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Bro. Otis Fisher
The book of Romans. Let's have a word of prayer as we start today Our Heavenly Father we come This morning to a new book a new portion of your word. I feel so strongly about this book that I hope and pray that you can put the words in my mouth.
That will help all of us understand more of the truth in the name of Christ. Some opening remarks. Concerning the book of Romans or the letter of Romans prophecy Is not foretelling the future it is a declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means.
Prophecy is to edify comfort encourage the believers first Corinthians 14 3. But he that prophesied Speaketh unto men to edification in exhortation and comfort. The teacher of today has taken the place of the prophet of yesterday.
2nd Peter 2 1 and There were false prophets also among the people. Even as there shall be false teachers among you Who privately shall bring in damnable heresies Even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift Destruction.
I want us to realize that God did not use the Greek language just because it was here. He brought it into existence So that the most expressive speech Could be used To give his mind to us in writing this letter the master Craftsman Paul carries on a rather complicated method of facts.
While he's teaching on one thing He gives us the opportunity of learning at least one and perhaps two other necessary facts. Something to always remember. God is the center of all things. We have grown up without the teaching we automatically Suppose that we were the center of all things That just comes natural.
But man is not the center. God is learn to look at every event from the viewpoint of God. Now there are some events that we need to look at it from the viewpoint of man. But I don't worry about you seeing those.
What I want us to understand is as Much as possible to look at each event from God's viewpoint. Paul never had been in Rome when he wrote this letter. The Lord had him send it to Rome which was the center of the world Crossroads of the world the metropolis of the world.
And we start now with verse 1. Paul a servant of Jesus Christ Called to be an apostle Separated unto the gospel of God. The word servant in the Greek is doulos. You must remember that word D-o-u-l-o-s Because it is used extensively throughout this letter.
A doulos means a slave forever to your master write down these Scripture references. I'll read them. If you just write down the reference Exodus 21 5 and 6. And it says this concerning a bond servant and if the servant Shall plainly say I love my master my wife my children.
I will not go out free. Then the master shall bring him into the judges he shall also bring him to the door or unto the doorpost and His master shall bore his ears through with an all. And he shall serve him forever.
Doulos the The Greek the Hebrew also had lots of different words That we translated into one servant Just as most of the language has been Translated into very few words in ours, but this particular servant was a bond servant.
That meant that he had gained his freedom. But he chose to stay with his master. If the master agreed then they would go to court and And the judge would hand down a ruling after hearing everything much as the wood today.
And if everything was agreeable with all three the master the judge and the slave then to make it legal the master was to take the slave to a doorpost and Pierce his ear and put a ring in it. Now the custom changed over the years.
The heathen world also had the same law and A lot of the slaves were branded or tattooed. One period of history great they had an iron band placed around their neck. But all it was was to identify this person as Belonging to his master and the only way Dennis that that Relationship could be broken Was by the death of either the slave or the master.
Now I'm telling you all of this. So I hope you remember because when we get further into the book It become very necessary for us to remember the doulos and the bond slave Relationship and how I can only be broken by death.
Paul is servant of Jesus Christ called to be. He's called an apostle. He is a called apostle. The word apostle should be translated ambassador and we all understand what ambassador means it. The Ambassador is one that's in a foreign country with all of the power of the government and city.
Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He had a commission to carry out The orders given to him by the one sending him now Paul was a called apostle. Separated. This is a past perfect imperative verb. One call does all.
Never needs to be called again. Paul was separated forever unto the Lord Verse 2 which he had promised for by his prophets in the Holy Scripture. I Was talking about the gospel Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead.
It is the gospel that was promised before even in the Old Testament. It's not spelled out by name, but it was there. Think of it like this. In the Old Testament, the church was hidden in the New Testament.
It's revealed the word declared means to be set forth proven made visible and it was by the resurrection of Jesus from among the dead. With power the word for power is Dunamis. We get our word dynamite from the same Greek foundation.
