Lesson 148
Romans Chapter Eleven
The Faithfulness of God
Praise of God
TO THE PRAISE OF GOD (
This
concluding doxology I believe also reflects Paul's response to the fantastic
truth of this Epistle and the divine wonders that have been unfolded.
What
has been unfolded to this point to which Paul is responding?
1. He has expounded
the marvelous plan of salvation by which a just God can save ungodly sinners
and still be just in doing so.
2. He has shown how
Christ's work brought more glory to God and more blessing to men than Adam lost
through his sin in the garden.
3. He has described
the fantastic provision of our identification with Christ in His death and the
fact that we're raised together with Him so that we're able to walk in newness
of life.
4. He has explained
how living under grace, being motivated by grace produces holy living in a way
that law could and will never do.
5. He has traced
the unbreakable chain of God's purpose from foreknowledge to eventual
glorification. [eternal
security]
6. He has set forth
the doctrine that God has a complete plan for man all wrapped up in our
response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. And he has
traced the justice and harmony of God's dispensational dealings with
Oh,
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
The
riches of God! He is rich in mercy, love, grace, faithfulness, power, and
goodness.
And then to expand on the depths of the riches of the
wisdom and knowledge he says;
“How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable
His ways!"
- There is a thread that runs through this verse as Paul
speaks of the depths, the riches, are unsearchable and untrackable; what Paul
is emphasizing is that the wisdom, the knowledge the judgments and the ways of
God are inexhaustible, that is they cannot be tapped out.
No
one knows His mind or gives Him advice. Are you up to teaching God?
From
Isa. 55:8-9 we see just how absurd the notion that we
could possibly teach God or give Him advice!
God
is indeed the Sovereign of all things, the One to whom all creatures are
accountable and the one whom all should glorify.
He
is under no obligation to repay anyone, for He is not indebted to anyone.
How
could anyone give anything to Him when He owns it all? Job 41:11
God
is the first Cause, the effective Cause, and the final Cause of everything.
He
is the source the means and the goal of all things!
His
deep ways are beyond man's discovering Rom. 11:33;
- beyond man's knowing (v. 34a),
beyond man's counseling (v. 34b), and
beyond man's ability to give (v.35).
"All
things" come from Him and by means of Him (John 1:3; Col. 1:16a) and
are for Him and His glory (Col. 1:16b; Rev. 4:11).
Therefore,
To Him be the glory forever! Amen
The
focus of all things is His glory!!
(cf.
Rom. 15:6;
God
is the only proper One to magnify (1 Cor.
The
all-sovereign God deserves the praise of all His creatures.
Romans Chapter 12
Intro: In Chapters 1-11 we found that Paul dealt with basic Doctrine, the very foundation of belief as Christians, what we should know and believe.
Now with chapters 12-16 Paul builds on that truth with a focus on conduct as Christians.
Cmd’s, imperatives are almost absent from the first 11 chapters, presenting didactic facts, truth.
There is one glaring exception,
What many today attempt to stress first Christian conduct without the basis or foundation of truth and they end up with all kinds of legalistic claptrap and emotionalism.
So ch-12-16 is the conduct portion of Romans, the application flows out of what was taught in chapters 1-11.
Assumptions made for ch-12-16
to have its full impact.
#1. We have experienced the mercies of God, that is we know what grace is, what salvation by Grace through faith is. Being justified by faith.
#2. It assumes that we are grateful for the mercies of God that it is the motivating force for our life.
Theme for 12-16
The believer is to glorify God in every area of life. In all relationships.
Overview of the Context
1. 12:1-2 Introduction
Ch-1-11 deals with man’s vertical relationship with God. (standing and fellowship in time)
Ch12-16 deals with our horizontal relationship with others.
Rem. All relationships in the Word of God have both a vertical and a horizontal aspect.
God
Various horizontal categories
Husband - wife Eph.
Believer - believer Eph.
Parents to children Col. 3:20
Master -
slave
[boss - worker]
2. Responsibilities in the CWOL.
a. 12:3-8 In relationship to the body of Christ - the Church.
Vs:3 = MA; vs:4-8 deal with spiritual gifts
b. 12:9-21 In relationship to all men, not just Bel. to Bel.
very brush stroke, from fellow bel’s to our enemies.
c. 13:1-14 In relationship to the government/authority.
d. 14:1-15:3 In relationship to the weaker believer.
e. 15:4-13 In relationship to living under grace,
From
15:14-21 Postscript to the Roman church
15:22-33 Paul’s future plans.
16:1-27 Personal greetings & benediction - closing
12:1-2 Intro and transition to the horizontal
focus;
By transition, what I mean is that here Paul’s exhortation is first to maintain our vertical focus;
The
focus of vs:1 is one major point.
The presentation of one’s body! Idea is that of complete dedication to God.
There are 4 things that Paul says by way of explanation of the presentation of one’s body.
#1 What is the motive? Or Why are we to present our bodies?
#2 What is the act? presenting?
#3 What is the object? Body
#4 What is the nature? Spiritual sacrifice!