(Through the Bible) Romans - Part 2 — Zac Poonen

Faith Founded on God's Promise

We were studying Romans in our last session and we want to continue in Romans, just a verse to begin with in Romans chapter four. We were looking about looking at justification. It says here in Romans four and verse twenty one about Abraham.

That he was fully assured that what God had promised, he was able also to perform. There is a lot of teaching on faith today, which makes believers look inside to see, do I have faith or do I have enough faith?

If I don't get something, it's because I don't have enough faith and all the time I'm looking inside. The more we look inside, the more into bondage we're going to get. Abraham did not look inside his body to see whether he had enough faith to have a son.

And you should never look inside yourselves to see whether you have enough faith to get something that God has promised. What was Abraham's faith founded on? He was assured that God was able to fulfill what he had promised.

Faith is always outward looking. You know that beautiful chapter in Hebrews 11, by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith. And then finally it comes to chapter twelve, verse two, looking unto Jesus. That is the definition of faith for us today, the author and finisher of our faith.

So, faith is not something within us, it's in the object. It's in what we look at that determines whether our faith is strong or not. For example, if you want to cross a river and you have to cross it over a strong concrete bridge, you have no problem with having faith.

But if you have to cross it over a bamboo pole that's tied across the river, you lose faith immediately. It's got nothing to do with you, it's got to do with the quality of that bridge. If it's a bamboo pole, I don't have faith.

If it's a strong concrete bridge, I have faith. It's the same person, doesn't have faith in one, has faith in another. So, faith is never resident within us. You put money in a bank that's going to crash, you don't have faith.

You want to put money in a bank that's solid, supported by the government, you have faith. Where is faith resident? In the object of faith. So, remember this. When you read the promise of God, don't look inside and say, can I do it?

Abraham believed that God would fulfill what he has promised. The New Testament emphasizes faith a lot and Romans we saw spoke about going from faith to faith. Now, many of us have had faith that our sins can be forgiven.

Do you have faith in the same God who forgave your sin that he will justify you? That means he will impute the righteousness of Christ. Like it says here, account reckoned to him as righteousness, verse 22.

It's not only for him, but it's reckoned to us also. That means apart from works, verse 6, righteousness is imputed to us, put to our account. I didn't work for it, but somebody puts a million rupees into my bank account.

It's a gift. I didn't work for it. The one who tells me is trustworthy, I believe it. Even without going to the bank to check up, I can write a check. Because I know the person who told me that he's put a million rupees into my account is trustworthy.

So, when the Lord says in his word that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, we believe. See, God expects us to trust him. It is the greatest insult to God to say, I don't trust you. Supposing your father says, I've sent you some money into your bank account here locally.

And you say, Dad, I don't trust you. That's one of the greatest insults you can give to your father. Particularly if he's a thoroughly trustworthy person. And that's why unbelief is such a serious sin.

We miss a lot that God has for us because of unbelief. It says in Matthew 13, the last verse, God could not do many mighty works for people in one place because of their unbelief. He couldn't help them.

They needed help. Jesus wanted to help them, but he couldn't help them. Please keep this in mind as we go through Romans. When we come to chapter 5, we see there about the blessings of justification. And many times in this chapter, particularly from verse 12 onwards till the end, a contrast is drawn between what we got through Adam and what we got through Christ.

Adam, Christ, and the Twofold Work of Salvation

Through Adam, verse 12, sin entered into the world through one man. And in the same way, through one man, verse 15, Jesus Christ, grace has abounded to many. And here is this contrast. In Adam, I died.

In Christ, I can be made alive. Right through this chapter, you find this emphasis. And the point we need to recognize is this. I inherited something from Adam. I didn't have to produce wickedness from the time I was born.

I didn't have to learn to tell lies. I didn't have to learn to fight with other people. I didn't have to learn to be selfish. It was there within me. Nobody teaches a child to tell lies. It is within.

From within, you see a child's pride, selfishness, quarrelsome nature, stubbornness coming out. All children. Why? It's a nature inherited from Adam. And the contrast here between Adam and Christ should teach us one thing.

That as complete and as total is the inheritance I have received from Adam, equally complete and total can be the inheritance I receive from Christ. How did I behave like Adam? Is it by trying to imitate Adam?

