham was to teach
us that the promises of Yahweh are ful lled in all those who have faith.
Righteousness is imputed to all those who believe the testimony of Yahshua. He
was dead, buried, and then raised from the grave by Yahweh (Ephesians 1:20).
That could not happen in the natural. Imputed righteousness is that which is
ascribed to you because of Yahshua’s virtue (actions), not to your own. And thus
you are justi ed (put in right standing with Yahweh) by faith alone.

CHAPTER 5 "PEACE WITH GOD"
The Blessings of
Justification
THE BLESSINGS OF JUSTIFICATION: ROMANS 5:1-11
Romans 5:1-11

At a glance: “Therefore, having been justi ed by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we
#1 We have peace with stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in
Yahweh because
justification is a done tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
deal because of the character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of
work of the cross. God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For
when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For
#2 Faith gives us
access to His power, the scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone
same power Yahweh would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
used to raise Yahshua we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justi ed by
from the grave.
His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies
#3 Even when our we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
journey includes reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God
struggles, we have His
power to endure, and through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the
not only endure but reconciliation.”
thrive.
There is so much here: justi cation, faith, grace, hope, saved, and reconciled.
#4 Paul introduces a Ultimately we are justi ed/reconciled by His death and saved by His life. Let’s start
prophetic idea; he says
that MUCH MORE than with the beginning. We have peace with Yahweh because justi cation, and
justification, there is reconciliation as refered to elsewhere in the chapter, is a done deal because of the
something else! work of the cross. It does not get better than that; it’s all Him and none of you. It’s
faith (which of itself is a gift, Romans 12:3) that brings your permanent change in
#5 As a new creature
and as a child in the destiny. Think again about the three crosses on Calvary. Which do you aspire to?
faith, you get to go on
the journey toward Faith then gives us access to His power, the same power Yahweh used to raise
maturity, adulthood in Yahshua from the grave (read Ephesians 1:17-23). Okay, track with me here; once
the faith. And what does
that look like? It looks we have this assurance, this power, all else is a journey. And even when that
like the life of Yahshua. journey includes struggles, you have His power to endure, and not only endure but
thrive, because of the hope that comes from this new revelation. If you focus for
#6 Think one more time
moment about your calling, your destiny, your permanent “class distinction”, all
about the three crosses
on Calvary. Which one the various trials of life will feel like a ea on an elephant (read 1 Peter 1:6-9;
is your ultimate destiny?

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AT-A-GLANCE James 1:2-4), knowing in the end all is perfect and you will lack nothing. And this
was all made freely available to us while we were in the worst, dreadful, sinful
state, meaning we didn’t need to cleanse ourselves rst, before we could access
this gift.

Okay, that is one side, we are justi ed (made right) and reconciled (made whole,
debt free) all by His blood/death and all for free, while we were still in darkness.
But then Paul introduces a prophetic idea; he says that MUCH MORE than this,
there is something else! And this something else has to do with His life, not His
death. And it has to do with your life, after your death and born-again moment.
Born-again as a new creature and as a child in the faith, you get to go on the
journey toward maturity, adulthood in the faith. And what does that look like? It
looks like the life of Yahshua.

Paul says, “we are saved by His life.” Yes, He rose to life, but rewind a bit and
think about His life. He lived a life of radical faith-based obedience to His Father.
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son
can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does,
the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19) He did not come with His own
doctrine and teaching, but to speak His Father’s words (John 7:16-18). And that is
what you are called to do, to live a life like His. And that is what it means to be
“saved” by His life. Saved: temporal well-being that constitutes the best life you
could possibly experience on this side of eternity because your entire focus, while
you yet live, is to be conformed into His image. The safety net—we are eternally
secure. The work to be done—walk like He walked.

Stop for a moment NOW and read Ephesians 4:1-16. Take a few extra minutes to
meditate on verses 11-13. Do you get it? Can you sense the magnitude of your
calling now? Can you shift your thinking from the pastoral (life now) to the
prophetic (ultimate truth)? Think one more time about the three crosses on
The Basis of Calvary. Which one is your ultimate destiny?
Justification
Romans 5:12-21 THE BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION: ROMANS 5:12-21

At a glance: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin,
and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in
#1 There are two
Adams. One named the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned
Adam, the first man in from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness
Genesis. And second, a of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free
type and shadow of the
first, who inscribed the gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the
backside of the coin. grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to
Death reigned on one many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the
side, life is the
inscription on the other, judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift
Adam and Yahshua. which came from many offenses resulted in justi cation. For if by the one man’s

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AT-A-GLANCE offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
#2 Adam, a man, a Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in
human man, lost the title condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men,
deed to the earth, and resulting in justi cation of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made
humans must redeem it.
sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the
#3 Yahshua must law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
remain in heaven until abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign
the RESTORATION OF
ALL THINGS. through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

#3 Adam had a mortal Paul's writing style, especially in the book of Romans is somewhat of a
body which had eternal rollercoaster. He paints such a stark contrast between two sides of the coin; it
potential. He needed to feels like the steep peeks and deep valleys of a very fast and extremely intense
eat from the tree of life
to live forever. ride. He does this throughout the book with grace and law; imputed righteousness
and the personal sancti cation process (earned righteousness); eternal security
#4 Yahshua resurrected and temporal life; doers of the law and works for law; faith-based obedience and
with a glorified body. It
was immortal esh-based obedience.
(incorruptible) and
eternal. Then, here in Chapter 5 he introduces the two Adams. One named Adam, the rst
man in Genesis. And the second, a type and shadow of the rst, who inscribed
#5 We, who rule and the backside of the coin. Death reigned on one side, life is the inscription on the
reign with Messiah, the
Church, will receive the other, Adam and Yahshua.
same resurrected body
that Yahshua has. Let’s break it down in some detail, but rst let me pro er a prophetic idea that,
once considered, will guide you to a better understanding of the rest of Paul's
#6 Citizens of the earth, Romans theological masterpiece. Adam, a man, a human man, lost the title deed
those who in the end
have faith but miss the to the earth. He forfeited it to Satan (Matthew 4:8-10; proof that Satan owns it).
window to be covered This assumes something important, Adam owned it and had the rights to keep it
by the blood of or lose it. That’s important to know. So, Adam, a human, owned it and lost it, and
Yahshua, will be mortal
and potentially eternal Yahshua, divine who became human, paved the way for redemption, the
(like Adam). They need restoration of the garden.
to eat from the tree of
life to live forever. Yahshua paved the way, but He does not restore it for us. He does, however, give
us the right to take it back ourselves? If you catch the nuance here, you will start
#7 Rebels will
experience the first to recognize the importance of human initiative, in other words, what our
death (physical death) responsibility is on this side of eternity, as we partner with Yahweh (empowered by
and inherit the second Him) to bring restoration of the Kingdom on Earth. This will help you begin to
death (eternal death).
understand the prophetic model God has for the future of mankind. Yahshua must
remain in heaven until we do our part.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may
send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, WHOM HEAVEN MUST
RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has

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AT-A-GLANCE spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts
3:19-21) A “man” lost the title deed and a “man” must redeem it!

So the technical part, or the legalese: Adam committed one sin, call it “my will, not
Your will be done,” and he did this before the Torah was rati ed on Mt. Sinai. All it
took was one transgression to lose the title and go from life to death. Tune in with
your prophetic brain for a moment. Adam was created as a mortal, but potentially
eternal being. He could die, but he did not have to. “And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that
you eat of it you shall surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16-17)

But he chose his own will, to eat from the forbidden tree, and because of that He
lost the right to eat from the tree of life, which he needed to live forever. “And the
LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.
He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life
and eat, and live forever.”” (Genesis 3:22 NIV)

Conversely, Yahshua was an immortal and eternal being who, in the single
greatest act of love in history, surrendered that position and became like Adam
(read Philippians 2:5-7). Yet, in one nal heroic act of obedience, “And being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8), let’s call it “not My will, but
Your will be done” (Luke 22:42), He blotted out an in nite number of our
transgressions, past, present, and future. It redeemed all of us “Adams” and put
us back into right standing with Yahweh. “But whoever drinks of the water that I
shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in
him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”” (John 4:14) And at the
same time, He resurrected as a new type of immortal and eternal being, a type
that we too could inherit (read 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). NOW we have the ability
to regain the title deed to the earth. And that is coming in the future
“RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS”, which Yahshua waits for in heaven. Sin had its
reign in us, but now it’s righteousness’s turn.

[Prophetic Notes:]

Adam had a mortal body which had eternal potential (Genesis 2:16-17). He had
to meet certain conditions to live forever. He was required to eat from the tree of
life (Genesis 3:22).

Yahshua resurrected with a glori ed body (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). It was
immortal (incorruptible) and eternal. It needs to meet no further conditions to
live forever.

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AT-A-GLANCE Faithful body of believers (Rulers: inherit heaven, the Church, faith- lled people
who are covered by the blood of Yahshua). We receive the same resurrected
body that Yahshua has (Philippians 3:21). We are immortal and eternal. We rule
and reign with Messiah forever (Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Timothy 2:12).

Faithful body of “unbelievers” (Citizens: inherit the earth, those who in the end
have faith but miss the window to be covered by the blood of Yahshua). Mortal
and potentially eternal (like Adam). Must eat from the tree of life to live forever
(Revelation 22:1-2).

Unfaithful unbelievers. (Rebels: those who experience the rst death (physical
death, Hebrews 9:27) and inherit the second death, eternal death, Revelation
2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8; Jude 1:12-13).

Can you recognize that there are three permanent classes of people, just like there
were three crosses? Three eternal destinies (Ruler-Citizen-Rebel). I ask yet again,
which one is your ultimate inheritance?

Know-I Died With Him CHAPTER 6 "POWER OF RESURRECTION"
Romans 6:1-10

At a glance: KNOW - I DIED WITH HIM: ROMANS 6:1-10

#1 The offer in chapter 6
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
is best understood as
the transaction or Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not
exchange. know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His
#2 Imagine for a death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as
moment that humans no Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
longer need to sin. walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His
#3 You have to figure death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this,
out a way to totally that our old man was cruci ed with Him, that the body of sin might be done away
identify with what with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been
Yahshua did on the
cross and beyond. freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death
#4 We are bound to no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once
grow up at some point in
time. Born-again infants for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”
all grown up, what might
Chapters 6, 7, and 8 really t together like a puzzle. I like to think of chapter 6 as
that look like?
“the o er”, chapter 7 as “the dilemma”, and chapter 8 as “the solution.”
#5 The life we now live
and where we are The o er in chapter 6 is best understood as the transaction or exchange.
going, personally, Contemplating and meditating on the magnitude of this transaction might be the
corporately and
prophetically, needs to most important and powerful thing a believer can do on a daily basis. I can
be worked out inside of imagine Paul, especially early on after his conversion, spending days, even weeks,
a Torah-centric model.

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AT-A-GLANCE considering what happened to him. Here is a man with superior knowledge of the
Torah, advanced in his faith beyond most of his contemporaries, now the greatest
#6 Yahweh’s grace does advocate for the One he formally persecuted. “What actually happened to me?”
increase to meet the he must have mused, over and over. “I was certain I had it all right.” It had to feel
demands of my sin, yet like a death to him. “Yes, that’s it; I died when I got knocked o my donkey, and
grace is no excuse to
sin. born again into a new reality. I was blind, but now I see. Come on Paul, think man;
what’s really going on here?” And then… “That’s it; it was a death. My old man
#7 We are no longer died, that man who lived for sin, and I am now a new man who is no longer a slave
slaves to sin, but are
instead freed from it. to sin. Now, I have to live it out in a way that is very di erent than I used to think,
because that clearly didn't work; how do I do that?”

Okay, so I'm making this up, but can't you imagine he had a talk with himself like
that? Didn't you? If not, shouldn't you? Imagine with me for a moment that
humans no longer need to sin; YOU no longer need to sin, all because of what
Yahshua did. And all you have to do is gure out a way to totally identify with what
He did on the cross and beyond, His death, burial, and resurrection. I’m
convinced that if you believed this, your faith would take the front seat of your life
IN EVERY WAY from here on.

I think even more importantly, Paul is setting the stage for man’s prophetic
destination. We are bound to grow up at some point in time. Born-again infants all
grown up, what might that look like? And if Yahweh saw t that Paul, the Torah
scholar, was the perfect man to sort through this understanding and then write it
down, we should not, we MUST NOT, discount his background. He is formulating
his understanding of obedience unto perfection from a foundation of the Torah
and the Prophets. Yahshua did also, and so should we. “Not one word, not even
one letter of the Torah and the Prophets will pass away until all is ful lled…
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew
5:17-18, 48).” In other words, the life we now live and where we are going,
personally, corporately and prophetically, needs to be worked out inside of a
Torah-centric model.

So, Paul just made the point at the end of Chapter 5 that Yahweh’s grace, His
power toward us, increases to meet the demands of our sins, no matter how great
those sins are. But, he also is very well aware of human nature ( esh nature), by
virtue of coming face-to face with his own, as you will see elaborated in these next
few chapters. Paul knows sin as transgression of the Law (lawlessness); Yahshua
taught precisely that (I John 3:4). Therefore, Paul recognizes sinlessness as total
obedience to the Law. But he also is acutely aware that even with all his expertise,
knowledge, and extreme self-determination, the best he could accomplish on his
own was woefully short of that.

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AT-A-GLANCE But now he’s a new man, empowered by grace, and he is setting the record
straight. Yahweh’s grace does increase to meet the demands of my sin, yet grace
is no excuse to sin; it is not a hall pass or get-out-of-jail-free card. In fact, the
opposite is more accurate. His grace empowers us to NOT SIN. “How shall we
who died to sin live any longer in it?” (v. 2) Okay, this is the stu of deep
mediation. You cannot, MUST NOT, gloss over this with some Christian-Lite
attitude like, “I’m only human; no one is perfect. He’s got me covered anyway; all
my sins are washed away already.”

The oft-adopted Christian philosophy is that trying to stay sharp and believing you
can be sinless is a legalistic and an impossible-to-ful ll suggestion that is not
supported by New Testament doctrine. Yet, here Paul denounces the need to sin,
emphatically, “How can we live in it any longer?” I agree with Paul here; we must
embrace this FACT, “He died; I died; He was buried; I was buried; He resurrected;
I resurrected.” Our old man (sin nature) was cruci ed with Him and sin is now
DEAD. We are no longer slaves to sin, but are instead freed from it. This perfectly
mirrors the idea of redemption, which is the price paid to free a hostage. Death no
longer rules over the Messiah, and through the Messiah, death and sin no longer
Recon-Faith in Action rule over us. It’s our prophetic destination. Meditate on this daily!
Romans 6:11
RECON - FAITH IN ACTION: ROMANS 6:11
At a glance:

#1 We are joint heirs, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in
not lesser heirs. We are Christ Jesus our Lord.”
destined to be
conformed into Likewise? Paul powerfully and authoritatively demands, “Likewise!” Like Yahshua
Yahshua’s image. died to sin, you too must die. And be alive in Yahweh, a new creature. Likewise!
We are joint heirs (Romans 8:16-17), not lesser heirs. We are destined to be
conformed into His image (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 4:13). Meditate on the three
crosses once again. Which one is your true prophetic identity? “For if we have
been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
Yield-Victory of likeness of His resurrection.” (Romans 6:5)
Crucifixion
Romans 6:12-23 YIELD - VICTORY OF CRUCIFIXION: ROMANS 6:12-23
NEW POSITION, NEW MASTER, NEW NATURE
At a glance:

#1 We are clearly “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its
instructed to no longer
lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,
let our bodies be
instruments of sin. but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for
#2 Sin is defined by the
law, so we can’t even you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are
have a conversation not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you
about sin without there present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
being law.

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AT-A-GLANCE whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But
#3 Paul tries his best to God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart
simplify the contrast that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from
between the two types sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the
of slavery—slavery to
sin or to righteousness. weakness of your esh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of
uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present
#4 The problem is not your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves
with the law; it’s with
people. of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the
things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But
#5 With the power of the now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have
Holy Spirit you NOW
have the choice, your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death,
lawlessness or but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
righteousness?
As I have said already in this commentary, Romans is like taking a rollercoaster
ride and if you are not sharp you will get stuck on certain peeks or valleys. We are
clearly instructed to no longer let our bodies be instruments of sin. It would be a
good time to repeat Yahshua's emphatic statement about sin before we continue,
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” (I John
3:4). It’s been the general teaching in Christianity over the last 2000 years that
“Jesus did away with the law, or replaced the law.” And Romans’ verses as well
as select others from Galatians, taken out of context, have been what’s fueling this
false doctrine.

Paul says we are not under law but instead grace; then he asks if that gives us the
option to sin. Sin is de ned by the law, so we can’t even have a conversation
about sin without there being law. If we have no law, we have no sin. Therefore, it
is essential here that we track with Paul’s multiple uses of the word “law” in
Romans. One such distinction is the “law of sin”. He furthers his discussion by
talking about obedience. What exactly are you a slave to obeying, the law of sin
unto death, or the law of righteousness unto life? Through the transaction that
took place, you are no longer a slave to the law of sin.

Paul knows that his writings are complex and that the doctrines he is introducing
to humanity for the rst time are very complicated. It is easy to twist what he says
as he tries his best to simplify the contrast between the two types of slavery—
slavery to sin or to righteousness. He is in no way saying the contrast is between
slavery to the Torah of Moses (the Law) and slavery to righteousness. But,
unfortunately, this is what has been taught in the Church. Instead, take a look at
what Paul says about the Law in the next chapter of this very book. (What shall we
say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin
except through the law; Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and
just and good; For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 7:7, 12, 14). The problem is not with the law; it’s with people. Is it any

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AT-A-GLANCE wonder I call it the Romans rollercoaster? Peter warned that people would twist
Paul’s words.,“as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which
are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to
their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” (II Peter 3:16)

Then, Paul encapsulates this doctrine by saying, “For just as you presented your
members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness [sin is lawlessness] leading
to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for
holiness. With the power of the Holy Spirit you NOW have the choice!

Two Husbands:
Romans 7:1-6
CHAPTER 7 "THE EFFECTS OF SIN"

At a glance: TWO HUSBANDS: ROMANS 7:1-6
#1 If those teaching
doctrine and theology “Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the
about Romans 7 don’t law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a
know the Law, then it is
possible they have been husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the
twisting Paul's words. husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her
husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her
#2 The law is like the
operating system on husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she
your computer, mobile, has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to
or tablet. It’s the
framework that allows the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him
your device to function. who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we
You CANNOT remove were in the esh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work
the operating system
and expect anything to in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the
function. law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness
of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”
#3 Legally, we are
permitted to marry “I speak to those who know the law.” Why would Paul begin this section of his
Christ ONLY if there is a letter specifying a segment of readers? The stage is set for possibly one of the
death! That is what the
Law allows. deepest revelations in your faith walk, so I will take my time to unpack the content
of this precious gift.
#4 If you abolish the
law, you abolish the First let’s just agree that he has, in fact, singled out a particular segment of his
provision, and you have audience. And then ask yourself this key question, “Do I know the law?” And if
no legal right to be the
Bride of Christ. not, and if those who have been teaching you their doctrine and theology about
Romans 7 also don’t, then isn’t it possible they have been twisting Paul's words
#5 Remarriage after the for centuries (II Peter 3:16)? And here lies the great paradox. We want to be the
death of a husband
requires that the next bride of Christ; we believe what He promised is true; and we desire all the
husband is in Christ! privileges that come with it; yet want no part of the legalities of it all. I'm sorry, it
can’t work that way.

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AT-A-GLANCE And here at the start of chapter 7 we have additional clari cation about the “law.”
Think of it like this. The law is like the operating system on your computer, mobile,
or tablet. It’s the framework that allows your device to function. You can load all
sorts of programs and apps ONTO THAT FRAMEWORK. But once you do, you
CANNOT remove the operating system and expect anything to function. The
death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah, as elaborated on in chapter 6, are
the apps. But they only function if there is a law (operating system) in place.

A woman is bound, BY THE LAW, to her husband as long as he lives. We are
talking about the command of Yahweh governing marriage (Genesis 2:22-24) and
remarriage. Why is this even relevant? Because we want to marry Yahshua. But,
we can’t if we are married to another. You see, the law ALLOWS us to remarry if
there is a death, v. 4, (and hence the apps of death, burial, and resurrection in ch.
6). It is clear in the Old Testament that Yahweh supports remarriage after the death
of a spouse. Abraham remarried after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1). It was the
obligation of a brother to marry his widowed sister-in-law (Deuteronomy 25:5). And
the entire book of Ruth is about the Kinsman Redeemer who rescues a widow by
marrying her. We are bound/married to sin/Satan prior to our identi cation with
Christ. And legally, we are permitted to marry Christ ONLY if there is a death! That
is what the Law allows. “but if her husband dies, she is free from that law.”

You see, it’s the Law that has within it the provision to be freed from THAT law if
there is a death, and Paul is now able to apply spiritual revelation to his previous
knowledge of the Scriptures. That is the legal side of Romans 6 (He died; I died…).
If you abolish the law, you abolish the provision, and you have no legal right to be
the Bride of Christ. By law, sin died so you are permitted to become the bride of
Christ without being an adulteress. But if you don’t have the law (operating
system) that says so, then you can’t run the program. That is why Paul is
addressing those who know the law; they are the ones who can understand what
he is saying. Look also at what he says elsewhere when he is giving speci c
advice about marriage. Notice the stipulation! “A wife is bound by law as long as
her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom
she wishes, only in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 7:39) Remarriage after the death of a
husband requires that the next husband is in Christ!

Consider Yahshua’s words and actions. In Matthew 5:17-19, He says He did not
come to destroy (make null) the Law or the Prophets, but to ful ll (institute/
practice to their fullest). And whoever does and teaches them will be great. And in
one such “legal case” in which a woman is being accused of adultery (John
8:1-11), He applies the Law (the legal operating system) to release her. “Woman,
where are your accusers; is there no one to condemn you?” The witnesses have
gone, so the correct ruling according to the Torah is that she is freed to “go and
sin no more.” Yahshua did not nullify or change the Law, He applied it!

