City On A Hill - Missio Dei

Romans

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:11:49 -0600

A teaching from the Book of Romans by Bob Paulsen

Romans 13

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:30:14 -0600

A teaching in Romans 13 by Dave Bruskas for Missio Dei.

Romans 12:9-21

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:19:19 -0600

We are reactionary people. Sad to say our reactions are not always paralleled with the teachings of the gospel. We are a hardhearted and ready to defend our egos without filtering our actions though selfless love.

Romans 12:9-21 is a set of principals that teach that our motives should always be genuine in love for the saints, one another, all men and our enemies. When these ideas are lived out, through the power of the Holy Spirit, a wake of goodness will come to life which include: hospitality, reconciliation, relief, healing, peace, joy, blessing, hope, humility and repentance.

Romans 12:1-8

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:05:33 -0600

Overview
Romans 12 represents a pivotal shift in the book. Paul begins this new section with the key word “therefore” connecting the deep doctrinal currents of the previous 11 chapters to the waves of life application that follow throughout the rest of the letter.

Response Requested
In Romans 12:1-2, we are exhorted function as sacrifices with three qualifications: living, holy and pleasing to God. Both our motivation for and means to this lifestyle is the mercies of God made available to us in Jesus. Instead of conformity to the world’s patterns and values, we are transformed into people who feel, think, speak and act like Jesus through the renewal of our thinking.

Sobriety
In Romans 12:3-8 we see a transformational plan for seeing ourselves in the context of community. We are to humbly view ourselves as interdependent members of a body. We exercise the spiritual gifts God has sovereignly given us to serve others. We see our desperate need for those whom God has designed differently. Again, it is the grace of God that empowers our service in body life.

Application Questions
1) Are you living a lifestyle of worship as defined by Romans 12:1?

2) Are you counter-cultural as one who is in process of becoming like Jesus? Where are you conformed to this world?

3) Are you humble in the opinion of yourself?

4) What is your spiritual gift? Whom are you serving with your gift?

5) How can we better live as one body on a single mission?

Resources
Unceasing Worship, Harold Best

Discovering Your Ministry Identity, Paul Ford

The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, Sam Storms

Romans 11:1-36

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:03:13 -0600

Overview
Paul, in Romans 9-11, has been explaining why the church is increasingly non-Jewish. In Romans 9:1-10:4, he makes the case that salvation originates in the sovereign grace of God in unconditional election. In Romans 10:5-21, Paul explains the responsibility of those who have resisted the mercy of God. Now, in chapter 11, we see God’s purpose in Israel and His promise to restore the fractured relationship.

Exhibit A
Paul holds himself up as personal evidence that God hasn’t rejected His people entirely. He also makes the case biblically that God has always kept a remnant of Israel for Himself in history (verses 2-4). We are reminded that at the present time, God still has reserved a believing remnant of Israel through grace.

The Redemptive Cycle
Israel’s rejection of God’s grace in Jesus led to Gentile inclusion (verses 11-15). Gentile receptivity to the gospel will spur on Jewish jealousy and ultimately a return to God through which all peoples of the world will be blessed (verse 16).

The Olive Lesson
In verses 17-24, through the imagery of cultivated and wild olive trees, Paul makes two serious statements. First, Gentile believers shouldn’t be arrogant towards Jewish people as the root of the tree is the grace of God and His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). Second, Jewish unbelievers need not consider their plight hopeless, as it is easy for God to achieve their salvation by grace.

Happy Endings
Paul reveals God’s plan to restore Israel in the future as many respond favorably to His offer of forgiveness in Jesus (verses 25-32). His mercy trumps all and His intent is to extend it to all whom He desires.

Now what?
This section appropriately concludes with a doxology. God’s sovereign grace extended to undeserving sinners, Jews and Gentiles alike, climaxes in His intended purpose: praise and glory to Him!

Application Questions
1) Do you live in perpetual worship of the God who freely and lovingly elected you in eternity past? How are you mindful of this truth?

