2025 Bible Study Group

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 6

If salvation were really so easy, then won't men take it as a license to sin? Paul gives the answer:

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:3-7
Paul gives a brief treatment of baptism unto death. Some men, whenever they see the words 'baptism' or 'water,' will collapse them all to refer to the ordinance without regard to the context. I take Paul to refer to the spiritual reality behind the symbolon, since he makes no mention of water, but speaks of union with Christ, not that they're disconnected, but they are distinct. When Christ died, I died. Since He was raised, I will be raised. What is the result?

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

"I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I do live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

I think that some men would be happier if they were not under Grace but under Law. The Apostle has a word for them, Galatians 5:4: You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace!

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There it is, a direct harkening back to Romans 4:4-5. The wage that God owes our work is death, it is merited. But eternal life in Christ Jesus is freely given to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly.

@Samseau If you disagree with me, then feel free to message me. I don't think the members appreciate our back-and-forths.

 

[JCSteel]

Romans 6

In this chapter it's as though Paul is clarifying what faith and baptism into Christ really means. And what union with his death and resurrection means.

How can men baptized into Christ wallow in sin if they understand what it means to believe and be baptized?

How can those who profess Christ choose to live in sin any longer? (Verse 2)

We died with Christ so as Christ was raised from the dead we might walk in newness of life. (Verse 4)
United to his death and resurrection, which represent our death to sin and our new birth, and the literal resurrection of our own bodies. (Verses 5-8)

Christ died so we might no longer be slaves of sin. (Verse 6)

We died to sin when Christ died and we will be raised with him, spiritually and physically, united to his resurrection. (Verse 8)

Count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus; therefore don't let sin reign in your bodies: put it to death. (Verses 11-12)

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 7

Verses 1-4
Paul gives an analogy of how believers were subject to the Law until they died through Christ's death. The Law is not binding on those who are dead. Therefore, the life that you now live is through Grace.

Every law has a purpose: to inculcate a character within you. Each nation has it's own law, it's own character that it strives to be. We have so much discord in America because this nation does not agree on which character we should be. This is even truer for the Law of God. God's Law is a description of His own character. Why is Christ the only man to have kept the Law of God? Because He is God and possesses God's very character. He is the character that the Law wants to inculcate within us. Why have all men transgressed the Law? Because they are not God. Even the Law of God emphasizes that fundamental truth: that God is God and we are not. He is the Creator and we are the creation. He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture.

Paul was mighty in the Law, but His devotion to the Law caused him to persecute the Church of God. There is no tragedy more doomed and self-defeating. How could one, upholding the Law of God, destroy those whom God has Graced? This is why Paul so emphasizes Grace over Law for those who believe.

5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were constrained, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

The fact that we were aroused to sin by the Law's holy commandments speaks to how short of God's character we fall. But God will not hold us to this standard if we have faith in Him, but will give us everything we need to be acceptable in His sight according to His Grace. We serve in the newness of the Spirit, contracted by the New Covenant. Not in the oldness of the letter, contracted by the Old Covenant.

7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! Rather, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law.

The problem is not that the Law is evil, we are. The Law appears evil to those who are evil. But it is good to those who are good, and no one is good other than God alone. God tells the truth, even if it makes every man a liar.

9 Now I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died; 10and this commandment, which was to lead to life, was found to lead to death for me.

The more Paul exercised his knowledge of the Law, the more he became condemned. I suggest that here he speaks in a higher sense. Think of Adam, who was once innocent, but when God's commandment against eating from the tree came, sin was aroused in him and he ate and died, and that commandment which was to lead to life was found to lead to death for him.

 

[Wutang]

Earlier in this thread I quoted what Augustine wrote about how him and his friends would steal pears off of a tree not because they just had to have pears at that moment but for the thrill of doing something transgressive. I thought of that quote again when I was reading about how the law would arouse sin in people. The example used in the Romans 7 was how the law against coveting aroused every sort of coveting in the people confronted by the law.

 

[JCSteel]

Some more reflections on Romans 6.

Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we should no longer be slaves to sin. For the one who has died is freed from sin. (Verses 6-7)

"A corpse doesn't lust after other people's bodies, worship riches, slander, lie, covet, or insult its rivals." -Gregory of Nyssa.

Dead to sin, dead to the taste of old pleasures.
Dead to inflamed desires.
Disinterested in all the things that control, captivate, and dominate men.
Free to serve God as men dead to everything that dominates and blinds the world.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 7

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, having been sold into bondage under sin.

