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Romans

Fall 2021

Tuesday

October 12, 2021

Rom. 5:12 Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned -- Footnotes 3-4: 12,3) world - Or, people of the world; referring to mankind (John 1:29; 3:16). 12,4) death - Death is the ultimate result of man’s fall. Man’s spirit was deadened first, and eventually his body also died. Death and sin cannot be separated; where one is, the other will be found. Furthermore, death is not only a physical suffering in the future; it is something in which man is involved daily. Rom. 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. Footnote 1: 13,1) charged - Sin existed before the law was given, but it was not manifested to man or charged to his account by God before that time. Rom. 5:14 But death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of Him who was to come. Footnotes 1-2: 14,1) death - Death is mentioned many times in chs. 5— 8 (vv. 12, 14, 17, 21; 6:9, 16, 21, 23; 7:5, 10, 13, 24; 8:2, 6, 38). Life also is mentioned repeatedly in these chapters (vv. 10, 17-18, 21; 6:4, 22-23; 7:10; 8:2, 6, 10-11, 38). These two key words form two contrasting lines through chs. 5— 8, the line of life and the line of death, showing that man is at the center of a triangular situation between God and Satan, life and death. Thus, chs. 5— 8 of Romans can be called the kernel of the Bible, showing its entire theme in a concrete and detailed way. 14,2) Adam - From Adam to Moses was the dispensation before law (without law); from Moses to Christ (John 1:17) was the dispensation of law; from Christ’s first coming to the restoration of all things (Acts 3:20-21) is the dispensation of grace; and from Christ’s second coming to the end of the millennium (Rev. 11:15; 20:4, 6) is the dispensation of the kingdom. These dispensations are used by God to accomplish His work of the new creation in the old creation.

Monday

October 11, 2021

Rom. 5:10 For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled, Footnotes 4-5: 10,4) in - To be saved in Christ’s life is to be saved in Christ Himself as life. He dwells in us, and we are organically one with Him. By the growth of His life in us, we will enjoy His full salvation to the uttermost. Redemption, justification, and reconciliation are for the purpose of bringing us into union with Christ so that He can save us in His life unto glorification (8:30). 10,5) life - Implying resurrection. After death is spoken of in the first part of this verse, life is mentioned. Christ died that He might be our life in resurrection. We have been saved by Christ’s death from God’s eternal judgment and eternal punishment, but we are still being saved by Christ’s life in His resurrection. The life here, the power in 1:16, and the Spirit in ch. 8 refer to different aspects of the processed Triune God. Rom. 5:11 And not only so, but also boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Footnote 1: 11,1) boasting - To boast in God means to have God as our boast and our exultation, indicating that God is our enjoyment and our rejoicing. See note 24. It is in boasting, in exulting, and in enjoying in this way that we are being saved in the life of Christ. Rom. 5:12 Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned Footnotes 1-2: 12,1) one - I.e., Adam, the first man, the father of the entire human race, who brought in death through sin. In contrast to Adam is Christ, the second man (1 Cor. 15:47), who brought in life through righteousness (vv. 17-18). 12,2) sin - Up to v. 11 sins (plural) have been dealt with. From v. 12 sin (singular) is dealt with. It seems that in chs. 5— 8 sin is personified. Sin is not merely an action; it is like a person who can enter (v. 12), reign (v. 21), lord it over people (6:14), deceive and kill people (7:11), and dwell in people and cause them to do things against their will (7:17, 20). It is quite alive (7:9) and exceedingly active; hence, it must be the evil nature of Satan, the evil one, who, having injected himself into man through Adam’s fall, has now become the very sinful nature dwelling, acting, and working in fallen man. This indwelling, personified sinful nature is the root of all the outward sinful acts.

