Well, good morning. Let me invite you to take your copy of God's Word and join me in Romans chapter 16.
! Romans chapter 16.
Romans chapter 16. Our text for today is Romans 16 verses 1 through 16 and verses 21 through 24.
As we begin to consider chapter 16, we find ourselves coming to the beginning of the end of this glorious letter.
I find in myself a bit of joy. It is always nice to complete a large task, and I am anticipating our next study.
And I find in myself a bit of sadness, as I have really enjoyed preaching and hearing preached and studying and preparation this wonderful text.
I have chose today to lead us in thinking about the first 16 verses of chapter 16 and those additional three verses,
four verses, 21, 22, 23, and 24, because they contain all of Paul's concluding remarks concerning Christian people.
He has a following warning as well as a doxology at the end, but this is all of that Christian people address found in these verses.
These 19 or maybe 20, if my count was wrong there, verses mention 35 people by name,
as well as the mention of groups of Christians in households and companions to people mentioned by name.
This text is the longest such list in the New Testament, and it begs the question,
what do we do with these kinds of verses?
Often we read right past them as we're coming to the close or even in the opening sometimes of epistles.
What do we do with them when we're given the task of preaching verse by verse through a text of Scripture?
When I preach before the reading of the text for the sermon, I say,
Beloved, this is God's Word to us, written for His glory and our good.
We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
I do so as a means of drawing your attention to the weightiness of the task before us
and to remind us of what we intend to accomplish together.
It's no small deal to open up the Bible together and consider it each Lord's Day.
However, we do not see any clearly expressed promises in today's verses.
Neither do we see any clearly expressed commands.
So what do we do with it?
We do believe that this is an inspired text.
It has God as its author.
However, the inspiration of the Bible does not mean that God didn't use the culture and language and experience and personality of the human author of the text.
Today's text is the place that we see this most readily.
Paul was a real man, carried along by the Spirit in the writing of this letter to real people.
There's a real context in which he's writing.
That doesn't minimize the fact that it is God's Word for us today,
but it needs to be understood in that light.
Paul, in this closing chapter, who we see as giving dictation to a man named Tertius,
expresses his affection and the affections of his companions for the Christians in Rome.
I love these verses and names that are in these verses.
So let's read together.
Romans 16, verses 1-16, and then I'll jump to 21-24.
But before I do, let me remind you, beloved,
that this is God's Word to us,
written for His glory and our good.
And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises
and obey its commands.
I'm going to let you know before I read
that the way I pronounce all of these names
is not the official pronunciation,
and you should not quote me.
In fact, they're probably wrong the way I pronounce them,
but I'm going to do my very best.
So here we go.
Romans 16, verse 1.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe,
a servant of the church at Kincrea,
that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints
and help her in whatever she may need from you,
for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
Greet Prissa and Akilah,
my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
who risked their necks for my life,
to whom not only I give thanks,
but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
Greet also the church in their house.
Greet my beloved Epinetus,
who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
Greet Andernicus and Junia,
my kinsmen and fellow prisoners.
They are well known to the apostles,
and they were in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus,
my beloved in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus,
our fellow worker in Christ,
and my beloved Stachys.
Greet Appelus,
yep, not Apples,
Appellus,
let's try that,
who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.
Greet my kinsmen,
Herodian.
Greet those in the Lord
who belong to the family of Narcissus.
Greet those workers in the Lord,
Trephana and Trephosa.
Greet the beloved Persis,
who has worked hard in the Lord.
Greet Rufus,
chosen in the Lord,
also his mother,
who has been a mother to me as well.
Greet Asencritus,
Phlegon,
Hermes,
Petrobus,
Hermas,
and the brothers who are with them.
Greet Philologus,
perhaps,
Julia,
Nereus,
and his sister,
and Olympus,
and all the saints who are with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ greet you.
Timothy,
my fellow worker,
greets you.
So do Lucius,
and Jason,
and Sosipater,
my kinsmen.
I,
Tertius,
who write this letter,
greet you in the Lord.
Gaius,
who is host to me
and to the whole church,
greets you.
Erastus,
the city treasurer,
and our brother,
Cordus,
greet you.
Most of these people's names
are found only in this place,
and we know very little
about them.
We know Prissa,
or Priscilla,
and Achilla in verse 3.
We read about them in Acts 18,
and know that they were tent makers
that Paul stayed with
in Corinth.
They now find themselves
in Rome.
We can be fairly certain
that the Rufus of verse 13
is the one mentioned
in Mark 15 and verse 21.