Men fancy themselves as free, neutral, and autonomous. Blinded by Satan who tells them that their slavery is freedom. Only those in Christ know under what bondage they were in, having been set free by the Son.

15 For what I am working out, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want, I agree with the Law, that it is good.

The Apostle speaks as a man trapped within his own body, like a good bird in an evil cage. He wants to fly, and the commandment tells him to fly, but the cage will not allow him to fly, but since he wants to fly, he concurs with the commandment telling him to fly. In this context, he is willing but unable. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Such is our faith, which is willing to do every good thing but we are unable to because of our weaknesses.

17 So now, no longer am I the one working it out, but sin which dwells in me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the working out of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one working it out, but sin which dwells in me.

I dare someone to use this line of reasoning should they ever find themselves in trial: I didn't do it but the sin in me did it. No court but God's will accept this, since faith in Christ is true justification. You see how Paul no longer identifies himself with his sin, though he does not deny it's presence within him.

22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Charles Spurgeon once described Christians as having two natures. The inner nature is the heart of faith. It is supernaturally born and cannot sin. The outer nature is the naturally born body of sin, carrying out evil works. If we have the inner nature, then rest assured that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus." It is amazing that even the great Apostle Paul would say "wretched man that I am" and not "wretched man that I was."

I believe the hymn "Our God is able to deliver thee" comes as a response to Paul's question: who is able to deliver me from this body of death? Though by sin oppressed, go to Him for rest, our God is able to deliver thee.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 8. Huge chapter.

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

What is "therefore" there for? Faith in Christ, the willingness to do His commandments and trusting in Him when you are too weak to do them. There is now no condemnation, only justification for those in Christ Jesus.

3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:

The weakness of the Law was it's inability to transform Israel's heart, so the Law could never be fulfilled as long as it depended on men.

sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Double Imputation. Christ never broke the Law and His righteousness is imputed to those who believe. Our sin was imputed to Him on the cross. It parallels Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

There is the noetic effect of sin, harkening back to Romans 1; sins effect on the mind. It is hostile toward God. How many times have you heard God accused of evil? The clearer He is presented, especially as He has revealed Himself in the Word, the more evil He appears to the reprobate mind. It wills not to be subject to God's Law and it is not even able to subject itself. This is why it's not our choice, but a supernatural endeavor on God's part in converting the heart. V8 has a parallel in Hebrews, that without faith it is impossible to please Him.

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Paul is consistent with Jesus in John 3. The Spirit blows where He wishes, beyond the control of men. Men cannot see the Kingdom unless they are born again by the Spirit. Also, note how the Spirit is said to be of God (The Father) and of Christ (the Son) in common, to correct the notion that the Spirit is of the Father only and has no eternal relationship with the Son.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Harkening back to the two natures in Romans 7, Paul says that there will come a time when this will no longer be, but that the physical body may also be granted a resurrection.

12 So then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh...

This obligation is not like the obligation of the Law as Paul will show. I take it as obligation in a manner of speaking.

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

If you had a good father, then you would know that to love him and to follow his rules did not come across as a begrudging obligation, but you loved to do the things that pleased him, it didn't feel like an obligation at all. I regret when people have abusive, unloving, or absent fathers because their earthly fathers set a horrible precedent for the Heavenly Father.

 

[Samseau]

sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

This is yet another reference to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the offering for sin.

John 6:53

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 8 Part II

19For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

There was Creation. Then there was Corruption. But there will be Redemption. Like a woman feeling birth pangs, the Creation longs to see the Redemption, we also feel this in ourselves, and this is the Redemption, when we will be fully revealed to be sons of God, which God will publicly display by our resurrection, just as God proved Jesus to be His only Son when He raised Him from the dead.

26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

I thank God that my prayers are filtered and bolstered by the Holy Spirit.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

Not some things. All things. You see in the lives of the Prophets and Apostles highs and lows, tears and laughter, righteousness and sin, life and death. But all of these things were subject to God's providence in drawing these men to Himself. The same is true for we who believe.

29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers;

The Golden Chain of Redemption. Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined. Biblically, foreknown does not mean "know about" but known intimately, or covenantally. Such as Adam "knowing" Eve.

30 and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.

Salvation is a package deal. You cannot have one of these without the other. We were foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. We have not yet seen our glorification, but Paul speaks about it in the past tense as if it's a fixed reality, just as Isaiah prophesied Christ's death is if it already happened.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 8 Part III

32 He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?

The death of Christ is a promise that God will continue His salvific work in His Elect.