Tuesday

October 5, 2021

Rom. 4:17 (As it is written, ``I have appointed you a father of many nations'') in the sight of God whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls the things not being as being. Footnotes 2-3: 17,2) gives - This is God’s great power of resurrection. This great power enables us to eliminate death and overcome all that belongs to death. Abraham experienced this great power of resurrection when he offered Isaac according to God’s command. 17,3) calls - This is God’s mighty power of creation. As the creating God, He needs no material to work with; He can create something out of nothing simply by speaking: “For He spoke, and it was” (Psa. 33:9). Rom. 4:18 He beyond hope believed in hope in order that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, ``So shall your seed be.'' Footnote 1: 18,1) in - Lit., on. Abraham, as the example of one who is justified out of faith, lived by the things hoped for. Rom. 4:19 And not weakening in his faith, he considered his own body as already dead, being about a hundred years old, as well as the deadening of Sarah's womb; Footnote 1: 19,1) already - This indicates the termination of Abraham’s natural strength. This termination is related to God’s justifying him subjectively. Rom. 4:20 But with regard to the promise of God, he did not doubt in unbelief, but was empowered by faith, giving glory to God Rom. 4:21 And being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to do. Rom. 4:22 Therefore also it was accounted to him as righteousness. Rom. 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake only that it was accounted to him, Rom. 4:24 But for ours also to whom it is to be accounted, who believe on Him who has raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Footnote 1: 24,1) Him - The faith that is accounted to us as righteousness is our believing on God, who righteously judged Christ for our sins, righteously put Him to death in our place, and righteously raised Him from the dead.

Friday

October 1, 2021

Rom. 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those in uncircumcision who believe, that righteousness might be accounted to them also, Footnote 1: 11,1) sign - Circumcision was not the reason that Abraham was justified; rather, it was the outward sign and confirmation that God had already justified him. It denoted the cutting off of the natural strength by which he had produced Ishmael in his effort to please God. Abraham was already justified before he was circumcised, and God had already confirmed His covenant with him in Gen. 15. Circumcision was to confirm the covenant from Abraham’s side, to serve as a constant reminder to him that he should no longer use his natural strength and energy to please God. Rom. 4:12 And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. Footnote 1: 12,1) walk - The Greek word means to walk in a regulated, definite way. Here it refers to walking in the steps by observing the elements of the faith. If one walks in the steps of Abraham’s faith, Abraham becomes the father of circumcision to him, and this one enters into a life in which he does not trust in himself but in God, with the result that he is justified subjectively and thus becomes His genuine heir. Rom. 4:13 For it was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham or to his seed that he would be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. Footnote 1: 13,1) heir - Justification is for God’s chosen ones to inherit the world that they may exercise God’s dominion on earth (Gen. 1:26).

Tuesday

September 28, 2021

Rom. 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, but through the law of faith. Footnote 1: 27,1) It - Lit., It is completely shut out. Rom. 3:28 For we account that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Rom. 3:29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, Rom. 3:30 If indeed God is one, who will justify the circumcision out of faith and the uncircumcision through faith. Footnote 1: 30,1) out - Faith is the source out of which the circumcision, who already have the position as God’s people, may be justified by God; hence, their justification is out of faith. But as to the uncircumcision, who are positionally far away and are not God’s people, faith is the way for them to reach the position where they can be justified by God; hence, their justification is through faith. Rom. 3:31 Do we then make the law of no effect through faith? Absolutely not! Rather, we establish the law.

Monday

September 27, 2021

Rom. 3:25 Whom God set forth as a propitiation place through faith in His blood, for the demonstrating of His righteousness, in that in His forbearance God passed over the sins that had previously occurred, Footnote 3: 25,3) passed - During the Old Testament time, the sins of the people were not taken away but were only covered with the blood of the animal sacrifices, which were types of Christ. God passed over these covered sins until Christ came. He was the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). By His death on the cross and the shedding of His blood for redemption, He carried away all the sins that had been previously covered and passed over. In passing over their sins, God demonstrated His righteousness to the Old Testament saints. Rom. 3:26 With a view to the demonstrating of His righteousness in the present time, so that He might be righteous and the One who justifies him who is of the faith of Jesus. Footnotes 1-2: 26,1) justifies - God’s justifying the believers is with a view to the demonstrating of His righteousness to those in the New Testament time who are of the faith of Jesus. 26,2) faith - Or, faith in Jesus.