There it says,
and they compelled a passerby,
Simon of Cyrene,
who was coming in from the country,
the father of Alexander and Rufus,
to carry his cross.
So the one who carried
the cross of Christ,
it's most probable
that this is his son.
Otherwise,
why would Mark have mentioned
him being the father
of Alexander and Rufus?
Of course,
we know the Timothy
of verse 21.
So Cepater,
whose name is also mentioned
in verse 21,
is likely the Sopater
of Acts 20,
who meets Paul at Troas
after he left Ephesus.
If so,
he was one of the Bereans
who were more noble
than those in Thessalonica,
who received the word
with all eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily
to see if these things
were so,
many of whom believed.
That's found in Acts 17.
But the rest of these names
are unknown elsewhere.
So no mention anywhere else
in the text.
There is some evidence
based on the actual names themselves
that some of them
may have been related to Paul,
that some served
in a noble's house,
that others were slaves,
but none of this is sure.
It's on some level
just some conjecture.
What we can be sure of, though,
is that Paul loved them.
And that's what's so cool
about this list of names.
These 35 people
mentioned by name
plus some others
who were around them.
Paul used expensive
writing material
to send this tome
of theological excellence
to the church in Rome,
and he spared no expense
to take the space
to mention
these beloved Christians
by name.
And you might think,
well, he had some extra room
on the papyrus,
so he thought,
I might as well
greet some others.
But they used writing material
in this day.
He would have been
doing them a service
to send them
extra writing material
that he hadn't written on.
They could cut it up
and use it for something else.
It was extremely expensive.
And so Paul,
by the power of the Spirit,
thought it important
to take the time
to write down
these people,
for them to be commended
and greeted.
The Greek word
translated greet
is a good translation
of that word.
But it does mean
more than just say hi.
Somehow we use the term
in that way often.
It's so much more than that.
It carries with it
the meaning of
welcoming,
enfolding,
or embracing.
And so we can imagine
that Paul is saying,
give so and so
a great hug from me.
He is affectionate
for these people.
Why is it that he is
so affectionate?
Note what Paul mentions
of them.
He calls one a sister,
others brothers,
servants,
saints,
a patron,
fellow workers
in the Gospel,
the church,
the very people
that Christ died for,
first convert,
likely under his ministry,
kinsmen,
fellow prisoners,
beloved,
approved in Christ,
chosen,
and a mother
to me.
All of these people
are dear to Paul
because they are all
recipients of God's grace
and pictures of God's grace
as they have supported
and labored alongside Paul
for the sake
of the Gospel.
These are
Christocentric relationships
that Paul
is expressing to us here.
I think we can most
readily draw
application from today's text
at this point
in two ways.
He asks,
what do we do
with a text like this?
I think right here,
on the forefront,
let me give to you,
I think,
two applications
of a text like this.
First,
we,
like Paul,
ought to know
people
by name
and not just
vaguely know them,
right,
not be able to just
run down a list
or point at a person
and know their name,
but know
who they
are.
Know how God
has shown them
grace in Christ
and how God
is using them
to love
and serve the church
and share
the Gospel.
We should know people
and we have a limited
capacity for that.
We don't have to know
all people,
but we should
know people
and I don't think
we should think
that Paul had
some special gift
for names
as we read
a text like this.
But he was affectionate
towards these people,
right?
They were in his heart
and he wanted
the church in Rome
to be sure
that these people
knew
that he was thinking
about them.
We are a part
of a family
of faith.
That church
that is invisible,
that we can't see,
that's spread across
the entirety
of the world
today
and throughout
time.
We couldn't
possibly know
the names
of all those people,
but we do have
a group.
We're gathered
together this morning
that we could
start that work
of knowing people
and knowing
how it is
that God
has been gracious
to them
and how it is
that they are
working by His grace
in the world
in which they live.
This is why
Paul encourages
greet one another
with a holy kiss.
It was culturally
normative to greet
a family member
in this day
by kissing them
on the forehead
or the cheek.
And the early church
had adopted the practice
as many of its members
were estranged
from their families.
They had adopted them
into the life
of the church.
They were saying
to one another,
we are in Christ.
Because of our faith
in Christ,
we are a family.
And this practice
had become known
as a holy kiss.
I know he's talking
about there.
Treat each other
as family
is what Paul
is encouraging here.
So don't kiss me
on the forehead
or the cheek
next Sunday.
But treat me
as family.
And there are other ways
we do familial things
together,
are there not?