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AT-A-GLANCE Now ask yourself why the blood of Christ has the power to redeem you! The
answer may shock you; it’s because the Law says so! “In fact, the law requires
that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF
BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS.” (Hebrews 9:22 NIV) “For the life of a
creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR ONE’S
LIFE.” (Leviticus 17:11 NIV)

Ah yes, “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”
(Romans 7:12)
Two Discoveries
Romans 7:7-14 TWO DISCOVERIES: ROMANS 7:7-14

At a glance: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not
#1 The reason why have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness
Romans seems like unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the
such a rollercoaster ride commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law
is because there is such
a wide chasm between sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment
attempted obedience by came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I
the flesh (empowered found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived
by self-determination)
and obedience by faith me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and
(empowered by grace). just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin,
that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that
#2 The Law without faith
is death. Yet, faith sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know
without the Law is that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
unnecessary. If you
have no Law, you have Let’s start from the bottom here and work our way up. This is what we know, “The
no sin; if you have no law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” The reason why Romans seems
sin, you have no death;
if you have no death, like such a rollercoaster ride is because there is such a wide chasm between
you need no Savior. attempted obedience by the esh (empowered by self-determination) and
obedience by faith (empowered by grace). Remember who the writer is; Paul is an
expert in the Law, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee. But, those things which gave
him the greatest self-worth became rubbish in comparison to faith in the Messiah
(read Philippians 3:4-9). The Law without faith is death. Yet, faith without the Law
is unnecessary. If you have no Law, you have no sin; if you have no sin, you have
no death; if you have no death, you need no Savior. Remember, Yahshua taught
us that sin is lawlessness (I John 3:4). “Therefore the Law is holy, and the
commandment holy and just and good.”

One last thought here: was Paul alive once without the Law? I have a number of
ideas for you to consider:

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AT-A-GLANCE 1. There was never a time that he lived in which the Law did not exist. So, he
might be referring to an age of accountability (early teen years when a young man
becomes a son of (accountable to) the covenant/commandments, what we call in
the modern day his ‘bar-mitzvah’). When he became “o cially” accountable, the
blessed life that obedience to Yahweh's laws o ers, instead produced death. But
that death was really a good thing; it showed him that the Law is actually a
spiritual thing that exposes his carnal nature and therefore his need for a Savior.
And that is a very good thing!

2. He could also be referring to his “I got knocked o my donkey when I
encountered Yahshua experience” (Acts 10:1-7). Prior to then, he fancied himself
a perfect Jew, “concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3:6) But, when you
bump headlong into the living Mighty One, you suddenly realize you’ve been
falling woefully short all along.

3. A nal thought to consider is that Paul is also referring to mankind prior to the
giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Yes, as we see in the Garden with Adam and
Eve, sin was in the world prior to Sinai, but the events at Sinai increased
mankind’s ability to recognize their sinful natures.

Two Principles: TWO PRINCIPLES: ROMANS 7:15-25
Romans 7:15-25

At a glance: “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not
practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with
#1 Paul is the first man
alive to be sorting the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in
through and committing me. For I know that in me (that is, in my esh) nothing good dwells; for to will is
to words what took present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not nd. For the good that
place in him when that
great transaction I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what
occurred, ideas and I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I nd then a
words that have become law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the
part of the common
vernacular for you and law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members,
me. warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this
#2 We can overview life
in snapshots, key body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the
moments and highlights, mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the esh the law of sin.”
shards of history, but the
minute details of reality This is the diary of a man who is discovering what it means to be born-again and
can never be chronicled empowered by the Holy Spirit. To us, 21st Century Christians, these struggles
sufficiently, for any
appear almost commonplace. We had the reformation 500 years ago; we can
historical event or even
in your own personal recall countless Holy Spirit revivals throughout history; we experienced all sorts of
life. movements: Prayer, Charismatic, Prophetic, Pentecostal, and Messianic, to name
a few; and we have study bibles, bible programs and apps; a myriad of Christian

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AT-A-GLANCE books, curriculum, and study guides; Christian television, radio, and the internet;
and we have churches on every corner, over 300,000 of them in the the U. S.
#3 Paul is opening his alone. You get the picture? However, Paul is the rst man alive to be sorting
diary and allowing us to through and committing to words what took place in him when that great
see, and possible feel, transaction occurred, ideas and words that have become part of the common
the highlights of his
journey of discovery. vernacular for you and me. So, let’s sort through Paul’s struggle to nd out just
what happened to him (and all of us) when we got knocked o “our donkeys.”
#4 Do we join Paul in
his struggle, or do we I like to think about the last part of Romans 7 as taking a peek into the diary of a
join him in his victory,
man on a long journey. Think carefully about your own life and history. Maybe
his discovery?
even contemplate any historical event, then consider the words written about it,
#5 One thing is for sure, and compare them to the actual event. The words can never do justice to the
you are no longer a seconds, minutes, and hours of reality. Sure we can overview life in snapshots,
victim of sin; and when
you do sin, it is simply a key moments and highlights, shards of history, but the minute details of reality can
choice. never be chronicled su ciently, for any historical event or even in your own
personal life. Let’s consider a soldier at war, for instance. There are named battles,
key strategic moments, memorial dates, and history-deciding losses and victories.
And in that speci c soldier’s life, in his mind, he endured the expanded nano-
seconds of time: the fear, the su ering, the cold, the pain, the doubt, the hope, the
confusion, and the terrible longing for his loved ones; he personally experienced
every moment, moments that history never recorded. Can you feel it?

Now, take a look back at Paul’s struggle, his dilemma. You are reading an
encapsulation. He is opening his diary and allowing us to see, and possibly feel,
the highlights of his journey of discovery; “Who will deliver me from this body of
death?” Yes, it all comes down to this journal entry; “Thank you Father, your Son
has ALREADY delivered me from this struggle. I get it now, my esh serves the
law of sin; but, the new man, born-again in Messiah, serves the laws of my
Creator.”

And then there is the great take-away for all of us. Do we join Paul in his struggle,
or do we join him in his victory, his discovery? You have his diary entries to draw
from; why repeat his mistakes? Choose NOW to agree with the law of sin that has
you doing all sorts of things you know you shouldn’t do and neglecting all the
things that you should be doing, or live as the new creature you are and serve the
laws of your Creator who sent His Son to die for you that you might be born-again
and lled with the power of His Holy Spirit. One thing is for sure, you are no longer
a victim of sin; and when you do sin, it is simply a choice.

[Note For Theological Purposes]

Notice the two laws in verses 22 and 23, the Law of God and the law of sin. For I
delight in the LAW OF GOD according to the inward man. But I see ANOTHER
LAW in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into

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AT-A-GLANCE captivity to the LAW OF SIN which is in my members. Yahshua never came to
abolish His Father’s Laws, but instead, the law of sin. “Do we then make void the
law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (Romans
3:31)

CHAPTER 8 "LIBERATION FROM SIN"

No Condemnation: NO CONDEMNATION: SPIRIT AND LAW: ROMANS 8:1-4
Spirit and Law
Romans 8:1-4
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
At a glance: do not walk according to the esh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the
#1 “No condemnation” is Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For
reserved for those who what the law could not do in that it was weak through the esh, God did by
walk according to the sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful esh, on account of sin: He
Spirit.
condemned sin in the esh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be
#2 The power Yahweh ful lled in us who do not walk according to the esh but according to the Spirit.”
used to raised Yahshua
from the grave is It is no surprise that Paul would balance the rollercoaster ride, from what some
available to us as an people might consider pretty harsh self-condemnation in the last chapter, with a
inheritance.
bold doctrinal statement. “No condemnation!” Yet, there is a serious caveat here,
#3 What will you do with one not often preached in services that are more like G-rated entertainment than
the resurrection power they are concerned with solid doctrine. “No condemnation” is reserved for those
that has been granted to who walk according to the Spirit. You see, you have been freed from the law of sin
you?
and the death that comes with it. Yet, you also have a choice to go back and live
#4 Yahweh’s grace does by the esh.
not extend to willful sin.
In Ephesians 1:19-20, we learn from Paul that the power Yahweh used to raised
#5 Yahshua specifically Yahshua from the grave is available to us as an inheritance. We learned in chapter
“condemns sin in the
flesh” because the 6 of Romans that our “old man” was cruci ed and died. So, here is the question:
righteous requirement of what will you do with the resurrection power that has been granted to you? If you
the law requires “choose” to raise the old man (sinful esh) from the grave, instead of living by the
condemnation for sin.
“Spirit of life in Christ Jesus [that] has made me free from the law of sin and
death,” the “no condemnation” thing does not apply.

Yahweh’s grace does not extend to willful sin. “For if we sin willfully after we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacri ce for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and ery indignation which will
devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27). Yahshua speci cally “condemns sin
in the esh” because the righteous requirement of the law requires condemnation
for sin; living according to the Spirit ful lls that requirement. But, if you choose to
live in the esh you are not covered. The operative word here is “choose.”

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AT-A-GLANCE NO OBLIGATION: SPIRIT AND FLESH: ROMANS 8:5-17
No Obligation: Spirit
and Flesh “For those who live according to the esh set their minds on the things of the
Romans 8:5-17 esh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be
At a glance: carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because
the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor
#1 Life begins in the indeed can be. So then, those who are in the esh cannot please God. But you
mind. And consequently
death starts there also. are not in the esh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now
It is your choice to if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you,
make. the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
#2 We are going to But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who
follow the rabbit hole to raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His
the prophetic end of
Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the esh, to
human initiative.
live according to the esh. For if you live according to the esh you will die; but if
#3 This is the perfect by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as
time to bring clarity to
what is the most are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the
important gospel spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom
message in the New we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we
Testament, The Gospel
of the Kingdom. are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we su er with Him, that we may also be glori ed together.”
#4 The entirety of the
Church mission, the Again, Paul exes his Hebrew muscle by emphasizing that life begins in the mind.
prophetic end-game, is And consequently death starts there also. And notice the absolute assurance that
aimed at building people it is your choice to make. You can set your mind on carnality, or you can live
until they become like
Messiah. according to the Spirit. Yes, the work of the cross is what gives you the choice, no
doubt; without it we are all involuntary slaves to sin. But, if you have the Spirit you
#5 John the Baptist was have become one of Yahweh’s chess pieces in His prophetic plan for humanity. I
the prophet who fulfilled
the ministry of Elijah am getting back to something I introduced earlier in my commentary on Romans
before the first coming 5:12-21, human initiative. And before we move on in Romans we are going to
of Messiah. But there follow the rabbit hole to the prophetic end of this human initiative.
must also be second
Elijah who comes before The Gospel of the Kingdom
the second coming.
This is the perfect time to bring clarity to what is the most important gospel
#6 Elijah comes and
restores all things and message in the New Testament, The Gospel of the Kingdom. The book of Romans
then Jesus can leave is emphatic about what reconciles us to Yahweh, the free gift of redemption or
His spot in heaven and justi cation by faith. We have, thus far, identi ed this as “imputed righteousness.”
come again.
We also spoke about “earned righteousness” which, includes with it, a BIG
question. What will you do with the grace that has been freely given to you? Will
you resurrect the “old man” or walk in the newness of life, the fullness of the
Spirit? The transformation process begins and is empowered by God, but also
involves human initiative (free will), which begins in the mind. Be transformed by

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AT-A-GLANCE the renewing of your mind, Paul exhorts in Romans 12:2. And it concludes with
obtaining the mind of Messiah (I Corinthians 2:17). This is the entirety of the
#7 John’s (the Baptist)
ministry was to pave the Church mission. The prophetic end-game is aimed at building people until they
way for Yahshua and to become like Messiah. “Until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
point to what the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
Kingdom looks like.
Yahshua is exactly what the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
it looks like when the
Sprit of God is fully Now, let me put this all in human terms. We will, as humans, on earth, eventually
manifested (revealed) in (at some point in human history before Christ’s second coming) become like Him
a human (son), “the
(perfect). The “prophetic moment” in time, the nal initiation of this process, is the
revealing of the son(s)
of God.” main topic in our next section, and is identi ed as the “revealing of the sons of
God.” (Romans 8:19) Let’s travel back to the rst century to explore the pattern of
#8 What will the end-of- how all this might happen.
the-age look like? It
begins with the
John the Baptist was the prophet who ful lled the ministry of Elijah before the rst
revealing of the sons of
God (us) and continues coming of Messiah. Prophetically, he was the rst Elijah before the rst coming.
into eternity as we, joint But there must also be a second Elijah who comes before the second coming (the
heirs, rule and reign with great and dreadful day of the Lord). Jesus taught us about both dispensations of
Christ in the increase of
His Government, which Elijah when asked a provocative question by his close friends.
has no end.
“The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law [scribes] say that
#9 If Yahweh had no Elijah must come rst?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, ELIJAH COMES AND WILL
interest in our RESTORE ALL THINGS [surely Jesus is not referring to John, but instead to
participation in His plan,
then why give us the Malachi’s prophesy—see below] . But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they
choice to live by the did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same
flesh or live by the way the Son of Man is going to su er at their hands.” Then the disciples
Spirit?
understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist [who DID NOT
#10 The spiritual mind restore all things].” (Matthew 17:10-13 NIV)
loves Yahweh and is
happily subjected to His Elijah has come already (his spirit in John the Baptist) and is coming again, this
laws, resulting in life and time to restore all things. And the Elijah “who is coming to restore all things” is
peace.
prophesied about in Malachi. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE
#11 Redemption is free, THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD. And he will
being a disciple will cost turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their
you everything.
fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6) His is the
#12 We are children of nal restoration ministry before the “day of the LORD”.
God, and if children,
then heirs—heirs of God And we know from Peter, in the book of Acts, that Yahshua must remain in heaven
and joint heirs with until this restoration takes place.
Christ, IF INDEED WE
SUFFER WITH HIM.
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
#13 “If” indeed we times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may
suffer? It sounds like send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, WHOM HEAVEN MUST
“losing your life, or RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has
forsaking all you have.”

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AT-A-GLANCE spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts
3:19-21)

Let’s keep things in perspective. Jesus has already come and gone (cruci ed—
buried—resurrected—ascended). Peter is referring to the second coming here, to
which he adds some prophetic notes about Elijah. “Repent…!” That is the heart’s
cry of Elijah, “the how” of Elijah's ministry, as we will see more clearly in a
moment. Then Peter says “until”, clearly re ecting on “the when” this ministry will
be ful lled, which Jesus taught him in Matthew 17 when revealing “the what” of
Elijah's ministry, the restoration of all things. Elijah comes and restores all things
and then Jesus can leave His spot in heaven and come again. [Note: there is even
more to add to this revelation regarding Peter’s next words in Acts 3:22-23, but I
will save it for the next section of Romans 8.] For now, let’s rewind a bit more and
explore the Elijah ministry.

John’s (the Baptist) ministry was to pave the way for Yahshua and to point to what
the Kingdom looks like. “Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew
3:1-3) There is that word again—repent! In other words, turn back to Yahweh, this
Yahshua is exactly what it looks like when the Spirit of God is fully manifested
(revealed) in a human (son), “the revealing of the son(s) of God.” That is what the
Kingdom looks like, God in esh, Yahshua. We too will eventually be “revealed as
sons of God, and all of creation is eagerly waiting (see Romans 8:19).

We, who at the end-of-the-age, carry the spirit of Elijah (and perhaps with the
original Elijah, there is no record that he ever died, see 2 Kings 2:1-14), then
participate in the restoration of all things (read Acts 3:19-23 and Matthew
17:10-13 again if needed). And we, as forerunners to Christ’s second coming,
usher in the return of Yahshua by ful lling the ministry of those who make straight
a path in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3).

John the Baptist came out from the wilderness preaching “Repent…”, and then he
paved the way into the wilderness for Yahshua. When Yahshua emerged from the
wilderness His rst recorded words were a prophetic masterpiece. “From that time
Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand.”” (Matthew 4:17) Yes, as prophesied by Isaiah, the way to the Kingdom
comes by way of the wilderness. However, when John declared the Kingdom was
at hand, he was directing his words outward toward Yahshua. When Yahshua
spoke the same words, He was pointing inward. “The kingdom of God does not
come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the
kingdom of God is within you.”” (Luke 17:20-21)

What a prophetic masterpiece!

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AT-A-GLANCE The way in the wilderness—Elijah (John)—repentance—the Kingdom (over there)
—the way in the wilderness—Messiah (Yahshua)—repentance—the Kingdom (in
here)! And what’s next? What will the end-of-the-age look like? You better believe
it. A wilderness—an Elijah—total repentance (restoration of all things)—the
Kingdom established (on earth as it is in Heaven)—Yahshua’s second coming (we
rule and reign with Him.)

And this nal process begins with the revealing of the sons of God and continues
into eternity as we, joint heirs, rule and reign with Christ in the increase of His
Government, which has no end.

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the
throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment
and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7) The Angel revealed to Mary, yes this is He of whom the
prophet spoke; “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the
Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And HE WILL REIGN OVER
THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
(Luke 1:32-33)

And to be clear; our King Yahshua was not meant to rule this Kingdom alone, as
the writer of Hebrews so masterfully refers to the Psalm of David.

“For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
But one testi ed in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of
him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower
than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the
works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” [From
Psalm 8:4-6] For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is
not put under him. BUT NOW WE DO NOT YET SEE ALL THINGS PUT UNDER
HIM.” (Hebrews 2:5-8) This is the Gospel of the Kingdom. It has not been ful lled
yet, but it is coming! And it all starts with the transformed mind. “For indeed, the
kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

[End The Gospel of the Kingdom outtake]

Now back to Romans 8. If Yahweh had no interest in our participation in His plan,
then why give us the choice to live by the esh or live by the Spirit? Certainly you
had no choice prior to being born-again (and in reality no choice to be born-again,
it was all Him!). But, after that Paul emphasizes, “if you live according to the
esh…or, if by the Spirit you put to death the esh…” So we need the Spirit rst to
even have a choice. Yet, the word “if” does emphasize our participation. Here is
the reasoning again. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in
you (and the power that comes with it, Ephesians 1:19-20), then what will you do

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AT-A-GLANCE with it? And it’s doctrinally clear here that if you are of Messiah you have the Spirit
(that’s the part you had nothing to do with). And if you allow the Spirit to animate
your mind; the physical manifestation will be life to your mortal body.

And we can’t overlook Paul’s precise balancing act regarding the Law, yet again.
His clari cation on the topic is repeated so often in Romans that he must be
concerned the Church will muck up this doctrine! It is clear that a Spirit- lled
mind results in something. He explains it this time by emphasizing the backside of
of the faith-based-obedience coin, enmity toward Yahweh. The carnal mind hates
Him and refuses to be subjected to His laws. So, obviously the spiritual mind
loves Him and is happily subjected to them, resulting in life and peace. And if you
won’t obey His laws, it is impossible to please Him (and impossible to govern with
Him!).

I hear so much in the Church about the free gift of redemption through the blood
of Messiah (note: redemption is often erroneously referred to as salvation, which is
actually the end result of living life as a redeemed person; in other words, temporal
well-being; life to your mortal body). Of course, redemption as a free gift is true;
yet every doctrine has two sides of the coin. Sure it cost you nothing to be born-
again and it cost Him everything. But that is just the beginning. The free gift then
makes you a debtor. Again, not a popular message if you are only seeking to be
entertained. You now must put to death the deeds of the esh; you owe it to
Yahweh. I like to say it like this; your redemption is free, being a disciple will cost
you everything. Instead of my commentary on the matter, let’s just read the words
of Yahshua on the subject:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters, yes, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, he cannot be My
disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My
disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down rst and
count the cost, whether he has enough to nish it—lest, after he has laid the
foundation, and is not able to nish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This
man began to build and was not able to nish’? Or what king, going to make war
against another king, does not sit down rst and consider whether he is able with
ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else,
while the other is still a great way o , he sends a delegation and asks conditions of
peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not FORSAKE ALL THAT HE HAS cannot
be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26-33)

Does that sound free to you? If we are led by the Spirit we are now considered
“sons of God,” joint heirs with Yahshua (although not fully manifested yet). Ah, but
again, it’s not free! There is another “if” involved here. “We are children of God,
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, IF INDEED WE

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AT-A-GLANCE SUFFER WITH HIM, that we may also be glori ed together.” Did you catch the “if”
indeed we su er? It sounds a lot like “losing your life, or forsaking all that you
have.”

And coming up next in the last part of chapter 8 is Paul’s prophetic Magnum
Opus. Yahshua's blood gives us the right to be called Yahweh’s children (sons of
God). But having rights to an inheritance is not the same as becoming a fully
mature (adult) steward of that inheritance. Soon the world will know which of His
sons (children) have nally grown up.

No Separation: Spirit NO SEPARATION: SPIRIT AND SUFFERING: ROMANS 8:18-39
and Suffering
Romans 8:18-30
(18-30) “For I consider that the su erings of this present time are not worthy to be
At a glance: compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation
#1 Yahweh’s prophetic of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation
is the ultimate truth (in was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in
revelation) ministry; and hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of
thus so, this is Paul's
‘piece de resistance’ on corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the
truth, his ‘tour de force’ whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only
on the coming reality.
that, but we also who have the rstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
#2 Having rights to an within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For
inheritance is not the we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one
same as becoming a
fully mature (adult) still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly
steward of that wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For
inheritance. Soon the we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
world will know which of
His sons (children) have makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who
finally grown up. searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all
#3 The glory revealed in
His children is the future things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called
of Yahweh’s “human according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be
initiative partners”. conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the rstborn among many
#4 So much of Christian brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called,
doctrine, and certainly these He also justi ed; and whom He justi ed, these He also glori ed.
eschatology, is zoomed
in on the return of In the previous section of commentary I made a bold assessment about this
Jesus. But that is not portion of chapter 8. I called it Paul’s prophetic Magnum Opus. Yahweh’s
the next great
prophetic is the ultimate truth (in revelation) ministry; and thus so, this is Paul's
destination on the
prophetic roadmap. ‘piece de resistance’ on truth, his ‘tour de force’ on the coming reality. Okay,
enough of the cool foreign phrases. It is his most spectacular achievement in
#5 For the earnest prophetic doctrine and, unfortunately, one that has passed under the radar of
expectation of the
creation eagerly waits Christianity for 2000 years.
for the revealing of the
sons of God.