Friday

September 24, 2021

Rom. 3:25 Whom God set forth as a propitiation place through faith in His blood, for the demonstrating of His righteousness, in that in His forbearance God passed over the sins that had previously occurred, Footnotes 1-2: 25,1) set - In the Old Testament, the expiation cover, the lid of the Ark, as a type, was hidden in the Holy of Holies; in the New Testament, Christ as the propitiation place, the reality of the expiation cover, is openly set forth before all men. 25,2)propitiation - The propitiation place is typified in Exo. 25:17 by the sin-covering lid on the Ark. The Ark was the place where God met with people. In the Ark was the law of the Ten Commandments, which by its holy and righteous requirement exposed and condemned the sins of the people who came to contact God. However, by the lid of the Ark, with the propitiating blood sprinkled on it on the Day of Expiation, the entire situation on the sinner’s side was fully covered. Therefore, upon this sin-covering lid God could meet with the people who broke His righteous law, and He could do this without, governmentally, any contradiction to His righteousness, even under the observing of the cherubim that bore His glory and overshadowed the lid of the Ark. Thus, the problem between man and God was appeased, enabling God to forgive and be merciful to man and thereby to give His grace to man. This is a prefigure of Christ as the Lamb of God taking away the sin that caused man to have a problem with God (John 1:29), thus satisfying all the requirements of God’s holiness, righteousness, and glory and appeasing the relationship between man and God. Hence, God could pass over the people’s sins that had previously occurred. And, in order to show forth His righteousness, He had to do this. This is what this verse refers to. The Hebrew word for the lid of the Ark is kapporeth, from a root meaning to cover. In the Septuagint this word is translated hilasterion, which means the place of propitiation (implying to forgive and to give mercy— the word rendered propitious in Heb. 8:12 is the root of hilasterion, and the word rendered propitiated in Luke 18:13 is derived from this root). The King James Version adopts the rendering “mercy seat,” referring to the place where God grants mercy to man. In Heb. 9:5 Paul also used hilasterion for the lid of the Ark. Here, in Rom. 3:25, the same word, hilasterion, is used to show that the lid of the Ark signifies Christ as the propitiation place set forth by God. In addition to hilasterion, two other words derived from the same Greek word as hilasterion are used in the New Testament to show how Christ took away man’s sin to appease the relationship between man and God. One is hilaskomai (Heb. 2:17), which means to propitiate, that is, to appease, to reconcile one by satisfying the other’s demand; the other is hilasmos (1 John 2:2; 4:10), which means that which propitiates, that is, a propitiatory sacrifice. Christ made propitiation for our sins (Heb. 2:17); hence, He has become that which propitiates, the propitiatory sacrifice, between us and God (1 John 2:2; 4:10), and He has also become the place, as typified by the lid of the Ark (Heb. 9:5), where we enjoy propitiation before God and where God gives grace to us.

Wednesday

September 22, 2021

Rom. 3:20 Because out of the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before Him; for through the law is the clear knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, witness being borne to it by the Law and the Prophets; Footnotes 1, 3: 21,1) apart - God’s righteousness, which is revealed in the gospel (1:17), is the basis and foundation of His dispensing Himself into man in His New Testament economy. This righteousness has nothing to do with the law in His Old Testament economy (see Phil. 3:9 and notes there). 21,3) manifested - The Jews sought the righteousness of God by keeping the law. However, they did not attain to it, for out of the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before God (v. 20). But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been manifested to us through faith in Christ (1:17). Rom. 3:22 Even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ to all those who believe, for there is no distinction. Footnote 1: 22,1) faith - Or, faith in Jesus Christ. This faith refers to the faith of Jesus Christ in us, which has become the faith by which we believe in Him, as in v. 26; Gal. 2:16, 20; 3:22; Eph. 3:12; and Phil. 3:9. Faith has an object, and it issues from its object. This object is Jesus, who is God incarnate. When man hears Him, knows Him, appreciates Him, and treasures Him, He causes faith to be generated in man, enabling man to believe in Him. Thus, He becomes the faith in man by which man believes in Him. Hence, this faith becomes the faith in Him, and it is also the faith that belongs to Him. In God’s New Testament economy, God desires that man believe in Jesus, who is God incarnate. If man does not believe in Him, he commits the unique sin before God (John 16:9). However, if man believes in Him, he is righteous to the uttermost before God, and God reckons this faith as his righteousness. At the same time, this faith brings its object, that is, this One who is God incarnate, into those who believe in Him. He is God’s righteousness, and God has given Him as righteousness to those who are indwelt by Him (Jer. 23:6). All this is out of, and depends on, the faith that is in Him and of Him (Heb. 12:2).