We ought to be
thankful for one another
and recognize
that when we see
or think of one another,
that we are beholding
some measure
of God's grace.
Consider that
as we gather together.
A way that we are served
when we gather
as a church
is to look around
at people
who as far as we know
have been saved
by the grace
and mercy
of our God.
What a wonderful thing
that we face to face
can see people
and shake hands
and give hugs
and be reminded
that God is saving
a people
for his glory.
Do you want
to be encouraged
that our God
is kind-hearted
toward you?
I need that encouragement.
Pay attention
to how gracious
he is
to his people.
Stop for a moment
and think that maybe
the gospel
isn't powerful.
Well,
think about the way
the gospel
has been powerful
in the life
of others.
There are manifold
examples of that
in the life
of a local church.
So we ought to know
people
and know how it is
that God is working
in them
and through them.
Secondly,
we,
like Paul,
ought to recognize
that God
is advancing
his kingdom
through
lots
of people.
Paul the apostle,
right?
the apostle
to the Gentiles
is recognizing
that this church
in Rome
is about this work
itself,
right?
And that there are
people who are
carrying it out
by the grace of God.
If you are a leader
in any measure,
this should humble you
as a reminder
that God
doesn't
need you.
There's a list
of people
here in Romans 16
that God
is using,
right,
on top of
the ministry
of Paul.
It should humble us.
God doesn't
need us.
He's going to
accomplish his task
with or without
us.
If you don't
know how to fit
into the life
of a church,
you don't feel
like you're useful,
this should embolden
you as a reminder
that God
uses people
of various
gifting
and means
to accomplish
his purposes.
seemingly
insignificant
people
doing seemingly
insignificant
things
is most
normally
the way
that God
brings about
his reign
in the hearts
of his people.
It doesn't
feel like a big
deal
week in
and week out
to gather
with the church.
I'll say to you
honestly,
it doesn't feel
like a big deal
week in
and week out
to prepare
and to
preach
sermons.
I have the
stage right now,
everything happening
in this church
in a temporal
sense.
I'm doing it
at the moment
and yet
I've been doing
it for a lot
of years.
This sermon
doesn't feel
to me
to be significant
in any way
whatsoever.
It's just another
sermon in a line
of sermons,
but we have
seen the way
God uses
seemingly
insignificant
things to
accomplish
significant
things in
the hearts
of his people.
And so we
press on
and we do
the thing
that God
has given
us
to do.
So there's
this beautiful
thing going
on that God
is building
his kingdom
and he's
doing it
with lots
and lots
of people.
We see an
example of
that here
at the
beginning
of chapter
16.
I want you
to notice
and pay
special attention
to the
Christ-centered
nature of
how Paul
speaks
about these
people.
Here are
just a
handful
examples
if you
look at
the text.
In verse
2,
Paul says,
welcome her,
speaking of
Phoebe,
in the
Lord.
As a
Christian
sister.
Verse
3,
my
fellow
workers,
Prissa and
Akilah,
in Christ
Jesus.
Verse
5,
the
first
convert
to Christ
in the area
that's now
known as
Turkey.
Verse
7,
they were
in
Christ
before
me.
Verse
8,
my
beloved
in
the
Lord.
Verse
9,
my
fellow
workers
in
Christ.
Verse
10,
a palace
who is
approved
in
Christ.
Verse
11,
greet
those
in
the
Lord.
Verse
12,
greet
those
workers
in
the
Lord.
Verse
13,
Persis
who has
worked
hard
in
the
Lord.
Verse
14,
Rufus
chosen
in
the
Lord.
So we
see this
layered
up
language
of
Christ
sinness
as
Paul
speaks
about
these
people.
When
we feel
deeply
the
realities
of
the
gospel,
we
will
love
God's
people.
Now
I say
feel
deeply
because
many
of
us
have
a
lot
of
mental
knowledge.
We
can
carefully
articulate
the
doctrines
of
grace.
Many
of
you
could
have
taught
us
through
the
book
of
Romans.
I
am
quite
sure.
But
if
these
doctrines
don't
permeate
our
hearts
and
inform
our
every
thought
and
action
and
emotion,
then
we
have
failed
to
understand
them
rightly.
Jesus
tells
us,
in
John
13
and
verse
35,
by
this
all
people
will
know
you
are
my
disciples.
We
ought
to
be
really
paying
attention
to
what
Jesus
is
saying.
By
this
thing
I'm
about
to
tell
you,
all
people
will
know
you
are
my
disciples.
If
you
can
articulate
the
doctrines
of
grace,
it's
not
what
follows
that
statement.