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AT-A-GLANCE Let me continue by rst repeating my own nal words of commentary from the
previous section, so we can then do a full exposition of verses 18-30, in all there
#6 Restoration comes
BEFORE His return, not profound revelation. “But having rights to an inheritance is not the same as
BECAUSE OF His becoming a fully mature (adult) steward of that inheritance. Soon the world will
return. That begs the know which of His sons (children) have nally grown up.”
question; how do the
times of refreshing and
restoration come? “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
Answer: through the God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:12) We have the right
revealing of the sons of (inheritance) to become sons (children) of God when we are born-again. But that is
God.
not the same as being “revealed” as sons, in other words, maturing into adults
#7 The revealing of the who can manage that inheritance. Paul speaks of his (or our) present day su ering
sons is a Passover. being nothing when compared to the glory that shall (future, not his/our present
born-again condition) be revealed. What glory is Paul speaking of, and why don’t
#8 Before Messiah
comes, first must come we have it now? One thing is for sure, Paul knew his prophetic destination. “Not
the restoration prophet that I have already attained, or am ALREADY PERFECTED; BUT I PRESS ON,
like Moses. THAT I MAY LAY HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS HAS ALSO LAID
#9 Passover revealed HOLD OF ME. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing
who were Yahweh’s I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things
firstborn sons and who which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of THE UPWARD CALL of
were not?
God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
#10 If you were not a
firstborn, you were It would be best to explain this “perfection, this “upward call”, using Paul’s own
neither the beneficiary words from other epistles. In the following excerpts I placed key phrases in ALL
of applying the blood on CAPS so you can easily recognize the prophetic future. And let me reiterate by
the doorpost, nor at risk
again emphasizing Paul’s words from here in chapter 8 of Romans; “the glory
if you didn’t.
which shall be revealed in us.” This glory revealed in His children is the future of
#11 All those who did Yahweh’s “human initiative partners.”
not require the blood, all
the non-firstborns, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this
prophetically represent
the “missing people mystery among the Gentiles: which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.
group” we introduced Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we
earlier. may present every man PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS. TO THIS END I ALSO
LABOR, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians
#12 All those covered by
the blood of Yahshua 1:27-29)
are AUTOMATICALLY
considered firstborns “However, we speak wisdom among those WHO ARE MATURE, yet not the
and are destined as wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But
RULERS. We are the
we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
church of the firstborns!
ordained before the ages FOR OUR GLORY”. (I Corinthians 2:6-7)

“For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” BUT WE
HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.” (I Corinthians 2:16)

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AT-A-GLANCE “Until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
TO A PERFECT MAN, TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS
OF CHRIST.” (Ephesians 4:13)

Here is the future glory ordained for Yahweh’s human initiative partners:

Messiah in you

Presented in perfection

Mature adults

Understanding Yahweh's hidden mysteries

Possessing the mind of Messiah

Measuring up to the perfection, stature, and fullness of Messiah

And that is all drawn from Romans 8:18. But, verse 19 is the true prophetic key:
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the
sons of God.”

There is so much packed into this one verse, but I’ll begin with two hints.
‘Creation’ refers to what? And ‘revealing’ implies what? Creation refers to… Yes,
creation! All of creation was corrupted with Adam’s sin in the garden and it has
been waiting for a restoration. And it will take a revealing or manifestation of sons
for that garden restoration to happen. So much of Christian doctrine, and certainly
eschatology, is zoomed in on the return of Jesus. But that is not the next great
destination on the prophetic roadmap. The Scriptures teach something very
di erent. And ‘revealing’ implies that something else is coming rst. We spent a lot
of time explaining the following scripture in our previous section, but the space will
not be wasted if I repeat it again here.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME from the presence of the Lord, and that He
may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, WHOM HEAVEN MUST
RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has
spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts
3:19-21)

You realize now that the restoration comes BEFORE His return, not BECAUSE OF
His return. That begs the question; how do the times of refreshing and restoration
come? Answer: through the revealing of the sons of God. And “creation itself also
will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God.” (Romans 8:21)

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AT-A-GLANCE So, before we can go a step further, I am going to ask you to put on your best
prophetic hat. These Romans’ passages (vv. 18-30) are pregnant with prophetic
insight. Think for a moment; what event is Paul talking about?

1. Groaning in labor

2. Unwilling subjects of futility

3. Called according to His purpose

4. Delivered from bondage

5. Eagerly waiting for redemption

6. Sons being revealed

7. Deliverance into freedom

8. Firstborn like Messiah

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. He is talking about the Exodus and the
PASSOVER! Let’s go ahead and draw the parallels from the Exodus story. Use the
[numbers] inserted in the Exodus passages to reference the above list.

“And I have also heard the GROANING [1] of the children of Israel whom the
EGYPTIANS KEEP IN BONDAGE [2], and I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT
[3]. Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from
under the burdens of the Egyptians, I WILL RESCUE YOU FROM THEIR
BONDAGE [4], and I will REDEEM YOU WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM [5] and
with great judgments. I WILL TAKE YOU AS MY PEOPLE [6], and I will be your
God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from
under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will BRING YOU INTO THE LAND [7]
which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a
heritage: I am the LORD.’ ”” (Exodus 6:5-8)

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the
LORD killed all the rstborn in the land of Egypt, both the rstborn of man and the
rstborn of beast. Therefore I sacri ce to the LORD all males that open the womb,
BUT ALL THE FIRSTBORN OF MY SONS I REDEEM [8].’” (Exodus 13:15)

The revealing of the sons is a Passover. That should be a profound revelation, but
now we must also bring deep insight about Moses (I promised earlier to go deeper
into Peter’s revelation in Acts 3, now’s the time!). It will take a Moses (Prophet) to
initiate the restoration, and this also supports the idea that Yahweh is looking for
human initiative in the RESTORATION. In Acts 3:19-21 above, it is clear that

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AT-A-GLANCE Yahshua remains in heaven UNTIL the times of refreshing and restoration. And the
next verses give a hint about how that will occur.

“For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a
Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He
says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be
utterly destroyed from among the people.’” (Acts 3:22-23)

Before Messiah comes, rst must come the restoration prophet like Moses. Where
is Peter, the one giving the speech in Acts, getting this stu from?

““The LORD your God will raise up for you a PROPHET LIKE ME [Moses is
speaking] from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all
you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying,
‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great re
anymore, lest I die.’” (Deuteronomy 18:15-16)

CHANGE ADDED THREE VERSES

“The LORD your God will raise up a prophet like me from your community, from
your fellow Israelites. He’s the one you must listen to. That’s exactly what you
requested from the LORD your God at Horeb, on the day of the assembly, when
you said, "I can’t listen to the LORD my God’s voice anymore or look at this great
re any longer. I don’t want to die!" The LORD said to me: What they’ve said is
right. I’ll raise up a prophet for them from among their fellow Israelites—one just
like you. I’ll put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command
him. I myself will hold accountable anyone who doesn’t listen to my words, which
that prophet will speak in my name.”

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 CEB

And what precedent is there for a Moses to have such God-like authority?

“So the LORD said to Moses: “See, I HAVE MADE YOU AS GOD TO PHARAOH,
and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command
you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of
his land.” (Exodus 7:1-2)

Who is the Prophet like Moses who is coming, and why must he come before the
Messiah? The reason I am taking the time to bring further clarity on the topic, even
though we spent so much time on it in our previous section, is because it is
pervasive doctrine throughout all of Christendom that Moses is prophesying about
Jesus here. And if you stick with that belief, the prophetic framework crumbles.

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AT-A-GLANCE In the interrogation of John the Baptist we learn:

“And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “ARE YOU
THE PROPHET?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you,
that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about
yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight
the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said [in Is. 40:3].”” (John 1:21-23)

Is John the the prophet [like Moses]? He is not willing to say, but he is sure of one
thing; he had to come rst to prepare the way for the Messiah. However, Yahshua
clears up the uncertainty in a passage we’ve already explored. Elijah is coming
and has come [as John the Baptist].

“And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah
must come rst?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, ELIJAH IS COMING
FIRST and will RESTORE ALL THINGS. But I say to you that ELIJAH HAS COME
ALREADY, and they did not know him [John the Baptist] but did to him whatever
they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to su er at their hands.””
(Matthew 17:10-12)

Yes, they mocked and killed John the Baptist; they could not recognize that he
was the prophet who must come rst to prepare the way in the wilderness for the
Messiah’s rst coming, and that Elijah must come again to restore all things before
the Messiah’s nal return. Let me repeat this to stress the importance; the times
of refreshing must come and Yahshua will remain in heaven until the restoration of
all things (Acts 3:19-21). And from Yahshua's own mouth, “Elijah is coming rst
and will restore all things.” Elijah is THE PROPHET like Moses prophesied in
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 and Acts 3:22-23. And here is absolute con rmation in
the last book of the Old Testament that it is, in fact, Elijah. Again, repeating a
passage we’ve just studied.

““Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for
all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you ELIJAH THE
PROPHET before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he
will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to
their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”” (Malachi 4:4-6)

One other interesting connection between Moses and Elijah is on the Mount of
Trans guration (read Matthew 17:1-5). Moses and Elijah appear together. And
when Peter is speaking, Yahweh’s voice proclaimed from the clouds, “This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” These exact words were echoed from
heaven immediately after John (Elijah) baptized Yahshua (read Matthew 3:16-17). I
will expound more on this in chapter 12.

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AT-A-GLANCE So, Elijah, the prophet like Moses must come rst to restore all things. This begins
at Passover and the revealing of the sons of God. Is it any wonder why, for
centuries, millions of Jews around the world reserve an empty chair at their table
for, and open the door in search of Elijah? Think about it; in the Exodus, what did
Passover reveal? It revealed who were Yahweh’s rstborn sons and who were
not? All rstborns who were not His sons died in Egypt. Reread Romans 8:29:
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His
Son, that He might be THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN.” The
redemption of the rstborn is Passover language.

“‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the
FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of
Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for
you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you;
and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 12:12-13)

I want to make an important distinction here. It brings further insight into the
prophetic model that teaches there are three, not two, eternal people groups. And
it has everything to do with understanding rstborns. The rstborns, and the
rstborns ONLY, were the ones redeemed in the Passover. If you were not a
rstborn, you were neither the bene ciary of applying the blood on the doorpost,
nor at risk if you didn’t. All those who did not require the blood, all the non-
rstborns, prophetically represent the “missing people group” we introduced
earlier, the mortal, but potentially eternal, human CITIZENS of the new earth.
We’ve previously described them as those with faith who DON’T HAVE THE
BLOOD covering them. Is it starting to become clear? Fear not, all those covered
No Separation: Spirit by the blood of Yahshua are AUTOMATICALLY considered rstborns and are
and Suffering
Romans 8:31-39 destined as RULERS. We are the church of the rstborns!

At a glance: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and
#1 Who shall bring a
CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN, to God the
charge against
Yahweh’s people? Judge of all, to the spirits of JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.” (Hebrews 12:22-23)
Whose condemnation
shall stand? Paul rounds out this section by reiterating that we are predestined to be
conformed into the image of His Son, which is the picture of the revealed sons of
#2 The firstborn is
God being perfected, the prophetic destination of the rstborn. And that it is a
representative of the
continuation of a culture, work of the Spirit in us. Yes, we must be justi ed rst (made right by His work),
the survival of a nation. which then leads us to glory, the revealing of the sons of God.

(31-39) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge

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AT-A-GLANCE against God’s elect? It is God who justi es. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ
who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who
#3 Possibly the most also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
important scripture Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
about the end-of-the-
age. “And this gospel of sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted
the kingdom will be as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
preached in all the world through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor
as a witness to all the
nations, and then THE angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
END WILL COME.” height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
#4 The end prophesied
by Yahshua's here is not The nal verses of Romans 8 (31-39) also speak of the Passover. And this time the
His second coming. It is main focus is on the Lamb which brings redemption.
the end of the world
system as we know it;
it’s the coming of Elijah; “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the rst year. You may take it from
it’s the revealing of the the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the
sons of God; it is an same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at
exodus; it is the final
twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and
Passover.
on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. (Exodus 12:5-7) For the LORD will
pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and
on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the
destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” (Exodus 12:23)

Look at the nal imagery as you recall the Passover story. Paul draws again upon
the words of King David (most likely author), this time from the musings of Psalm
44:22. Yes, a stark reminder that it is Yahweh alone who pushes back our enemies
and it is Yahweh alone who makes us a reproach. And Paul chooses the words in
the sober psalm that recall the Passover. “We are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter.”

But in the end, who shall bring a charge against Yahweh’s people? Whose
condemnation shall stand? Egypt’s couldn't. Could tribulation or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword separate us from His
plan? No, even the angel of death could not conquer His love and plan for His
people. Yahweh will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into
your house. It is the Passover.

I would like to o er one last morsel for you to chew on. You've now learned that it
Israel's Election takes the Prophet Elijah and the revealing of the sons of God to begin the
Described:
Blessings of Election restoration of all things. And it begins with a Passover, the quintessential picture of
Romans 9:1-5 the revealing of sons (the identi cation of Yahweh’s adult children), and at the
same time the end of Egyptian dominance (the world system). Why? The rstborn
Basis of Election
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob is representative of the continuation of a culture, the survival of a nation. And in
Romans 9:6-13 the Passover Egypt died. Now read possibly the most important scripture about

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AT-A-GLANCE the end-of-the-age. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the
world as a witness to all the nations, and then THE END WILL COME. (Matthew
At a glance:
24:14) We’ve already explained in detail this “Gospel of the Kingdom.” But, the
#1 There is a clear end prophesied by Yahshua here is not His second coming. It is the end of the
distinction between world system as we know it; it’s the coming of Elijah; it’s the revealing of the sons
Israelites who believe
Yahshua is the Messiah of God; it is an exodus; it is the nal Passover.
and those who don’t.
CHAPTER 9 "ISRAEL'S ELECTION"
#2 When Paul
compares his past life ISRAEL'S ELECTION DESCRIBED:
as an excellent “without BLESSINGS OF ELECTION: ROMANS 9:1-5
Messiah” Hebrew to his BASIS OF ELECTION: ROMANS 9:6-13
new life in Messiah, he
calls it rubbish. (1-5) “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
#3 Israel means “one
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
who prevails with God”.
countrymen according to the esh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the
#4 The New Testament adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and
equivalent of Genesis the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the esh,
32:26, “I will not let You
go unless you bless Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
me!” is Matthew 11:12,
“The kingdom of heaven (6-13) But it is not that the word of God has taken no e ect. For they are not all
suffers violence, and the Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of
violent take it by force.” Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the
#5 There is an children of the esh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the
undeniable separation promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I
between those who will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also
believe and are also
cleansed by the blood of had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being
Yahshua, and those born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to
who believe and are not election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The
cleansed.
older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I
#6 You should be able have hated.”
to identify three, NOT
TWO, distinct destinies, Who else could do it? Twelve times in the next 33 verses Paul taps into his deep
by looking at the three understand of the Hebrew Scriptures. Twelve times! (v.7 Gen. 21:12; v.9
crosses of Calvary. One
is the rebel who never Gen.18:10,14; v.12 Gen. 25:23; v.13 Mal. 1:2-3; v.14 Ex. 33:19; v.17 Ex. 9:16; v.20
repents. One is that of Is. 29:16, 45:9; v.25 Hosea 2:23; v.26 Hosea 1:10; v.28 Is. 10:22-23; v.29 Is. 1:9;
the repentant sinner. v.33 Is. 8:14, 28:16). Yes, Israel was the guardian of the oracles of God. Yet they
And the third is the
still missed it. How could they?
perfect man, the
fullness, and stature,
and image of Messiah. As we move into the next doctrinal highlight of Romans, this is a good time to
Which one is you? expand on the idea of the three eternal people groups. It’s obvious here that Paul
has something important to say about Israel. And there is a clear distinction
between Israelites who believe Yahshua is the Messiah (like he does) and those
who don’t. And Paul is burdened for the “unbeliever.” In the conclusion of chapter

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AT-A-GLANCE 8, Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of Yahweh that is in the
Messiah Yahshua. But what about those of Israel who don’t accept Yahshua?
#7 The various ministry
offices in the Church Remember, at one time Paul was one of them, and a good one at that. But when
have one over-arching he compares his past life as an excellent “without Messiah” Hebrew to his new life
purpose—to grow up in Messiah, he calls it rubbish.
born-again children into
mature adults who are
conformed into the “Though I also might have con dence in the esh. If anyone else thinks he may
image of Christ. have con dence in the esh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a
#8 Believers who have
Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness
been conformed into
Yahshua’s image after which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have
that final Passover, the counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of
generation who DO the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have su ered the loss of all
become like Him, will
rule and reign with Him things, and count them as RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him,
in that new earth. not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” (Philippians 3:4-9)
#9 The final citizens of
earth, flesh and blood Israel—where did the name come from? And what does it mean? Abraham, Isaac,
bodies, must eat from
the tree of life bearing Jacob, Jacob renamed Israel (Genesis 32:24-28), Israel had twelve sons who
twelve fruits for the became the twelve tribes of Israel. Israel means “one who prevails with God”.
healing of the nations to Jacob wrestled with an angel (possibly the pre-incarnate Messiah) and overcame.
live forever.
He would not let go until he received a blessing. Israel identi es those who
#10 Natural Israel are overcome with the Mighty One. To me this is the spiritual tenacity of a pit bull, and
those who believe in does not sound like a heritage of unbelief. I see the New Testament equivalent of
Yahweh but who are not
Genesis 32:26, “I will not let You go unless you bless me!” as being Matthew
covered by the blood of
Yahshua. They will 11:12, “The kingdom of heaven su ers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
become the new earth’s Spiritual violence: grab onto the promises of God and DON’T LET GO!
permanent citizens.
So, I would hardly say we could throw Israelites in the same camp as rebellious
unbelievers. Their heritage is that of belief. They are Yahweh's chosen, and yet
there is an undeniable separation between those who believe and are also
cleansed by the blood of Yahshua, and those who believe and are not cleansed.
[Refer back to the commentary on the rstborn and Passover in chapter 8, pg. 43,
44; acknowledge the pattern that there is an entire people group who LIVED and
WERE NOT required to be covered by the blood.]

Who are the true sons of Abraham? “For you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male
nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are
Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29) Clearly,
the ultimate (best) promise is to those who have faith in Messiah Yahshua. “But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to

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AT-A-GLANCE those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
esh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) But what of the destiny of
those who have the blood of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, but not the blood of
Yahshua?

In the Church, there is a prevailing storyline. Those who have Jesus die and go to
heaven; those who don’t have Jesus die and go to hell. It’s a simple black and
white equation, with two possible eternal destinies. But, I’d like you, again, to
reconsider a few things, now that you have had some practice wearing your
prophetic hat. There were three men on the crosses of Calvary, two thieves and
one Savior. Which do you identify with? If you answer like almost every other
Christian I have ever asked this question, you identify with the repentant sinner.
“Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
(Luke 23:42). That was all of us at one point. We go from the cross of the
unrepentant thief to the cross of the repentant thief. But is that your ultimate
destiny? Don’t forget, it was just in the last chapter that we learned, “For whom
He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the rstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29) So, your ultimate
destiny is not that of the repentant sinner; but instead, that of the Messiah. “The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we su er
with Him, that we may also be glori ed together.” (Romans 8:16-17) We are not
called as lesser heirs, “second sons”, but as rstborn joint (equal) heirs. This might
be a supremely profound revelation, but it is true nevertheless.

So, you should now be able to identify three, NOT TWO, distinct destinies. One, of
course, is the rebel who never repents. One is that of the repentant sinner who has
no time to be conformed into the image of the Son. Yet, the third is the perfect
man, the fullness, and stature, and image of Messiah (Ephesians 4:13). That is
your destiny. Go ahead and read, yet again, why the “ministry of the Church” even
exists. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the
work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity
of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a PERFECT man, TO THE
MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST; that we should NO
LONGER BE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but,
speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP in all things into Him who is the head—
Christ—” (Ephesians 4:11-15) Look at Paul’s language carefully; the various
ministry o ces in the Church have one over-arching purpose—to grow up born-
again children into mature adults who are conformed into the image of Christ. You

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AT-A-GLANCE are not called to remain as the repentant thief, a sinner saved by grace, but rather
to become like Messiah.

Three crosses, three eternal destinies: the rebel, the citizen, and the ruler. “If we
endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (II
Timothy 2:12) We are destined to rule and reign with Messiah. “What is man that
You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made
him a little lower than the angels, AND YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY
AND HONOR. YOU HAVE MADE HIM TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORKS
OF YOUR HANDS; You have put all things under his feet,” (Psalms 8:4-6)

There will some day be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). And
believers who have been conformed into His image after that nal Passover, the
Israel's Election
Defended generation who DO become like Him, will rule and reign with Him in that new
Romans 9:14-33 earth. Our permanent (joint-heir) bodies will be glori ed just like His. We will be
unconditionally immortal and eternal But who will we reign over? Consider again
At a glance:
Adam, the original esh and blood man; he needed to eat from the tree of life to
#1 Yahweh has a divine live forever. Once he was cut o , it was only a matter of time until he died. Yes, the
purpose for everything nal citizens of earth, also esh and blood bodies, must eat from the tree of life
He does, and He makes
bearing twelve (tribes) fruits for the healing of the nations to live forever. They are
an Esau and a Pharaoh
to help create the clear mortal, but conditionally eternal. The are the new subjects of the Kingdom, and
dividing line within these permanent citizens of earth (Revelation 22:2). They are considered natural Israel
three groups. (12 tribes) who believed in Yahweh but who were never covered by the blood.
#2 There is no
Yes, it might be accurate to call citizenship rubbish in comparison to rulership, but
unrighteousness in
Yahweh because He its a whole lot better than the fate of the rebels!
created some for
heaven, some for earth, ISRAEL'S ELECTION DEFENDED: ROMANS 9:14-33
and some for
destruction.
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He
#3 The parable about says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have
the different soils shows compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who
three distinct destinies.
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to
#4 A remnant of Israel the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My
will escape (be power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He
separated from) the
has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me
house of Jacob and
return to the Holy One then, “Why does He still nd fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O
of Israel (be saved). man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who
formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power
#5 The righteousness of
faith (belief plus the over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for
blood of Messiah) is dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known,
clearly distinguished endured with much longsu ering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
from works of law (belief
plus the bloodline of and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy,
Jacob).

