Romans

LESSONS 17-18

By Jim McCracken and Rich Kao © Five Stones Impact 2024

Romans

EARLY CHURCH LESSON 17

ROMANS 1-8

01 OBSERVATIONS 1. What did Paul say was the sign of Jesus’ human nature, what confirmed him as the Son of God, and how did this relate to the church in Rome?

8. Why was righteousness credited to Abraham, to whom is he a father, and how does that relate to us today? (CHAPTER 4)

(CHAPTER 1) 9. What do sufferings produce and how has God poured out his love? (CHAPTER 5) 2. Paul wanted to impart a gift to them, what would he receive back? (CHAPTER 1)

10. How does Paul contrast Adam with Jesus?

(CHAPTER 5)

3. How are God’s eternal power and divine nature revealed? (CHAPTER 2)

11. How does baptism picture the Christian life and how should we then live? (CHAPTER 6)

4. Generally, how did the Gentiles know how to do

12 How does Paul use the analogy of being slaves and what are the wages? (CHAPTER 6)

what was right when they did not have the law that was given to the Jews? (CHAPTER 2)

5. What was Paul’s main point to the Jews about knowing the law and being a Jew outwardly?

(CHAPTER 2)

6. When Paul quotes several Psalms and Isaiah, what is his point about sin, the law, and righteousness? (CHAPTER 3)

7. Paul says that Jews have an advantage of knowing the law, but in what way does he say Gentiles and Jews are alike? (CHAPTER 3)

13. In what way is marriage like our relationship with Christ? (CHAPTER 7) 14. How did Paul learn what sin was and what was the initial result? (CHAPTER 7) 15. What obligation are we free from through life in the Spirit, and why is there no longer condemnation? (CHAPTER 8) 16. What does God give us in addition to sending his own Son? (CHAPTER 8)

LESSON 17 : ROMANS 1-8

02 DEEPER THOUGHT 1. What is the character of the righteous revealed in the gospel? (CHAPTER 1) 2. What are the invisible qualities of God, how have they been revealed, and how does this affect mankind as a whole? (CHAPTER 1) 3. When people exchanged worship of the true God with worship of images and idols, what was the result, and what evil outlook was the worst of all the sins Paul listed?

(CHAPTER 1) 4. What leads toward repentance, and why does this mean we should not pass judgment on others?

(CHAPTER 2) 5. Paul says righteousness is by faith, but he also quotes Psalm 62 saying that God will judge each person according to what he has done. How do these two thoughts fit together?

(CHAPTER 2) 6. When the Father made Jesus a sacrifice of atonement, how did this demonstrate his justice?

(CHAPTER 3) 7. What is the significance of Abraham being credited as righteous before the law was given?

(CHAPTER 4) 8. How did God demonstrate his love toward us in the time when Christ died? (CHAPTER 5) 9. When awareness of sin increased because the law was added through Moses, what also increased?

(CHAPTER 5) 10. What is the basic proof that we do not want to purposely sin and put God’s grace to the test?

(CHAPTER 6) 11. What is the answer to the war within us that causes us to do what we don’t want to do, and keeps us from doing the right things we desire? (CHAPTER 7) 12. What is the result in our lives when that same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is living in us and giving life to our mortal bodies? (CHAPTER 8) 13. What is the result of God’s foreknowing us, and predestining us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus? (CHAPTER 8) 14. What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? (CHAPTER 8)

LESSON 17 |ROMANS 1-8

03 CONSIDERATION CORNER ANSWERS TO LESSON 17

Consider this: In chapters 6, 7, and 8, Paul shows that we are dead to sin but alive to God, dead to the law but married to Christ, and dead to the flesh but led by the Spirit!

QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT

OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus was a descendant of David and was declared with power to be the Son of God through his resurrection. The church had a faith in the Christ that was reported all over the world. (1: 1-8) 2. He would also be encouraged by their faith. (1:11-12) 3. Through the creation of all that he made. (1:19-20) 4. By nature they do what is required by the law and therefore are a law for themselves. (2:14) 5. Just knowing the law is worthless if they did not do what was in the law, and a man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly. (2:17-29) 6. We become conscious of sin through the law, not one person is righteous on his own. It is only by faith.