No. I inherited his nature. How am I going to follow Jesus? Is it by looking at him and trying to imitate him? There are many people in the world who try to imitate Christ who are not even Christians.

No. There are Christians who try to imitate Christ. Did you try to imitate Adam? Or did you inherit his nature? Then why are you making the mistake of trying to imitate Christ? We first of all partake of his nature.

That is where we begin. And just like Adam gave us his nature completely, Christ can give us his nature completely. In the measure in which I open up to him. The Christian life is one of faith. Faith means a dependence on God.

A confidence in God. And I receive from him this nature. This is the message of the New Testament. We come to it more in the subsequent chapters, subsequent episodes. Here is where a lot of people make a mistake.

They think holiness comes through my striving and attaining. There is striving in the Christian life. There is putting to death. But it's all based on partaking of God's nature. And if we think that we can produce the divine nature, we are crazy.

You did not produce Adam's nature. You inherited it. And that's the contrast we need to see. Through Adam, death reigned. For, verse 15, look what it says here. If, middle of that verse, by the transgression of the one many died, much more.

The grace of God and the gift by grace of one man will abound to many. And it also says in verse 10. If while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son. Much more, now that we are reconciled.

Please read this. This is talking to believers who have been reconciled. After being reconciled. After their sins are forgiven. After they are justified. They shall be saved. Saved by what? By his life.

We were saved by his death. Now we are to be saved by his life. This is the point of Romans. There are two salvations on this earth. One is by the death of Christ. That we saw earlier in chapter 3 through Christ's death.

And here it speaks about being saved by his life. What does that mean? By his death, I'm saved from the guilt of sin. By his life, which he imparts to me through the Holy Spirit. I can be saved from the power of sin that drags me down.

Dying to Sin and Living Under Grace

Chapter 6. Chapter 6 says. Now that God's grace abounds so much, what shall we say? Shall we continue in sin? That grace may increase. We have heard such a fantastic message. Of the gospel being given to the worst of sinners.

That Jesus came to save the worst of sinners. And it's a free gift. It's not something you can earn. Any amount of good works will never save you. So some people can misunderstand it. In that case, it doesn't matter how we live.

And there are millions of Christians who misunderstand it. And that's why today's so-called Christian leaders. Sometimes fall into sins. Which even the Old Testament leaders did not fall into. You read of Christian leaders falling into adultery.

Did Elijah fall into adultery? You read about Christian leaders running after money. Multitudes of them. Did John the Baptist or Elisha run after money? They ran after the old covenant. At a lower level.

And at a lower level, they reached a much higher standard of life. Than so many Christian leaders today. Why? Because many Christian leaders have felt. Grace is there. Sin is not serious. Those people didn't have grace.

They took sin more seriously. We should take sin even more seriously. Because what is the purpose of grace? It says in verse 2. How can we sin more? We who died to sin. How can we live in it? Don't you know what baptism means?

We were baptized into his death. Verse 3. Baptism is a burial. Verse 4. It's not a sprinkling. When you bury a man, you don't sprinkle sand on him. You put him right underneath the ground. And so baptism is a burial in water.

And a lifting up out of the water. Showing that a man is raised from the dead. The old man. The will to sin is crucified. And buried and gone. And now he's a new person. Now if that has really happened.

Then. Your will is no longer to sin. You may fall. But. Because the lust of the flesh are still there. But. You don't desire to sin anymore. And he says. How can you say let's continue in sin? And he goes on to give us this wonderful promise.

If you have died to sin. First of all. Before the promise. He says. Do you know. Verse 6. That when Jesus died on the cross. Your old man was crucified with him. You say. How do we know that? How do we know that Jesus took our sins on the cross?

God's word says it. And we believe it. Then we experience it. That when Christ died. He took the punishment of all my sins. I never saw him die. But I believe his word. And I found it's true in my life.

In the same way. The same word of God says. That this old will to sin. Which is in you. Was crucified with Christ. On the cross. I accept it. You won't get forgiveness of sins. Till you accept it. And you won't get the reality of Romans 6.