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AT-A-GLANCE which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the
Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My
people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” “And it
shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My
people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Isaiah also cries out
concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of
the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will nish the work and cut it short in
righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” And as
Isaiah said before: “Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would
have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” What
shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained
to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of
righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they
did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled
at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone
and rock of o ense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””

Let’s talk about Yahweh’s sovereignty. I’ll rst repeat the nal words of Paul from
Romans 9:11-13. “For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works
but of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is
written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Yahweh’s purpose by His
election, “It’s not fare.” How can He judge us before we had any chance to choose
either good or evil for ourselves; we are only walking on the path He created for
us? If you look carefully in this last section of Romans 9, you will see again, the
three distinct people groups. Yahweh has a divine purpose for everything He does,
and He makes an Esau and a Pharaoh to help create the clear dividing line within
these three groups.

But, before I elaborate the details, let me just ask this. Is there any
unrighteousness in Yahweh because He created some for heaven, some for earth,
and some for destruction? Actually, we all deserve destruction! Meditate rather on
gratefulness for not being cast out, even though that is what you deserved. He is
the Grand Designer whose plan is beyond us, unless as mature adult believers, we
search out His mysteries. They are available for us to know. “For “WHO HAS
KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD that he may instruct Him?” But WE HAVE THE
MIND OF CHRIST.” (I Corinthians 2:16) “And the disciples came and said to Him,
“Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them,
“Because it has been given to you TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (Matthew 13:10-11, the soil parable)
One of these mysteries is to recognize the three distinct destinies, and “Surely the
Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the

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AT-A-GLANCE prophets.” (Amos 3:7) And if you are called to be a Ruler, with His royal blood
coursing in your veins, then it is your responsibility to search them out. “It is the
glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
(Proverbs 25:2) Let’s search out the mystery in the Matthew 13:1-23 parable about
the di erent soils. Yes, there are four soils, but only three distinct destinies. “That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those IN HEAVEN, and of those
ON EARTH, and of those UNDER THE EARTH…” (Philippians 2:10)

1. Seed sowed on the wayside: seed devoured before it takes root, recipient
does not understand at all and the wicked one snatches it away—the Rebel
(under the earth).

2. Seed sowed on the stony places or among thorns: seed takes shallow roots,
recipient does hear and receives it with joy, but physical priorities take
precedent—the Citizen (on earth)

3. Seed sowed on good ground: seed takes deep roots, recipient hears and
understands, yields abundant fruit—the Ruler (in heaven)

So, let’s identify the three distinct people groups in this Romans passage. We
have vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor; Paul also calls them vessels of
mercy prepared for glory, and vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. Those are
two distinct groups, the Ruler Class and the Rebel Class. And as the Prophet
Hosea assures us, those of the Ruling Class will come from both Jew and Gentile.
Where is the third class? Notice the transition in verse 27 “Isaiah ALSO cries out
concerning Israel.” There is that name again, Israel. And he’s about to divide them
into two destinies, Rulers and Citizens. Paul noted the Ruler Class from Israel
already (even us whom He called, not of the Jews only… verse 24) But, there
ALSO remains a natural Israel that is neither a vessel prepared for glory nor
destruction. Let’s read Paul’s Isaiah reference directly from Isaiah chapter 10 and
it should become clear. Remember, some of Israel and some Gentiles shall be
called “sons of the living God,” (Rulers) according to Hosea. So where do we see
a permanent “natural Israel”; where are the Citizens?

“And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have
escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated
them, but will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant
will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. For though your people, O
Israel, BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA [EARTH], a remnant of them will return; The
destruction decreed shall over ow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts
will make a determined end In the midst of all the land.” (Isaiah 10:20-23)

A remnant of Israel will escape (be separated from) the house of Jacob and return
to the Holy One of Israel (be saved). They are the ones who become “sons.” There

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AT-A-GLANCE are some deep intricacies here, so again, put on your prophetic hat. Though Israel
will be as the sand of the sea, a “remnant will be saved” (Romans says saved), a
“remnant will return” (Isaiah says will return). This is the remnant of Israel who
leave the Citizen Class and enter the Ruler Class. The distinction is saved vs.
sand. Where is Isaiah getting this from? It comes from Yahweh's promise to
Abraham to multiply his descendants into TWO classes, because he did not
withhold Isaac.

“Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the
STARS OF THE HEAVEN and as the SAND WHICH IS ON THE SEASHORE; and
your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Reason for Rejection: (Genesis 22:17-18).
Romans 10:1-13
Stars of the heaven: saved eternally, possess the gates, remnant, heaven, Ruler
At a glance:
Class—belief and the blood of Messiah (ultimately inherit a glori ed body).
#1 The offer of
redemption is the same Sands of the seashore: saved from destruction, physical seed, nations of the
for all, Jew and Greek. earth, Citizen Class—belief and the bloodline of Jacob (ultimately inherit esh
But, the path to
and blood body).
justification can look
very different for each.
Three classes: Rulers (Stars), Citizens (Sand) and Rebels (Wrath)
#2 The Greeks have so
many Gods that hearing The righteousness of faith (belief plus the blood of Messiah) is clearly
of “another God” is just distinguished from works of law (belief plus the bloodline of Jacob). We had
another day at the discussed this at length previously. We can only attain to the law of righteousness
office.
by faith (in the blood of course). Yahshua is the stumbling stone to natural Israel.
#3 The Israelites already As long as it remains, the best they will do is Citizenship.
KNOW the one true God
and are not really open CHAPTER 10 "ISRAEL'S REJECTION"
to hearing about how
they might have gotten REASON FOR REJECTION: ROMANS 10:1-13
some things wrong.

#4 Jews are often “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be
compelled to GO BACK saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to
to their erroneous knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to
beliefs, even after they
come to faith in establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of
Yahshua. God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does
#5 Christ is the “goal” of
the law, the the “end” of those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way,
the law. “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ
down from above ) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring
#6 Paul is writing about
Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your
Moses, who was writing
about Jesus. mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you

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AT-A-GLANCE confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto
#7 Paul choses Moses’
words to reference righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the
IMMEDIATELY before Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is
what has come to be no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who
known in Christianity as
“The Sinner’s Prayer.” call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

#8 Paul is NOT We just spent quite a bit of time talking about the two fates of Israel (other than
contrasting the those who outright rebel.) One is in rulership as sons of God, the other, permanent
righteousness of the law
citizens of earth. Paul is desperate to see as many as possible become “sons.” I
with the righteousness
of faith; he is have written extensively on this one section of Romans in The Heart of David ©
EQUATING them! 2006. And here I will attempt to be concise, hopeful that I can impart Paul’s
intentions in a powerful and memorable way.
#9 Without Christ it is
impossible to obey
What is Paul desperate for? He’s so passionate about “sonship” that he would
Yahweh's
commandments and choose to be accursed from Christ himself in place of his brethren, his
live; but with Him it is countrymen according to the esh, who are Israelites (Romans 9:3-4). He wants
not too mysterious or his brothers to “get knocked o their donkeys!” It’s not easy for the “chosen race”
too difficult.
to get out of their own way, and he knows it. The o er of redemption is the same
#10 If you believe for all, Jew and Greek. But, the path to justi cation can look very di erent for
Moses you will believe each. The Greeks have so many Gods, even an Unknown God (see Acts
Jesus, because that is
who Moses was writing 17:22-31). Hearing of “another God” is just another day at the o ce. The
about. Israelites, on the other hand, are certain they have it all dialed in. They already
KNOW the one true God and are not really open to hearing about how they might
#11 What does the
have gotten some things wrong. That is why Paul literally had to get knocked o
practical application of
faith to obedience look his ride. And in many ways, it is why he had to write the letter to the Galatians; the
like? Jews are often compelled to GO BACK to their erroneous beliefs, even after they
come to faith in Yahshua.

Yes, Paul knows the tendencies of both cultures. He was also the one addressing
the Greeks at the Areopagus in Athens. Furthermore, what he knows about his
past self can be easily extrapolated to “all of Israel.” They are:

Zealous (on- re for God, ardent, fervent, followers of Yahweh)

Misinformed (their knowledge base is corrupted)

Ignorant (don’t submit to God’s righteousness because they are self-righteous)

And now to correct some historically faulty theology; you should easily recognize
it by now, seeing that you have come so far in Romans. Again, I will keep this on
the light side; for a more detailed explanation refer to The Heart of David. If I was
preaching this as a sermon I would title it, “What Did You Confess?” It should be
apparent by now (after so many previous explanations in this commentary) that

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AT-A-GLANCE Christ did not “end the Law” (v.4) using the most common vernacular for the word
“end” in English, which means “ nish or terminate.” Instead, verse 4 uses the
word in Greek that actually means “outcome or goal.” Christ is the “goal” of the
law. It’s the same Greek word used in 1 Peter 1:9 “receiving the END of your faith
—the salvation of your souls.” You can’t terminate your faith and be saved; it’s the
goal of your faith.

Ok, now that we have that settled, let’s talk about Moses. I’ll start by using Jesus’
words. “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John
5:46-47) In verses 5-8, Paul is writing about Moses, who was writing about Jesus.
Over the years I have come to believe this to be one of the most important
sections of scripture in the entire Word of God, especially in regard to Christians
understanding what they confessed when they got born-again. I say this because
these verses are Moses’ words that Paul chose to reference IMMEDIATELY before
what has come to be known in Christianity as “The Sinner’s Prayer.” It is the most
often referenced model prayer used by every pastor and evangelist world-wide to
lead people to Christ. So, don’t you think it’s important that we know in what
context Paul was speaking?

Okay, here we go! Moses writes about the righteousness of the Law, which we
now know is Christ. And here is what he is saying. He immediately refers to
Leviticus 18:5, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” And what is
the context? (Simply read Leviticus 18:1-5.)

When you go in and possess the land (promise) Yahweh is giving:

1. Don’t practice the paganism from where you came (Egypt).

2. Don’t practice the paganism from where you are going (Canaan).

3. Instead, obey Yahweh’s Laws and they will give you life (Moses writing about
Christ).

Why can I be sure this is what Paul means? Because as you have already learned
in Romans, the only way to “do the Law” is with faith-based-obedience (faith in
Christ [blood], so you are empowered by grace). All else is “works of Law” which
is legalism (no Christ [no blood], so you are empowered by self-righteousness).

Then, in what appears to be in contrast to the righteousness of the law, Paul
brings up the righteousness of faith. Is it a contrast? Verse 6 begins with the word
“But”, certainly a contrast. Not so fast. In Greek the word “but” is the same word
as “and, moreover, furthermore, and therefore.” And the only thing that determines
which to translate is the context. So, is Paul comparing or contrasting law and
faith? We already know Paul referred to Moses from Leviticus, but what about the

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AT-A-GLANCE next verses when he teaches about the righteousness of faith? Yes, also Moses.
When Paul wants to educate us about the righteousness of faith, he AGAIN refers
to Moses who was, in fact, writing about Jesus. In verses 6-8, Paul refers to
Deuteronomy 30:11-14. But as Paul quotes Moses’ words, he instead inserts
Christ in the places that Moses writes about the Law (go ahead, do a side by side
comparison, or see The Heart of David). “Christ is the goal of the Law.” And what
is the outcome of obedience in Deuteronomy 30:15-16? It is the SAME
OUTCOME as Moses’ words in Leviticus 18:5; obey Yahweh and live! Paul is NOT
contrasting the righteousness of the law with the righteousness of faith; he is
EQUATING them!

Without Christ, obedience to the Law is impossible. And with Him it is…
unnecessary? No, it is necessary, but now it’s “not too mysterious [di cult] or too
far o .” (Deuteronomy 30:11). And here is the crescendo! Romans 10:8: “THAT IS
THE WORD OF FAITH WE PREACH!” When you accept Christ, obedience to
God’s laws is not too di cult! And then after Paul tells us that is what he is
preaching about, he delivers the “Sinners Prayer” in Romans 10:9-13, that if you
confess…and believe…you will be saved. Whoever calls on Yahweh through
Yahshua (means Yahweh saves) will be saved.

What did you confess and believe when you got born-again? Without Christ it is
impossible to obey Yahweh's commandments and live; but with Him it is not too
mysterious or too di cult. Yes, if you believe Moses you will believe Jesus,
because that is who Moses was writing about.

[Additional Note]

I will elaborate further in chapter 14, but it is good to make mention here. It’s
about the practical application of faith to obedience. What does it look like? Well,
for the Jews, Yahshua addressed this when the scribe asked Him about the
greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-34). He tells us the answer is to love Yahweh
Remedy for Rejection:
Romans 10:14-17 and to love your fellow man. As for the Gentiles, there was so much controversy
over what obedience looked like for them that the Apostles convened a Council in
At a glance: Acts 15 to rule on the matter. In both cases, the answers encompass an
#1 You can’t appreciate encapsulation of commandments (see details on the Jerusalem Council in chapter
the fullness of what Paul 14). In other words, to the scribe, Yahshua gives two categories of commands to
is saying unless you obey (not just two commandments), all those that demonstrate our love for the
read from where he is
Father, and all those that demonstrate love for mankind. The Council in Jerusalem
quoting.
is prompted by the Holy Spirit to lay out a speci c “legal guideline” for the
#2 The common titles Gentiles with three categories of commands to obey. One command speaks to
“God and LORD” for the idolatry, one to sexual purity, and the other to eating according to the Scriptures.
Father, and “Lord” for
the Son, need to be In addition to the nal instructions for the Gentiles, as James is handing down the
understood for what ruling, he reminds everyone that Moses is preached in the synagogues every
they are.

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AT-A-GLANCE Sabbath. Apparently, the Gentiles are now expected to attend, so they can learn
more about how to live out this born-again life. Yes, if you explore the Word of
#3 The actual Hebrew
name of the Father is God, you will nd that in both cases the answers entail obedience to a long list of
replaced over 6800 Yahweh's instructions for practical living. And the promise is that by doing so you
times in most Bible will have life!
translations.
REMEDY FOR REJECTION: ROMANS 10:14-17
#4 When we come in a
name, it is really
representative of How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall
coming in the “authority they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
of.”
without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is
#5 Preaching the gospel written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who
of peace, and bringing bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For
good news has Isaiah says, “ LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by
something to do with
knowing and not hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
blaspheming the name
of Yahweh. It’s a quote festival. Paul is the “Biblical Scholar Apostle.” No doubt this is why
Yahweh chose him as the purveyor of Christian doctrine. We just can’t appreciate
#6 In the modern-day
the fullness of what the scholar is saying unless we go back and read from where
Christianity, the third
commandment about he is quoting. But I must digress brie y to bring something to light. I’ve made little
His name, and the e ort, thus far in our commentary, to make the distinction between names and
fourth about the titles, and more accurately between proper names and false titles. But we must do
Sabbath, are all but
completely changed so now for clarity. The common titles “God and LORD” for the Father, and “Lord”
from their original for the Son, need to be understood for what they are. “God” is used as the
context. generic substitute for what should be “Almighty or Mighty One.” LORD or LORD (all
#7 We are redeemed caps or small caps depending on your translation) is used to replace the actual
(justified) when we get Hebrew name of the Father over 6800 times. And Lord (capitalized) is used as a
born-again, but title for the Son. Most English translations of the Bible do similar substitutions.
salvation comes at the
You may have noticed that I have, thus far, often used the generic titles as I draw
END, when Yahweh’s
people mature into one most of my references from the NKJV version. And at other times I use the
of three permanent Father's Hebrew name Yahweh (transliterated), and the Son’s Hebrew name
destinies (Ruler, Citizen, Yahshua (transliterated). For our purpose we will not argue spelling or
or Rebel).
pronunciation. The reason I have decided to bring it to light, at this point, is
#8 Whose report do you because I believe this is the most poignant moment to do so.
believe? God’s
commandments are up Paul ended our last section, in verse 13, by referring to the Old Testament Prophet
in the heavens, beyond
Joel. Let’s start there. “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
the sea, too mysterious
—they are too difficult? Notice the all caps LORD. He quotes this directly from Joel 2:32. But wait—does
Or, in Messiah, the that mean that there is no way Joel, and therefore Paul, could be saying,
righteousness of the law “Whoever calls on the name of JESUS shall be saved”? In one sense, yes! But
and the righteousness
of faith become one in don’t panic; I will clarify. This verse in Joel is one of those 6800 times in which the
God’s grace? Hebrew name of the Father is substituted with LORD. Here is the reference
directly from Joel, starting in verse 31.

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AT-A-GLANCE “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the
coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that
whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant
whom the LORD calls.” (Joel 2:31-32)

Every time you see LORD above, Yahweh has been replaced. This is going to get
signi cant as we follow Paul’s reasoning when reading his quotes from Isaiah that
follow in Romans 10:14-17. So, what Joel really says is, “Whoever calls on the
name of Yahweh shall be saved.” For Christians, the “saving grace” here (what an
appropriate idiom), is that the Son’s Hebrew name is Yahshua (Joshua), and
means, in Hebrew, Yahweh saves. So, when you call on Yahshua you are declaring
that “Yahweh saves!” “But, what if I called on the name of Jesus?” First of all, fear
not; Yahweh knows who you are talking about. And secondly, when we come in a
(the) name, it is really representative of coming in the “authority of.” Yet, it is very
important to, at least, realize what is happening in your Bible translation.

Paul's use of Isaiah 52:7 next, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach...”
should not be taken out of context. Study what the Prophet says in Isaiah 52:5-6,
the verses immediately prior to Paul’s reference. “AND MY NAME IS
BLASPHEMED CONTINUALLY EVERY DAY. THEREFORE MY PEOPLE SHALL
KNOW MY NAME.” (Paul referred to Isaiah 52:5 way back in chapter 2.) Clearly
preaching the gospel of peace, and bringing good news has something to do with
knowing and not blaspheming the name of Yahweh. In Exodus 20:7, the third
commandment says, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” What vain
means is to “have no meaning or bring to nothing.” Bringing Yahweh’s name to
nothing is the height of blasphemy, and the promise is that you will not be held
guiltless! Man was given the Father’s name to call upon in Genesis 4:26; and in
Exodus 3:15, Moses is told by the Almighty, “I am Yahweh, this is My name
forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” (Note: it is interesting that in
the world of modern-day Christianity, in which the law, other than the 10
commandments and tithing, has been abolished, the third commandment about
His name, and the fourth about the Sabbath, are all but completely changed from
their original context.)

One last thing before we move on to Paul’s next Isaiah reference, notice how in
verse 31 of Joel 2, the prophet is actually referring to a speci c time, the end-of-
the-age, “The great and awesome day of the LORD [Yahweh].” And as I mentioned
previously in my commentary on Romans 8 (the END is a Passover), I drew a
reference from THE ONE end times sermon Yahshua preached (the Olivet
Discourse). “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the END will come.” (Matthew 24:14) But

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AT-A-GLANCE notice the verse that comes immediately before it, (13) “But he who endures to the
END shall be saved.” We are redeemed (justi ed) when we get born-again, but
salvation comes at the END, when Yahweh’s people mature into one of three
permanent destinies (Ruler, Citizen, or Rebel).

Now let’s work our way through the rest of chapter 10, drawing from Paul’s Old
Result of Rejection:
Only One Salvation- Testament references. “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of
Faith the LORD been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1) When I read this, I can’t help but be drawn
Romans 10:18-21 to the narrative about the 12 spies who entered Canaan about a year after the
Exodus (Numbers 13:1-33). Ten of them returned with a bad report (verse 32).
At a glance:
“Truly the land is good, has lots of fruit and milk and honey, but there are giants in
#1 The Rabbinic the land and they will crush us like grasshoppers.” (Remember: those spies were
teaching style to offer ultimately disposed of by Yahweh, Numbers 14:36-37.) But there was also a good
the student a morsel,
and it is the student’s report from Joshua and Caleb. “Yes, the land is good, there are giants, and
responsibility to find the Yahweh has ALREADY given them into our hands.” Whose report will you believe?
entire meal. Properly connecting this to Romans 10:1-13, what report do you believe? God’s
#2 The creation gospel commandments are up in the heavens, beyond the sea, too mysterious—they are
testifies to His laws. The too di cult? Or, in Messiah, the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of
heavens declare faith become one in God’s grace? Whose report will you believe?
Yahweh’s glory.

#3 Yahweh’s law is
perfect, is a sure RESULT OF REJECTION: ONLY ONE SALVATION-FAITH: ROMANS 10:18-21
testimony, and brings
wisdom; His statutes are
right; and His But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the
commandment is pure earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, did Israel not know?
and enlightening. First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I
will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I
was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did
not ask for Me.” But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.””