(3:9-31) 7. Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin and both are justified by faith. (3:9 - 31) 8. He believed God by faith. He is the father of both Jews and Gentiles and we are all part of the “many nations” of promise. (4:1-17) 9. Perseverance, character, and hope. Into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (5:3-5) 10. Sin entered the world through the one man Adam, which brought judgment and condemnation. The one man, Jesus Christ, came with righteousness bringing the gift of justification, which is life for all who believe.

(5:12-21) 11. We were buried with Christ in the waters of baptism as a symbol and coming up out of the water pictures us being resurrected with Christ. We should consider the old life of sin dead, and live a new life with God. (6:1-14) 12. We used to be slaves to sin but now are slaves to righteousness. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (6:15-23) 13. Our former husband, which was sin, died so are free to marry Christ and bear fruit to God (7:1-4) 14. He learned what sin was through the law, which brought death. (7:7-11) 15. There is no longer condemnation because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. We no longer have an obligation to the sinful nature. (8:1-2, 12) 16. He gives us all things. (8:32)

1. It is a righteousness by faith, from first to last. (1:17) 2. God’s power and divine nature are revealed in everything God created so that men are without excuse (1:20) 3. God gave them over to their shameful sins and depraved minds. They not only continued in these sins but also approved of those who practiced them. (1:2132) 4. It’s the kindness of God that leads toward repentance. We sin like all people so God is the only righteous one who can judge. (2:1-4) 5. If we receive God’s righteousness by faith, then we will seek to do things that are good and right. The good works do not bring us salvation, rather, it is because we are saved by faith that we do good to the glory of God. (2:5-10) 6. God’s justice requires a sacrifice for payment of sins.

Christ’s sacrifice and shed blood brought redemption.

(3:23 - 26) 7. It proved the righteousness he received was by faith and did not come by works of the law. He became the father of both Jew and Gentile. (4:1-17) 8. Christ died for us while we were powerless, ungodly, sinners. (5:6 - 8) 9. God’s grace. (5:20 - 21) 10. When we live as slaves to God, walking in righteousness. (6:15 - 23) 11. Have our minds focused on God’s word and live through Jesus Christ our Lord. (7:21 - 25) 12. We will be led by the Spirit and live as children of God. (8:11 - 17) 13. We are then called by God, justified, and glorified.

(8:29 - 30) 14. Not only do we have eternal life through Christ conquering death, God has also given us all things. No one can bring a charge against us because our sins are forgiven, and nothing can separate us from his love.

(8:31 - 39)

EARLY CHURCH LESSON 18

ROMANS 9-16

01 OBSERVATIONS 1. Though Paul had great love for Jews who were his people, who did he say were the actual children of Abraham? (CHAPTER 9) 2. God is the potter and we are the clay. What must we avoid thinking and saying to God in that respect?

(CHAPTER 9) 3. What is the difference between Israel’s attempt at righteousness versus those who are saved, whether Jew or Gentile? (CHAPTER 10) 4. How are the feet of those who bring good news beautiful? (CHAPTER 10) 5. What proof does Paul give that God did not reject his people Israel? (CHAPTER 11) 6. In Paul’s analogy of the olive tree, who is the root, who are the branches broken off, and who are the branches grafted in? (CHAPTER 11)

7. What are the seven different gifts, given by the grace of God, to the various members of the body of Christ? (CHAPTER 12) 8. What are some ways Paul describes overcoming evil with good? (CHAPTER 12) 9. How does Paul describe earthly authorities to God, and how are we to relate to them?

10. In Paul’s thinking, what does it look like to be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ? (CHAPTER 14) 11. What is the practical application of Paul’s statement that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? (CHAPTER 14) 5. How do the things written in the past help us?