Tuesday

September 21, 2021

Rom. 3:4 Absolutely not! But let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, ``That You may be declared righteous in Your words and may overcome when You are judged.'' Footnote 2: 4,2) declared - God must first convince us of His righteousness before we can repent and believe into Him. Thus, He is declared righteous by us before we are declared righteous by Him. Rom. 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? I speak according to man. Rom. 3:6 Absolutely not! Otherwise how shall God judge the world? Rom. 3:7 But if the truthfulness of God has abounded in my lie unto His glory, why still am I also being judged as a sinner? Footnote 1: 7,1) truthfulness - In Greek the same word as for truth (reality). The word here and in 15:8 denotes genuineness, sincerity, honesty, faithfulness, and trustworthiness as one of God’s virtues. Rom. 3:8 And why not say (as we are slanderously charged and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil that good may come? whose judgment is just. Footnote 1: 8,1) judgment - The eternal judgment. Rom. 3:9 What then? Are we better? Not at all! For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin, Rom. 3:10 Even as it is written, ``There is none righteous, not even one; Rom. 3:11 There is none who understands, there is none who seeks out God. Rom. 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become useless; there is none who does good; there is not so much as one. Footnote 1: 12,1) good - Or, kindness. Rom. 3:13 Their throat is an opened grave; with their tongues they practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; Rom. 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Rom. 3:15 Swift are their feet to shed blood, Rom. 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways, Rom. 3:17 And the way of peace they have not known. Footnote 1: 17,1) way - When we were sinners, we did not know the way of peace. Now, however, we have peace toward God (5:1); that is, we are at peace with God. Rom. 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.'' Rom. 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may fall under the judgment of God. Footnote 1: 19,1) that - God’s purpose in giving the law was to expose man, to subdue man, and to guard or keep God’s chosen ones for Christ that they may be led to Christ.

Friday

September 17, 2021

Rom. 2:15 Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness with it and their reasonings, one with the other, accusing or even excusing them.) Footnote 1: 15,1) conscience - Man’s conscience corresponds with the God-created human nature and enables man to know what God justifies and what He condemns. Rom. 2:16 In the day when God judges the secrets of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ. Rom. 2:17 But if you bear the name of Jew, and rest upon the law, and boast in God, Footnotes 1-2: 17,1) But - In this section, which specifically deals with God’s condemnation on the religious, Paul first points out the pitiful condition of the Jews, who represent the religious people. They have only the vanity of their religious rituals, letters, and knowledge; they do not have God as their reality. 17,2) boast - In the Jewish religion God is known only outwardly and objectively, not inwardly and subjectively. This shows the vanity of human religion. Rom. 2:18 And know the will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, Footnote 1: 18,1) approve - Or, prove the things that differ. Rom. 2:19 And have confidence that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness, Rom. 2:20 One who disciplines the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the proper form of the knowledge and truth in the law; Footnote 1: 20,1) babes - The same Greek word as for little children in Eph. 4:14 and child in Gal. 4:1. Rom. 2:21 You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal? Footnote 1: 21,1) You That the religious people practice the same evils as the unreligious exposes the vanity of their religion. Rom. 2:22 You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob their temples? Rom. 2:23 You who boast in the law, do you by transgression of the law dishonor God? Rom. 2:24 For ``the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,'' even as it is written. Rom. 2:25 For circumcision profits if you practice the law; but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Rom. 2:26 If therefore the uncircumcision keeps the ordinances of the law, will not his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision? Footnote 1: 26,1) ordinances - Or, requirements.