It's
not
what
he
says.
I'm
not
saying
it's
not
important,
for
one
another.
So all
of that
doctrine
that is
so
incredibly
important
should
be
leading
us
to
this
place.
And I
love
chapter
16
because
Paul
expresses
this
great
affection
and
love
for
the
church
and
then
it
ends
with
the
doxology,
his
praise
of
God.
It's
where
all
of it
should
lead.
Recall
that Paul
spent
the first
11
chapters
of this
letter
carefully
outlining
how it
is that
we are
accepted
by
God.
We are
justified
by grace
alone
through
faith
alone
in the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
Christ
alone.
And now
having been
accepted
by God
what a
life of
faith
looks like
and what
the
doctrine
of
justification
means
for the
nations.
That's
where we
end
chapter
11.
The
beginning
in
chapter
12
he gives
specific
application
with a
particular
emphasis
on
Christian
love.
He
makes
statements
like
Romans
13
verse
8
no
one
anything
except
to
love
each
other
for
the
one
who
loves
another
has
fulfilled
the law.
I
love
these
verses
chapter
16
and
names
therein
because
Paul
is not
just
telling
us
how
we
ought
to
feel
toward
one
another
but
he
is
modeling
it
for
us.
Here
he's
not
just
saying
you
ought
to
love
others
he's
actually
showing
us
that
he
loves
others.
It's
so
good
to see
it
on
display
in
this
way.
All
of
the
things
that
Paul
is
taught
in
this
letter
lead
him
to
these
affections
and
ought
to
do
the
very
same
for
us.
So
I
want
to do
something
a bit
different
at this
point.
If you're
interested
I would
encourage
you to
read
some
of
it.
There's
some
good
guesses
about
who
these
people
actually
were.
The
character
of each
of them
is
pretty
plain.
You can
read
through
there
and
see
the
way
Paul
is
showing
us.
These
are
people
worth
emulating
for what
we can
know
about
them.
We
could
spend
some
time
talking
about
Phoebe
and
the
nature
of
what
Paul
means
and
calling
her
a
servant
of
the
church.
But I
think
that's
best
for
another
time.
I
have
given
to
you
the
application.
First
we
ought
to
know
God's
people
by name
and be
thankful
God's
grace.
And
secondly
we
ought
to
recognize
that
God
uses
people
many
of
them
for
the
advance
of
his
kingdom.
So
what
are
we
to
do
with
the
rest
of
our
time?
I
think
we
could
stop
at
that
point.
I
think
the
text
has
been
lead
us
through
a
reading
of
Paul's
letter
to
the
Romans.
I
have
made
this
case
that
this
is
his
conclusion
how
did
he
get
here
doctrinally?
As
we
prepare
ourselves
to
finish
our
study
of
Romans
in
the
coming
weeks
let's
be
reminded
of
the
glories
that
it
contains.
Let's
consider
what
Paul
lays
out
that
builds
the
foundation
for
his
affectionate
closing
words.
Now
to read
this
letter
in
its
entirety
would
take
about
an
hour
and
we're
not
going
to
do
that.
So I
have
abridged
it
for our
remaining
time.
I
made
choices.
Don't
be mad
at me
about
my
choices.
Please
don't
come
ask me
why I
left
one
thing
out
and not
another.
I
did the
best I
could
to
work
through
the
letter
and give
the
summary
of it.
You'll
find
there
will
be
full
chapters
read
because
I
can't
not
read
some
of
these
chapters
together
and
some
things
that
will
definitely
be
bounced
across.
But my
hope,
my prayer
for us
this morning
is that
we'll see
the beauty
of all
this
doctrine
and
where
it
leads
us.
So I'm
going to
begin
in chapter
1 and
verse 1.
So if you'll
join me
there,
chapter 1
and verse
1.
and I'm
going to
conclude
at chapter
15 and
verse 9
and I
will give
you
instruction
as I
proceed.
So be
ready to
jump and
skip with
me as
we move
through
this.
Romans
chapter
1 and
verse 1.
Paul,
a servant
of Christ
Jesus,
called to
be an
apostle,
set apart
for the
gospel of
God,
which he
promised
beforehand
through his
prophets
and the
holy
scriptures,
concerning
his son
who was
descended
from David
according to
the flesh
and was
declared to
be the
son of
God
in power
according
to the
spirit
of
holiness
by his
resurrection
from the
dead,
Jesus
Christ,
our
Lord,
through
whom we
have
received
grace
and
apostleship
to bring
about
the
obedience
of
faith
for the
sake
of his
name
among
all
the
nations,
including
you who
were called
to belong
to Jesus
Christ.