(CHAPTER 15)

LESSON 18: ROMANS 9-16

02 DEEPER THOUGHT

1. How does God’s purpose of election stand in relation to people like Pharaoh? Did he have free choice? (CHAPTER 9)

2. How is Jesus a “stumbling stone?” (CHAPTER 9)

3. What is the application when Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:14 and Isaiah 28:16? (CHAPTER 10)

4. How do the kindness and sternness of God relate to Jews and Gentiles in the big picture?

(CHAPTER 11)

5. What does Paul mean when he says all Israel will be saved and God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable? (CHAPTER 11)

6. How are we able to test and approve God’s good, perfect, and pleasing will? (CHAPTER 12)

7. What does putting on the armor of light mean? (CHAPTER 13)

8. What will it be like when we stand before God’s judgment seat? (CHAPTER 14)

9. What is our example in accepting one another? (CHAPTER 15)

10. Why does Paul think the Christians in Rome are competent to instruct one another? (CHAPTER 15) 11. What is the purpose of all the greetings in this chapter? (CHAPTER 16)

LESSON 18 | ROMANS 9-16

03 CONSIDERATION CORNER

ANSWERS TO LESSON 18 OBSERVATIONS

Consider this: In Romans, Paul writes about a wide range of subjects from God’s sovereignty and election to Israel’s unbelief and the acceptance of Gentiles. He writes about sin and righteousness, grace, and faith. He talks about the last judgment and present circumstances. Yet amid all these immense subjects, Paul also focuses on the importance of personal relationships, saying, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT

1. Those of the promises of God, whether Jew or Gentile. (9:6-9, 23-26) 1. Pharaoh had free choice but numerous times did not 2. Talking back to God and questioning his will. (9:19honor God. God showed great patience, yet, in his 21) foreknowledge God saw this and raised him up as an 3. Israel sought to establish their own righteousness by object of his wrath. (9:14-24) the law. True righteousness comes by faith through 2. Israel pursued righteousness by works of the law and grace, both Jew and Gentile. (10:1-13) without faith. They stumbled over Jesus, not 4. They are sent to preach the gospel and people hear. recognizing him as their Messiah who brought salvation They believe in Jesus when they hear and call on him. by faith. (9:30-33) (10:14-15) 3. The word of faith is in our hearts so when we confess 5. God has a remnant chosen by his grace. (11:1-6) that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the 6. The root is Israel, the Jews are the branches broken dead we are saved and never put to shame. (10:8-11) off, and the Gentiles are the branches grafted in.

4. His sternness was expressed toward the Jews who (11:17-24) were the branches cut off. His kindness was to the 7. Prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, Gentiles who were grafted in. Everyone must continue leading, and showing mercy. (12:4-8) in his kindness or be cut off and the Jews can be 8. Cling to good, be devoted in love, honor, and share grafted in again when they put their faith in Christ. with one another, live in harmony, do what is right, and (11:22-24) live in peace. (12:9-21) 5. Israel is experiencing a hardening for a time until the 9. They are established by God as his servants. fullness of the Gentiles has come, but there is yet Therefore, we are to submit to authorities and not salvation for Jews through Jesus the Messiah because rebel. (13:1-7) God’s call is true and timeless. (11:25-29) 10. Our only debt is to love each other and practice 6. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and loving our neighbor as ourselves. (13:8-10, 14) pleasing to God, and we are transformed by the 11. Our emphasis should be on the awesome things renewing of our minds. (12:1-2) that come from the Holy Spirit and not on judging 7. Being alert, putting off the deeds of darkness, and people by what they eat or don’t eat. (14) behaving decently rather than gratifying the desires of 12. It teaches us, which results in endurance and the sinful nature. (13:11-14) encouragement that gives us hope. (15:4) 8. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God, and we will all give an account of ourselves to God. (14:11-12) 9. We accept one another as Christ accepted us. (15:7) 10. They are full of goodness and complete in knowledge. (15:14) 11. This makes the letter real and historically accurate.

This letter was to actual people in Rome who were Christians and facing challenges in the faith. (16)