The Scriptures —Study 10 — Romans 5:12-21

Study 10 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 5:12-21

1.      What are the consequences for me (a) of Adam’s fall into sin, and (b) of Christ’s ‘obedience’ or act of righteousness? In what respects are the latter both similar to, and different from, the former? What ought we to recognize about the character of the benefit which becomes ours in Christ?

2.      What four ‘reigns’ are spoken of in this passage?  Two of them are the sad experience of all men.  How do the other two operate? What benefits do they bring? How can we enter into their enjoyment?  

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The Scriptures —Study 9 — Romans 5:1-11

Study 9 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 5:1-11

1.      Verses 1, 2, 9-11. What blessings does justification bring with it? List the things which are now ours to enjoy. Note how much is covered by these statements. What ought such awareness to make us do?

2.      Someone, however, may say: ‘But what of the sufferings attending the Christian life? Do not detract from its blessedness?’ What is Paul’s answer to this? See verses 3-5.  What is the value of suffering, and how may we be sure that our hopes are not mere wishful thinking?

3.      Verses 5-8. By what evidence may we be doubly sure that God loves us? Notice the importance of having at least two witnesses.  Cf. Dt. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1. In what ways are the witnesses mentioned here different and complementary?

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The Scriptures —Study 8 — Romans 4:16-25

Study 8 From The Book of Romans Is: Romans 4:16-25

1.      Consider the correspondences between Abraham’s faith and ours, for example,            (a) the promise to Abraham (Gn. 15:5, 6) and the corresponding promise to us (b) the inability of Abraham in himself (verses 18, 19) and our corresponding inability (see 3:20); (c) the God in whom Abraham believed (verse 17) and the God in whom we believe (verse 24); (d)  the result to Abraham (verse 18) and to us (5:1, 2).

2.      Verse 25. In what sense are our sins the reason for Christ’s death and our justification the purpose of His resurrection?  Cf. Is. 53:4-6, 8b, 11; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:17.

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The Scriptures —Study 7 — Romans 4:1-15

Study 7 From The Book of Romans Is: 4:1-15

Paul has made three statements which were directly opposite to the Jewish interpretation of Scripture. The first was in 3:20, that by the work of the law shall no flesh be justified; the second in 3:30, that God would justify the Gentiles through faith without circumcision; and the third in 3:19 and 28, that salvation is given independently of the law.  Paul proceeds, therefore, in chapter 4 to show that Scripture supports these propositions. He bases his argument mainly on Gn. 15. 

1.      Abraham, and David also, were men pre-eminently in the favor of God (cf. e.g., Is. 41: 8; Acts 13:22). On what basis, then, according to Scripture, was righteousness reckoned to them? See verses 1- 8

2.      At what time in Abraham’s life was his faith reckoned to him as righteousness? How does this vitally affect the question at issue regarding the admission of Gentiles? See verse 9-12.

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The Scriptures —Study 6 — Romans 3:21-31

Study 6 From The Book of Romans Is: 3:21-31

1.      The answer to the question how guilty man can be saved is found in the revelation of a righteousness of God, i.e., a righteousness provided by God (see Study 1, Note). It will help greatly to clarify what is said about this righteousness in this all-important paragraph (verses 21-26) if the various points are written down and appreciated one by one. There are twelve to fifteen of them.

2.      What two inferences follow? See verses 27, 28 and verses 29, 30. Cf. 1 Cor. 1:29-31; Gal 3:28. What is Paul’s answer to an objector who might say that the gospel of salvation by faith, which Paul preached, made the law of no account?  

                                        

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The Scriptures —Study 5 — Romans 3:1-20

Study 5 From The Book of Romans Is: 3:1-20

     1.      In verses 1-8 the apostle answers four objections which he found that men raised against the gospel. (The objections are stated in verses 1, 3, 5 and 7, 8a; the answers are given in verses 2, 4, 6 and 8b). These will repay careful study;  in particular note how Paul describes the Old Testament Scriptures, to what two attributes of God he holds fast, and what kind of conduct the strenuously repudiates. 

     2.      In verses 10-18 Paul gives the general verdict of Scripture upon man in his fallen condition.  What does Scripture say (a) about the general trend of human life (verses 10-12, cf. Is. 53:6a); (b) about man’s speech (verses 13, 14) and (c) about his conduct and inner attitude to God (verses 15-18)? How does this witness confirm the verdict of experience already given in 1: 18-32 and 2:17-29 and lead to the conclusion of 3:19, 20?

3.      Do you assent to the truth that it is impossible for any man, by his own efforts, to escape condemnation at the bar of God’s judgement?

Notes

1.       Verse 20. ‘Works of the law’: a phrase which occurs also in verse 28.  It denotes conduct achieved by a man’s own efforts in obedience to a divinely given statute. Cf. Gal. 3:10-12.

2.      Verse 20. ‘Justified ‘ means ‘declared’ or ‘pronounced righteous’.     

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The Scriptures —Study 4 — Romans 2:17-29

Study 4 From The Book of Romans Is: 2:17-29

1.      In verses 17-20 Paul enumerates a number of privileges upon which the Jews of his day, were inclined to congratulate themselves. If you make a list of them you should find ten in all. Racial and religious pride are by no means confined to the Jews only, however. Substitute ‘Christian’ for ‘Jew’ and ‘the Word’ for ‘the law’, and show how the argument could be applied to professing Christians today.

2.      Verses 25-29.  The Jews rested upon circumcision as the seal for God’s covenant with them.  What else does Paul show here to be required without which  the outward sign ceases to have value? Cf. 1 Sa. 16:7. How would you frame the argument in relation to Christian ordinances?

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