This power was the same power that saved you and I. The same power that raised him from the dead. It is the same power that Jesus used while he was here on earth. Everything that he did Was done by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He did nothing of his own power. Please fix that in your mind for keeps. He did only the work of the father. He did only the will of the father and he had only the words of the father. Nothing of himself.
He had the Holy Spirit without any measure whatsoever. Romans 12 3 for I say Through the grace given unto me. To every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.
But to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. So Dennis we have this power of the Holy Spirit. But it is a measured amount that is given to us each one. It is measured Debbie according to the Talent the gift.
Your position in his church body. You have the power of the Holy Spirit and without that power you could never exercise your gift and this is why we have one reason why we have the power is to exercise our gifts and Each one is different.
There's no two the same. No one can take your place and you can take no one else's place. So there don't ever look in envy at somebody else and say oh, I wish I could do that. Don't do that. You just do what you're supposed to do.
Everything that Jesus did while Aaron he did by the power. He preempted himself of his heavenly power Greg. What does preemptive mean? What's pre me and what's empty me? So he Preempted His power that he had when he was in heaven.
Himself he did nothing of his own power. He left all of that office in heaven. Now. He was the God man. He was Messiah. He was the promised one the anointed one. He was God on earth. But in the wisdom of the triune God Jesus needed to come to identify himself with us.
And the only way he could do that was to become one of us. Have you ever studied the ant? How much strength they have how diligent they are how hard they work and how the Their government is lined up to have workers and everything.
Now what if joy you wanted to Explain to those ants the joy of salvation. What would you need to do? No, I'm not asking whether you could. What what would you need to do? You're leaving out one thing.
What what you say? That's right. Did you say that? All right, you would have to become an ant. You said it so quickly I couldn't hear you. No. Don't take that attitude. Don't oh, I wish you all could work from a positive side instead of negative side.
Don't say something and then say well, I may be wrong if you think you're wrong don't say it. In other words keep quiet. No, you would have to become an ant. You'd have to become as they are. That's exactly what God did he become one of us he had to To bring the mind of God to the mind of man.
Seven to all that be in Rome. But love it of God call to be saints and To be is in italics. Which means what? So you should read it called the Saints grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
One point that I always try to remember to mention is that Grace and peace are presented to us in exactly the right order. You cannot have peace until you have the grace of God. So the grace is always mentioned first.
Again, we see the word called God has never called anyone. Now listen. He has never called one of his people and they refused to come. John 6 44 tells us what? Somebody quoted Greg's. Unless the father draw him that means drag compel by a seer superior irresistible force.
So you have no say so in it. Craig when he calls you come. Fortunately, he has given you the belief so that you want to come first aid first first and foremost, I Thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all.
David he must have been from the south that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Now Richard what is what did they mean literally by the term the whole world? Well, the known world to those people.
They didn't know about America. Basically the Roman Empire. Now. Please notice and always look for things that are not written. That all things pass through Jesus the Christ. Both directions to God and from God they pass through Jesus the Christ.
Nine for God is my witness. Whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son. That without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Now he involves God. John in his statement as God is my witness.
Someone give me a definition of the word witness. Anyone that's half of it. All right, that's two-thirds of it and it won't change his mind even under death. That is a witness. Paul was such a witness and he proved it.
So a witness is one that will not change his story. Even if it costs him his life. Now, are you a witness for Jesus Christ? It's easy to sit here and say so. Peter said I'll follow you even unto death and he was sincere.
He meant it. He just didn't know that of which he spoke. Spirit. Paul said it is by the spirit my spirit. The spirit is that part of us that makes it possible to be saved. Way back in Genesis, you remember?
The Trinity said let us make man in our image after our likeness. Well their image and likeness is spiritual. Man is a trichotomy. Kathy what's that mean? He's made up of three parts. Body soul. Spirit.
I wish I knew what's going on. That's all right make a pardon body soul and spirit. The animal does not have the spirit. They cannot be saved. This is why they could be used as a picture of Jesus Christ because they were innocent.