33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

If God, the Judge of all, has declared His Elect to be justified, then who can say otherwise? There are many who agree with Satan when they say that God's justification of His Church is a legal fiction, but they cannot see God's justice carried out on the cross. Without the eyes of faith, they cannot see that tether that connects Christ to His chosen ones, ties that nothing can sever. Even still, Christ is interceding right now for His chosen ones against the accusatory darts of the enemy and his followers.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no created thing that can separate us from the saving love of God. Last I checked, we also are created. I am amazed at how people can read this and say: No Paul, you are wrong, actually we can separate ourselves from the love of God. Let God be true and every man be a liar.

 

[Samseau]

There is no created thing that can separate us from the saving love of God. Last I checked, we also are created. I am amazed at how people can read this and say: No Paul, you are wrong, actually we can separate ourselves from the love of God. Let God be true and every man be a liar.

Your interpretation seems to be off here. Paul is saying this all contingent upon one accepting Christ. If they reject Christ, they get no such protection. And part of accepting Christ means eating his body, and drinking his blood.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Your interpretation seems to be off here. Paul is saying this all contingent upon one accepting Christ. If they reject Christ, they get no such protection. And part of accepting Christ means eating his body, and drinking his blood.

I believe in what's called exegesis. Exegesis seeks to tease out what the text already says. As tempting as it can be, I try to avoid eisegesis. Eisegesis is reading your own preconceived notions into the text. An example of this would be rather than reading Romans 8 on it's own merit you would read Romans 8 as defined by John 6 or reading Romans 4 as defined by James 2 or it could be reading a doctrine into a text that doesn't even address the doctrine.

As far as your point here, I thought most people here would assume that Paul is safeguarding the covenant promises of God for God's covenant people since that is what the entire book of Romans has been about so far.

 

[Samseau]

read Romans 8 as defined by John 6 or reading Romans 4 as defined by James 2 or it could be reading a doctrine into a text that doesn't even address the doctrine.

How could anyone read Scripture apart from each other? It wouldn't even begin to make sense if one did that. It's also factually false. St. Paul was reading the same gospels we are reading. He probably burned any copies of the gospels he found when he was Saul.

St. Paul learned Christianity from other Christians who all took the Eucharist, the rite performed by Christ at the Last Supper. "Take, eat, this is my blood and body which is shed for you and many for the forgiveness of sins."

To ignore this context simply means you aren't reading the text as St. Paul wrote it. Exegesis is just a logical deduction of the text based on it's context and surroundings.

Exegesis - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In biblical exegesis, the opposite of exegesis (to draw out) is eisegesis (to draw in), in the sense of an eisegetic commentator "importing" or "drawing in" their own subjective interpretations into the text, unsupported by the text itself. Eisegesis is often used as a derogatory term.

Eisegesis is the opposite of exegesis, and that would be to read the text without it's proper context. What you are suggesting is in fact eisegesis, while I am doing proper exegesis. Reading the text apart from it's history or context would strip the words of all their meaning.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 9

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh

Would you be willing to go to hell if it meant the salvation of someone else? That is how Paul feels towards the Jews. He certainly does not think that Jews are more blessed than Christians, but neither is he consumed by hatred for them. Would that more people were like Paul.

11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

Even though Paul wishes for the salvation of the Jews, he submits to God's sovereign election.

14 What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Election does depend on man's will but on God's mercy. Nothing shall derail God's purpose. He is not unrighteous in any of this.

18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? WILL THE THING MOLDED SAY TO THE MOLDER, “WHY DID YOU MAKE ME LIKE THIS”? 21Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Paul pre-empts the argument that he knows will be raised against him. The answer is that God is God and we are not. We have no right to dictate to God how He should show His mercy or His hardening, for we are His creatures.

22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction, 23and in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles?

Even though God wants to demonstrate His wrath and to show His power, He showed great patience to the vessels of wrath. God in all His glory, both His Grace and Wrath, He makes known to us, His vessels of mercy prepared beforehand for glory, who were called from both Jews and Gentiles.

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, laid hold of righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain that law. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.

The Gentiles have attained the faith righteousness. The Jews pursue righteousness by works and therefore fell short of what the Law demanded.

They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

All of this is to fulfill the Scriptures. It happened according to God's plan.

 

[Samseau]

11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

St. Paul himself used exegesis to interpret the Old Testament in light of the New, which is why we know we must also use exegesis to understand his own words as well.

