Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 13

"Be Subject"

-Submission one of the chief earmarks of the child of God.

Submission to Government

Subject because of Wrath (v. 1-4)
-this type of submission is less about personalities, and more about authority.
-one doesn't have to fear authority if one submits.
-obvious exception to this: when government edict conflicts with God's law (see Acts 5:28-29)
-the Christian should respect, esteem, and pray for public officials (this echoes Rom. 12:18)
-see also I Peter 2:13-17

Subject because of Conscience (v. 5-7)

Subject because of Love (v. 8-10)

Subject because of Our Redemption (v. 11-14)

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 12

The Christian's Service, the Christian's Conduct

-service to God begins with possessing a Christlike mindset (Rom. 11:34)

Verses 1-8 (Service)

-"beseech", literally "beg".
-living sacrifice: Christ wants our lives.
-reasonable service

-be not conformed: don't let the world squeeze you into its mold.

-renewing your mind: this is an ongoing process (Phil. 4:8)

-think soberly: implies seriousness.

-"members one of another" : the body of Christ in interdependent.

Verses 9-21 (Conduct)

-"Abhor that which is evil"

-"Rejoicing in hope"

-"Bless them which persecute you"

-"Provide things honest in the sight of all men"

-"overcome evil with good"

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 11

Paul's Two Questions

#1: Has God totally set aside Israel?
-Paul says no; he is an Israelite himself.
-Israel existed throughout the Old Testament.
-They experienced God's protection many times (the exodus, wandering in the desert, etc.)
-God always has a people.

#2: Did Israel stumble so they could fall?
-Paul says no.
-Israel rejected the Gospel, they were set aside by God.
-God then turned to the gentiles as the primary vehicle for the Gospel.

Key verse 11:22 "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 10:1-21

Israel's Misplaced Zeal

Paul's burden restated (Rom. 10:1-4)
-the Jewish people were ignorant of God's righteousness.
-they sought justification by the law, not by faith (see Luke 18:9-14).
-justification through faith in Christ (Rom. 10:4)

The perils of seeking justification by the law (Rom. 10:5-7)

The remedy for misplaced zeal (Rom. 10:8-13)

The method for overcoming misplaced zeal (Rom. 10:14-17)
-go and tell.

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 9:1-33

Election, Israel, and God's Purpose

-Important to remember that God's dealings with humankind has always been by faith.

v. 1-5
Paul's burden for the Jews expressed.
-echoes Moses's desire in Exodus 32:32
Israel's many blessings can't save them; only faith in Christ will.

v. 6-13
One's lineage can't save them.
-examples Ishmael, Esau

v. 14-24
God's power as shown in His mercy and judgment.
-God blessed Pharaoh, then cut him off.

v. 25-33
-Salvation by Christ, not ethnicity.

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 5:1-21

"Much More"

Introduction- Results of Justification:
-peace with God (5:1)
-access to grace (5:2)
-patience, experience, and hope (5:4)
-God's love revealed (5:5)

"Much More" - Five times in chapter 5 this phrase is used by Paul to show the additional benefits of justification.

1st "much more": (v. 9) not only is does the believer have their sins forgiven and assurance of eternal life, God also promises deliverence from judgment to come. (see also I Thess. 1:10)

2nd "much more": (v. 10) not only is the believer made right with God through the death of Christ, we have a guarentee through His life. (see also John 1:4)

3rd "much more": (v. 15) the gift of grace through Jesus abounds to many.

4th "much more": (v. 17) "much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (think royalty- see I Pet. 2:9)

5th "much more": (v. 20) grace abounding (overflowing).

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 4:1-25

Justification by Faith

1) Justification is by faith, not works. (4:1-5)
-Abraham, the ancestor
-the physical ancestor of the Jews, the spiritual ancestor of those who put their faith
in Christ.
-Abraham: not justified by works (see Rom. 4:3, Gen. 15:6, Gal. 3:6-7)

2) Justification is for all. (4:6-12)
-All stand in need of justification, regardless of ethnicity or creed.
-circumcision was the outward sign of inward belief toward God.
-It's important to note that Abraham hadn't been circumcised when he put his faith in God.
-Abraham is the father of all who believe.

3) Justification is not natural, it's supernatural. (4:13-25)
"God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."
-this also applies to us (present tense) if we believe.

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 3:1-31

What advantage then...?

Verse 1 asks the question which frames the rest of the chapter: What advantage then has the Jew?
-They are God's chosen people.
-Given the word (oracles) of God (v. 2).
-But time and again, they rejected Him.

Verses 3-4 underscore the fact that unbelief doesn't change the truth of God: let God be true, but every man a liar.

In verses 5-8, God's judgments are seen as true and righteous (see Psa. 19:9).

Verse 9 confirms that all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social status, are under sin.

Verses 10-12 flesh the above point out: There is none righteous...There is none that understandeth...there is none that seeketh after God...there is none that doeth good.

To illustrate, Paul examines humankind's conversation in verses 13-14.

Verses 15-18 indict humankind's conduct.

Verses 19-20 render God's judgment through the law: and all the world may become guilty before God.

But...verses 21-23 declare how God's righteousness through faith in Christ can reverse the guilty "verdict".

Key words to look for in verses 24-26: justification, redemption, and propitiation- all results of Christ's finished work.

Verses 27-28 show that it isn't by individual acheivement (boasting), but faith that justifies.

Verses 29-31 point to the law's fulfillment (completion).

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 2:12-29

On God's Law and the people of the Old Covenant

-Gentiles didn't have God's law delivered to them as did the Jews, yet they had a law "written on the heart" in their consciences.

-Those who had God's law boasted in it and became proud and arrogant, forgetting the original purpose of the law.

-see verse 20: a form of knowledge
a form of something is not complete.
Paul spoke of those in the last days who would have a "form of godliness, but denying the power thereof".

-form vs. knowledge: from mind to heart

-vs. 25-29
Circumcision was an outward sign to God but if someone didn't live the inward truth behind that sign, it meant nothing.
We need an inward sign that God is present.

-Our daily challenge is to look into the mirror of the word of God so that we can launch out into our daily walk (see James 1:22-25)

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 2:1-16

"Four Aspects of the Judgment of God"

God's judgment is...
1) True (Romans 2:1-2)
2) Righteous (Romans 2:3-10)
3) Without respect of persons (Romans 2:11-15)
4) Imminent (Romans 2:16)

Sunday AM Series: Romans

Pastor Joel Santti: Romans 1:1-1:7

Introduction to the book of Romans

-1.1: Identifies Paul as the writer.
-1.1: Reveals subject of the book, the gospel. (see also Romans 1:16)
-1.2: Paul alludes to the fact that the gospel was "promised" before by the prophets (Old Testament).
-1.3: Makes mention of the Davidic Covenant. (see also Psalm 2)
-1.4: The primacy of the resurrection, proving the person and mission of Christ.
-1.5: Paul's calling of apostleship.
-1.6: "Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ". This includes all believers.
-1.7: "...called to be saints"