What excuse could Israel possibly pro er for choosing the wrong report? Again
the scholar draws upon the Word. This time Paul elects the wisdom of King David
in Psalm 19. It’s a Rabbinic teaching style to o er the student a morsel, and it is
the student’s responsibility to nd the entire meal (Yahshua did the same). Let’s
take a big bite of Psalm 19, so we can expand on the morsel that Paul is o ering.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the rmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard. THEIR LINE HAS GONE OUT
THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD.
In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out
of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one

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AT-A-GLANCE end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its
heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the
The Personal Proof:
Romans 11:1 LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing
the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;” (Psalms
At a glance: 19:1-8)
#1 There are three
possible fates for Israel. Just as we witnessed at the beginning of Paul's doctrinal masterpiece in Romans
1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
I. Those who outright reject being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and
Yahweh (have no faith)
will meet the demise of the Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” the heavens declare His glory and tell
rebel class.
II. Those who have faith in
His story. It’s the creation gospel, and the psalmist teaches us that in it there is
Yahweh (desire to obey nothing hidden. What should we extrapolate from creation’s testimony? Yahweh’s
His commands), but are
not covered by the blood law is perfect, is a sure witness, and brings wisdom; His statutes are right; and His
will occupy a permanent commandment is pure and enlightening. Whose report will you believe?
mortal, but potentially
eternal role as citizens.
III. The manifested sons of Finally, it becomes perfectly clear from Paul's lesson using Moses’ words in
God who keep the
commands and have the
Deuteronomy (read 32:18-21), and again from the Prophet Isaiah (read 65:1-2),
testimony (blood) of that those who do not wish to believe His good report will be replaced by those
Yahshua will rule and
reign forever with who do. Whose report do you believe?
Messiah.
CHAPTER 11 "ISRAEL'S RECEPTION"
The Historical Proof:
Romans 11:2-10 THE PERSONAL PROOF: ROMANS 11:1
At a glance:
“I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an
#1 Yahweh has not cast Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Israel aside, even
though the majority of
It bears repeating here. There are three possible fates for Israel. Those who
them are stuck trying to
know Him by works. outright reject Yahweh (have no faith) will meet the demise of the rebel class.
Then, there are those who have faith in Yahweh (desire to obey His
#2 Yahweh has commandments), but are not covered by the blood of Yahshua. They will occupy a
preserved a remnant by
His election. permanent mortal, but potentially eternal role as citizens (like Adam, by eating
from the tree of life, Rev. 22:2). Of course, there is the ruling class. They are those
#3 Yahweh wants all of us who will rule and reign forever with Messiah. They are the manifested sons of
people, everywhere, to
recognize that there is God who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony (blood) of
only one way to become Yahshua the Messiah (Rev. 12:17; 14:12).
sons, and that is by His
grace. THE HISTORICAL PROOF: ROMANS 11:2-10

#4 David’s enemies God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what
were from his own
house! Yahshua's the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
enemies, yes, also from “ LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am
His own house. left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I
have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to

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AT-A-GLANCE Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is
no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no
longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have
obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: “God has given them a
spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.” And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a
stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that
they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

We have already made the clear delineation between obedience empowered by
GRACE and obedience empowered by SELF. Paul’s distinction here, as he draws
his attention to “his people” Israel, is that there is an eternal plan for them.
Yahweh has not cast them aside, even though the majority of them are stuck
trying to know Him by works (works of Law). The prophet Elijah had this same
concern, that none of Israel would be preserved (read 1 Kings 19:1-18). But fear
The Kingdom Proof: not, Yahweh has preserved a remnant by His election. Some will become sons of
Romans 11:11-24 God. Yet there is a bigger picture here. The scholar, again, draws upon his vast
At a glance: knowledge of scripture. It was Yahweh who made them deaf, dumb, and blind
(Deuteronomy 29:4; Jeremiah 5:21; Ezekiel 12:2; Isaiah 42:19-20). It was His way
#1 Yahweh works of ensuring that all people, everywhere, would recognize that there is only one way
through those who
seem to be “cast away”. to become sons, and that is by His grace.

#2 It was Yahweh who Then Paul makes what appears to be a very curious reference to King David’s
sold Joseph into slavery prayer about his enemies in Psalm 69:22-23. The Psalm would seem to be an
and it was Yahweh who exposition about God’s people against God’s anointed. As such, it is a very
gave Israel a “spirit of
stupor.” appropriate reference here. One verse, in particular, draws our attention to David
as a pre gure of Messiah, and in my opinion ties together Paul's argument. Again,
#3 Joseph was sold into it is likely that the scholar desires the student to search it out. It is the verse
slavery by God’s design;
what seemed to be immediately before Paul’s quote. “They also gave me [David] gall for my food, And
meant for evil Yahweh for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalms 69:21) “And when they had
actually meant for good. come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him
[Yahshua] sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He
#4 Israel seemed to be
cast away; yet, the would not drink.” (Matthew 27:33-34) David’s enemies were from his own house!
outcome was salvation Yahshua's enemies, yes, also from His own house.
and riches to the
Gentiles. THE KINGDOM PROOF: ROMANS 11:11-24

#5 Who do you think
Yahshua was talking I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through
about at the end-of-the- their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if
age, in His sole their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much
prophetic sermon (the
more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to
Olivet Discourse)?
the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy

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AT-A-GLANCE those who are my esh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the
reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For
if the rstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the
branches. And if some of the branches were broken o , and you, being a wild
olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the
root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do
boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You
will say then, “Branches were broken o that I might be grafted in.” Well said.
Because of unbelief they were broken o , and you stand by faith. Do not be
haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare
you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who
fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness.
Otherwise you also will be cut o . And they also, if they do not continue in
unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were
cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to
nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural
branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Paul does a masterful job here to guard against swollen heads. Certainly, history
has born out that the “gentile” world did become quite bitter towards the “natural
branches.” Centuries of anti-semitism crowd our past, even up to the present day.
Listen, no one likes “the favorite.” Remember what happened to Joseph, Jacob’s
favorite? That’s right; his brothers rst wanted to leave him for dead and
eventually sold him into slavery. That was no easy ride for the eventual “preserver
of life.” I highly suggest you read the entire story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50, but
let me highlight a few verses about Joseph to share how powerfully Yahweh works
through those who seem to be “cast away”. Notice the striking similarity to what
Paul is teaching us in Romans 11. Remember, in the end it was Yahweh who sold
Joseph into slavery and it was Yahweh who gave Israel a “spirit of stupor”
(Romans 11:8).

About Joseph: “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves
because you SOLD ME here; for God sent me before you to PRESERVE LIFE.”
(Genesis 45:5)

About Israel: “I say then, have they STUMBLED that they should fall? Certainly
not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, SALVATION HAS COME TO
THE GENTILES.” (Romans 11:11)

About Joseph: “And God sent me before you to PRESERVE A POSTERITY for
you in the earth, and to save your lives by a GREAT DELIVERANCE.” (Genesis
45:7)

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AT-A-GLANCE About Israel: “Now if their fall is RICHES FOR THE WORLD, and their failure
riches for the Gentiles, HOW MUCH MORE THEIR FULLNESS!” (Romans 11:12)

About Joseph: “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you
MEANT EVIL AGAINST ME; but GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, in order to bring it
about as it is this day, TO SAVE MANY PEOPLE ALIVE.” (Genesis 50:19-20)

About Israel: “For if their being CAST AWAY is the RECONCILING OF THE
WORLD, what will their acceptance be but LIFE FROM THE DEAD?” (Romans
11:15)

Joseph was sold into slavery by God’s design; what seemed to be meant for evil
Yahweh actually meant for good; the outcome was a great deliverance, the
preservation of life of the future generations in the earth, to save many people
alive. And ultimately, Joseph did not question Yahweh's modus operandi; “Am I in
the place of God?” (Gen. 50;19) It’s like Paul taught us in Romans 9:20-14; “Who
are you to reply against God?” The Potter can do anything He wants with His clay,
no questions asked!

Israel stumbled and fell; they seemed to become a great failure; they seemed to
be cast away; yet, the outcome was salvation and riches to the Gentiles; life from
the dead.

In the end, how much more the fullness of Israel? Concerning the election they are
beloved for the sake of the fathers (Rom. 11:28). I would say that their destiny
could be like Joseph; ultimately they might be the discerning and wise rulers.

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, THERE
The Scripture Proof:
Romans 11:25-36 IS NO ONE AS DISCERNING AND WISE AS YOU. You shall be over my house,
and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the
At a glance: throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I HAVE SET
#1 Paul, the great YOU OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring o his
Hebrew scholar, the hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of ne linen
expert in the Law, is and put a gold chain around his neck.” (Genesis 41:39-42)
mandated by Yahweh to
solve the mysteries and
Hint: who do you think Yahshua was talking about at the end-of-the-age, when in
deliver the Doctrine of
Christianity to the world. His sole prophetic sermon (Olivet Discourse) He asked this: “WHO THEN IS A
FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, whom his master made ruler over his household,
#2 Can you really know to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when
what Paul is saying if
you are not willing to he comes, will nd so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that HE WILL MAKE HIM
“search it out” for RULER OVER ALL HIS GOODS.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Sounds an awful lot like
yourself? Joseph. So, don’t be so fast to cast Israel aside in perpetuity.

THE SCRIPTURE PROOF: ROMANS 11:25-36

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AT-A-GLANCE For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you
should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
#3 The pastoral is only
one of the two pillars until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is
that hold up the Church. written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness
The prophetic is the from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
second pillar.
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the
#4 The Pastor operates election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of
with power (daily God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now
operations) and the
Prophet with authority obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been
(daily oversight). disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For
God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
#5 Yahshua teaches His
disciples that they need Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
to apply new revelation unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past nding out! “For who has
to their existing known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has
knowledge of Scripture
rst given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and
to understand the deep
mysteries of God, to to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
understand the
Kingdom. Can you really know the depth of the mystery Paul is uncovering here if you are
not willing to “search it out” for yourself? That’s what they did in Berea in Acts
#6 Even scribes, the
17:11. “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures
biblical lawyers of the
day, the experts, need daily to nd out if what Paul was saying was true.” They searched the Scriptures.
to be “instructed And, maybe I don’t need to say this, but I will. There were NO SCRIPTURES then,
concerning the kingdom other than the Old Testament. So Paul, the great Hebrew scholar, the expert in the
of heaven.”
Law, is mandated by Yahweh to solve the mysteries and deliver the Doctrine of
#7 we are entering a Christianity to the world, and he is doing so by using the Old Testament. Again,
new season, one that ponder this question: Why would Yahweh choose a Hebrew Torah scholar to do
we might call the
Prophetic so? And why did Yahshua tell his disciples that it was their job to know the
Reformation. mysteries of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:11)? And what was the reward for
searching, or the risk for staying ignorant, being wise in your own opinion, as Paul
#8 There is an ultimate
so “tactfully” words it? Yahshua too, was not so tactful; “For whoever has, to him
plan for Israel; His
covenant will be fulfilled; more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even
they will receive His what he has will be taken away from him.” (Matthew 13:12)
Spirit and will remember
His word. The gifts and [Prophetic Mystery Outtake]
calling of God are
irrevocable. By now you are becoming a prophetic lawyer, or a biblical pattern scientist. You
#9 Who could possibly should be, minimally, able to recognize that there is a constant prophetic
partner with Yahweh in undertone throughout the Word of God, even if you can’t quite pinpoint the
His grand plan for the mystery in every lesson. Now you can, at least, see that there is something more.
universe?
Sure the Bible is mostly pastoral in its application, meaning that it is about the
practical everyday living that results from your born-again encounter with Yahshua
and the Holy Spirit. That is what the PASTORAL does. How can we shepherd the

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AT-A-GLANCE sheep to holy and victorious living? Yet, the pastoral is only one of the two pillars
that hold up the Church.

“…having been built on the foundation of the APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being
tted together, grows into a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord, in whom you also are
being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22)

The APOSTOLIC, or pastor of pastors is one pillar, but notice the second, the
prophetic! The functional side of these two interdependent o ces is that the
Pastor operates with power (daily operations; he moves in strength) and the
Prophet with authority (daily oversight, he establishes directives). It is much like a
well-functioning marriage, the woman has the power, the man the authority.
Femininity has all the attributes and characteristics of the Holy Spirit (helper,
comforter, guide, persuader, etc.), masculinity all the attributes and characteristics
of the Father (“I don’t do anything on My own, only what My Father tells Me to
do.” John 5:19, 8:28) By the way, it is also a feature of a well-functioning
government, a division of power and authority; one branch makes laws (the power
of the legislative branch), one enforces them (the authority of the executive
branch)!

As I read Ephesians 2:20-22, and contemplate these two essential structural
elements of the church, the spiritual temple, it reminds me of the two bronze
pillars that held up the entrance to Solomon’s temple (I Kings 7:15-22). “Then he
set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right
and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name
Boaz.” (v. 21) They are both needed; they are interdependent. And consider what
these names mean: Jachin on the right, “He shall establish,” the authority of the
Prophet. And Boaz on the left, “In His Strength,” the power of the Pastor.

It would seem that for many centuries the pastoral o ce has dominated the
church with little or no emphasis on the prophetic pillar. This has become even
more accentuated in this modern mega-church era. And so we are clear, when I
say prophetic, I am not talking about the demonstration of the prophetic gifts.
They have clearly been active in many denominations. Instead, I am talking about
the prophetic authority co-laboring with pastoral power, both o ces working for
the mutual bene t of the church and the advancement of God’s initiatives on the
earth. I believe this pastoral in uence is most demonstrable with the hyper-
emphasis on the Gospel of Salvation, while there has been very little advancement
of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Two thousand years later, it is still practically
unde ned by the church worldwide. But I believe we are entering a new season,
one that we might call the Prophetic Reformation. Five hundred years ago we

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AT-A-GLANCE had a reformation of theology; this time it will be the restoration of the prophetic
authority in the earth.

There is always something more! Now you can go back and reread the entire New
Testament with new prophetic glasses and easily see that the over-arching
message is about the Gospel of the Kingdom (which we’ve previously discussed
in detail).

I could have introduce this next verse in any other area in this commentary in
which I emphasized Paul’s expertise and why he was chosen to be the formulator
and disseminator of Christian theology. But I think now is the perfect time because
I believe you are ready to really appreciate it. I’ve stated over and over that I
believe Paul was chosen because he was most equipped to add new revelation to
existing knowledge. That’s precisely what Yahshua was doing every time He
said, “It has been written…but I tell you…!” (Sermon on the Mount, Mat. 5-7)

“Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” [Are you getting new
revelation] They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every
scribe INSTRUCTED CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like a
householder who brings out of his treasure things new [new revelation] and old
[applied to existing knowledge].”” (Matthew 13:51-52)

Who needs to do this? EVERY SCRIBE INSTRUCTED CONCERNING THE
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Yahshua is teaching His disciples that they need to apply
their existing knowledge of Scripture to understand the deep mysteries of God, to
understand the Kingdom. And notice the subtle, yet, immeasurably important fact
about the scribes, the biblical lawyers of the day, the experts! They too need to
be “instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven.” If they, as experts, needed to
be instructed, what about you? And who better to do it than Paul, an expert in the
Law who now has access to the Spirit of all truth.

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13)

[End Prophetic Mystery Outtake]

Now, together we can go back to Romans 11 and search the mysteries of what
Paul is saying about Israel, to bring out of our treasure things new and things old.

It is clear that Paul is a fan of Isaiah because he keeps referring to his prophecy to
explain his take on things (all by memory!). This time he zooms in on Isaiah 59:20
in his Romans masterpiece, but look at the context. There is an ultimate plan for
Israel; His covenant will be ful lled; they will receive His Spirit and will remember
His word. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

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AT-A-GLANCE “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the
rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a ood, the Spirit of the LORD will
lift up a standard against him. (20) “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those
who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the LORD. “As for Me,” says the
LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words
which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the
mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’
descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.”” (Isaiah 59:19-21)

Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of Yahweh. “Who
has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” Again,
Paul’s go-to Prophet is Isaiah.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a
span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in
scales and the hills in a balance? (13) Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or
as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who
instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge,
Sacrifice on the Altar: and showed Him the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:12-14)
Romans 12:1-2
Who could possibly partner with Yahweh in His grand plan for the universe? Paul
At a glance: pro ered this very question elsewhere in his writings, and answered it! “For “who
has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” BUT WE HAVE THE
#1 Yahweh chose a
Scholar in the Law to MIND OF CHRIST.” (I Corinthians 2:16) Yes, as joint heirs, revealed sons of God,
formulate Christian we have the mind of Messiah and are charged with partnering with Him to manage
doctrine and theology. creation.
#2 Completely dying to
And just in case the Gentiles might be at risk of that swollen head again, this
yourself as a follower of
Messiah is reasonable; privilege has ZERO to do with who they were without Him and EVERYTHING to do
it is not extraordinary. with who they are in Him. Who has a claim against Me that I must pay? Everything
under heaven belongs to Me. (Job 41:11 NIV) Oh, and as a not so subtle
#3 The “world” does not
means the same thing in reminder, he is talking about Israel. “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and
all contexts. God loved their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! The Deliverer will
the world and tells us do come out of Zion.” (Rom. 11:12, 26)
not love the world.

#4 The will of Yahweh is CHAPTER 12 "SERVICE TO SAINTS"
found in the Law of
Yahweh. SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR: ROMANS 12:1-2

#5 The word picture for “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
transformation is bodies a living sacri ce, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
caterpillar-to-butterfly.
service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God.”

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AT-A-GLANCE Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, are two of the more well-known verses in all of
Christianity; I hear them referred to quite often. But whatever does Paul, the
#5 The Feasts of the
LORD can be used as a scholar, the Jewish scholar, mean? We cannot separate the meaning from the
pattern to help you man, nor can we remove him from his upbringing and environment, his “expert in
understand what is the Law (Torah)” upbringing and environment. And may I remind you (repetition is
happening to you on
your journey in the faith the greatest teacher) that Yahweh chose the Hebrew, tribe of Benjamin, legal
from childhood to scholar to be the disseminator of Christian Doctrine, might we even say, “the
adulthood. formulator” of Christian Doctrine.
#6 The transformation
There is a lot packed into these two verses. First of all, what they require of us is
Paul is talking about in
Romans 12 is the same not easy, so let’s just agree that what follows is impossible without God’s grace.
picture we see on the With that agreement we minimize the risk of this becoming an exercise in self-
Mount of righteousness. And here again Paul is being very passionate. Listen, this is the
Transfiguration.
same guy who was willing to trade His own eternal position in Yahweh for his
#7 Does it seem brothers to receive this revelation of truth (Romans 9:1-4)! “Greater love has no
luxurious and indulgent one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
that you could even
consider basking in His I “beseech you!” I fervently and ardently beg you! It’s urgent you get this! “Present
Word day and night?
your bodies a living sacri ce.” If you remove the dispensational Christian hat for
#8 Drown yourself day one moment and attempt to see through Paul’s rst-century eyes, what do you
and night in His see? You see an animal with it’s throat slit; it’s blood (the life is in the blood,
presence and in His
word, and be Leviticus 17:11) drained and spilled on the altar; it’s body eviscerated; and it’s
transformed by the parts cut into pieces; and burned on the re. Pretty gruesome picture, eh? Oh,
renewing of your mind; and by-the-way, the animal is pretty dead, 100% dead, all-in dead; it’s not a
it’s the only way.
lukewarm halfway-in-type dead.

But, present yourself as a “living” chopped up dead animal? This is what he
means. “I have been cruci ed with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the esh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) I fervently beg you to live your
life in Christ like you are all-in, 100% dead, committed like your life is not your
own anymore. You are dead to yourself and alive for Him alone. Jesus said it like
this; “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for My sake will nd it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) This is how you live a set-
apart life in the faith. “Greater love has no one than this…”

And how does Yahweh view this type of sacri ce? First Paul calls it holy. Holy
means that it is set-apart, di erent from what everyone else is doing. As a
Christian, you better look di erent from the world. Then he says it is an
acceptable, reasonable service to Yahweh. That is some pretty bland language.
You mean that 100% all in, totally sacri ce everything for God, like a bled,

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AT-A-GLANCE chopped up, burned on the altar dead animal, is nothing extraordinary in God’s
eyes? Exactly! It’s just…reasonable.

Okay that was verse one. Next: “Do not be conformed to this world, and then,
how do you do that?” First realize that the, “For God so loved the world…” world,
of John 3:16, is not the world he is talking about here. He’s talking about this
world; “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the esh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does THE WILL OF
GOD abides forever.” (I John 2:15-17) Do not be conformed to that world, (do not
love that world or the things in that world)! But, instead, be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. This is what demonstrates the good (only the Father’s will
is good; Mark 10:18), and acceptable (there is that word again… not extraordinary,
just reasonable), and perfect WILL OF GOD. Perfect means mature and adult-like
transformation. And THE WILL OF GOD? Well, that is living in obedience to God’s
laws. Paul taught us this earlier in Romans; “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest
on the law, and make your boast in God, and KNOW HIS WILL, and approve the
things that are excellent [superior], being instructed out of the law,” (Romans
2:17-18)

Let’s talk about the type of transformation Paul is referring to here. He uses the
Greek word from which we derive “metamorphosis.” The word picture for this is
caterpillar-to-butter y type transformation. It’s not like a 5th grader becoming a
6th grader; it’s more like an infant becoming a rocket scientist. The resultant
creature has ZERO resemblance to its predecessor. That is the type of
transformation Paul is describing. That is what is available to you if you are willing
to “renew your mind” daily. I’ll speak to how to do that in a moment, but I think it’s
time for another short commercial break.

[Prophetic Mystery Outtake]

I want you to think about your journey in the faith from childhood to adulthood
using the Feasts of the LORD as a pattern to help you understand what is
happening in you. You may not be familiar with the Feasts, so I will give you an
ultra-quick lesson of just the three main (pilgrimage) Feasts. These three are
symbolic of the “seasons” in the year (life), Spring, Summer, and Fall. We’ve
already discussed Passover and that is all about your redemption as a “ rst-born”,
your born-again experience, your “baptism in water.” It’s the new life of Spring.
Next comes Pentecost and the work of the Holy Spirit, your “baptism in re.” It's
the heat of Summer. Then there is Tabernacles, the Fall Feast, your
“transformation”. Fall is the death of the old and preparation for new beginnings.
Interesting, the eighth day of Tabernacles (the number eight) symbolizes new

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AT-A-GLANCE beginnings. When I think of the transformation Paul is talking about in Romans 12,
I see Tabernacles and I am reminded of the Mount of Trans guration in Matthew
17.

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on
a high mountain by themselves; and He was TRANSFIGURED before them. His
face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold,
Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and
said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three
TABERNACLES: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”” (Matthew
17:1-4)

The Greek word used here in Matthew 17:2, trans gured, is the same word used
by Paul in Romans 12:2, transformed. That is the type of transformation Paul is
declaring, a face shining like the sun (Son).

[End Prophetic Mystery Outtake]

And how is any of this “HATE THE WORLD AND DO GOD’S WILL” transformation
even possible? Renew your mind every day. How’s that? It’s simple, but it’s not
easy. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands
in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the
law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2) Does
it seem luxurious and indulgent that you could even consider basking in His Word
day and night? Only royalty has the luxury to live like that. Well, I have news for
Member of the body: you. You are royalty! You are sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, a
Romans 12:3-8 royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). And do you know what kings were expected to do?