To all
those in
Rome,
who are
loved by
God
and called
to be
saints,
grace to
you and
peace from
God our
Father and
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
First,
I thank my
God through
Jesus Christ
for all of
you,
because your
faith is
proclaimed in
all the
world.
For God is
my witness,
whom I serve
with my
spirit in
the gospel
of his
Son,
that without
ceasing I
mention you
always in
my prayers,
asking that
somehow by
God's will
I may now
at last
succeed in
coming to
you.
For I
long to
see you,
that I
may impart
to you some
spiritual gift
to strengthen
you,
that is,
that we
may be
mutually
encouraged by
each other's
faith,
both yours
and mine.
I do not
want you to
be unaware,
brothers,
that I have
often intended
to come to
you,
but thus far
have been
prevented,
in order that
I may reap
some harvest
among you as
well as among
the rest of
the Gentiles.
I am under
obligation both
to Greeks
and to
barbarians,
both to the
wise and to
the foolish,
so I am
eager to
preach the
gospel to
you also
who are in
Rome.
For I am
not ashamed
of the
gospel,
for it is
the power
of God
for salvation
to everyone
who believes,
to the Jew
first and
also to the
Greek.
For in it
the righteousness
of God
is revealed
from faith
for faith,
as it is
written,
the righteous
shall live
by faith.
For the wrath
of God
is revealed
from heaven
against all
ungodliness
and unrighteousness
of men,
who by their
unrighteousness
suppress the
truth.
For what can
be known
about God
is plain to
them,
because God
has shown it
to them.
For his
invisible attributes,
namely his
eternal power
and divine
nature,
have been
clearly perceived
ever since the
creation of the
world and the
things that have
been made.
So they are
without excuse.
For although
they knew God,
they did not
honor him as
God or give
thanks to him,
but they became
futile in their
thinking,
and their
foolish hearts
were darkened.
Claiming to be
wise,
they became
fools,
and exchanged
the glory of
the immortal
God for images
resembling mortal
man and birds
and animals
and creeping
things.
Therefore God
gave them up
in the lust
of their hearts
to impurity,
to the dishonoring
of their bodies
among themselves,
because they
exchanged the
truth about God
for a lie,
and worshipped
and served the
creature rather
than the creator,
who was blessed
forever.
Amen.
For this reason
God gave them
up to dishonorable
passions.
For their women
exchanged natural
relations for those
who were contrary
to nature,
and the men
likewise gave up
natural relations
with women
and were consumed
with passion
for one another,
men committing
shameless acts
with men
and receiving
in themselves
the due penalty
for their error.
And since they
did not see fit
to acknowledge God,
God gave them
up to a debased
mind to do
what ought not
be done.
They were filled
with all manner
of unrighteousness,
evil,
covetousness,
malice.
They are full
of envy,
murder,
strife,
deceit,
maliciousness.
They are gossips,
slanderers,
haters of God,
insolent,
haughty,
boastful,
inventors of evil,
disobedient to parents,
foolish,
faithless,
heartless,
ruthless.
Though they know
God's righteous decree
that those who practice
such things deserve
to die,
they not only do them,
they give approval
to those
who practice them.
Therefore you have
no excuse,
O man,
every one of you
who judges.
For in passing judgment
on another
you condemn yourself
because you,
the judge,
practice the very
same things.
We know that
the judgment of God
rightly falls on those
who practice such things.
Do you suppose,
O man,
you judge those
who practice such things
and yet do them yourself
that you will escape
the judgment of God?
Skip to verse 12.
For all who have sinned
without the law
will also perish
without the law
and all who have sinned
under the law
will be judged
by the law.
For it is not the hearers
of the law
who are righteous
before God
but the doers of the law
who will be justified.
For when Gentiles
who do not have the law
by nature do
what the law requires,
they are a law
to themselves
even though they do
not have the law.
They show that
the work of the law
is written on their hearts
while their conscience
also bears witness
and their conflicting thoughts
accuse
or even excuse them.
On that day
when according to my gospel
God judges
the secrets of men
by Christ Jesus.
Chapter 3
and verse 10.
None is righteous.
No, not one.
No one understands.
No one seeks for God.
All have turned aside.
Together they have
become worthless.
No one does good.
Not even one.
Their throat is an open grave.
They use their tongues
to deceive.
The venom of asps
is under their lips.
Their mouth is full
of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift
to shed blood.
In their paths
are ruin and misery.
