Home Bible Study

"Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen.
Revelation 22:20

This is a Home Bible study. It exists to promote the Word of God as it's written, which means nothing added or taken away, and minus opinions.

The Bible is the only source of Divine Truth in the world today. Although it is helpful and informative in many ways, the Bible might not tell us everything we want to know but the Bible does tell us everything we need to know.

My role is to guide you through the Scriptures; to explain what this book says and in some cases what it does not say because this is just as important.

Ultimately, you have a decision to make concerning your salvation - no one can make it for you. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator God, has given everyone the ability to make choices - this is is called "Free Will." I pray you consider your choice wisely.

II Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.


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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Romans by the Book (Lesson 11)

Home Bible Study- Lutz, Florida
Established November 2008

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
(2 Timothy 2:15)


This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4


Romans by the Book                                                             Lesson 11


Welcome back one and all. 

Why do I introduce the Bible passage 1 Timothy 2:3-4 with each one of my lessons?

Many people do not read the Bible, so this is mainly for them.  If they visit HBS at least they will see this information, and I pray it’s enough for now.

I never really know for certain how many people are participating in this study at any one time.  Some would say this is a negative because you’re never sure of your audience.  But I don’t dwell on these things.  To spend time mulling this over in my mind would be a vain obsession indeed.  It takes the focus off of the good work being done and places it on me and this Bible study isn’t about me.  I’m not trying to generate a following, and I am not in the business of church planting.   I am simply a Bible teacher intent on getting the Truth of God’s Word out to those who yearn to hear it. 

So, I thank the Lord for those who choose to participate in this Bible study and I gladly make all my preparations for you week in and week out. 
  
If only one person receives this message, then praise God!

*****

Teaching time is precious so let’s get back to our study of the book of Romans.

Please open your Bible to chapter 1 and we’ll begin where we left off.

We were looking at the four “For’s” in Paul’s statements found in verses 16-18.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel
for it is the power of God for salvation
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
And then in verse 18 the next “For” which makes the gospel necessary: 
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness…

I’m going to pick this teaching up at Romans 1:16b.

Romans 1

16b: …it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who (does what) believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (or non-Jew). 

What does the Apostle mean by to the Jew first?

First you need to remember the main subject of this sentence which is the gospel. 

Paul is simply recognizing the fact that to the Jew, who had been given the Law and the divine privileges, the Gospel of Grace had been presented first, and then to the Gentiles.  As Paul said:

Ephesians 2

17: AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY (Gentiles), AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR (Jew);

Throughout the Book of Acts, we find the Apostle Paul attempting to preach the Gospel of Grace to his brethren, the Jews, time and time again only to be rejected, beaten, jailed, or worse.  Scripture reveals that God is long-suffering.  God waits for 2 years while Paul sits in jail at Caesarea for the Jews to repent, but there is none (see Acts 23; 24; 25; 26).

Then Paul, driven into the hands of the Romans by the Jews, goes to Rome only to have the Jews reject his teaching there (see Acts 28:23-27). After the Jews final rejection, the Apostle Paul was Spirit-led to say:  Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to (whom) the Gentiles; they will also listen.  (Acts 28:28)

Now to clear up a mess within the church, the Apostle Paul is NOT proclaiming “an order” of presentation of the Gospel of Grace throughout this dispensational period in verse 16b.  TO TEACH THAT THE GOSPEL MUST BE PREACHED FIRST TO THE JEW THROUGHOUT THIS DISPENSATION IS TO DENY GOD’S WORD THAT NOW THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GREEK EITHER AS TO THE FACT OF SIN (see Romans 3:22); OR THE AVAILABILITY OF SALVATION.

What does this book say?  Please turn to Romans, chapter 10.

Romans 10

12: For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him (for salvation);

The meaning of this verse is quite clear.  “All” means the same thing back in Paul’s day that it means today.  It means all – both Jew and Gentile for now there is no difference.

Number 3:
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed (in the gospel)

Let’s break this down so we can understand it.

For in it (the gospel = Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures) is the power of God for salvation. 

Once again, the Apostle Paul is all about the Gospel of Grace.  He’s a man on a mission.
Here he is instructing the Believers that “in the gospel message,” the righteousness of God is revealed.

What does this mean?

Let’s begin with this.  God is Holy.  We are flawed, unrighteous, we lack understanding, no one does good, and no one seeks God.  I prefer the book do the talking: 

Romans 3

10: as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11: THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12: ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

Because God is Holy He could come forth in righteousness at any time and wipe out the entire human race (Adamic).  He would be acting in accordance with His Holiness: it would be the “righteousness of God unto JUDGMENT, and He would be justified in doing so. 

We have recorded for us a example of this in the book of Genesis chapters 6-7.
Mankind was evil and the LORD God destroyed every living thing on the planet except for Noah and his family and 2 creatures of every kind. 

There is also the Biblical example of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The inhabitants of these cities refused to repent of their ways after being warned ahead of time of their imminent destruction.  The Righteous God laid both of these cities to waste and all that was within them. 

But God though infinitely Holy and sin-hating, has chosen to act toward His creation (that’s us) in righteousness (= always behaving according to a strict moral code).

All God’s holy and righteous claims against the sinner have been satisfied upon a Substitute; His own Son.  Therefore, in this good news (gospel), there is now revealed for the first time, God’s righteousness on the principle of faith plus nothing else. 

You simply hear the message of the Gospel of Grace and believe it. 
When you accept it based on faith (alone), God reckons you to be “justified.”

Let’s review Scripture:

Romans 5

1: Therefore, having been (what) justified by faith (in the Gospel of Grace) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2: through whom also we have obtained our introduction (how) by faith into this grace in which we stand (means you have made a decision and will not be moved from it); and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Sounds too simple I know, but that’s it.
Salvation is based upon your faith in the gospel – plus nothing added.


(To be continued)


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GJ Heitzman’s Ministry
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