Verse 6 in your life. Till you accept it. It's not a question of what you did. It's a question of what. God did. It's not a question of what you have to do. The old man. Is different from the flesh. Many people confuse the old man in the flesh.

And that's why they get confused. The flesh is like a gang of robbers. Who's trying to get inside my heart. The flesh. Is that. Outside coming in. Inside my home. And inside this heart in my home. Lives an unfaithful servant.

Called the old man. Who always opens the door. For these lusts to come in. For these robbers to come and steal my. Spiritual wealth. What did God do? He did not kill the gang of robbers. He killed the unfaithful servant.

And that's why even after you're baptized. You find you're tempted just as much. As you were tempted before. The lusts are still alive. They haven't died. The lusts in your flesh haven't died. What has died?

Your old man. I've discovered in my travels. Through many many places. That millions of Christians. Have studied the scriptures. Can never tell you the difference. Between the old man and the flesh. They are so confused.

Even people who study to. Doctorates in theology. Don't know what's the difference. Between the old man who opens the door. And the gang of robbers who wants to come in. God has killed the servant. That means the desire to sin.

Is killed. I know it's killed in you. If you are born again. If I were to ask those of you who are born again here. Do you want to sin anymore? What is your answer? No, I don't want to sin. Because God has put a new man within.

Who does not want to sin. But the gang of robbers are still coming. Every day. The gang of robbers are even more furious. They are eager to come in still. Then why is it believers fall into sin? Because this new man.

Sometimes doesn't eat enough. He is weak. And he doesn't keep the door shut. He tries to keep the door shut. But the gang of robbers push their way in. If you don't. Read God's word and meditate on it.

If you are not strong. If the word of God doesn't abide in you. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit. To keep those lusts of the flesh outside. But if you fulfill those requirements. You will find that you can overcome sin.

So the Bible says here. Therefore verse 11. Now consider yourself to be dead. Reckon yourself to be dead to sin. Sin is not going to have any more power. Over my life. I am dead. I consider myself dead.

Because God said so. Like if my father wrote me a letter. Saying he has put a million rupees in my bank account. Even without going there. I consider. I reckon it is there. I don't have to see it. I believe my father.

And the same way the Bible says. If God says your old man was crucified with Christ. You accept it. And consider yourself dead. And say Lord I accept it. Just like many years ago. I accepted that Christ died for my sins.

I accept today that I have died to sin. I didn't realize that you also put my old man on the cross. Not only my sins. And from this day I accept the fact. I have died to sin and every day of my life. I am going to consider myself dead to sin.

Alive to Christ. This is where I need the help of the Holy Spirit. That's why it goes on to speak about grace in verse 14. Sin will now no longer rule you. Because you are under grace. Not under law. Under law means.

What is the difference between law and grace? Basically in two sentences I'll put it like this. Law means I do something for God. Grace means God does something for me. What a difference. It's like a little baby trying to do something perfectly.

That's law. And grace is where the father holds the hand of that little baby. Supposing he is writing a letter. And the baby gets it all crooked. Here grace is the father holding the hand of that child.

And writing a perfect letter. No spelling mistakes. No errors. But if the baby is stubborn and says no, no, no. I am not going to let you hold my hand. Then of course there will be a lot of mistakes. This is grace.

In the Old Testament. People who are under law. They had to try and do everything on their own. They got such a lot of mistakes. God says I'll help you. But we are so reluctant to let God hold our hand.

And write that letter perfectly. That is grace. Sin shall not rule over you. No. You won't make a spelling mistake. If you let your heavenly father hold your hand. And write. Yield. This is grace. You got to experience it.

Sin may be there. But it won't reign. It is like a king who has been overthrown and made a slave. That is what has happened. He is not killed. He is there. Sin dwells in me. But it cannot rule anymore.

Freedom from the Law and the Struggle with Sin

In chapter 7 we read about. You realize that I am just putting a few pieces of the jigsaw puzzle here and there. You got to complete the picture yourself. There really isn't time to go into every verse.

But if you get an overall picture of Romans. You'll be able to fill in the blanks. Romans chapter 7 speaks about a person. Who has got into this desire for victory over sin. And to live a holy life. But who misunderstands how to live it.