2) Do we as a community manifest the humility that unconditional election produces? Where can we grow in our humility?

3) Are we living in the freedom that unconditional election brings to us as missionaries? Are we optimistic in sharing the gospel knowing that God has predetermined positive responses?

Resources

The Pleasures of God, by John Piper

Romans 9:30-10:21

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:49:52 -0600

Overview
Paul continues his explanation as to why the movement of Jesus’ followers is predominantly non-Jewish. In Romans 9:1-29, the apostle stresses God freely bestows mercy on those whom He chooses for the ultimate purpose of displaying His glory. Now, in this passage, Paul explains human responsibility in rejecting God’s mercy and the tragic results of doing so. He also makes clear that divine sovereignty and human responsibility aren’t at odds are irreconcilable, but are united in the manifested glory of God.

Romans 9:30-10:21

It’s All in the Approach
In Romans 9:30-10:4, we see that the reason for Jewish rejection of Jesus and Gentile reception (both in the broad sense and not exclusively) has to do with the approach to the Old Testament Law. The self-righteous person saw the Law as a means to approval before God on the basis of his effort. This person failed to be declared righteous by God. In contrast, the one who is declared righteous by God sees Jesus as the only one who kept the Law perfectly and relies in His righteousness alone before God. This person’s approach to God isn’t based on personal works, but faith in God’s provision of Jesus.

Salvation is for All Who Believe
In Romans 10:5-13, Paul makes his case that the gospel is unveiled in the Law. Citing texts from Leviticus 18 (verse 5) and Deuteronomy 30 (verses 11-14), he states that nothing needs to be added to the work of Jesus. All who respond in faith to the gospel will be saved from God’s wrath. Faith is further defined as a heart belief that Jesus is God (verse 9) and He is risen from the dead (also verse 9).

So What now?
In verses 14 through 21 of Romans 10, Paul lays out the progression of the means by which people escape God’s Wrath through a series of questions. First, God sends people to herald the gospel. Then, the gospel is herald. People hear the gospel. They believe in Jesus. Lastly, they call on the Jesus in Whom they have believed for mercy. As is the case in all of salvation, the sequence begins in the heart of God to manifest His glory through His merciful love.

Applications
1) Who am I praying for to know Jesus from my broken heart?

2) How would I explain the elements of saving faith to someone who didn’t know Jesus?

3) To whom has God sent me as a missionary?

Resources
Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer

Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism, The Battle for Gospel Preaching, by Iain H. Murray

Romans 9:14-29

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:18:12 -0600

Overview
Paul continues to explain the development of the church as a predominantly non-Jewish movement in light of God’s promises to Israel. As we move into verses 14 through 29 of chapter 9, he answers potential objections to unconditional election.

Just a Couple of More Questions
Wayne Grudem defines election this way, “Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.” (Systematic Theology, page 670) The Apostle Paul voices two potential objections to this truth.

In verse 14 he asks, “Is there injustice on God’s part?” and then curtly answers “By no means!”. The reason is that God is uniquely independent and utterly free to show mercy upon whom He desires. If God were only just, all humans would perish because all have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). God is not only just, He is merciful to save some from His wrath. Moses illustrates the free choice of God to have compassion on a sinner while Pharaoh illustrates God’s free choice to harden a sinner for the demonstration of His glory.

In verse 19 a second objection is stated. If God is free to do as He pleases and human beings can in no way ultimately resist His will, how can He hold any of us accountable? Paul first objects to the appropriateness of the question. How can the creature (humans) legitimately question the Creator? Using the imagery of a potter’s right over the clay, the question is answered. God created humans knowing that they would reject Him resulting in most perishing for all eternity separated from Him in torment while He would choose to mercifully save some.

What is His Motive?
So why would God do all this? Verses 22-23 reveal His purposes. First, to demonstrate His wrath towards those who offend Him as He is patient. Second, to make His power known in executing His righteous judgment. Third, to make His glory known to those He freely chose in eternity past to be recipients of His mercy. In each of these categories, God is revealing His glory in the very same way He did with Moses and Pharaoh in the Exodus account.