In the way of peace
they have not known.
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
Now we know
that whatever the law says
it speaks to those
who are under the law
so that every mouth
may be stopped
and the whole world
may be held accountable
to God.
For by works of the law
no human being
will be justified
in a sight
since through the law
comes knowledge
of sin.
But now the righteousness
of God
has been manifested
apart from the law
although the law
and the prophets
bear witness to it.
The righteousness of God
through faith
in Jesus Christ
for all who believe
for there is no distinction
for all have sinned
and fall short
of the glory of God
and are justified
by his grace
as a gift
through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus
whom God put forward
as a perpetuation
by his blood
to be received
by faith.
This was to show
God's righteousness
because in his divine
forbearance
he had passed over
former sins.
It would show
his righteousness
at the present time
that he might be just
and the justifier
of the one
who has faith
in Jesus.
Then what becomes
of our boasting?
It is excluded.
By what kind of law?
By a law of works?
No,
but by the law
of faith.
For we hold
that one
is justified
by faith
apart from works
of the law.
Chapter 4
and verse 4.
Now to the one
who works
his wages
are not counted
as a gift
but as his due.
And to the one
who does not work
but believes
in him
who justifies
the ungodly
his faith
is counted
as righteousness.
Chapter 5
verse 1.
Therefore since
we have been justified
by faith
we have peace
with God
through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Through him
we have also obtained
access by faith
into this grace
in which we stand
and we rejoice
in hope
of the glory of God.
Not only that
but we rejoice
in our sufferings
knowing that
suffering produces
endurance
and endurance
produces character
and character
produces hope
and hope
does not put us
to shame
because God's love
has been poured
into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit
who has been given
to us.
For while we were
still weak
at the right time
Christ died
for the ungodly.
For one would scarcely
die for a righteous person
though perhaps
for a good person
one would dare
even to die.
But God shows
his love for us
and that while we
were still sinners
Christ died
for us.
Since therefore
we have been justified
by his blood
much more
shall we be saved
by him
from the wrath
of God.
For while we were
enemies
we were reconciled
to God
by the death
of his son
much more
now that we
are reconciled
shall we be saved
by his life.
More than that
we also rejoice
in God
through our Lord
Jesus Christ
through whom
we have now
received
reconciliation.
Therefore
just as sin
came into the world
through one man
and death
through sin
so death
spread to all men
because all sinned.
For sin indeed
was in the world
before the law
was given
but sin is not
counted
where there is
no law.
Yet death
reigned
from Adam
to Moses
even over those
whose sinning
was not like
the transgression
of Adam
who was a type
of the one
who was to come.
But the free gift
is not like
the trespass.
For if many
died through
one man's trespass
much more
have the grace
of God
and the free gift
by the grace
of that one man
Jesus Christ
abounded
for many.
And the free gift
is not like
the result
of that one man's sin.
For the judgment
following one
trespass
brought condemnation
but the free gift
following many
trespasses
brought justification.
For if
because of
one man's
trespass
death
reigned
through that
one man
much more
will those
who receive
the abundance
of grace
and the free
gift of righteousness
reign in life
through the one man
Jesus Christ.
Therefore
as one trespass
led to condemnation
for all men
so one act
of righteousness
leads to justification
and life
for all men.
For as by the
one man's
disobedience
the many
were made
sinners
so by the
one man's
obedience
the many
will be
made
righteous.
Now the law
came in
to increase
the trespass
but where sin
increased
grace abounded
all the more
so that
as sin
reigned in death
grace also
might reign
through righteousness
leading to
eternal life
through Jesus
Christ
our Lord.
What shall
we say then?
Are we to
continue in sin
that grace
may abound?
By no means.
How can we
who died to sin
still live in it?
Do you not
know that all
of us have
been baptized
into Christ
Jesus
were baptized
into his
death?
We were
buried therefore
with him
by baptism
into death
in order that
just as Christ
was raised
from the dead
by the glory
of the Father
we too might
walk in
newness of
life.
For if we
have been
united with
him in a
death like
his we
shall certainly
be united
with him
in a
resurrection
like his.
We know
that our
old self
was crucified
with him
in order that
the body
of sin
might be
brought to
nothing
so we
would no
longer be
enslaved to
sin.
For one who
has died
has been
set free
from sin.
Now if we
have died
with Christ
we believe
that we
will also
live with
him.
We know
that Christ
being raised
from the dead
will never
die again.
death no
has dominion
over him.
For the
death he
died to
sin once
for all
but the
life he
lives he
lives to
God.
