READ IT! - Introduction to Romans 7-13

Readings for this week

Monday: Romans 7
Tuesday: Romans 8
Wednesday: Romans 9
Thursday: Romans 10
Friday: Romans 11
Saturday: Romans 12
Sunday: Romans 13

Introduction to Romans 7-13

Chapter 7 

Paul then discusses the inability of the flesh and the law to sanctify. He says that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person is living. He gives an example of a married woman who is no longer bound to her husband when he dies. If she goes and marries a second man while her current husband is alive then she is called an adulteress… but not if he is already dead. Paul says that in the same way we died to the law through the body of Christ so that we would belong to the one who raised Christ from the dead and “bear fruit for God.” Before, the law only aroused our sinful passions so that we bore deathly fruit, but now, “by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” 

Paul rhetorically asks if we should conclude that the law is sinful. He says of course not, but nevertheless he wouldn’t have known what sin was had he been ignorant of the law. He says he didn’t know what coveting was until the law told him about it… and then his own sinful nature used this new-found knowledge to produce every kind of coveting within Paul. He says that he used to be alive without knowing what the law said, but once he did know what it said, sin took advantage if this knowledge and produced death in him. He says the commandment is righteous and good, and was supposed to bring life but it instead led to death because sin used it to multiply itself. 

Paul says that the law is spiritual but he is unspiritual. He can’t do what he wants to do, and he keeps doing things he doesn’t want to do because the sin living in him makes him do these things. 

He says: 

“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” 

Chapter 8 

Paul then discusses the power of the Spirit to sanctify. He says that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” He says that the law became powerless because of the sin of the flesh but God accomplished what the law required of us when he sent his son Jesus in the flesh to be a sin offering. The sin in the flesh was then condemned even as the requirements of the law were met in us who now live in power over the flesh through the Spirit. He says that people who live according to the flesh only think about fleshly desires leading to death and are incapable of submitting to God’s law or pleasing him, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires leading to life and peace. 

He says that they are no in the realm of the flesh but of the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in them. And he says that those who don’t have Christ’s Spirit don’t belong to Christ. But if Christ’s Spirit lives in someone, that Spirit gives life to them even if their body dies because of sin in the world. He says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” 

He says that our obligation is to live by the Spirit who brings life by putting to death the misdeeds of the body, and not to live by the flesh that brings death. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit does not make fearful slaves out of people but rather adopts people as God’s own children, and makes us heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if we share in his sufferings in order to also share in his glory. 

In the next section of the letter, Paul discusses the goal of sanctification. Paul says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” 

He adds: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” 

He says that we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen isn’t hope at all because we don’t hope for things we already have… but we wait for it patiently. He says that in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness, and even when we don’t know how to pray the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Paul says that “he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” 

And Paul says that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He says that those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” And he adds that “those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” 

Paul then includes a hymn of assurance in his letter: 

What, then, are we to say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare even his own Son,
but gave him up on behalf of us all —
is it possible that, having given us his Son,
he would not give us everything else too?
So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people?
Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous!
Who punishes them?
Certainly not the Messiah Jesus, who died
and — more than that — has been raised,
is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf!
Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah?
Trouble? Hardship?
Persecution? Hunger?
Poverty? Danger? War?
As the Scripture puts it,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are superconquerors,
through the one who has loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor other heavenly rulers,
neither what exists nor what is coming,
neither powers above nor powers below,
nor any other created thing
will be able to separate us from the love of God
which comes to us through the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. 

Chapter 9 

In the next section of the letter, Paul discusses the vindication of God’s righteousness in his relationship to Israel. Paul says that he has great sorrow because of Israel, those of his own race, because they were cut off even after having received the adoption to sonship, the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. They were cut off even though shared the same patriarchal ancestors as the Messiah. 

He says they weren’t cut off because God’s word failed, and that not every descendant of Abraham is his true child… for even Scripture states that the descendants of Abraham are actually are reckoned through Isaac… the child of the promise. He also says that Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau, twin boys, were chosen for different purposes before they were born or had done anything good or bad – God chose that the older would serve the younger… loving Jacob but hating Esau according to the prophets. 

Paul then asks if in his decision regarding Abraham’s descendants, God is unjust… and he concludes he is not, even though he said to Moses: 

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 

He says that it all depends on God’s mercy and not on human desire or effort, and he uses the Pharaoh of the Exodus as an example of God sovereignty over people… using an enemy to glorify him through his own rebellion. 

Paul then brings up a popular argument that says that God shouldn't blame us for sin since he is sovereign over all people and chooses to harden whom he pleases. But Paul disagrees saying that these people are choosing to talk back to God, thinking they are wiser than him. Paul compares them to a pot thinking it know better than the potter who made it… but he adds that the potter can do whatever he pleases with the pots he makes. He uses the same lump of clay for special pots and common pots. 

Paul argues that those on whom God’s wrath has come in the end were for a very long time given great patience from God. And even in their ultimate destruction, after using up all of God’s patience, their destruction makes the mercy given to us whom he has prepared for glory even richer. 