He gets married. The picture is used here as a marriage. He is married. Instead of being married to Christ. He gets married to the law. And Romans chapter 7 is basically. In the first part anyway. Speaking about being delivered from the law.

What does this mean in practical terms? In Romans 6. We saw about being married to the old man. Now it speaks about being married to the law. And Romans 7 .4. Says you were made to die to the law. Through the body of Christ.

That you might be married to another. Him who is raised from the dead. So we can say here in Romans 6 and 7. We see three marriages. A marriage to the old man. A marriage to the law. And a marriage to Christ.

There is a lot of difference. The old man is like a wicked husband. Who beats me and hammers me. And turns me into a prostitute. And destroys my life. And here is a wife who is battered. And hammered by this wicked husband.

Longing for deliverance. And one day. Her husband dies. The old man is dead. Praise the Lord. Born again. And now. This believer. Is free to marry. But instead of marrying Christ. He makes a mistake. And marries.

Someone who looks like Christ. The law. The law is perfect. And it's very easy to mistake the law for Christ. Because it demands righteousness. The law is not like the old man husband. He doesn't hammer you or beat you.

Or do anything to trouble you. But the law demands perfect. You must get up promptly at 6 o 'clock. You must cook the breakfast. And have it ready on the table by 8 o 'clock. Not 8 -0 -1. 8 o 'clock. That's the law.

Every part of the room must be absolutely. Of the house must be absolutely tidy. The shoes must be in the proper place. The clothes must be washed without any stain. And ironed and kept. The house must be spick and span.

He never asks for anything evil. Now how many of you sisters would be like to marry such a man. Who demands perfection in every area. You'll say boy this is like getting out of the frying pan into the fire.

And he's a good man. But he's so demanding. He never asks for anything evil. But I can never measure up to his standards. Then you realize you married the wrong man. So what to do? And this husband. This law never died.

He's so healthy. He doesn't have any blood pressure. Diabetes nothing. He's healthy and strong. He'll live forever because it's a law of God. So you give up all hope. I'm married to this man. And it says if the married man.

Verse 7 verse 2 is bound by law to her husband as long as he's alive. And he's going to live forever. That's what I think. And that's right. The law of God lives forever. And the woman gives up all hope.

Then God does something else. He makes the woman die. That also breaks the marriage. You were made to die. Verse 4. First time the old man the husband died. Now you the wife. You were made to die. And your relationship with the law is broken.

And now you're raised up from the dead. And you're married. You can be married now to Christ. That is the third marriage. Where? Christ also is very demanding. He also says. Breakfast must be on the table at 8 o 'clock.

801 his. Not 801. Everything must be spick and span. The house must be clean. Because Jesus standards are not less than the standards of the law. It's more actually. The law said you shall not commit adultery.

I say unto you that you shall not even lust in your heart. His standard is even higher. But there's a difference. He says. Let's you and I do it together. We'll make breakfast together. Supposing you're one of those lazy wives.

Who can have breakfast ready only by. One o 'clock in the afternoon. Or something like that. The Lord doesn't throw you out. He says never mind. We work together. And you and the Lord work together. And gradually next day breakfast is at 11 o 'clock.

In the morning. Not bad. Yesterday it was one o 'clock. Today it's 11 in the afternoon. You're doing better. And the Lord says wonderful. We have moved from one o 'clock to 11 o 'clock. We gradually move towards eight o 'clock.

We're going to press on to perfection. And maybe you're the type of person who washes clothes. And still all the stains will be there. And the Lord says never mind. We'll work on it. The next time you wash the clothes.

There are just a few stains left. They said never mind. We're going to press on to perfection. Till you wash the clothes. He's not just. Giving us commands like the law. He works with us. We are co-workers with him.

That's the type of husband Jesus is. And a legalistic Christian. Is one who's got all types of rules and regulations. And he makes rules and regulations for everybody else also. He is in bondage. And he brings everybody else into bondage.

Whereas the Bible speaks of the glorious liberty. Of the children of God. I want to show you in chapter 8. It says in. Verse 21 of chapter 8. The freedom of the glory. Of the children of God. Of the glorious freedom.