Application Questions
1) Am I increasingly enjoying the glory of God? If not, why?

2) Am I loving others freely as God has loved me without merit on their part?

3) Am I sharing the gospel boldly knowing that God alone is responsible for the results?

Resources
Chapter 32: Election and Reprobation, Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem.
Chosen by God, by R.C. Sproul

Romans 9:1-13

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:44:07 -0600

Overview

Romans 9:1-13

We now begin a new section in this great letter that will continue through chapter 11. Paul, after stressing God’s sovereign work in the context of suffering and the security of our relationship through grace, turns to the issue of God’s relationship with ethnic Israel.

In verses 1 through 5, Paul expresses his agony over how many of his fellow Jews have rejected Jesus. Later, also in verse 5, Paul describes the essence of Christ. He is fully human, an Israelite. He is completely God and worthy of all worship.

Romans 9:6-13 addresses the effectiveness of God’s unconditional promise to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3). Many must have been skeptical of God’s covenant keeping with the Hebrew people as the church was becoming predominantly non-Jewish. Paul argues the point that not everyone who is physically descended from Abram is in right relationship with God (verse 6). He then gives the reader two examples. First, Isaac’s role in God’s redemptive plan instead of Ishmael (who also was a son of Abraham) illustrates not all who trace their lineage to Abram receive covenant blessing. Second, God’s choice of Jacob over Esau (twins not only from the same parents but also conceived in the same act of intercourse) without any merit on behalf of the boy’s magnifies the freedom and power in which God makes good on His promise.

Applications

1) Do you consider yourself right with God simply because you were born into a Christian home? Do you see the danger in this perspective?

2) Do you resonate with Paul in agonizing over those who don’t know Jesus? Do you see this as a work of the Holy Spirit in your heart?

3) Do you live your life with Christ as God over all? In which areas of your life are you not submitted to Him?

4) Do you worship God as the one who unconditionally chose you in eternity past?

Romans 8:28-39

Alfonso Barreiro — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:47:35 -0600

Romans 8:28-39

Overview
Romans 8 continues with the theme of our secure relationship with God achieved through the person and work of Jesus. In verses 16-17, we learn that suffering is a prerequisite to receiving all that God has promised us in Jesus.

Romans 8:18-27 reveals that the presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit enables us to endure suffering. A second provision is made known in Romans 8:28-39. In this text, we discover that God’s purpose for us in suffering is our conformity to Jesus. We can experience comfort in our trials by knowing that our relationship with God was predetermined by Him in eternity past, enabled by His effective calling of us to Himself, and preserved by Him toward the consummation of glory. For those of us in Jesus, our suffering is never arbitrary or meaningless. In God’s economy, it is always productive according to His loving purpose. He is making us into people who feel, think, speak and act like Jesus.

Applications

1) Are you suffering today? If so, how can you trust God in your pain?

2) Whom can you encourage with these truths today?

3) Meditate on Romans 8:28-30 and record your thoughts in a journal.

Romans 8:12-27

Alfonso Barreiro — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:34:48 -0600

Romans 8:12-27

Overview
Continuing with the theme begun in verse one of chapter 8, Paul continues to point out that we are secure in our relationship with God based on the person and work of Jesus. Much of this security is realized through the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. According to this passage, the Holy Spirit is the agent in our fight to the death against sin (verse 13), the instrument by Whom we experience the Fatherhood of God (verse 15), and the One who helps us in our suffering by praying for us (verses 26-27).

Also, in this passage, we learn that our identity in Christ means that we will participate in His suffering (verse 17). Pain is the path to glory and our destination is far greater than the journey (verse 18).

Application Questions
1) How am I doing in my fight to the death with sin? Am I fighting in my own strength or in the power of the Holy Spirit? What is the difference?

2) How have I recently experienced the love of God my Father through the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

3) Am I suffering patiently? How can I better rely on the Holy Spirit as I suffer?