Citizen Handbook for the Kingdom of Heaven: Romans from God's Point of View, Part 2.
Pastor/Teacher
John Farley
Friday,
September 18, 2009
We need to consider this great book of Romans from God’s point of view.
On the one hand, He tells us that He knows every hair on our head.
Yet, on the other hand, the LORD God created every one of the stars in heaven.
Before you call on Him, He answers you.
The Greek word for God, theou, occurs over 150 times.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Isa 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.”
Ultimately, the book of Romans and all that it accomplishes has one purpose, and it is the same reason that you and I were created - to glorify the LORD our God.
Joh 17:1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
But the most profound aspect of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that it vindicated God!!!
Rom 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Rom 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
The ultimate purpose of the book of Romans is not to justify man but to glorify and vindicate God!
He prevented Paul from visiting these people... So he would WRITE to them instead.
And right here he just starts teaching the gospel! In all of its scope, its impact, and its marvelous implications.
The central theme of the book of Romans is the Good News of what God has done in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Gospel.
Tell them what you’re going to tell them.
Tell them.
Then tell them what you’ve told them.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
Rom 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
Rom 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
God establishing believers
The Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ
Mystery doctrine revealed
Scriptures of the prophets (Old Testament)
Made known to all the nations
Leading to faith
To God through Jesus Christ be the glory forever.
Paul here in verses 25 through 27 is preparing for the unfolding, in his further epistles, of the mystery doctrine of the Church-age.
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
The purpose of the book of Romans is to establish believers in the truth of the Gospel, because this will glorify God.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
Verb “to establish”
= sthrixai
Aor-act-infinitive - sterizo
It means to cause someone to become stronger in the sense of more firm and unchanging in attitude or belief. It also means to turn resolutely in a certain direction. It describes a settled, stable spiritual condition.
Rom 1:11 For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;
Paul desired to communicate the Word of God to the believers in Rome in order to cause them to become stronger in their faith and stabilized in their relationship with God.
“It (sterizo) includes not only a knowledge of the truth, and a settled persuasion in Christ of that truth; but also obedience in the power of the Spirit to the truth.”
Rom 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
The Book of Romans is the handbook for citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rom 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Every citizen of heaven is an immigrant.
A humble soul learning and believing the good news about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Somehow, amazingly, this brings glory to the God who created the universe.