Thursday

September 16, 2021

Rom. 2:3 And do you consider this, O man, who judge those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Rom. 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that God's kindness is leading you to repentance? Rom. 2:5 But, according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Rom. 2:6 Who will render to each according to his works: Rom. 2:7 To those who by endurance in good work seek glory and honor and incorruptibility, life eternal; Footnote 1: 7,1) To - Verses 7-10 give the basic terms of God’s eternal judgment. Rom. 2:8 But to those who are selfishly contentious and disobedient to the truth and obey unrighteousness, wrath and fury. Rom. 2:9 Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who commits evil, both of Jew first and of Greek; Rom. 2:10 But glory and honor and peace to everyone who works good, both to Jew first and to Greek. Rom. 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. Rom. 2:12 For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law; and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law Footnote 1: 12,1) under - Lit., in law; i.e., in the sphere of law. Rom. 2:13 (For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Rom. 2:14 For when Gentiles, who have no law, do by nature the things of the law, these, though they have no law, are a law to themselves, Footnote 1: 14,1) by - The nature of man, as created by God, was originally good and corresponded with God and with His law. Although it was poisoned by the fall, this good nature remains within man. Hence, if anyone lives according to his nature and does by his nature the things of the law, the evil in him will be restricted.

Wednesday

September 15, 2021

Rom. 1:26 Therefore God gave them up to passions of dishonor; for their females exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature; Rom. 1:27 And likewise also the males, leaving the natural use of the female, burned in their craving toward one another, males with males committing unseemliness and fully receiving in themselves the retribution of their error which was due. Rom. 1:28 And even as they did not approve of holding God in their full knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things which are not fitting, Rom. 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; Rom. 1:30 Whisperers, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom. 1:31 Senseless, faithless, affectionless, merciless; Rom. 1:32 Who, though fully knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also have fellow delight in those who practice them. Footnote 1: 32,1) righteous - Or, righteous requirement, as in 8:4; that is, the requirement of God’s righteous will. Hence, this phrase also refers to the judgment that is out of God’s will (Rev. 15:4), or to statutes with judgments, that is, ordinances (2:26; Luke 1:6), or to the righteous act that meets God’s requirement (5:18). Rom. 2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O every man who judges, for in what you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Footnote 1: 1,1) judges - Meaning to pass judgment, to criticize. So in subsequent verses. Rom. 2:2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who practice such things. Footnotes 1-2: 2,1) judgment - Referring to God’s eternal judgment, which will be carried out mainly at the great white throne, as revealed in Rev. 20:11-15. See note 101 in ch. 14. 2,2) truth - Truth here and in vv. 8, 20 denotes the reality revealed through the creation and through the Bible concerning God, the universe, man, the relationship between man and God, the relationships among men, and man’s obligation to God. It also refers to the actual situation and condition of man, and it may be the terms of God’s judgment upon man, as indicated in vv. 6-15. According to these terms God will execute His judgment righteously.

Tuesday

September 14, 2021

Rom. 1:21 Because though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or thank Him, but rather became vain in their reasonings, and their heart, lacking understanding, was darkened. Footnote 2: 21,2) vain - Vain reasonings are the basic element in the daily life of fallen mankind. Rom. 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools Rom. 1:23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and reptiles. Footnote 1: 23,1) changed - To change the glory of God into anything else is to forsake Him and to make an idol. Rom. 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, so that they dishonor their bodies among themselves, Footnote 1: 24,1) gave - The same expression is used also in vv. 26 and 28. The result of man’s giving up God is man’s being given up by Him. Those who give up God force God to give them up. According to this chapter God gives people up to three things: uncleanness (v. 24), passions of dishonor (v. 26), and a disapproved mind (v. 28). The consequence of such a giving up is fornication (vv. 24, 26-27), which violates a governing and controlling principle and brings in confusion. Every kind of evil issues from this fornication (vv. 29-32). Rom. 1:25 Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Footnote 1: 25,1) truth - The truth of God is the reality of God. God is true and real. What He is, is a reality. But the idols are false. Whatever they are is a lie.

