The Open Word

How can a believer exercise their Christian liberty while at the same time considering those who still feel many things are off limits for believers? We continue our discussion of this important topic in Romans 14, in which Paul instructs those that are mature in Christ to not look down on others and pass judgment on them because they have not yet understood their freedom in Christ.

In Romans 14, Paul turns his attention to the exercise of personal liberties and disputes over doubtful things. We begin our study of this topic by introducing this concept and how to practice it in the body of Christ.

We complete our study of Romans 13 in which Paul exhorts his readers to be alert, because the night is gone and the day is at hand. It is no time to be complacent, rather it is time to put off the works of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that we can walk in the day.

Paul continues his discussion of Christian virtues by discussion the golden rule in Romans 13:8-10. He points out that we should owe no one anything, except to love them and consider others over ourselves. In fact, love is the fulfillment of the law. If we love our neighbors and God as we should, then keeping the Ten Commandments becomes a by-product of that love, and not a duty.

We continue our discussion of the Christian and government. Paul indicates that God has ordained government to provide stability in a society, and that the Christian is responsible to be submissive, pay their taxes, and show honor to those in authority.

We continue our discussion of the believer's response to governmental authorities by exploring the statement of Paul that all authorities, even those that are godless, are appointed by God and as such we are to be good citizens of whatever nation we find ourselves living in.

We begin a new section and topic in the Book of Romans which is the believer's response towards governmental authorities, even those that may not reflect a Christian worldview. This is an important topic, because the New Testament makes it clear that the believer is to be a model citizen, and is to obey governmental authority unless that authority specifically prohibits that which God commands.

Paul completes his discussion of our Christian duties by focusing on how we are to treat our enemies.

Having discussed our duties to ourselves and the family of God, Paul expands the circle in Romans 12:14–16 to all men. In these few verses, Paul packs a host of admonitions on how we are to treat others as representatives of Christ.

In the last part of Romans 12, Paul lays out Christian virtues in an expanding circle from personal duties to the family of God, then to all people, and finally to enemies. In this session we look at the first two circles, personal duties and duties to the family of God.

We complete our study of spiritual gifts in Romans 12.

We continue our discussion of spiritual gifts as found in Romans 12:3-8. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to minister to others in the body of Christ, the Church, and it is the responsibility of all believers to identify their spiritual gift and use it.

In this session we begin a three-week discussion of spiritual gifts. All believers have a spiritual gift that is given to them to minister to the body of Christ. In this, and the next two sessions, we will look at what the New Testament teaches about spiritual gifts, identifying our spiritual five, and the necessity of exercising our spiritual gift for the good and health of the Church.

Romans 12 begins the practical section of Romans. After laying out God's plan of salvation, Paul now turns to practical applications. He begins by exhorting his readers to present themselves wholly to God as a living sacrifice, as this is the only reasonable act of worship given the many blessings God has bestowed on believers.

We finish Romans Chapter 11 by discussing Israel's ultimate salvation. Although the nation as a whole lives in rebellion against Christ - there is coming a day when their eyes will be open, they will be grafted back into the place of blessing, and receive all the promises God gave them in the Old Testament.

Paul continues his discussion of the future of Israel by referring to an agrarian illustration of an olive tree. The Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree temporarily, and the natural branches removed. But there is coming a day when the natural branches will once again be drafted into the olive tree, just as Israel will someday be restored to the place of God's blessing.

One of the major questions debated my many theologians is the place of Israel in God's future plans. Paul addresses this directly by affirming that God is not done with Israel, but there is coming a day when once again they will take their place of blessing. God is currently working through the Church, but Israel has not been permanently set aside as their rejection of the Messiah is temporary.

Paul explains the national rejection of Christ by Israel by referring back to the teaching in the Old Testament about the remnant. He shows that God has always had a remnant, a small group of true believers. Israel's national rejection does not mean that every Jew rejected, because God always has a faithful few. However, because of the national rejection by Israel of their Messiah, their hearts ha...

Paul completes his discussion of Israel's rejection of Christ by quoting several passages from the Old Testament. He shows that just because Israel rejected Christ, that does not imply that the message of the Gospel is wrong or that Christ is not the Messiah, but rather the problem lies with the unbelief of Israel.

We continue our discussion of what it means to confess Christ. What does it mean to believe in one's heart? Is mere head knowledge sufficient, or is there something more? We will be exploring these questions as we look at verses 11–14 of Romans 10.

Romans 10:5–13 contains one of the clearest descriptions on how one appropriates salvation by placing one's faith in the finished work of Christ. In this session we look at the passage at a high level, focusing on what it means to confess Christ and believe in one's heart.

Paul bears his grief for his fellow Israelites who missed salvation by seeking to be justified by their works. His heart for them comes true when he says he almost could wish himself cursed for their sake. How did the Jews miss it salvation? It is because they rejected Christ for a righteousness of their own, a righteousness that can never save.

In Romans 9:30–33, Paul shows that the Jews who pursued a righteous by works missed the righteousness that God requires for salvation whereas the Gentiles, who pursued a righteous by faith, are the ones who received justification and salvation.

In this short section of Scripture, Paul makes the point that just because someone was an Israelite, that did not necessarily mean they were all part of the covenant and by extension redeemed. He brings up the idea of a remnant, a small number in Israel who were truly redeemed, and unless God had such a remnant, Israel would have gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Paul continues his discussion of God's sovereignty by turning to the illustration of a potter over the clay. As the potter, God has the right to choose those to whom He will show mercy, and leave others to their own sin. He closes this section with a quote from Hosea in which Paul shows that God has now included the Gentiles as part of His chosen people. Those who were formerly unloved, are now lo...