ROMANS

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Romans 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the un-suspecting. These people are driven by self-interest and self-gratification, often seen in their pretentious, extravagant, and immoral lifestyles. 2 Timothy 3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15) Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds. In every group there seems to be those intent on bringing it down. Paul urged his Christian friends at Rome to be on the watch for those who stirred up dissensions. Paul instructed a young preacher to have nothing to do with a divisive person After he had been warned twice. Titus 3:10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, There is considerable difficulty in determining just who these trouble makers were. They have been variously identified as Judaizers, antinomians, charismatic enthusiasts, or the selfish among the strong.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Apelles was tested and approved – Gr. δόκιμος - ①pertinent to being genuine on the basis of testing, approved (by test), tried and true, genuine. Romans 14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Without naming other individuals Paul sent greetings to those who belong to the household of Aristobulus, perhaps a grandson of Herod the Great. A household may have included family members and servants. Romans 16:11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Herodion was greeted as Paul’s relative, but once again the relationship was probably tribal and not familial. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Paul restricted his greetings to the ones who are in the Lord, which probably indicated Narcissus’ family was divided spiritually. Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have la-bored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Paul sent greetings jointly to Tryphena and Tryphosa, identifying them as those women who work hard (“toil”) in the Lord. Some believe they were sisters, possibly even twins.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Gospel Verses: John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has ever-lasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, Galatians 2:16 …nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 3:15 …so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Romans 16:5 greet the church that is in their house. Greet (v.amm) Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. In the early NT days the local church met in the Jew-ish synagogue and had a very simple organization. Later, They met in people’s houses. It was safe and pragmatic (practical) for the believers in those days. It stands to reason that the Apostle Paul would be partial to the first convert to Christ in Asia. my beloved - Four persons are called “beloved” by Paul: Epenetus (Rom. 16:5), Amplias (Rom. 16:8), Stachys (Rom. 16:9), and Persis (Rom. 16:12). Paul would re-member Epenetus in particular, for he was the first of the converts in Asia. 1 Corinthians 16:15-16 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of *Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), 16) that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. *Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia - Apparently Epaenetus belonged to the household of Stephanas, for in 1 Corinthians 16:15 these people are also called “the firstfruits of Achaia.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 565. 1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren -- you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints -- Acts 16:6-7 And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia (west coast province of Asia Minor); 7) and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Acts 16:9-10 The Holy Spirit guided Paul in order to keep him from going to places that were too dangerous for him to give the gospel. He also guides us as well; when we don’t know where to go or what to do. He knows where to lead us and show us what to do.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Positional Truth produces a new creature in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away [condemnation, spiritual death, control of the old sin nature]; behold, new things have come [eternal life, God’s righteousness, indwelling and filling of the H.S.] 18) Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, Adam was the head of the old creation, and Christ (the Last Adam), is the Head of the new creation. The old creation was plunged into sin and condemnation because of the disobedience of Adam. The new creation means righteousness and salvation because of the obedience of Jesus Christ. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 648. 9. Positional Truth guarantees the eternal security of the believer — Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Points: The second verse in 1 Corinthians addresses the church of God in Corinth; “they were sanctified in Christ Je-sus”, called to be saints, even though they may have been the worst church ever. These believers were all carnal and out of fellowship, but they were all sanctified in Christ Jesus. To understand this, we must know the Doctrine of Sanc-tification. the Doctrine of Positional Truth, and the doctrine of the baptism of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2) To the church of God which is at Cor-inth, to those who are sanctified (part.rp) in Christ Je-sus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours:

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] (Review of lesson 389) LESSON # 390 5. The implications of the baptism of the Spirit are found in Galatians 3:26-28. Distinctions are removed. Galatians 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 6. The baptism of the Spirit provides retroactive identification, Romans 6:1-5. This is the doctrinal basis for victory over the old sin nature. Romans 6:1-5 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4) Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 7. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1 & 4) and so did being filled with the H.S. and being indwelt with the H.S. and that is also when the Church Age began. Acts 11:15-16 "And as I began to speak, the Ho-ly Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the be-ginning. 16) "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 8. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something you experience, but the Scriptures confirm that it is very real.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] The Bema Seat and Rewards (3:10–15) This teaching on three classes of men is often cou-pled with the next passage, 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. What is often asserted within the carnal Christian teaching is that there will be a separate judgment for believers, where their works are evaluated and they will receive rewards. The usual assumption is that those who were spiritual will receive a reward, those who were carnal will be saved “as by fire.” “The teaching on 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. (1) It is a unique judgment for Christians; (2) It focuses only on Christian service or good works; (3) It is only a matter of reward or loss of reward. This teaching fits in neatly with the carnal Christian teaching. The idea is that a person could live life with little or no works, and at this special Christian judgment would still get to heaven, without any rewards. These doctrines have been used to instill in people the notion that they can have true faith and yet be carnal and fruitless. The worst thing that can happen to such people is that they lose out on millennial rewards. This is not a hypothetical observation; it is one that I have heard many times over the years. A presumptuous laziness can creep in, making people comfortable with their carnality and fruit-lessness. What makes this so dangerous is that it gives ground for people to think they are converted, when in fact they may well be unregenerate and hell-bound. There is a more profound way than is usually recognized, this opening issue is the most crucial factor in the letter, not because their ‘quarrels’ were the most significant error in the church, but because the nature of this particular strife had as its root cause their false theology, which had exchanged the theology of the cross for a false triumphal-ism that went beyond, or excluded the cross. The Apostle’s criticism of the Corinthians is that although they claimed to be spiritual, they were not acting like it. In fact, they were acting “as carnal” people, that is, people of the flesh, people of this world. Their behavior was not only worldly, it was infantile. This is brought out by the derogatory “as babes in Christ.” They claimed to be “mature” but the hard fact was that they were infantile, childish. In our vernacular, they were “acting like babies.” The argument of 2:6–16 implies that for Paul the gospel of the crucified one is both “milk” and “solid food.” As milk it is the good news of salvation; as solid food it is under-standing that the entire Christian life is predicated on the same reality- and those who have the Spirit should so understand the “mystery.”