Monday

September 13, 2021

Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness, Footnote 5: 8,5) the - The truth here refers to the first true thing, the first reality, concerning man and God in the universe. This reality is the sure fact that God and His existence are proved by the creation, and it is the definite fact that men, being without excuse, can know God by the creation. This great reality, this great truth, should cause men to know God and thereby to glorify Him and thank Him (v. 21). However, instead of dealing properly with this reality, this truth, according to righteousness, in which God delights, men held down the truth in unrighteousness, which God hates, and did not approve of knowing God (v. 28). Therefore, they despised and rejected God, changing the glory of God into idols (vv. 21-23) and casting off self-restraint to fall without limit (vv. 24-32), so that they were given up, abandoned, by God (vv. 24, 26, 28). Rom. 1:19 Because that which is known of God is manifest within them, for God manifested it to them. Footnote 1: 19,1) within - Or, among. Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse; Footnotes 1-2: 20,1) divine - Gk. theiotes, denoting God’s attributes, which are the special features, the characteristics, as the outward manifestations of God’s nature or substance. It is different from theotes in Col. 2:9, which denotes God’s Godhead and person. The characteristics of God’s nature can be verified through the created things; however, the created things cannot manifest God’s Godhead and person. Only the living person of Jesus Christ, the Word who is God and who declares God (John 1:1, 18), can express God’s Godhead and person, that is, the very God, God Himself. Here, in this chapter, the apostle Paul speaks of the created things verifying God’s existence, but what is verified are only the attributes and characteristics of God. In Col. 2:9 he speaks of Christ as the embodiment of God, and what is expressed is the Godhead and God’s person, that is, God Himself. 20,2) being - Man can perceive the invisible things of God by observing the visible things created by Him. Both the eternal power of God and the divine characteristics that express God’s intrinsic nature are manifested in God’s creation. For example, the abundance of light in the universe shows that light is a divine characteristic, a divine attribute of the divine nature (James 1:17). The same is true of beauty and life. Rom. 1:21 Because though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or thank Him, but rather became vain in their reasonings, and their heart, lacking understanding, was darkened. Footnote 1: 21,1) they - In this chapter Paul’s presentation of God’s creation and man’s step-by-step fall is undoubtedly based on the historical facts as recorded in Gen.1— 19 and in subsequent books of the Old Testament. First, vv. 19-20 speak concerning God’s creation; then vv. 21-25 cover the fall of Adam and progress through the age of the flood to the worshipping of idols at Babel. Verses 26-27 progress further, from Babel to the shameful lusts of Sodom, and vv. 28-32 go on from Sodom to every kind of wickedness in the Old Testament time.

Friday

September 10, 2021

Rom. 1:17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it out of faith to faith, as it is written, ``But the righteous shall have life and live by faith.'' Footnote 3: 17,3) have - The righteousness of God justifies us that we may have God’s life (5:18) and live by it. In this way this life will sanctify and transform us thoroughly. This book covers mainly our being justified (1:1— 5:11; 9:1— 11:36), our having life (5:12— 8:39), and our living properly by this life (12:1— 16:27). Since this verse also stresses these three points, it may be considered an abstract of the entire book. Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness, Footnotes 1-4: 18,1) For - This book begins with man’s fall (in contrast to Ephesians, which begins with God’s selection and predestination in eternity past); continues through Christ’s redemption, God’s justification, sanctification, transformation, conformation, and glorification; and, finally, touches the mystery of God in eternity past (16:25). 18,2) wrath - In the preceding verse the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel to faith; here, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. This shows a contrast between the revelation of God’s righteousness and the revelation of God’s wrath. Originally, the wrath of God was revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. However, since the gospel of God has come, the scene has changed. Now the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel to our faith. 18,3) upon - Implying against, or in opposition to. 18,4) hold - To hold down means to suppress. From the beginning mankind did not respect the truth of God but suppressed it unrighteously.