At a glance: “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that HE SHALL WRITE
#1 The corporate body, FOR HIMSELF A COPY OF THIS LAW IN A BOOK, from the one before the
like the sacrificed priests, the Levites. AND IT SHALL BE WITH HIM, AND HE SHALL READ IT ALL
animal, has many parts THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be
that all need to be
careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may
submitted to Him.
not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the
#2 It is vital that we all commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in
do our part in order for his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
the body to function well
(be healthy).
That’s right—you and Yahweh and His Word, day and night, all the days of your
#3 Don’t despise those life! And what kind of mind transformation can you look forward to? “Who has
“lesser gifts” as they known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of
may turn out to be the
Christ.” (I Corinthians 2:16) Drown yourself day and night in His presence and in
most important in God’s
eyes. His word, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind; it’s the only way.

MEMBER OF THE BODY: ROMANS 12:3-8

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AT-A-GLANCE “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God
#4 Christianity cannot
only be lived between has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one
the ears, or in the body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are
clouds. one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts
#5 Access God’s power di ering according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let
(personally) and put it to us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
good use (God use) for he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with
the betterment of of the
body of Christ liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
(corporately).
Let’s stay with the context of what Paul is saying. He starts with the message,
#6 The gift does not present “your” body a living sacri ce, which is an individual mandate about your
confer an office or title. life. And then he moves onto the corporate Body (of Christ). We are one body
(individual) with lots of members (corporate), with di erent roles (body parts). The
corporate body, like the sacri ced animal, has many parts that all need to be
submitted to Him (burned on the altar).

Elsewhere in his writing (1 Corinthians 12), Paul speaks of gifts that are of a more
spiritual nature. In that teaching he also draws upon the “one body with many
parts” analogy. It is vital that we all do our part in order for the body to function
well (be healthy). And don’t try to be the part you are not called to be, or envy
another part. Every part, down to what might seem the least signi cant, is
important. And don’t despise those “lesser gifts” as they may turn out to be the
most important in God’s eyes.

But, here in Romans, we have entered into some of Paul’s best practical living
instructions, and he does so whilst he practices, on us, his own gift of exhortation.
Christianity cannot only be lived between the ears, or in the clouds; we are also
destined to bring heaven to earth (Matthew 6:10), and that takes re ecting heaven
in everything we do, every day.

Paul calls them gifts here, and I believe he does so because they are empowered
Member of the Family: by grace, which is the ultimate gift from Yahweh. Grace is the supernatural power
Romans 12:9-13 of God that is available in your life, the same power He use to raise Christ from the
At a glance: grave (Ephesians 1:19-20). So, Paul says, “Access that power (personally) and put
it to good use (God use) for the betterment of the body of Christ (corporately).”
#1 love is the answer
It would also be good to note here that these are gifts, not o ces or titles! The gift
#2 Let kindness and does not confer an o ce or title. Let me speak in King James English so it sounds
affection rule over your
friendships in such a more o cial. “The gift-eth of prophecy does-eth not a prophet make-eth!”
way that it is obvious Translation: You are not a prophet because you have the gift of prophecy. So,
you care more about don’t print business cards with your newfound title on it!
others than yourself.

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AT-A-GLANCE The gifts of God are, however, irrevocable (Romans 11:29). You can’t give them
back, and you are required to manage them well. “Moreover it is required in
#3 Even at your times of
greatest need, consider stewards that one be found faithful.” (I Corinthians 4:2) So, if you are called to a
what others need first; certain “level” of gift, “according to your faith”, then you must exercise it faithfully.
that is the best way to And do so with the same commitment as a sacri ced animal, all-in!
become a true
testimony of God’s love,
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY: ROMANS 12:9-13
and to be a “safe home”
for others.
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly
a ectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one
another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in
hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the
needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”

Read these verses again, and imagine a world in which people live this way and
treat each other like this. It might seem cliché, but love is the answer. And there is
Soldier in the Battle: no better place to get the full scope of how God views love than I Corinthians 13.
Romans 12:14-21
I love Paul’s use of powerful directives here; “abhor evil”, hate it with a passion;
At a glance: and “cling to what is good”, grab on and don’t let go. Let kindness and a ection
#1 We must go beyond rule over your friendships in such a way that it is obvious you care more about
Christian soundbites others than yourself. Can you imagine a world like this: marriages like this; families
and actually DO THE like this; businesses like this; governments like this; nations like this?
THINGS Yahshua spoke
about. This can only happen if we, as Christians, become so serious about our faith that
#2 Paul’s words sound we literally treat it like a life and death matter. We must become ultra-sensitive to
an awful lot like the Holy Spirit and be in prayer as warriors, who serve Yahweh like our life is not
Yahshua’s words. our own. Hey listen, it won’t always be easy, maybe ever. But there is good reason
for the hope that is in us (read I Peter 3:13-17), so chill out when things get tough;
#3 Paul, the “father of
Christian theology and we will win in the end. Yes, even at your times of greatest need, consider what
doctrine”, was others need rst; that is the best way to become a true testimony of God’s love,
empowered by grace to and to be a “safe home” for others. Can you imagine a world like this? It may
apply wisdom to his vast
knowledge of God’s seem impossible, but it is coming.
word.
SOLDIER IN THE BATTLE: ROMANS 12:14-21
#4 f you have been
sitting on the sidelines “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who
of your faith, satisfied
rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another.
with being bottle fed,
he’s saying it’s time for Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be
you to get in the game. wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things
in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath;
for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your
enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will

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AT-A-GLANCE heap coals of re on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.”

Okay, Paul has elevated his demands of us to the level of Christlike living. We
must go beyond Christian soundbites and actually DO THE THINGS Yahshua
spoke about. If you quiet your mind and listen carefully, this short selection at the
end of Romans 12, in some places, sounds almost like Yahshua’s Sermon on the
Mount from Matthew 5-7. Paul also reiterates wisdom from Proverbs and
Deuteronomy, and his words here de nitely in uenced (or were in uenced by)
some of his other writings. You almost get the sense that he was there, listening
to Yahshua on that fateful day early in His public ministry. Straight out of the
wilderness, Yahshua hit the ground running; He was already being thronged by
large crowds throughout a multi-city region (Matthew 4:25) when He gave this
famous sermon. Maybe Paul heard about Him and showed up, his curiosity
getting the best of him; just maybe his fascination was more powerful, for a brief
moment, than his religious spirit that eventually moved him to persecute
Christians. Who knows? Is it possible that Paul even came across Yahshua at
other times in His “public life”? One thing is for certain; Paul’s words sound an
awful lot like Yahshua’s words. Hey, maybe they had the same speech writer!

Paul: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Yahshua: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do
good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Paul: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Yahshua: “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted…Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:4, 12)

Paul: Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.

Yahshua: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…But seek rst
the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you.” (Matthew 6:19-21, 33) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5)

Paul: Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Yahshua: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its avor, how shall it
be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled

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AT-A-GLANCE underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand,
and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew
5:13-16)

Paul: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Yahshua: “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God…
Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your
adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the o cer, and you
be thrown into prison.” (Matthew 5:9, 25)

Paul: Repay no one evil for evil… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.”

Yahshua: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your
right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away
your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile,
go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow
from you do not turn away.” (Matthew 5:38-42)

Paul: Be of the same mind toward one another.

Yahshua: “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that
they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the
glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are
one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the
world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved
Me.” (John 17:21-23)

Paul: Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of re on his head.”

Solomon: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give
him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of re on his head, And the LORD
will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21-22)

Paul: Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Solomon: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.” (Proverbs
3:5-7)

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AT-A-GLANCE Paul: Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is
written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
For Wrath's Sake:
Romans 13:1-4 Moses: “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For
the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’”
At a glance: (Deuteronomy 32:35)
#1 Paul says that true I guess the big take away here is that Paul, the “father of Christian theology and
authorities are
appointed by Yahweh doctrine”, was not making this stu up. He was empowered by grace to apply
for the good of His wisdom to his vast knowledge of God’s word (New and Old). And that means, if
people and to champion you have been sitting on the sidelines of your faith, satis ed with being bottle fed,
His cause.
he’s saying it’s time for you to get in the game. Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I
#2 The words of also imitate Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1) “Do you not know that those who run in a
authorities acting for race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
God are to be
(I Corinthians 9:24) Run the race to win!
considered as Yahweh’s
words. If you don’t
submit, you will bring
judgement on yourself.
CHAPTER 13 "DUTIES TO POWERS"
#3 Nowhere does
Yahweh command us to FOR WRATH'S SAKE: ROMANS 13:1-4
submit to ungodly rulers
when they require “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
ungodly obedience.
except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore
#4 When the governing whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist
authorities are ungodly, will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to
they should be ignored,
and instead, God’s evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will
people should submit to have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do
a HIGHER AUTHORITY. evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an
avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”

No doubt there are many “bible-based” teachings available about obeying
governing authorities. Unfortunately, and I am not sure how such an obvious piece
is missed, but so many leaders in the Church totally ignore these key stipulations.
“For he is God’s minister to you for good… for he is God’s minister, an avenger…”
Here are the key words that should help you discriminate and di erentiate to
whom you ought to subject yourself. In other words, is God telling us that ALL
governing authorities are of Him and demanding we submit to ALL of them? If you
were to follow the vast majority of teachings on the subject, that is exactly what
you would be instructed to do. But, before we agree with the majority, let’s take a
look at what these key words mean:

Minister: servant of God; refers to the Lord inspiring His servants to carry out His
plan for His people.

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AT-A-GLANCE Good: inherently (intrinsically) good; as to the believer; describes what originates
from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith.

Avenger: special advocate or champion of God.

So, it should be obvious here that Paul is saying that true authorities are
appointed by Yahweh for the good of His people and to champion His cause. And
when they are acting in that position (ministers, good, avengers), their words are
to be considered as Yahweh’s words. If you don’t submit, you will bring judgement
on yourself. And also, if necessary, Yahweh will use HIS APPOINTED o cials to
discipline His people. For God’s people the choice is simple; do what is good and
you will have favor among leaders; do what is evil, and you should be very afraid.

But nowhere in these verses is Yahweh commanding us to submit to ungodly
rulers when they require ungodly obedience. Consider Daniel’s response when the
For Conscience Sake: decree was signed by the king forbidding prayers to Yahweh (read Daniel 6).
Romans 13:5-7
“Now when Daniel KNEW THAT THE WRITING WAS SIGNED, he went home. And
At a glance: in his upper room, with his WINDOWS OPEN toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on
his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was
#1 Do the right thing
his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10) “So they answered and said before the
because it is right thing
to do, not because you king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, DOES NOT SHOW DUE
fear the consequences REGARD for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his
of not doing the right petition three times a day.” (Daniel 6:13) And what about the Disciples when they
thing.
were told to stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus (read Acts 4:1-22)?
“So they called them and COMMANDED THEM not to speak at all nor teach in the
name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “WHETHER IT IS
RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO LISTEN TO YOU MORE THAN TO GOD, YOU
JUDGE. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts
For Love's Sake: 4:18-20) When the governing authorities are ungodly, they should be ignored, and
Romans 13:8-10
instead, God’s people should submit to a HIGHER AUTHORITY.
At a glance:
FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE: ROMANS 13:5-7
#1 Our entire walk of
faith, humans being “Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for
empowered by conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s
Yahweh’s grace, should
result in one thing: ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due:
radical-faith-based- taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear,
obedience to Yahweh’s honor to whom honor.”
commandments!
This is just a continuation of thought from the rst four verses of chapter 13. Paul
#2 Love for Yahweh is
demonstrated by our is saying this: “Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, not because
interactions with each you fear the consequences of not doing the right thing.” The ministers attending
other (our neighbors). to the work of God hold His people accountable. Pay all taxes, customs, fear, and
honor they are due. And consequently, don’t pay others what they are NOT DUE.

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AT-A-GLANCE FOR LOVE'S SAKE: ROMANS 13:8-10

#3 Love for God and for “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has
your fellow man is the ful lled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You
outcome of grace shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You
empowered obedience.
shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this
#4 Every scribe saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a
instructed concerning neighbor; therefore love is the ful llment of the law.”
the kingdom of heaven
is like a householder Love is the answer. Love is the ful llment of the law. Yes, but how? What are the
who brings out of his
inner workings of this concept? I think the answer should be obvious, but often is
treasure things NEW
and OLD. not, due to a long history in the Church of deemphasizing the commandments of
God (other than the 10 Commandments and tithing). Let’s start by rst rewinding
#5 Some commands are this very letter to the Romans. “Do we then make void the law through faith?
vertical; obeying them
demonstrates love Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31) Our entire
toward God. Other walk of faith, humans being empowered by Yahweh’s grace, should result in one
commands are thing: radical-faith-based-obedience to Yahweh and His commandments! Here in
horizontal; obeying them
demonstrates love Romans 13 Paul describes it as “ful lling the law”; back in chapter 3 he called it
toward man. “establishing the law”.

#6 When you are Yahshua was asked a direct question about the law during His public ministry. And
capable of expressing let’s be real; most of the time He was being questioned to trap Him or trip Him up,
unconditional love for
God AND for your fellow so they could later accuse Him of blasphemy. They were’t interested in gathering
man you will look just wisdom from a great teacher, but rather supporting their already cemented-in-
like Yahshua. stone beliefs. I’m convinced that the modern-day church might do the same.
#7 Yahshua says that if Mark’s Gospel has the most complete version of this account, so we will defer to
you want to be “perfect” it.
you must take up your
cross and obey both the Let me set the stage; Yahshua had just entered Jerusalem for what would become
vertical and horizontal the last week before His cruci xion. As He was walking in the Temple, all the
commands. That is the
only way to demonstrate ‘who's who’ in the religious community (chief priests, scribes, and elders) have
the unconditional love of gathered. (He had a way of attracting both His friends and His enemies.) They
God. That is the only came to “question” His authority. However, Yahshua didn't take the bait, but
way to “fulfill the law.”
instead turns their question back on them (read Mark 11:27-33).

Then He teaches a parable about the wicked tenants of a fruitful vineyard (Mark
12:1-12). The owner (representing Yahweh) leases the land to some tenants (He’s
clearly ngering these chief priests, scribes, and elders). Later on the owner of the
land sends his servants (representing the prophets of old) to collect some fruit.
Instead, the tenants beat the servants (they stoned the prophets; Mat. 23:31-39;
Acts 7:51-52) and send them away. Finally, the owner sends his beloved son
(representing Yahshua); surely they will respect him. They don’t; tragically, they kill
him (the picture of His coming cruci xion) and toss his body out. Then Yahshua

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AT-A-GLANCE puts an exclamation on His lesson as He connects the tenants in His parable to
these religious leaders sanding in front of Him; “The stone [that’s Me] which the
builders rejected [that’s you] has become the chief cornerstone [I’m the Messiah].”
(Psalms 118:22) Ouch!

They refuse that lesson and next “sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the
Herodians, to catch Him in His words.” (Mark 12:13, read 13-17) These hypocrites
test him with some tricky tax question. And He befuddles them with the simple
truth; “give Caesar what is Caesar’s and give God what is God’s.” Ouch again!

“Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they
asked Him, saying…” (Mark 12:18; read 18-27) Okay, the chief priests, scribes
(biblical lawyers), and elders were trapped by their own question (11:33); and the
Pharisees and Herodians ended up marveling at Him (12:17). Next up: the
Sadducees. You know you are desperate when you send in reinforcements who
you don’t even agree with yourself. The Pharisees believe in the resurrection, but
they had nothing that could stump Yahshua. So—in step the Sadducees who
don’t believe in the resurrection. How did the Sadducees fare? “Jesus answered
and said to them, ‘Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the
Scriptures nor the power of God?’” (Mark 12:24) Ouch and ouch!

Then one more scribe gives it a whirl. A scribe is the equivalent of a modern-day
lawyer, but his expertise is in the Bible. He’s been witnessing this entire debacle
and is pretty convinced that this Yahshua is onto something. His question is
genuine, therefore, Yahshua gives him a straight answer, directly from the
Scriptures. Here is the entire account.

“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together,
perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the rst
commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The rst of all the commandments
is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with
all your strength.’ This is the rst commandment. And the second, like it, is this:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater
than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the
truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all
the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength,
and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt o erings
and sacri ces.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question
Him.” (Mark 12:28-34)

Yahshua pulls His answer directly from Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (speci cally vv. 4-5)
and from Leviticus 19:18. Mark has the most complete version of the account.

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AT-A-GLANCE The other Gospel account is a short summary (Matthew 22:35-40). Although
Matthew does record a key phrase not mentioned in the Mark account. “On these
two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

Here are the key connections to Romans 13:8-10. This is so rich! Remember, we
are in a section of Romans (since chapter 12) in which we are learning about love
and practical living. And what better lesson than to understand how love for
Yahweh is demonstrated by our interactions with each other (our neighbors). The
scribe asks which is the rst (greatest) commandment of all. And Yahshua
answers Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which is about loving Yahweh. He then adds an
interpretation of the commandment which is LIKE IT, “Love your neighbor as you
love yourself.” That is NOT in Deuteronomy 6 but is pulled from Leviticus 19:18.
Leviticus 19:1-18 speaks directly about commands that have to do with horizontal
relationships (human to human) and how they connect to loving and honoring
Yahweh, yes, laws that govern horizontal relationships like the ones Paul is talking
about here in Romans 13. “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,”
“You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet.”
. These are about relationships with your neighbors. And when you love God with
all your heart (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30), you will prove it by how you treat
your neighbors (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31). “And the King will answer and say
to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these
My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:40)

But notice what the Scribe ALREADY knew. And how he approves of Yahshua's
CORRECT BIBLICAL interpretation. “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the
truth, for THERE IS ONE GOD, and there is no other but He. And to LOVE HIM
WITH ALL THE HEART, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all
the strength, and to LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS ONESELF, is more than all the
whole burnt o erings and sacri ces.” (Mark 12:32-33) This might come as a bit of
a shock, but not all Jewish scholars in the rst century missed it. This scribe
didn’t; he already knew the correct answer. And look what Yahshua says to him.
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (v. 34)

This scribe understood what radical-faith-based-obedience looks like and,
therefore, was close to the Kingdom. Love for God and for your fellow man is the
outcome of grace empowered obedience. Again, Matthew adds this clari cation;
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew
22:40) Now, permit me to insert this verse once again as it ts so well and
expands our revelation. “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the
kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things NEW
and OLD.” (Matthew 13:52)

What did this scribe bring out of his treasure new and old?

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AT-A-GLANCE 1. Old: The Lord is ONE. Only Mark includes this essential piece. (Deuteronomy
6:4)

2. Old: Love God with your whole heart… (Deuteronomy 6:5)

3. New: Loving your neighbor as oneself is proof you love God with your whole
heart. (Wisdom from the Spirit connecting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus
19:18)

In Luke’s Gospel a scribe asks about eternal life. Look how Yahshua replies, and
again recognize the old an new. “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested
Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?” He said to him,
“WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW? WHAT IS YOUR READING OF IT?” So he
answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as
yourself.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will
live.”” (Luke 10:25-28)

You must catch the subtle nuance here.

What is written in the law?—OLD

What is your reading of it?—NEW

What is written and how do you interpret it? In other words, what is the full extent
of what it means? Yahshua was doing this Himself each time He taught as such in
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7); “You know it is written…but I tell you…!
The scribe mentioned above needed to understand from the Scriptures that what
it means to love Yahweh INCLUDES the love of your neighbor. Some commands
are vertical; obeying them demonstrates love toward God. Other commands are
horizontal; obeying them demonstrates love toward man. When you are spirit- lled
and capable of expressing unconditional love for God AND for your fellow man by
obeying all of God’s commands, you will look just like Yahshua. “You are not far
from the Kingdom of God.”

We see the very same wisdom on display in the account of Yahshua talking to the
rich young ruler.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I
do that I may HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me
good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep
the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not
murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear
false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept

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AT-A-GLANCE from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “IF YOU WANT TO BE
PERFECT, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
For our Savior's Sake:
Romans 13:11-14 in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he
went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16-22)
At a glance:
The man wants eternal life and Yahshua curiously tells him to obey those
#1 Christians are taught
that they are saved the horizontal commandments. But then He reads what’s in the man’s heart. Yahshua
moment they confess tells him that if you want to be “perfect” (be like Me, manifest the Kingdom), you
Jesus as Lord and must give it all up (take up your cross; read Luke 14:25-35) and follow Me (obey
Savior. But what
both the vertical and horizontal commands). Yahshua taught us this in the Sermon
happens at that moment
is your redemption, your on the Mount; “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,
justification. for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) That is the only way to
demonstrate the unconditional love of God. That is the only way to “ful ll the law.”
#2 Salvation has so
much to do with
practical living. FOR OUR SAVIOR'S SAKE: ROMANS 13:11-14
#3 He who endures to
the end shall be saved. “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for
now our salvation is nearer than when we rst believed. The night is far spent, the
day is at hand. Therefore let us cast o the works of darkness, and let us put on
the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and
Am I Fully Convinced: drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord
Romans 14:1-5, and… Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the esh, to ful ll its lusts.”
Am I Doing unto the
Salvation is near. This should again peak your curiosity. Traditionally, Christians are
Lord: Romans 14:6-9
taught that they are saved the moment they confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.
At a glance: But like you have learned many times in Paul's theological masterpiece, what
happens at that moment is your redemption, your justi cation. God has paid a
#1 Those who are weak
in the faith are the ones ransom for your life, and now He sees you like you never sinned in the rst place.
who don’t know what is “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) Salvation, on the
permitted (kosher) other hand, has so much to do with practical living. Make no provision for sinful
according to the Old
Testament. behaviors; but instead, as light bearers, walk properly! “Salvation is nearer than
when we rst believed.”
#2 Newbies prefer to eat
no meat at all, so they
do not make a mistake. CHAPTER 14 "RELATION TO BRETHREN"
“Don’t look down on
them.” AM I FULLY CONVINCED: ROMANS 14:1-5
#3 You who are weak in
the faith, don’t you judge “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
the one who exercises For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
their liberty to eat [meat] Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not
because they do know
what is clean and what eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s
is unclean. servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand,

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AT-A-GLANCE for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another;
another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
#4 Gentiles who are
new to the faith are
AM I DOING UNTO THE LORD: ROMANS 14:6-9
required to:

A. Leave their idolatry “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe
behind! the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he
B. End all sexual gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and
immorally! gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For
if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether
C. Refrain from eating
we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived
animals that have been
killed by strangulation again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
and/or still have blood in
them! Okay, here we go again. I combined these two sections as the content is
completely related. Traditionally, the Church has used this area of Romans as an
#5 Even Gentile
converts are expected apologetic to prove that eating according to the Bible (biblically t food or kosher),
to eventually learn and and keeping Biblical Feast holidays, according to the “Old Testament Laws”, have
abide by the Laws of been done away with. You've likely learned that those who still do so, or think they
God in the Old
should, are the ones who Paul is referring to here as “weak in the faith.”
Testament.