Of the children of God. There is a freedom and a liberty in Christ. And in the latter part of chapter 7. He speaks of the struggle. That goes on within us. The thing which I want to do. Verse 16. I agree with the Lord it's good.

But I'm not doing what I want to do. The good that I wish. Verse 19. I don't do. But I practice the evil that I do. Now this is not speaking of deliberate sin. It's not saying well I don't want to come and adultery.

But I keep committing it. He's not talking about that. Not that I don't want to come and murder. But I somehow go and kill people. He's not talking about that. He's talking about things he doesn't understand.

Notice in verse 15. That which I'm doing I don't understand. That whole section is about areas in my life. Where I want to do it perfectly. But I slip up. For example. Supposing you're a person with a bad temper.

You're coming back from your work one day. And say well I've always lost my temper when I go home. And today I don't want to lose my temper at home. With my wife or my children. You don't want to. And then something happens.

And the children irritate you or something. And again you've lost your temper. Now you can't say that you planned and schemed to do that. Sometimes you may plan and scheme to do evil to somebody else.

This doesn't fall into that category. You really didn't want to fall into anger. And you fell. That happens. There. It was not your old man. It was your new man was not strong enough to keep the door shut.

And so you say. How can I ever be free from this wretched life. A lot of good things I want to do. And I'm not able to do it. I always have regret at the end of the day. That I didn't want to lust with my eyes there.

But I still slipped up. Is there a way. Wretched man that I am. Verse 24. Thanks be to God. There is. In chapter 8. We read. There is no condemnation. Chapter 8 describes. First of all freedom from the penalty of sin.

Verse 1. No condemnation. Freedom from the power of sin. Verse 2 to 17. And then finally. Verse 18 to 25. Freedom from the very presence. Of sin. And chapter 8. Verse 2. He says the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Has set me free from the law of sin and death. There is a law called the law of sin and death. It's like the law of gravity. It always pulls you down. But the law of the spirit. Is what. There is a law of the spirit.

The law of the spirit is not thou shalt thou shalt not. So many things like that. It's life. It's life in Christ Jesus. Let me give you an example. Here is the law of sin and death. Demonstrated by the law of gravity.

You see this. The law of gravity. Pulls it down. All the time. You can't stop the law of gravity. Anything you leave drops. Now. Why is this book not fall falling. Because I'm holding it up. Is the law of gravity.

Suspended in this area. Has it stopped operating. No. But another law. The law of life. In my body. Is overcoming this law of gravity. So this book is not falling. That's the meaning of Romans 8 2. The law of sin and death.

Is still working pulling us down. Pulling us down pulling us down. But if I allow. Jesus to hold me. He is able to keep me from falling. That's what June 24 says. So the law of life in Christ Jesus. Which is the law of the spirit.

Is able to keep me. From falling. Into the law of sin and death. As long as I allow the Lord to hold me. This is how I am an overcomer. What glory do I have for it. What glory does this book have for.

Not falling. All the credit goes to the life. That's holding it up. But I've got to cooperate. See there's a difference between the book and me. In the sense of the book has got no will of its own. I have a will.

I can choose to jump out of that hand. And then I fall. But if I submit and yield to the Lord completely. He can keep me forever. So I'm not saying a believer won't fall. I'm saying that a believer need not fall.

And there's a lot of difference. It depends on how much you yield. And trust the Lord. Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter. And I don't have time to go into all the details. But let me just read something here.

Verse 28 is a lovely verse. God makes all things work together for good. To those who love him. To those who are called according to his purpose. See this is the wonderful. Position into which the gospel brings us.

We've seen how we started off as filthy sinners. And now we receive the gift of forgiveness. We go on to trusting God to declare us righteous. And move on to overcoming sin. Being free from the law. And Romans 8 speaks about life in the Holy Spirit.

In chapter 7. 45 times these words come. I, me, mine. 45 times. This is a picture of my struggle. In chapter 8. It's not about I, me and mine. 19 times you read the word spirit. Spirit. Romans 8 is talking about life in the spirit.

And when we come into this life. Where the Holy Spirit. I submitted to the Holy Spirit. God Almighty. God my father works in all the circumstances of my life. To make everything work for my good. Even if other people try to harm me.