So you
also must
consider
yourselves
dead to
sin and
alive to
God in
Christ
Jesus.
Chapter
6
verse 20
When you
were slaves
of sin
you were
free in
regard to
righteousness.
But what
fruit were
you getting
at that
time from
the things
of which
you are
now ashamed
for the
end of
those things
is death.
But now
that you
have been
set free
from sin
and have
become
slaves of
God
the fruit
you get
leads to
sanctification
and its
end
eternal
life.
For the
wages of
sin
is death
but the
free gift
of God
is eternal
life in
Christ
Jesus
our Lord.
Chapter
7
verse 15
I do
not
understand
my own
actions
for I
do not
do what
I want
but I
do the
very thing
I hate.
If I
do what
I do
not want
I agree
with the
law that
it is
good.
So now
it is no
longer I
who do
it but
sin that
dwells
within me.
For I
know that
nothing good
dwells in
me that
is in
my flesh.
For I
have the
desire to
do what
is right
but not
the ability
to carry
it out.
For I
do not
do the
good I
want but
the evil
I do
not want
is what
I keep
on doing.
If I
do what
I do
not want
it is no
longer I
who do
it but
sin that
dwells
within me.
So I
find it to
be a law
that when I
want to
do right
evil lies
close at
hand.
For I
delight in
the law
of God
in my
inner
being
but I
see in
my
members
another
law
waging war
against
the law
of my
mind
and making
me
captive
to the
law
of sin
that
dwells
in
my
members.
Wretched
man
that I
am
who will
deliver me
from this
body of
death?
Thanks be
to God
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord.
So
then I
myself
serve
the
law
of
God
with
my
mind
but
with
my
flesh
I
serve
the
law
of
sin.
There
is
therefore
now
no
condemnation
for those
who are
in
Christ
Jesus.
For
the
law
of
the
spirit
of
life
has
set
you
free
in
Christ
Jesus
from
the
law
of
sin
and
death.
For
God
has
done
what
the
law
weakened
by
the
flesh
in
the
is
death
but
the
mind
on
the
spirit
is
life
and
peace
for
the
mind
that
is
set
on
the
flesh
is
hostile
to
God
for
it
does
not
submit
to
God
law
indeed
it
cannot
those
who are
in
the
flesh
cannot
please
God
You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
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.
So then, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh,
for if you live according to the flesh, you will die.
But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you do not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons,
by whom we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with Him in order that we also may be glorified with Him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us,
objected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it,
in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption
and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in pains of childbirth until now.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves,
who are the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that for those who love God,
all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.
For those whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom He predestined, He also called.
And those whom He called, He also justified.
And those whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.
For how will we not also with Him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died.
More than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God,
who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written,
For your sake were you being killed all the day long,
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
I am speaking the truth in Christ.
I am not lying.
My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed
and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,
my kinsmen, according to the flesh.
They are Israelites,
and to them belong the adoption,
the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law,
the worship, and the promises.
To them belong the patriarchs,
and from their race,
according to the flesh,
is the Christ,
who is God over all,
blessed forever.
Amen.
But it is not as though
the word of God has failed,
for not all who are descended from Israel
belong to Israel.
Verse 16.
It depends not on human will or exertion,
but on God who has mercy.
Chapter 10 and verse 1.
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them
is that they may be saved.
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God,
but not according to knowledge.
For being ignorant of the righteousness of God
and seeking to establish their own,
they did not submit to God's righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to everyone who believes.
In verse 11.
For the scripture says,
Everyone who believes in Him
will not be put to shame.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.
For the same Lord is Lord of all,
bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.
How then will they call on Him
in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in Him
of whom they have not heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Isaiah says,
Lord, who has believed what He has heard from us?
So faith comes from hearing,
and hearing through the word of Christ.
Chapter 11, verse 1.
I ask then,
Has God rejected His people?
By no means.
For I myself am an Israelite,
a descendant of Abraham,
a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.
Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah,
how he appeals to God against Israel?
Lord, they have killed your prophets,
they have demolished your altars,
and I alone am left,
and they seek my life.
But what is God's reply to him?
I have kept for myself 7,000 men
who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
So too at the present time,
there is a remnant chosen by grace.
But if it is by grace,
it is no longer on the basis of works.
Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
What then?
Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking.
The elect obtained it,
but the rest were hardened.
As it is written,
God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see,
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.
Chapter 11 and verse 19.
Then you will say,
Branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in.
They were broken off because of their unbelief.
