Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
April 11, 2021
Opening Prayer
Psalm 119
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give
me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those
who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because
I have hoped in your word.
75 I
know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and
that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let
your steadfast love comfort me
according
to your promise to your servant.
77 Let
your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for
your law is my delight.
78 Let the
insolent be put to shame,
because
they have wronged me with falsehood;
as
for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let
those who fear you turn to me,
that
they may know your testimonies.
80 May
my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that
I may not be put to shame!
Prolegomena
Idolatry
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What is a god?
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“A god means that from which we are to expect
all good and in which we are to take refuge in all distress.” – The Large Catechism,
I, 2
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The explanations to the Ten Commandments all
begin with a callback to the explanation of the Fist Commandment – “We should
fear, love and trust in God above all things.” So each explanation after that
begins, “We should fear and love God so that …”
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This is not necessarily something we actively pursue
(Coarse Idolatry). Often it is subtle and seen in our fears, insecurities,
priorities, and source of sense of wellbeing.
o
Mammon – finances
o
Politics
o
Medicine
o
Technology
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Notice that these are all good gifts from God.
The problem comes in when these:
o
Become more authoritative than God and his word
§
Reconfigure morality
§
Redefine our creatureliness
§
Often through Materialism or Gnosticism
o
Become our source of hope
o
Point us back to ourselves as our own saviors
(self-justification)
-
This is rooted in original sin which corrupts
our nature.
Romans 3:5-8
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness
of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?
(I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then
how could God judge the world? 7 But if
through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being
condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil
that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their
condemnation is just.
-
What is at the heart of this argument?
o
Unrighteousness stands as an opposite to
righteousness.
o
Our unrighteous behavior shows the rightness of
God’s verdict upon humanity.
o
Our unrighteousness displays the righteousness
of God as he deals with us in judgement.
o
Therefore, our unrighteousness serves a good
purpose which is to God’s advantage – that we display his righteousness.
o
So, in response, shouldn’t we conclude that,
since our unrighteousness is to God’s advantage, it is unjust (and a form of
unrighteousness) for God to deal with us in wrath because his response to our
unrighteousness brings him glory, honor, etc. as his righteousness is revealed?
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This is, in some ways, like the “God made me
this way” argument. It tries to make God the cause of our sin.
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By no means! No way! It cannot happen!
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How then will God judge the world?
o
If he is the cause of unrighteousness he can no
longer prevail because our judgement of him is true – He is unjust in his
judgement.
o
When is Judgement Day?
-
If through my lie …?
o
This is a more pointed statement in the same
line of argument.
o
Karl Barth: So the truth, the revelation of God
is exalted, is triumphant by the means of the human lie, from which it is
distinguished so clearly by the justification of believers? … Does my lie
therefore serve that “becoming exceedingly great” (Rom. 5:20), that brilliant
light of grace, and consequently the glory of God? Why must I then be exposes
to the judgement? Are they not right then, are they not consistent who draw the
conclusion: “let us do evil that good may come of it?”
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Paul’s response to this who line of argument is
exceedingly short. Their condemnation is just.
o
Barth: Why is [Paul] so brief? Because fools,
and consistent fools in particular can and should be answered briefly. And in
that long question everything is foolish, everything is wrong.
o
Impenitence, self-justification, judging God –
these do not bring us forgiveness, reconciliation or righteousness.
o
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
§
Learning to live under God’s grace, providence,
and sanctification.
§
Learning to live Psalm 111.
Romans 3:9-20
9 What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already
charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as
it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become
worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.” (1)
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.” (2)
“The venom of asps is under their lips.” (3)
14 “Their mouth is full of
curses and bitterness.” (4)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; (5)
16 in their paths are ruin and
misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.” (6)
18 “There is no fear of God
before their eyes.” (7)
19 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. 20 For by
works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight,
since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
1.
1.Psalm 14:1-3 & 53:1-3
2.
2.Psalm 5:9
3.
3.Psalm 140:3
4.
4.Psalm 10:7 (LXX)
5.
5.Proverbs 1:16
6.
6.Isaiah 59:7-8
a.
Luke 1:79
7.
7.Psalm 36:1
We need to understand the right relationship of the Old and
New Testaments; or more simply, the whole Scriptures.
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A story about Pastor Donovan Riley’s tattoo.
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John 5:39
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13 times in the Gospels – to fulfill the
word/Scriptures.
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