It works for my good. It's a wonderful gospel. If you can believe Romans 8 .28. You'll never be afraid of another man. For the rest of your life. You'll never be afraid of any circumstance. You'll never be afraid of road accidents.

Or cancer. Or anti-christian people. Who try to harm you. If you believe that God is sovereign. And he's watching everything and everyone. And he makes everything. All things. Romans 8 .28 means all things.

Now if Romans 8 .28 had said. God makes most things. Work for our good. Then. We should read. In Ephesians 5 .20. Give thanks for most things. And 1 Thessalonians 5 .18. Give thanks for most things. But since Romans 8 .28 says.

God works all things for our good. Therefore 1 Thessalonians 5 .18. And Ephesians 5 .20 says. We give thanks for all things. See one is dependent on the other. If God is in control of only 90 of the circumstances in my life.

I can give thanks only for that 90%. The remaining 10 the devil controls. But it's not true. Romans 8 .28 is absolute. All things. And for many many years I have believed it. And I've lived in the good of it.

It's like this aqua guard filter. You know this water filter. You pour filthy water in one side. They demonstrate it for you. These people who bring that equipment. And you get clean water here. Romans 8 .28 is like that.

It's a filter. Somebody tries to do evil to me. It comes out for my good. And if aqua guard can do it perfectly. I tell you God can do it much more perfectly. You wouldn't buy aqua guard. Unless you had faith in it.

That filter could do the job. You believe that God can do it. You know when his word says. If you believe it. For the rest of your life. You live in this filter. I've lived in it for many many years. And I'm very very blessed man.

Whether you pour clean water or dirty water. It comes out clean here. Whether people seek to do good to me or bad to me. It always comes out good for me. Always. I'm 61 years old now. No one has ever.

Ever ever ever. Been able to do harm to me. Even today. Many have tried. Many have spread scandals about me. False stories. And harmed me. And tried to trap me here. Trap me there. I've got a lot of people who hate me.

Because I stand up for the truth of the gospel. But harm me. None of them. Because I live in Romans 8 28. You can live there all your life. If you yield yourself totally to God. Let him hold you. Always.

Say Lord I have no ambition. Except to do your will on earth. I have no desire to make money. Get honor. I don't want to be famous. I don't want to be rich. I don't want to be popular. I don't want to seek my own comfort.

I don't want a single thing on earth. Except to do your will. Wherever it is. Let it be in the most difficult place in the world. I'll do your will. I'm not going to criticize other believers. Whatever the cost.

Romans 8 28 is yours. Because it says it's not for everybody. It's for those who love God. And are called according to his purpose. If you don't want his purpose for your life. Romans 8 28 doesn't work for you.

If you got your own private agenda. And you got something you plan to do for your own life. Well God bless you brother, sister. But Romans 8 28 is not for you. If you're seeking comfort on this earth.

And ease for yourself. And pretending to serve the Lord. For your own gain and profit. Brother forget it. Romans 8 28 is not for you. But if you can go to God and say. Lord I've got no purpose on earth.

Except your purpose. I've got no ambition on earth. Except what you plan for me. Then Romans 8 28 is for you. So I don't believe that the vast majority of Christians. Live in Romans 8 28. In fact very very few believers.

Live in Romans 8 28. Because most believers have got their own private agenda. They got their own plan. They got their own agenda. Well I don't know what promises there are for you then. But this is for those who are called according to his purpose.

And who love him with all their hearts. Be one of them. And your life will be blessed on earth. Because then you can say. Only such people can say verse 31. If God is for us. Who is against us. And all the rest of those wonderful verses.

Are for such people. Nobody can be against me. God is on my side. Jesus Christ intercedes for me. Everything. No one can bring a charge against me. No one can condemn me. Verse 33 and 34. No one can separate me from the love of Christ.

What a blessed position. Even tribulation or the sword. Somebody can chop off my head. But he can't separate me from the love of Christ. Here is a man who is. Verse 37. More than a conqueror. Do you want to be more than a conqueror.

God's Sovereignty, Israel, and the Obedience of Faith

An overwhelming conqueror. This is the way. This is the height. Of triumph in our personal life. In chapter 9, 10 and 11. We read here. That. This is more about Israel. It's like something written in brackets.