#6 If you observe day But let’s discover what Paul is really saying. The critical hint is right in the
that is special to you, beginning of the passage. Start with this; when in doubt, “err” on the side of
(providing it is not in preferring your brother (Romans 12:10; Phil. 2:3). The early Church was lled with
opposition to Yahweh’s
converts from pagan belief systems. They came into Christianity knowing ZERO
commands), then go
ahead and keep it. Just about its roots in the Hebrew faith, and consequently nothing about the
do all things unto the Scriptures. This was not the same with the Jews. They had an advantage (Romans
LORD. 3:1-2). But, as you also probably experienced in your own personal conversion,
#7 It is up to the Church when you are impacted by an encounter with the Holy Spirit, you are imparted a
to judge itself desire to love and please the LORD. Yet that may not, and often does not, come
righteously and with any actual knowledge base of what that might look like. So, here in Rome
ultimately we are called
to obey Yahweh's there were many believers (once Gentiles in the esh; Ephesians 2:11-13) who
commands. were confused about what they were permitted to eat and what days were holy.
So much of that confusion was clearly around which meats were clean or unclean
according to God’s word (Leviticus 11). Again, they had ZERO background in this
stu . So, to be safe, they chose to eat only vegetables, which is commanded
nowhere in the Torah (Law). You must get this. Paul is not saying that those “weak
in the faith” are the ones who are still trying to eat clean according to the Old
Testament; he is saying that those who are weak in the faith are the ones who
don’t know what is permitted ( t or kosher) according to the Old Testament. In
order to honor God in their own way, these newbies prefer to eat no meat at all, so
they do not make a mistake. And Paul is saying, “Don’t look down on them.”
Ultimately, they are God’s servants and He is the one who knows the intentions of
their hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13). Also, you who are weak in the faith, don’t you

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AT-A-GLANCE judge the one who exercises their liberty to eat (meat) because they do know what
is clean and what is unclean. Knowing the di erence is a strength (maturity) in the
faith, not a weakness.

This was a huge issue in the early Church, so much so that they needed to
convene a council to gure out what to do with the massive in ux of gentiles who
were turning to Yahweh through Yahshua. I am con dent that this is such an
important piece for you to fully understand what Paul is teaching us in Romans 14
that I included here the entire ruling from the Jerusalem Council:

“Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when
there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren,
you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the
Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the
heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and
made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now
therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how
many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren,
listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the rst visited the Gentiles to take
out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree,
just as it is written: ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of
mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the LORD who does all these things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His
works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles
who are turning to God, but that we write to them to ABSTAIN FROM THINGS
POLLUTED BY IDOLS, FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY, FROM THINGS
STRANGLED, AND FROM BLOOD. For Moses has had throughout many
generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues
every Sabbath.”” (Acts 15:6-21)

Notice that the ruling for the Gentiles, who are new to the faith, includes
regulations that require immediate adherence:

1. Leave your idolatry behind!

2. End all sexual immorality!

3. Refrain from eating animals that have been killed by strangulation and/or still
have blood in them! These are two indicators for eating food that is kosher.

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AT-A-GLANCE (Kosher is the modern term used to describe food that is t to eat according
to the Scriptures.)

Much like we discussed in chapters 10 and 12 when we explored Yahshua’s
interaction with the scribe who asked Him about the greatest commandment
(Mark 12:28-34 ), this ruling encompasses an encapsulation of commandments. In
other words, to the scribe, Yahshua gives two categories of commands to obey
(not just two commandments), all those that demonstrate our love for the Father,
and all those that demonstrate love for mankind. In similar form, the Council in
Jerusalem is prompted by the Holy Spirit to lay out a speci c “legal guideline” for
the Gentiles with three categories of commands to obey. One command speaks to
idolatry, one to sexual purity, and the other to eating according to the Scriptures.

One more note about the Jerusalem Council ruling: the new converts were not
given a permanent free ride to stay immature or “weak in the faith.” Look at verse
21 of the ruling; “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who
preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Acts
15:21). Immediately after the three starting rules (which by the way have their roots
way back to the days of Noah), James reminds us that God’s people attend
synagogue weekly on the Sabbath to study “Moses”. In other words, even Gentile
converts are expected to eventually learn and abide by the Laws of God in the Old
Testament. Yes, if you explore the Word of God, you will nd a long list of
Yahweh's instructions for practical living. This is a far cry from saying that doing
so makes one “weak in the faith.”

Now, back to Romans 14. If you were one of the new converts (weak in the faith),
and you were not completely con dent you understood what was permitted, it
would be much easier to simply not eat meat and only eat vegetables. Their hearts
are in the right place, so do not despise them. And conversely, you who are weak,
don’t despise others who exercise their liberty (also read I Corinthians 10:23-33).

Will I stand the We can say the same about special days. If you observe a day that is special to
Judgment: Romans you, (providing it is not in opposition to Yahweh’s commands), then go ahead and
14:10-12 keep it. Just do all things unto the LORD (Colossians 3:23; I Corinthians 10:23-33).
At a glance: In the modern day, we might consider days like anniversaries, Mother’s Day or
Memorial Day. Are they in opposition to Yahweh’s commands? Of course not. If
#1 Don’t judge you desire to keep them, go ahead and do so, just honor Yahweh as you do.
unbelievers, do judge
What Paul is NOT saying is that if you don’t feel like keeping commanded Biblical
believers, and remove
yourself from evil Holidays (Leviticus 23), you don’t need to. He is also not giving permission to keep
people. days that are in direct opposition to God, like Halloween or other holidays which
maintain their roots in pagan worship.

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AT-A-GLANCE It is up to the Church to judge itself righteously (Colossians 2:16-17) and ultimately
we are called to obey Yahweh's commands. Hey listen, that is exactly why you
#2 Falsities are NOT to
be equated with the Law are empowered by grace.
in the Old Testament.
God’s laws are never WILL I STAND THE JUDGMENT: ROMANS 14:10-12
considered as such:
“empty deceit; man’s “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your
traditions,
commandments, and brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:
doctrines; nor basic “ As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall
principles of the world. confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
#3 Let no one judge To me it’s simply amazing how much content there is in just a few words from
you, but the body of
Christ! Those outside Paul. But again, I think as students of the Word, true disciples, not just people with
the Body cannot judge an “I-got-saved-date”, we have the responsibility to go deep, to search out the
those who are on the mysteries of God. Remember, Jesus told us that it has been given to us to know
inside.
the mysteries of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:11).
#4 The measure you
use will be used against So, should we NOT judge our brothers at all? Or, is Paul saying don’t judge with
you. Remove the log contempt? It would seem, contextually, that he is telling us that we need to
before you discern the understand people’s weakness and discern accordingly. It would appear
speck.
elsewhere in Paul's writing that we are to judge one another as fellow believers.
“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? DO YOU NOT
JUDGE THOSE WHO ARE INSIDE? But those who are outside God judges.
Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (I Corinthians 5:12-13) Don’t
judge unbelievers, do judge believers, and remove yourself from evil people.

There is a short piece the brings clarity to this in Colossians 2 (read the entire
chapter). If read with the correct intention, it reveals that God’s people are not to
be judged by outsiders, but we are to be judged by the Body of Christ. We should
not be fooled “through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of
men, according to the basic principles of the world (v. 8).” Nor should we subject
ourselves to the regulations of “false religions or the commandments and
doctrines of men (vv. 22-23).” But let’s be clear here, these falsities are NOT to be
equated with the Law in the Old Testament. God’s laws are never considered as
such: “empty deceit; man’s traditions, commandments, and doctrines; nor basic
principles of the world.”

So, now when you read Colossians 2 and you know Paul is not disparaging God’s
Laws, what does he mean by: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or
regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to
come, BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS OF CHRIST.” (Colossians 2:16-17) The key to
correct understanding is actually found just underneath the surface by exploring
the original language. Let no one judge you…period; or let no one judge you,
but…; but the SUBSTANCE IS of Christ? The original says “but the body of

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AT-A-GLANCE Christ.” Substance (sóma in Greek ) is the word for body and we are all familiar
with the phrase “the Body of Christ.” And the word “is” does not appear in Greek.
It was added in English for clarity and appears in italics to indicate such in the
more literal translations. What clarity does it add? It only adds clarity if you want
the verse to mean NO ONE should judge you at all. If you believe Paul’s intention
was that no one should judge you because it’s all about Jesus, then you would
prefer to use “substance” and add the “is”. Some versions go even further,
replacing “body” with “reality”, the reality is of Christ, pushing that doctrinal bias
even harder. Instead, if you understand that no one outside the faith should judge
you, but insiders should (which is consistent with Paul’s other writings), then use
“body” and take out the “is” that doesn’t exist in the rst place. And you are left
with: “Let no one judge you, but the body of Christ!” which is now consistent with
I Corinthians 5:12, “DO YOU NOT JUDGE THOSE WHO ARE INSIDE?”

There is another distinction to make here and it is found in I Corinthians 6:1-6, in
which Paul is talking about legal matters in the courts of earth. Ultimately, as
rulers, we will in the end sit with Messiah as judges over the world and angels,
and if so, we should be capable of handling legal matters on earth between fellow
believers, as opposed to subjecting ourselves to the courts of man.

Yet, the bigger picture here is the moment we stand before the throne of Christ.
On this subject Paul again defers to his favorite Prophet. The distinction in Isaiah
45:20-23 is that Yahweh will eternally judge both the believer and unbeliever,
where we have nothing to do with the eternal judgment of those on the outside.
(Again refer to I Corinthians 5:12-13). Isaiah is revealing that every knee and every
tongue…will need to present their cases and be judged before God. And
elsewhere, Paul teaches us that this is where God completes His ultimate
separation of mankind into three permanent classes, rulers (who will judge with
Him), citizens, and rebels. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those in heaven [rulers], and of those on earth [citizens], and of those under the
earth [rebels], and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

God’s people will be judged in the end and all their choices as believers will be
tested by re. Any work built on the foundation of faith-based-obedience will be
Cause Others to rewarded. All else will be burned (read I Corinthians 3:9-15). “For we must all
Stumble: Romans
14:13-21 appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing,
At a glance: therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God,
#1 When you are in the and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” (II Corinthians 5:10-11)
presence of someone
who is weak in the faith, For the outsider, presently, we have one message—Christ cruci ed (I Corinthians
do not become a 2:2). The fear of His judgement should be enough to persuade them. But for the
stumbling block to them.

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AT-A-GLANCE insider, we must judge with wisdom and discernment, not with contempt, but with
the goal of maturing the Body of Christ. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of
#2 If you love your
brother you will be God, and is pro table for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
willing to sacrifice your righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
liberty for the sake of his every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)
conscience.

#3 Do not let your Finally on this matter, heed the words of Yahshua in Luke 6:37-42; the measure
mature understanding of you use will be used against you. Remove the log before you discern the speck.
food destroy a new
believer who simply CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE: ROMANS 14:13-21
does not get it yet.
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put
#4 Anything, even those
things permitted by God, a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced
like eating certain meats by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers
and drinking wine, are anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because
worth sacrificing in the
presence of someone of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the
weak in the faith, for one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for
their conscience sake. the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to
#5 If you hurt someone
weak because of your God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for
liberty, the offense is on peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of
you, not them. God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who
eats with o ense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by
which your brother stumbles or is o ended or is made weak.”

Now we are back to what we started with in chapter 14. When you are in the
presence of someone who is weak in the faith, do not become a stumbling block
to them. Paul con rms Yahshua’s words; “But whoever causes one of these little
ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were
hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42) We must
keep things in context here; Paul is not saying that nothing is unclean. The context
is about those weak in the faith who are concerned that the meats (or other things)
Doing It By Faith: they might choose are not permitted. If they feel it is unclean; then to them it is,
Romans 14:22-23
and you must not do anything to cause them to stumble. Just abstain in their
At a glance: presence for their conscience sake, not your own. Yes, if you love your brother
you will be willing to sacri ce your liberty for the sake of his conscience. (For
#1 Your maturity must
clarity on this, Paul writes brilliantly in I Corinthians 10:23-33, read it!).
not create uncertainty in
others, especially if it
inspires them to violate Do not let your mature understanding of food destroy a new believer who simply
their conscience. does not get it yet. I love the way Paul words it; “Do not let your good be spoken
of as evil (v. 16).” Do not let the fact that you have mature knowledge in the faith
(good) end badly for others. Remember, the Kingdom of Heaven is about being
transformed into the image of Messiah. The immature believer who lives with a

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AT-A-GLANCE good conscience (and you can help) is pleasing to God. Anything, even those
things permitted by God, like eating certain meats and drinking wine, are worth
Christ’s Ministry to the
Jew & Gentile: sacri cing in the presence of someone weak in the faith, for their conscience sake.
Romans 15:1-13 If you hurt someone weak because of your liberty, the o ense is on you, not them.

At a glance:
DOING IT BY FAITH: ROMANS 14:22-23
#1 For whatever things
were written before
were written for our “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not
learning, that we condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he
through the patience eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
and comfort of the
Scriptures might have Bottom line: don’t condemn yourself by the liberty you enjoy. Your maturity must
hope.
not create uncertainty in others, especially if it inspires them to violate their
#2 The only Scriptures conscience. That is no way to live in Christ. Everything we do must be rooted in
that existed at the time grace empowered faith-based-obedience. All else falls short of the glory of
Paul penned Romans
(or dictated it) is the Old Yahweh.
Testament (Torah: 5
Books of Moses; CHAPTER 15 "CHRISTIAN LABORS"
Prophets: Major and
Minor; History: of Kings, CHRIST'S MINISTRY TO JEWS & GENTILE: ROMANS 15:1-13
People, and Events;
Poetry: Psalms, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to
Proverbs, Songs).
please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to
#3 The fact that Paul edi cation. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The
was a scholar of the reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were
Torah is why Yahweh
written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and
chose him to be the
formulator and then comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and
purveyor of Christian comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ
doctrine. Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of
#4 This Romans our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received
masterpiece us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the
encompasses the entire circumcision for the truth of God, to con rm the promises made to the fathers,
Bible in 16 chapters.
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this
#5 He did not look to reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” And
man to understand what again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” And again: “Praise the
this newfound Gospel
was about, but instead LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” And again, Isaiah says: “There
applied new revelation shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him
to his existing the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope ll you with all joy and peace
knowledge.
in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
#6 Yahweh used a man
who was totally I think if we isolate this one verse in chapter 15, we can summarize Paul’s entire
prepared for the teaching philosophy in Romans. “For whatever things were written before were
ministry to develop written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures
Christian theology.

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AT-A-GLANCE might have hope (v. 4).” Think about it; the only Scriptures that existed at the time
he penned those words (or dictated them) is the Old Testament (Torah: 5 Books of
#7 The weak don’t have
the scruples (enough Moses; Prophets: Major and Minor; History: of Kings, People, and Events; Poetry:
biblical knowledge) to Psalms, Proverbs, and Songs). And the fact that he was a scholar of such is why
know what to eat, so Yahweh chose him to be the formulator and then purveyor of Christian doctrine
they eat only
vegetables. (revisit Mat. 13:52, ‘things new and old’). This Romans masterpiece encompasses
the entire Bible in 16 chapters, as Paul drew from his vast knowledge of these
#8 Become like Paul; scriptures, possibly stories about or interactions with Yahshua, and, without a
know the Word like the
back of your hand, so doubt, by revelation from the Holy Spirit. Yahweh did this all to bring us our
you too can apply new Christian belief system, and He isolated Paul from the Church leaders of the day
revelation to existing to do so, as it seems. Paul's long journey to and in the faith is not the subject
knowledge.
matter here in this section, but it is important to highlight a few facts, so you can
appreciate how Yahweh uses “human initiative” (in this case Paul’s scholarly
preparation) in His divine plan. You can read Galatians 1:11-2:2 to get a quick
overview, but I will summarize it here to help.

Paul was advanced in his Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries; so when
he got knocked o his donkey on his way to Damascus, and the Son was revealed
to him, he got alone with the Spirit and received revelation from Yahshua. He did
not look to man to understand what this newfound Gospel was about, but instead
applied new revelation to his existing knowledge (again Matthew 13:52). And no
one knows for sure the exact timing of it all, but it seems at rst he stayed away
from the disciples and got alone for three years in the wilderness (Arabia),
including an abundance of ministry along the way. Then he went to Jerusalem
brie y (for 15 days; Acts 9:26-30) to see Peter, but it seems he met with James
alone, and then went back out to minister. It wasn’t until 14 years later (uncertain
if Paul means 14 years after the initial 3 years or including the 3 years) that he
goes back to Jerusalem, by direction of the Holy Spirit, to share the testimonies of
his ministry to the Gentiles.

The take away here is that Yahweh used a man who was totally prepared for such
a ministry (old) to develop Christian theology (new). Are you prepared? He applied
new revelation to his existing knowledge of Scriptures. Do you? And he
encapsulated this concept with this statement: “For whatever things were written
before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of
the Scriptures might have hope.”

Just in the rst 13 verses alone of Romans 15 he draws upon his knowledge of
the Old Testament ve times (almost certainly from memory), quoting David,
Moses and Isaiah. As it is written:

“Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who
reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalms 69:9)

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AT-A-GLANCE “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises
to Your name.” (Psalms 18:49 and II Samuel 22:50)

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants,
and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land
and His people.” (Deuteronomy 32:43)

“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” (Psalms 117:1)

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the
people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
(Isaiah 11:10)

So, what’s Paul's point here? Look, Jesus paid the price for all of us (Gentiles
Paul’s Ministry to the
included). And as we just clari ed in the previous chapter, those weak in the faith
Jew & Gentile:
Romans 15:14-21 come from the Gentile background, as they have no previous foundation in
Scriptures to draw upon. Here in chapter 15, Paul speci cally includes himself as
#1 Don’t just read Paul's one of the strong ones; “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples
quotes; read the
passages from where of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Now go review 14:1-2; the weak don’t
he referenced them and have the scruples (enough biblical knowledge) to know what to eat, so they eat
try to get inside his only vegetables. Paul, of course knew better, but admonishes us to prefer our
mind.
neighbor over our liberties; it’s not about you. Christ was the example of such
#2 Paul goes deep; “I when He took on the reproach that was meant for us. He didn't come to please
have written more boldly Himself; He preferred us. Be Christ-like-minded. Do for each other what He did for
to you on some points.”
you; accept one another like He accepted you. Why? Because the Messiah came
#3 He’s confident the as a Servant to the Jew rst, in order to con rm the promises He also made to the
Romans will understand Gentiles. Lastly, become like Paul; know the Word like the back of your hand, so
his profound doctrinal
you too can apply new revelation to existing knowledge.
insights and the
complicated relationship
PAUL'S MINISTRY TO JEW & GENTILE: ROMANS 15:14-21
between those of
differing backgrounds
coming into the faith. “Now I myself am con dent concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of
goodness, lled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
#4 Yahweh chose a
great Jewish scholar to Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as
disciple the Gentiles. reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a
minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the
#5 The Jew and Gentile
o ering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sancti ed by the Holy Spirit.
have come from very
different places, but they Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
are traveling to the For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not
same destination. accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in
mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from
Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named,
lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: “To whom He

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AT-A-GLANCE was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall
understand.””
#6 In his own life, Paul
had to move from self- At the time Romans was written, Paul had not yet visited Rome, but he certainly
determination based knew about the activities and e ectiveness of the Church there. Remember, way
obedience to grace back in chapter 1, Paul compliments them on their famous faith. “First, I thank my
empowered faith-based-
obedience, so he could God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the
deliver an authentic whole world.” (Romans 1:8)
message.
I hope you are falling deeply in love with a new way of understanding the
#7 God’s people are Scriptures. Don’t just read Paul's quotes; read the passages from where he
called to move from
childhood (weakness) in referenced them and try to get inside his mind. (I pray you do the same with all the
the faith to adulthood references I’ve provided.) This short passage alone in Chapter 15, 8 verses, is a
(maturity) in the faith, as delicious taste of what is available to you if you are willing to peek below the
the Holy Spirit partners
surface.
with human initiative.

#8 From Jerusalem first, First, consider what we know thus far. Paul can’t wait to get to Rome; he’s writing
and then beyond, the to “groups of groups” in Rome, clearly lled with people he believes, by the Spirit,
entire world will say, who can handle Yahweh's deepest revelations. They are both of Jewish and
“Yahweh reigns!”
Gentile (once Gentiles; Ephesians 2:11-13) persuasions, and at times he is clearly
addressing one or the other of those audiences separately. And he alternates
throughout. He uses references from the Old Testament, time and time again, to
establish the doctrinal basis of his writings. It is almost as if he has reiterated the
entirety of the Bible in 16 chapters. Here in chapter 15 he admits that he as gone
deep with them; “I have written more boldly to you on some points.” He’s
con dent they will understand both the profound doctrinal insights, as well as the
complicated relationship between those of di ering backgrounds coming into the
faith.

Take a moment to appreciate the depth of Romans:

He’s identi ed three eternal classes of people.

He’s distinguished doing the Law from works (deeds) of Law.

He’s discussed the advantages and disadvantages of past upbringing (Jew or
Gentile).

He’s introduced the simple Gospel of “Salvation” (Justi cation, Redemption,
Reconciliation) and distinguished it from the more complex Gospel of the
Kingdom.