But we have the spirit every human being has the image of God in him. If that were not so No one could ever be saved and no one could ever be judged. See an animal cannot be judged. Because they do not have the spirit.
All right, I call upon God convince you is what he's saying because of the great distance between us. And I make mention of you always in my prayers. They were always on his mind. Spirit that part of us that makes it possible to be saved and For the seed of Satan to be judged as a child of God.
Who is spirit we like Paul can serve him only? How Greg? In the spirit, that's right. We are to mention our brothers always in our prayers each other. Those you know those you do not know. Those yet to come.
Verse 10 making requests if by any means now at length I Might have a prosperous journey. By the will of God to come to you now look at all of the parameters he put on this. He makes a request. That means he's not demanding.
It is his wish. That if by any means. Dennis what's it mean that you do something by this means? By any way. Now at length meaning any way at any time. There's no time limit that I might not my Will but your will that I might have a prosperous journey.
By the will of God John could he have made the journey other than by the will of God. No. Whether he knew it or not. That I may come to you. So happens that the means in this case of Paul going to Rome.
There was a shipwreck involved. Now he hadn't planned on that and he hadn't asked for that, but he said by any means. Which this is the way God had it happen. In all of our goings and comings we must ask for safety and for understanding.
And know that if it happens it was a will of God. You all understand that? Anyone that does not Speak now or forever hold your peace. All things are by the will of God doesn't mean that we understand it.
We may never understand a lot of things but this I know. That it was by the will of God. Why does man have such very little trouble in believing past actions and Having been the will of God and at the same time question anything in the future.
Why is that David. When we brag on being able to look back and see how everything fit together. Where the same is saying I run my life by works. And not by faith. It makes no difference past or future with God.
For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end. You may be established. Paul wanted to Teach these people more of the Word of God. I think every called teacher has the same burning desire.
The Problem I run into Richard. I want to cram it all down your throat right now because I might not be here tomorrow. If a preacher has no love for the teaching of the Word David what should he do quit?
He has no place in the ministry 12. That is that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. There's only one faith in us. It's the same no matter where you are in the world.
Or out of it. So we find that this mutual faith teaches us. That while we minister to others they minister to us. And that's the way it should be. Now I would not have you ignorant brethren. That oftentimes I proposed to come to you.
But was not let hitherto. The old English term let means to be hindered. That I might have some fruit among you also even as among other Gentiles. Fruit here is not oranges and apples. What is it? What.
Okay, it would be spiritual fruit. I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise. I Am debtor is that Roger and I can't see back there. Oh, what is your name?
Well, whoever you are. He says I am debtor. What does that mean. Paul says I owe people. We owe people. We too are debtors. Because we have received of God. But he says I am debtor. Both to the Greeks and to the barbarians.
Now Richard the word barbarian sounds rather hard and harsh. What's he mean. What's another word we could have used all right both to the wise and to the unwise. Smart and ignorant. Oh, that's your words.
I didn't say that Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus the Christ. When did that happen. Whereby he was. Because of this he was made debtor to all other people and so have we. That which God has given us we are to use for the improvement of others.
Thereby Benefiting herself. He gives us nothing Greg to hoard to keep to stash away. He gives everything to us to use. But where to use it? If he just worked through us, we'd have no responsibility. He works in us.
Therefore we have responsibility. Fifteen so as much as in me is. I Am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation.
To everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The word I am NOT ashamed of the gospel. Dennis what's that mean to you? That's right. That's right. He says I. He said I have no fear.
None whatsoever. That's right. But his pride is in God not in himself. I Hope we all brag on God and not ourself. So he's yes, if you know what you're gonna say now. She didn't know what she's saying that.
The Holy Spirit worked right then. Right here. So Debbie we know he's here. Well after we recovered we voted her out. As much as in me boy. Thank you, Joey. I'm not ashamed of the gospel to everyone that believeth.
Can the carnal mind believe unto salvation. No way they can believe facts. They can understand facts. But not with the belief that's demanded in Philippians 129 we have another verse that must be a building block in your education.