But you stand fast through faith,
so do not become proud,
but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural branches,
neither will he spare you.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God,
severity toward those who have fallen,
but God's kindness to you,
provided you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise, you too will be cut off.
And even if they do not continue in their unbelief,
will be grafted in,
for God has the power to graft them in again.
For if you were cut,
for if you were cut from what is by nature
a wild olive tree,
and grafted contrary to nature
into a cultivated olive tree,
how much more will these,
the natural branches,
be grafted back into their own olive tree?
Lest you be wise in your own sight,
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery,
brothers.
A partial hardening has come upon Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And in this way,
all Israel will be saved.
As it is written,
the Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.
And this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.
As regards the gospel,
they are enemies for your sake.
But as regards election,
they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
For the gifts and the calling of God
are irrevocable.
For just as you were at one time disobedient to God,
but now have received mercy
because of their disobedience,
so they too have now been disobedient
in order that by the mercy shown to you,
they also may now receive mercy.
For God has consigned all to disobedience,
that he may have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments,
and how inscrutable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor,
or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?
For from him, and through him,
and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever.
Amen.
Justification by grace, through faith,
and the personal work of Jesus Christ alone.
Chapter 12, verse 1.
I appeal to you, therefore, brothers,
by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me,
I say to everyone among you,
not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think,
but to think with sober judgment,
each according to the measure of faith
that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members,
and the members do not all have the same function,
so we, though many,
are one body in Christ,
and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ
according to the grace given to us,
let us use them,
if prophecy in proportion to our faith,
if service in our serving,
the one who teaches in his teaching,
the one who exhorts in his exhortation,
the one who contributes in generosity,
the one who leads with zeal,
the one who does evil,
hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with brotherly affection,
outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal,
though be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints
and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty,
but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.
Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable
in the sight of all.
If possible,
so far as it depends on you,
live peaceably with all.
Beloved,
never avenge yourselves,
but leave it to the wrath of God,
for it is written,
vengeance is mine,
I will repay,
says the Lord.
To the contrary,
if your enemy is hungry,
feed him.
If he is thirsty,
give him something to drink,
for so by doing,
you will heap burning coals on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Chapter 13, verse 1,
Let every person be subject
to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority
except from God,
and those that exist
have been instituted by God.
And verse 8,
O no one anything
except to love each other,
for the one who loves another
has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments,
you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not murder,
you shall not steal,
you shall not covet,
and any other commandment
are summed up in this word,
you shall love your neighbor
as yourself.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor,
therefore love is fulfilling the law.
Besides this,
you know the time
that the hour has come
for you to wake from sleep,
for salvation is nearer to us now
than when we first believed.
The night is far gone,
the day is at hand,
so then let us cast off
the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Chapter 14, verse 1,
As for the one who is weak in faith,
welcome him,
but not to quarrel over opinions.
And verse 7,
For none of us lives to himself
and none of us dies to himself.
For if we live,
we live to the Lord,
and if we die,
we die to the Lord.
So that whether we live
or whether we die,
we are the Lord's.
For to this end,
Christ died and lived again,
that he might be Lord
both of the dead
and of the living.
Why do you pass judgment
on your brother?
Or why do you despise your brother?
For we will all stand
before the judgment seat of God.
For it is written,
As I live, says the Lord,
every knee shall bow to me
and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then each of us
will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore, let us not pass judgment
on one another any longer,
but rather decide never to put
a stumbling block or hindrance
in the way of a brother.
Chapter 15, and verse 1.
We who are strong
have an obligation
to bear with the failings
of the weak
and not to please ourselves.
Let each of us please his neighbor
for his good
to build him up.
For Christ did not please himself,
but as it is written,
the reproaches of those
who reproached you
fell on me.
For whatever was written
in former days
was written for our instruction
that through endurance
and through the encouragement
of the scriptures
we might have hope.
May the God of endurance
and encouragement
grant you to live
in such harmony
with one another
in accord with Christ Jesus,
that together you may
with one voice glorify
the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, welcome one another
as Christ has welcomed you
for the glory of God.
For I tell you
that Christ became
a servant to the circumcised
to show God's truthfulness
in order to confirm
the promises given
to the patriarchs
and in order that the Gentiles
might glorify God
for his mercy.
Right?
I hope some measure
that serves you
to see the arc
of where Paul is going.
Justification by grace alone
through faith alone
in Christ alone.
We're not saved as individuals.
We're saved as a people.
He means for us
to be a people
who love one another
for our good
and for his glory.
Let's pray together.
Thank you.