He helped us clarify what righteousness is and introduced the two types,
imputed righteousness and earned righteousness (both necessary).

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AT-A-GLANCE He’s solidi ed our identi cation with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, and
what that means both spiritually (in heaven) and physically (on earth).

He introduced the legal basis for redemption from the Old Testament; without
death and blood you cannot be born again. And he used marriage to explain it.

He uncovered the sources of personal struggles and how they are overcome.

He’s distinguished the Law of Moses from the Law of sin and death.

He’s elaborated on killing the esh and the power of walking in the Spirit.

He’s taught us about the prophetic future, the “revealing of the sons of God,”
and about the necessity of human initiative in Yahweh’s eternal plans.

He’s helped us understand God’s sovereignty.

He reminded us exactly what we confessed when we got born again. And what
it means to live with grace empowered faith-based-obedience.

He alleviated the confusion about natural Israel and the three eternal fates of
mankind.

He helped us understand what it truly means to sacri ce everything and live a
life in the faith.

He showed us the outcome of a transformed mind and how to get one.

Then, he helped us understand the true nature of Godly authority.

He gave us real clarity about how Jews and Gentiles, who came into the faith,
need to treat each other and how to consider others as a priority.

He coached us on how to honor and support those who are weak in the faith.

And throughout the entire letter, he formulated “Christian Doctrine” and proved
it all from the Old Testament. That alone should encourage us to become
experts in God’s Word.

Paul calls himself a “minister to the Gentiles”. Don’t you nd it fascinating that
Yahweh would choose the great Jewish scholar to disciple the Gentiles? When
you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Who better than an expert to elaborate
on what the Old Testament means relative to their newfound faith? And who better
to explain the “complicated” relationship between “former” Gentiles and those
who “already” called themselves the chosen people of God. The Jew and Gentile
have come from very di erent places, but they are traveling to the same
destination.

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AT-A-GLANCE And this is no doubt why Paul had to “get away alone” for so long to sort through
what his encounter with Yahshua meant relative to his faith and the faith of these
new Gentile converts. “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which
Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles
obedient—in mighty signs and wonders…” In his own life, he had to move from
self-determination based obedience to grace empowered faith-based-obedience,
so he could deliver an authentic message about what that looked like to all
people, Jew and Gentile.

The initial message to the Gentiles is “Christ Cruci ed” (I Corinthians 2:1-5) and
then to stand back and watch the Holy Spirit move (signs and wonders). But, then
the message changes as God’s people are called to move from childhood
(weakness) in the faith to adulthood (maturity) in the faith, as the Holy Spirit
partners with human initiative (I Corinthians 2:6-16). Yes, the Gentiles are also
called to become obedient, but Paul is careful not to lead them down the same
historic journey of mistakes that Israel made—the journey of self-righteousness.
He is also warning Jewish believers to recognize this tendency in themselves, to
not jump back on that road, and furthermore, to not become an impediment for
the Gentiles to embrace a life of grace empowered faith-based-obedience.

I think we also learned that Isaiah was Paul’s favorite Prophet. Even look here in
chapter 15 at the depth of what he draws from one verse in Isaiah 52:15. Please,
stop here and read all of Isaiah 52; it’s worth it! And this is not even Paul's rst
reference in Romans to this very chapter of Isaiah. In Romans 2, Paul refers to
Gentile’s Ministry to
Isaiah 52:5, “And My name is blasphemed continually every day.” And again in
the Jew:
Romans 15:22-33 Romans 10 he refers to Isaiah 52:7 after he clari ed what we confessed when we
got born again. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings
At a glance: good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who
#1 Paul has had a proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” And it would seem that
longstanding desire to he is teaching us that the testimony will rst come from Jerusalem (that’s Isaiah’s
visit Rome, but he message).
needs to first finish
preaching where no one
Yes, Paul says “from Jerusalem” and beyond I preached this message. I was
had gone before him.
called to lay down new tracks where “no man has gone before.” It’s the revelation
#2 Paul already knew in of his Isaiah reference. “So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their
the spirit that he needed mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had
to go to Jerusalem
before heading to not heard they shall consider.” (Isaiah 52:15) This is new revelation added to his
Rome. And He knew he existing knowledge; “from Jerusalem”. They must get it right rst, and from there
was headed for trouble. the entire world will say, “Yahweh reigns!”
#3 We can trace the GENTILE'S MINISTRY TO JEW: ROMANS 15:22-33
steps of Paul's entire
journey, from conversion “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no
to Rome, in the Book of longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years
Acts.

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AT-A-GLANCE to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to
see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if rst I may
#4 Paul (Saul) was the
leader who condoned enjoy your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to
the kangaroo court that the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
judged and killed contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them
Stephen.
indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their
#5 Paul had to endure spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore,
the same type of when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of
accusations and
persecutions of false you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of
witnesses throughout the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord
his entire ministry that Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in
he allowed in Stephen’s
“trial”. prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not
believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I
#6 Paul visited may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with
Jerusalem three times
you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
throughout his ministry
years. Once after three
years, once after Strap yourself in for a dramatic overview of Paul’s journey to Rome!
fourteen years, and
once before his trip to Paul has had a longstanding desire to visit Rome, but he needs to rst nish
Rome as a prisoner. preaching where no one had gone before him. As we know historically, Paul
winds up in Rome as a prisoner, not the way he planned it. He wanted to go there
#7 Paul constantly
defended his position for ministry and to spend some quality time with many old friends. But as it
that he was NOT happened, Yahweh had di erent plans. Remember, many years earlier, shortly
teaching against the after his conversion, Ananias received a word for Paul; “But the Lord said to him,
Laws of Moses.
“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and
#8 In Rome “He the children of Israel. FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MANY THINGS HE MUST
explained and solemnly SUFFER FOR MY NAME’S SAKE.”” (Acts 9:15-16)
testified of the kingdom
of God, persuading Before heading to Rome on his way to Spain, Paul was going to make his third
them concerning Jesus
FROM BOTH THE LAW stop in Jerusalem since his miraculous conversion, and he already knew in the
OF MOSES AND THE Spirit that it would be very risky. “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my
PROPHETS.” heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13) “Nevertheless, please pray for my
#9 Paul knew he was
going to get to Rome, deliverance from those in Judea who do not believe (Romans 15:30-31).” After his
but his journey there second visit to Jerusalem (Acts 15), Paul had a vision that he must go to
was not what he would Macedonia and preach the gospel (vision: Acts 16:9-10; arrival: 20:1-2). After Paul
have chosen. Man does
indeed make his own ministered there, they were so grateful for the invitation to participate in the
plans, but Yahweh must blessings of Israel that they gave a contribution for Paul to bring to the saints in
ordain each step. Jerusalem. Paul already knew in the spirit that he needed to go to Jerusalem
before heading to Rome. “When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed
in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to
Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21)
And He knew he was headed for trouble. “They told Paul through the Spirit not to

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AT-A-GLANCE go up to Jerusalem.” (Acts 21:4) “And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet
named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s
belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall
the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the
hands of the Gentiles.’ ”” (Acts 21:10-11) Paul was about to punch his ticket to
Rome, and he was not traveling rst class!

We can trace the steps of Paul's entire journey, from conversion, all the way to
Rome, in the Book of Acts. It all started with his zealousness to preserve his
cemented-in-stone understanding of Judaism. And in doing so, Paul became the
early Church’s worst nightmare. The rst recorded act of his brutality is against
Stephen, who was illegally stoned to death after false testimony against him.
“Then they SECRETLY INDUCED MEN TO SAY, “We have heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the
elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to
the council. They also set up FALSE WITNESSES who said, “This man does not
cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;” (Acts
6:11-13) Paul (Saul) was the leader who condoned the kangaroo court (Acts
6:8-15) and eventual wrongful capital punishment (Act 7:54-60), even after
Stephen gave his masterful self-defense (Acts 7:1-53).

So, it should be no coincidence that later on, after his conversion, Paul had to
endure the same type of accusations and persecutions of false witnesses
throughout his entire ministry. “This fellow [Paul] persuades men to worship God
contrary to the law.” (Acts 18:13) However, before that journey would begin, and
immediately after Stephen’s death, Paul (Saul) went on a rampage, determined to
champion his Jewish religion. He must have been the darling of the faith and a
favorite of the High Priest’s o ce (which ironically, after his conversion, became
Paul’s worst nightmare).

Check out some excerpts of Saul’s exploits:

“Now Saul was consenting to his [Stephen’s] death. At that time a great
persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles… As
for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging o
men and women, committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:1, 3)

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of
Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women,
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2)

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AT-A-GLANCE Stephen’s stoning and Saul’s brutal persecution of the Church were the very
inspiration for Yahshua’s intervention in his life (his “knocked o his ass”
experience; Acts 9:3-19) “Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to
him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”” (Acts 9:4)

At his conversion, Paul is blinded (by the light), and is then led into Damascus.
And when you combine the accounts in Acts 9:8-15 and Galatians 1:15-17, it
seems Paul went into Damascus, got baptized by Ananias, was there for some
time, left for Arabia, and then returns to preach in Damascus, where he eventually
receives death threats and has to escape for his life (Acts 9:23-25). He ultimately
makes his way to Jerusalem where Barnabas helps him get in front of the apostles
to declare his conversion ( rst of three post-conversion visits to Jerusalem; it’s
now three years after conversion; Acts 9:26-30, Galatians 1:18). There is an
attempt on his life in Jerusalem, as well, and he doesn't stay long. We also know
from his letter to the Galatians (1:19-20) that he never had any signi cant
interaction with Church leaders in Jerusalem until many years later (Galatians
2:1-10). That is when he returned there for his second visit, after 14 years, to take
part in the Jerusalem Council (read Acts 15:1-35).

Ponder Paul’s involvement in Stephen’s death as he turned a blind eye to false
accusations against him. “And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I
[Paul] also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of
those who were killing him.’” (Acts 22:20) Because he was complicit, Paul literally
spent years defending himself against the same such accusations that led
Stephen to his death. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a
man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Each place he turned, Paul was accused of teaching that faith in Jesus replaced
the Law of Moses. “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who
have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed
about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to FORSAKE
MOSES, SAYING THAT THEY OUGHT NOT TO CIRCUMCISE THEIR CHILDREN
NOR TO WALK ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMS.” (Acts 21:20-21)

But was he teaching such? Acts 21 records his de ning moment on the subject.

What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have
come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.
Take them and be puri ed with them, and pay their expenses so that they may
shave their heads, and THAT ALL MAY KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS OF WHICH
THEY WERE INFORMED CONCERNING YOU ARE NOTHING, BUT THAT YOU
YOURSELF ALSO WALK ORDERLY AND KEEP THE LAW. But concerning the
Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided [Jerusalem Council ruling, Acts
15] that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep

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AT-A-GLANCE themselves from things o ered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and
from sexual immorality.”” (Acts 21:22-25)

What does Paul do? He’s accused of teaching against the Laws of Moses and
everyone is watching. If he is promoting such doctrine and also personally no
longer walking orderly according to the law, then this is his opportunity, his
de ning moment to say so. If not, he’s asked to include himself in a vow that four
other men have taken, and to take it a step further and pay their expenses, as well
as his own. It's a Nazarite Vow straight from the Law of Moses in Numbers 6. So,
if Paul is teaching against the Law, this is the moment to stand up and say, “Yes,
it’s true!” But he doesn't… Instead, he takes the vow!

“Then Paul took the men, and the next day, HAVING BEEN PURIFIED WITH
THEM, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of puri cation,
at which time an o ering should be made for each one of them.” (Acts 21:26)

Multiple times throughout his ministry he openly declares the same testimony; “I
DO NOT FORSAKE THE LAW OF MOSES, NOR DO I TEACH OTHERS TO DO
SO.”

“Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me [FALSE
ACCUSATIONS]. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they
call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH
ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND IN THE PROPHETS.” (Acts 24:13-14)

“NEITHER AGAINST THE LAW OF THE JEWS, nor against the temple, nor against
Caesar have I o ended in anything at all.” (Acts 25:8)

But the troublemakers in Jerusalem didn’t care. Even after Paul’s participation in
the vow and his open declaration, they continued to falsely accuse him and stir up
controversy. “This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people,
the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple
and has de led this holy place. (v. 21:28).” Paul knew this was coming! That is
why, here in Romans 15, he is asking for prayers of protection from those who
don’t believe when he returns to Jerusalem.

Such an uproar ensues after seven days that they seize Paul and beat him. When
the commander of the local garrison (named Lysias, Acts 24:6-7) caught wind of
the uproar, he shows up, stops the beating and binds Paul (Acts 21:27-33). After
he is rescued from the beating, Paul gets Lysias to let him give his testimony to
the entire mob (Acts 21:37-22:21). Even after his testimony, the ruckus crowd
moves Lysias to “beat the truth out of him,” which surprisingly he is willing to do.
It’s just about to happen when Paul tells the centurion assigned to beat him that
he is a Roman citizen by birth. Before he lays a hand on Paul, the centurion

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AT-A-GLANCE informs Lysias of this crucial development. Of course, the commander is alarmed
by this new information as, according to Roman law, you were NOT PERMITTED
to bind and punish a prisoner without a trial (Acts 22:22-29).

Now more interested in the truth, Lysias orders the Sanhedrin to come before Paul
and state their accusations (Acts 22:30). Paul's defense, which is undeniable,
causes more con ict and he needs to be rescued from the mayhem (Acts
23:1-10).

And then Paul’s moment of con rmation from the Lord that he is right where he is
supposed to be: “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of
good cheer, Paul; for as YOU HAVE TESTIFIED FOR ME IN JERUSALEM, SO YOU
MUST ALSO BEAR WITNESS AT ROME.”” (Acts 23:11) He’s going to get to
Rome, but it’s not going to be a mission trip; it’s going to look more like his
chaotic experience in Jerusalem.

Next there is yet another plot to kill him and he needs to be secretly moved
outside of Jerusalem to Caesarea (Act 23:12-22). This is where Paul will meet
Governor Felix (Acts 23:23-35) and where he is kept locked up until trial. Five days
later, the High Priest Ananias and some elders bring their “evidence” (false
accusations) against Paul in front of Felix. They do so using a professional orator,
Tertullus (a spin doctor). Paul masterfully defends himself yet again, but Felix
procrastinates and leaves him in prison for TWO YEARS until he leaves o ce and
Festus takes over (Acts 24). The High Priest asks Festus to move Paul back to
Jerusalem (so they can kill him along the way), but Festus commands he be left in
Caesarea, so he can hear Paul’s story himself. Festus does so and asks Paul if he
wants to go back to Jerusalem to defend himself, but Paul refuses and instead
appeals to Caesar in Rome (Acts 25:1-12). Paul is GOING TO GET TO ROME one
way or the other! Festus agrees, but before he ships Paul o , King Agrippa comes
into town and Festus tells him the whole story. This incites Agrippa’s interest and
he asks for Paul to be brought before him (Acts 25:13-27). In Acts 26 Paul again
recounts his entire history and testimony, this time for Agrippa. It is so compelling
that Agrippa is nearly convinced to convert to Christianity (v. 28). In the end this is
Agrippa’s ruling.

“When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and
Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked
among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or
chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had
not appealed to Caesar.”” (Acts 26:30-32) PAUL IS GOING TO ROME!

Paul arrives in Rome (Acts 28:11) after a harrowing trip (Acts 27:1-28:10). And he
begins his ministry: “And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the
leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them:

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AT-A-GLANCE “Men and brethren, THOUGH I HAVE DONE NOTHING AGAINST OUR PEOPLE
OR THE CUSTOMS OF OUR FATHERS [THERE IS THAT TESTIMONY AGAIN], yet
I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,” (Acts
28:17)

In Rome, Paul put’s the exclamation mark on his ministry with this one testimony!
“He explained and solemnly testi ed of the kingdom of God, PERSUADING THEM
CONCERNING JESUS FROM BOTH THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS,
from morning till evening.” (Acts 28:23) Isn't this precisely what we have being
doing throughout our study of the ENTIRE BOOK OF ROMANS?

Paul was the up-and-coming superstar in Judaism and now he is a traitor and
blasphemer in the eyes of “his people”. Here in Romans 15, Paul is asking these
groups of very faithful believers in Rome to pray earnestly for him, so that he is
able to get in and out of Jerusalem without any complications. Yet he knows in the
Spirit this is unlikely. “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not
knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit
testi es in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” (Acts 20:22-23)
History tells us that he did make it to Rome, and no doubt his ministry was
abundant. “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and
received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the
Some Saints to Greet: things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all con dence, no one forbidding
Romans 16:1-16 him.” (Acts 28:30-31)

At a glance: Man does indeed make his own plans, but Yahweh must ordain each step
(Proverbs 16:9).
#1 There is no other
letter Paul wrote and no
“For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of
other city Paul wrote to
that has more people in the Lord Jesus... The will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:13-14)
it that he had such a
deep connection with. Paul

CHAPTER 16 "GREETINGS TO BRETHREN"
SOME SAINTS TO GREET: ROMANS 16:1-16

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist
her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of
many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ
Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but
also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their
house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the rstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my

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AT-A-GLANCE countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who
also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet
Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles,
approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet
Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus
who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord.
Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in
Some Sinners to the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas,
Avoid:
Romans 16:17-20 Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus
and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one
At a glance: another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”
#1 Romans 1:8 and Since we have used this commentary to focus on theology, there is not much to
16:19 are the bookends
of Romans: famous faith comment on here. But, what I will make note of is that there is no other letter Paul
and radical obedience. wrote, and no other city Paul wrote to, that has more people in it that he had such
a deep connection with. It all the more emphasizes why he so longed to visit.
#2 Paul was very
concerned with doctrine SOME SINNERS TO AVOID: ROMANS 16:17-20
and that he admonished
believers to avoid those
who practiced what was “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and o enses, contrary
contrary to what he to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not
taught serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and
#3 Paul was very attering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has
concerned with doctrine become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be
and that he admonished wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush
believers to avoid those
who practiced what was Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
contrary to what he Amen.”
taught.
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that YOUR FAITH IS
#4 Good doctrine needs SPOKEN OF THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.” (Romans 1:8)
to be a part of an
effective adult (mature) “For YOUR OBEDIENCE HAS BECOME KNOWN TO ALL. Therefore I am glad on
believers tool belt.
your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning
#5 Read the entire letter evil.” (Romans 16:19)
to the Ephesians, the
“Epistle of Oneness”. Romans 1:8 and 16:19 are the bookends of Romans: famous faith and radical
obedience. We have identi ed this throughout Romans as Grace-Empowered-
#6 People and beliefs to
avoid come with a spirit Faith-Based-Obedience. Use it to distinguish good and evil. That is what grown-
of the “self”. ups in the faith do. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
#7 It’s those who are
weak in the faith who evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
will be most vulnerable.
Protect them! Unfortunately, it’s not all that uncommon these days in the Church to hear that we
should not get hung up on doctrinal issues, that it only brings division. It seems

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AT-A-GLANCE here that Paul was very concerned with doctrine and that he admonished
believers to avoid those who practiced what was contrary to what he taught. He is
saying that NOT KNOWING good doctrine is what brings division. And here he
writes this at the end of his Magnum Opus on Christian theology. Yes, doctrine is
important and good doctrine needs to be a part of an e ective adult (mature)
believer’s tool belt.

What and who should you be on guard for? Well, for sure you should be on the
lookout for those who are divisive. You will be able to identify them because they
cause division and o ense. If you want to understand the opposite of those things
I would recommend you read the entire letter to the Ephesians, the letter I call the
“Epistle of Oneness”.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsu ering,
bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE
hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)

We have spent quite a bit of time here in Romans dealing with relationships, and
bearing with one another's weakness, learning to prefer our brothers. The people
and beliefs to avoid come with a spirit of “self”. They use their silky words to draw
attention to themselves and will appear to want their own followers. “They
zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may
be zealous for them.” (Galatians 4:17) It’s those who are weak in the faith who will
be most vulnerable. Protect them! “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The famous
words of Cain when questioned by Yahweh in Genesis 4:9, “Where is Abel your
brother?” Paul says, “Yes you are!”

I’ll close out this portion by giving you some practical advice to ful ll the mandate
Some Servants to
Honor: of this section of Romans:
Romans 16:21-27
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”” (I Corinthians
At a glance: 15:33)

#1 The mysteries here “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has
in Romans are the
mysteries of the righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with
Kingdom of Heaven. darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14)

#2 The prophetic “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the
understanding of lips of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:7)
Scriptures is here for us
to understand and SOME SERVANTS TO HONOR: ROMANS 16:21-27
steward well for the
nations.

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 CHAPTER & VERSE
AT-A-GLANCE “Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen,
greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host
#3 The command of the
everlasting God is and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city,
obedience to the faith: greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
Yes, RADICAL-GRACE- all. Amen. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and
EMPOWERED-FAITH-
BASED-OBEDIENCE! the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept
secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic
Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the
everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through
Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

And as a man who lives by his own words, “Give honor where honor is due”
(Romans 13:7). Paul honors those who have run with him; he even allows his
transcriber, Tertius, to pen a few words of his own, in what just might be the most
important letter ever written throughout history.

“That it might be ful lled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My
mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.””
(Matthew 13:35)

The mysteries here in Romans are the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven (read
Matthew 13:1-23, Parable of the Soils). Paul is giving us the keys to understand
the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). And he is doing his best to make the message of
these secrets clear, “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as
I have brie y written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to
the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and
prophets:” (Ephesians 3:3-5; read all of Ephesians 3). They were once hidden from
our eyes, but now the prophetic understanding of Scriptures is here for us to
understand and steward well for the nations. “But blessed are your eyes for they
see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and
righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what
you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16-17) Yes, uncover the mysteries and
steward them well (read Matthew 25;14-30. The Parable of the Talents).

And what has now been made know by the prophetic Scriptures; what is the
commandment of the everlasting God? We are right back where we started:
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith
among all nations for His name,” (Romans 1:5) Obedience to the faith: Yes,
RADICAL-GRACE-EMPOWERED-FAITH-BASED-OBEDIENCE!

Amen

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