And he quotes from Hosea: 

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 

and, 

“In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’” 

And he quotes from Isaiah when he cried out about Israel: 

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality.” 

And also from Isaiah: 

“Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.” 

Paul concludes that Gentiles who didn’t pursue righteousness obtained it anyway because of faith, but that Israel did not obtain their goal even though they pursued the law of righteousness. The reason is that Israel sought it by works and not by faith. And he quotes scripture saying that they stumbled over the stumbling stone: 

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 

Chapter 10 

Paul then discusses God’s present dealings with Israel. Paul says his heart’s desire and prayer is that Israel be saved for he knows how zealous they are, but they have ignorant zeal. Instead of seeking God’s righteousness, they sought to establish their own standard of righteousness in an attempt to obtain it… and in doing so rebelled against God’s righteousness. Paul says that Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Paul says that Moses wrote about the righteousness that is by the law saying that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But Paul says that the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” Or in other words, it was not by your own works that Christ came down to earth, nor was it by your own works that God raised Christ from the dead. But the message of faith confirms that “the word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” 

Paul concludes that if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” And he quotes Scripture which says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” And Paul declares that “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” And he quotes scripture again, saying “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

But Paul then asks how anyone can call upon a god they do not believe in, or believe in a god they've not heard of, or hear about a god if no one tells them about that god. And he quotes Isaiah, who said: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But he adds that not all the Israelites accepted the good news, since says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” And Paul says that faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Paul declares that Israel’s rebellion didn’t occur because they hadn’t heard the message of good news… it was proclaimed to the whole world. And he says that it wasn’t because they didn’t understand the message either. And he quotes Moses: 

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” 

And Isaiah: 

“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me…
All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.” 

Chapter 11 

In the next section of the letter, Paul discusses God’s future dealings with Israel. Paul concludes that God did not reject his own people… Paul is an Israelite himself after all, specifically a Benjamite. Paul recalls how Elijah thought that he was the only faithful prophet of God left in Israel during the reign of King Ahab… until God revealed to him that there were 7000 others. And he says that in the same way there is a present remnant chosen by grace… and not by works since grace has nothing to do with works. And so the Israelites sought a form of righteousness… but many of them didn’t get it because their hearts were hard. And he quotes scriptures that say that God gave them blind eyes and deaf ears, and that their own table became a trap for them that they stumbled over in darkness breaking their own backs. 

Paul says that Israel is not beyond recovery. Their fall led to salvation for the Gentiles leading Israel to be jealous. But if their fall brought richness to the world, then their recovery and full inclusion in Christ will bring even greater riches. Paul says that he speaks the Gentiles as their apostle, but part of his desire to preach to Gentiles is to make Israel jealous of their salvation and also seek it. He says if Israel’s rejection brought the world reconciliation, then their acceptance must be nothing less than life from the dead. If Israel is the part of the dough offered as the holy firstfruits… then the rest of the dough is also holy… the gentiles. If Israel is a holy root, then so are the branches… the gentiles. 

Paul then tells the Parable of the Branches: 

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” 

Paul says to remember both God’s kindness and his sternness. God is able to cut off or graft in any branch… even grafting in branches previously cut off. And he adds that it is easy to graft back in the original branches because this is where they by nature ought to be. 

Paul says that much of Israel has been hardened until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, in order that all Israel will be saved. And he quotes scripture again, saying: 

“The deliverer will come from Zion; 

he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.” 

Paul says that Israel has become the enemy of the Gentiles when it comes to the Gospel, yet God still loves them because of the patriarchs because God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. He says that the Gentiles received mercy because of Israel’s disobedience, and so in the same way Israel will also receive mercy because of the mercy given to the Gentiles. He concludes that God chooses to give his mercy to all people who have been bound by disobedience.

Paul then recites a doxology in praise of God’s wisdom: 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. 

Chapter 12 

In the next section of the letter, Paul discusses applications for what he’s already discussed. Paul tells the Romans that true worship for them is to offer their bodies to God as a “living sacrifice” and to no longer conform to the pattern of this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of their minds so they can know the good and perfect will of God. 

He tells them to not think too much of themselves since we are all member of the same body, and though we all have different functions and godly gifts, we all belong to each other. He says that each person should use their God-given gift, whether it is prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or being merciful. 

Paul tells them that their love must be sincere, and he gives them a list of commands that echo the Sermon on the Mount: 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

And he quotes Proverbs: 

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

He concludes: 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Chapter 13 

In relation to the State, Paul tells them to submit to the ruling authorities because they, and all authorities, were established by God, so whoever rebels is rebelling against God. He says that rulers don’t punish people who do what is right, so you don’t have to be afraid of the authorities if you don’t do anything wrong. He says that they are God’s servants – agents of wrath - to punish wrong-doers. He also says that this is also the reason why we pay taxes, and that we are to give to everyone what we owe them, saying: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 

In relation to their neighbors, he says not to let any debt remain outstanding, “except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” And he says that all of the commandments are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And he says that love does no harm to a neighbor so it fulfills every law. 

Paul says to do these things with the mindset that their salvation is closer now than when they first believed. He says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber… The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”