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. Aquila and Prisca are mentioned in Acts 18:24-28 in reference to a man named Apollos. “Apollos was a Jew “born at Alexandria,” a man well versed in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24; R.V., “learned”). He came to Ephesus (about A.D. 49), where he spoke “boldly” in the synagogue (18:26), although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly in “the way of God,” i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth, where he met Paul (Acts 18:27; 19:1). He was there very useful in watering the good seed Paul had sown (1 Cor. 1:12), and in gaining many to Christ.” M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 47–48. Read: Acts 18:1-28 Acts 18 identifies Aquila as a Jew. Like other Jews living outside of Palestine, he and his wife adopted Roman names in addition to their Jewish names, which are not given in Scripture. They settled in Corinth and Paul, who shared their trade of tent making (that is, leather working), stayed with Aquila and Priscilla there. The couple apparently returned to Rome and became leaders of the Christian community there (Rom. 16:3–5a). What is perhaps most fascinating about references to Aquila in the New Testament is that in each case his wife is mentioned with him, and in half the references Priscilla is named first. What an appropriate reminder that in ministry as in life husbands and wives are to be partners, and that in some partnerships the wife’s gifts may be greater than those of her husband. Larry Richards, Every Man in the Bible (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1999), 213. 2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ONESIPHORUS— name means “bringing profit”, an Ephesian Christian who showed great kindness to Paul at Rome. He served him in many things, and had often refreshed him. Paul expresses a warm interest in him and his household. “2 Timothy 1:16-18 The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; 17) but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me—18) the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day-- and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.” M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 513. “on that day” refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Guided by Grace - By Joel E. Kim Like many people, I have become completely dependent on my phone’s GPS to help me navigate the traffic in southern California. I love it when my GPS says, “You’re on the fastest route and your route is clear.” If only our faith journeys were this easy, with clear directions and turn-by-turn guidance to God’s destination for our lives. In the closing verses of Romans, Paul does not provide detailed directions for every step of our lives, but he does alert us to signs we should heed. These markers guide us along a trajectory of grace. What do these signs have in common? They all point to the providence and sovereignty of God: He is in charge and we are not. Our God is able and faithful, and our response should be to depend on him. First-Century Resumé Pray for those who minister to you. Ask God to reveal ways you can support their ministry. Since its inception in 2004, Facebook has become an essential tool for connecting with people. In a way, Romans 16—a chapter sometimes treated as unnecessary for the church—functions like a first-century Facebook, establishing personal connections between Paul and the be-lievers in Rome (most of whom he had not met). By offering this extensive list of mutual friends, Paul is able to recommend himself to the congregation. What can we learn from this chapter full of names? For one, the Roman church was very diverse. Out of the 26 people named, nine are women. Perhaps this doesn’t seem so unusual, given that women often make up the majority in our churches today. However, it might be surprising to learn that slaves or “freedmen”—former slaves who were given freedom—make up the majority of the names in Romans 16. (In the first century, names were often associated with certain social or economic classes.) Imagine sitting in church and worshiping with a slave. Given the homogeneous nature of our most of our churches, such diversity is difficult to imagine.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Read: Ephesians 2:11-22 Summary: The latter part of Ephesians 2:11–22 expands on this theme, illustrating the broader reconciliation of both Jews and Gentiles into one new humanity in Christ. Paul urges Gentile believers to remember their previous separation from God and the covenants of promise made to Israel. He explains that Christ's death has broken down the barriers be-tween Jews and Gentiles, creating peace and unity. The "dividing wall" refers to the law that previously separated them, which Christ fulfilled. Paul emphasizes that through Christ, both groups have access to God and are now part of His household, forming a holy temple where God dwells. This unity is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who em-powers believers and signifies their identity as the dwelling place of God on earth. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) dwells in you? Overall, Paul’s message highlights the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice in uniting diverse peoples into one body of believers. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.