 

[Gazza]

Just read chapter 11 (we’re a little ahead down here in the southern hemisphere). It kind of left me with more questions than answers, mainly about whether one can lose his salvation?
Verse 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 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 off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 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?
Look forward to reading some comments from you guys when you get to this point of the study.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Just read chapter 11 (we’re a little ahead down here in the southern hemisphere). It kind of left me with more questions than answers, mainly about whether one can lose his salvation?

I had a coworker ask me about this a few weeks ago. Here's my take:

Whenever Paul says 'you' such he does in Romans 11:21, we shouldn't always think he means "me," Gazza, the individual. You can get a better approximation of the scope of his address when you consider his immediate context. In Romans 11, Paul is primarily addressing two corporate bodies, the Jews in general (as a corporate body) and the local church as a corporate body. Paul is saying that the Jews in general have been broken off, but this does not mean that every single individual Jew has been broken off. After all, the Apostles were all Jews and Paul even acknowledged that there are Jews who are saved back in Romans 9. I believe Paul's application to the church in Rome, and the local church by extension, is that corporate bodies can be broken off the tree but this does not necessitate that you as an individual who has been born of the Spirit can lose your salvation: "Those whom He predestined, He also justified, those whom He justified, He also glorified."

 

[Samseau]

Just read chapter 11 (we’re a little ahead down here in the southern hemisphere). It kind of left me with more questions than answers, mainly about whether one can lose his salvation?
Verse 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 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 off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 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?
Look forward to reading some comments from you guys when you get to this point of the study.

Gazza, St. Paul is directly addressing human freedom to choose God or not. Just like Adam and Eve had the choice to eat the forbidden fruit, so too do we have the ability to believe in Christ or not. If we believe, we can be grafted onto the vine of salvation, as unnatural as that might be.

Then, St. Paul adds to this point by pointing out the obvious: The Jews, who were naturally part of this vine, disobeyed and refused to believe so they are cut off, imagine how much difficult it is for those who are unnaturally grafted onto the vine to stay grafted?

This is a common problem in Christianity: cradle Christians typically have a much easier time than converts. It was also true in St. Paul's day, as Jews who accepted the Gospel had a much easier time becoming Christian than those without a Jewish background.

Of course, none of Ch. 11 makes any sense if one assumes a lack of free will due to a faulty interpretation of predestination, and so Ch. 11 is a very good refutation against the typically flawed Protestant eisegesis.

When St. Paul is referring to branches of the vine, he is referring to John 15:

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 10

1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

There are so many Christians who do not share Paul's desire for the salvation of the Jews at all. It's a sad thing to see. I remember reading a Jew who placed his faith in Christ and how he came to understand that Christ is the fulfillment of everything it means to be a Jew. It was actually very beautiful.

2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

The knowledge that the Jews lack is the faith righteousness, imputed righteousness, Christ's own righteousness credited to the sinner. They pursue self-righteousness. Christ is the telos, the purpose of the Law. Christ did not come to be a means to the end for self-righteousness. He came to Himself be our own very righteousness. Jehovah Tsidkenu. The Lord is our Righteousness.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “THE MAN WHO DOES THESE THINGS SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”

The righteousness of the Law is a works-based righteousness. It is all about doing things to make yourself righteous before God.

6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL GO UP INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7or ‘WHO WILL GO DOWN INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

But the New Covenant has a faith-based righteousness. It is all about receiving Christ's work for you. Many people struggle with understanding Paul's usage of Deuteronomy. It is a word against works-based salvation. It is as impossible as men ascending into heaven or descending to the abyss.

I had an unfortunate typo in my Romans 9 post. I didn't mean to say: "Election does depend on man's will." I meant to reecho Paul and say the opposite, that Election does not depend on man's will but on God's mercy.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Romans 10

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15And how will they preach unless they are sent?

Paul's questions here should impress on us a sense of urgency in evangelizing the world. For since salvation comes by believing, the world must know who to believe in for the world to be saved. The preachers who are sent refers to apostles. The word apostle itself literally means 'a sent one'. Sometimes other people than the twelve Apostles are referred to as apostles in Scripture. In their case, maybe it would be better to render them as missionaries, so as not to confuse the office of the Twelve. But this sense of urgency should not overthrow the fact that God will save all His Israel, the fixed number of the Elect that no man knows but God alone.

Much is made about the church fathers here. The earliest church father was Clement of Rome who wrote one letter to the church in Corinth. I would encourage you to read his letter. He reads as a good student of Paul, someone who earnestly received Paul's letter to the Roman church. Within his own letter, he also picks up on the number of the Elect:

Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.

He also makes the same distinction between faith and works that Paul does throughout Romans, especially as it relates to Justification:

All these, therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.