For unto you it is given In behalf of Christ. Not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Not for our sake but for his sake it has been given unto us to believe. Greg if the belief had not been given us we'd have never been able to believe.
Philippians 2 13. For it is God Which worketh in you? Both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It does not say it is God which works through you. He works in you to will. Miss Fisher, what would that mean?
All right. And to do Debbie what's it mean to do? Enjoy, what's it mean to do of his good pleasure and it pleases him. Romans 8 5 for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. But they that are after the spirit mind the things of the spirit.
Romans 8 6 for to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can it be.
Will there be any potential Christians in hell David? It's absolutely right. Will there be any? What. Will there be some in heaven that should have gone to hell you sure. That. That's right. That's right.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law. So then they that are in the flesh Can please God as your Bible read different in mind? They that are in the flesh can not ever please God.
Dennis. Described for me a person in the flesh. What about if that person comes to church every Sunday? What if they insist on building the biggest church with the most? Gothic Architecture possible. The point is the building is not what's necessary.
Fine clothes is not what's necessary. It's the belief. It's the spirit. You cannot worship God. With a fine building you cannot worship God with anything. But ye are not in the flesh. But in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you that makes you spiritual.
The real you is a spiritual being the real you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ He doesn't belong to him. Meaning everybody that does have the Spirit of Christ belongs to Christ. In Corinthians we find this the third chapter 11th verse for other foundations.
Can no man lay than that that is laid? Steve what is the foundation of our belief Christ? Now if any man build upon this foundation with gold or silver precious stones wood the able pay and stubble. Hable and stubble.
Every man's work shall be made manifest. Greg. What's it mean made manifest? All right. Means it has to be tried and tested. For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire. Now Understand this is written in terms that we understand if he really described to us the judgment.
We wouldn't understand it. We wouldn't comprehend it. This we do because we know that you can put certain metals in the fire and it will not deteriorate. You can put Hable and stubble in. And they'll burn up.
For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed with fire and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide with which he hath built thereon He shall receive a reward if any man's work shall be burned.
He shall suffer loss. But he himself shall be saved yet. So as by fire. Now For just a moment. Let's look at every man's work shall be burned if every man's work and He shall suffer loss. What does the loss refer to?
That's right. Exactly, right. And it would be a loss if you did not receive What you thought she was going to. But if you thought she was going to you wouldn't receive it. Anyhow. Our deeds are done unknown to us.
And we can prove that by Scripture. Which we will do sometime 17 for therein back in Romans 1 now 17 for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. And it is written the just shall live by faith.
Now here's a good term Kathy. I want you to explain it to me. God's Righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. Any thoughts Greg help her out Greg? All right, but how did the first person get it by faith?
So it comes from faith. And it goes to faith that's right and The coming of it by faith is received only by those that have faith. So it is from faith to faith. To us. And then to others. Understand Kathy understand what I'm saying.
The just shall live by faith. Now there's a good Old Testament statement. The word righteousness is an old Anglo-Saxon word, which originally as Kathy said was pronounced right wiseness. And a wise man aims to attain the best in by the use of the best means is a wise person.
He that knows most and acts best as given by God is a wise righteous man. This righteousness is commanded by God and will stand the test of judgment out of faith into faith. God uses faith to bring us into salvation.
We live by faith we die in faith. There is no sin that cannot be traced to unbelief. His righteousness and you'll have to listen close on this. His righteousness is that righteousness. Which his righteousness? demands That all of his people have the same righteousness.
It has to be like that because his righteousness is Demands that the same righteousness Be expressed in his people. There's not something different. It's the same thing. We must stop here. We'll begin next week with 18 now.
Before you jump and run. I have handouts. Back at the beginning of the word resurrection was mentioned Richard. Will you? Hand these out for me. Then I have just a few copies of John 3 16 explained if anybody would like to have one.
Feel free to come by and get it. I'll lay them down here on the front the explanation of John 3 16. It's been grossly misunderstood for years. All right, we have one minute. Anybody have something they want to say?