by Gary L. Evans
(revised 7/29/2023)
Romans — Part 10
Rom 4:1-2 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
If Abraham could brag about his righteous works, then he could do so but not in comparison with God’s Righteousness.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul quotes from the Scriptures about Abraham’s belief.
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
God promised that Abraham’s offspring would be numerous like the stars of heaven.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
And because Abraham believed what The Lord had said, it was counted to him as righteousness.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
When a man does work, then his reward is simply payment of debt, and not by unmerited favor.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
But a man who is not perfectly righteous but believes in the honesty of God Who forgives sinners, then his belief is considered by God to be his righteousness. Grace is the gift of God.
Rom 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Paul quotes from the Psalms.
Psa 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Happy is the man whose sins are forgiven, and to whom The Lord does not impute sins, and a man who is not deceitful.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Abraham was not yet circumcised when The Lord counted his belief as righteousness. The covenant of circumcision came later.
Rom 4:10-12 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
So too the Gentiles who have not received circumcision are also justified by their faith in Jesus in that their sins are also forgiven, because they trust in God’s Righteousness, just as Abraham did. Abraham was declared to be The Father of Many Nations, which includes the twelve tribes of Israel, and he has also become, in the spiritual sense by their belief, The Father of The Gentiles also.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
The Law would not be given until hundreds of years later through Moses, therefore Abraham could not have been given such promises because of his obedience to The Law. It was by belief.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
If only those who obey God’s Law perfectly are the heirs of The Kingdom of Heaven, then our Lord’s Promise to Abraham was meaningless, having no substantial benefit.
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Sin is the transgression of The Law. But sin committed in ignorance of The Law is not counted against us.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
It is by our belief and by God’s unmerited favor toward us that we have entered into Abraham’s Covenant, Israel and Gentile alike.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Romans — Part 11
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Where was this written?
Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
The name “Abram” is from the Hebrew ” ab-rawm’” which means “high father.”
Gen 17:2-5 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
The name “Abraham” is from “ab-raw-hawm’” which means “father of a multitude.” The Lord made a covenant with Abraham that he would become a father of many nations.
Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Do you remember where this was written?
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
The Lord promised that Abraham’s descendants would be numerous as the stars of heaven.
And the Lord has fulfilled His Promise to Abraham, even though his descendants have for the most part forgotten their heritage. The Lord promised that if Israel fell away into apostasy then He would scatter them among the Gentiles. Israel rebelled, and The Lord scattered them just as He said He would.
Where is this written? In secular history and also in several Scriptures. We know from history that when the ten Northern Tribes of Israel were freed from their Assyrian Captivity, they had no homeland to return to, so they migrated north over the Caucasus Mountains into South Eastern Europe. The indigenous people in those regions called them, Caucasians, because they had crossed over the Caucasus Mountains. From there, they migrated north and west, all the way into the British Isles.
And later when the two Southern Tribes of Israel were freed from their Babylonian Captivity, only a remnant returned to the land of Judah and re-inhabited the city of Jerusalem. The rest followed their brethren over the Caucasus Mountains to join them.
Mat 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
When Jesus sent His disciples on their first missionary assignment, He told them not to preach to the Gentiles, but only preach to “The Lost Tribes of Israel.” Why were they lost? Because they had rebelled against God and fallen into apostasy and had been scattered among the Gentiles. But the disciples knew where they lived, so Jesus sent them to go preach and try to bring their brethren back to repentance by hearing The Gospel.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Our Lord’s Mission while He walked this earth in the flesh was to teach not only the Israelites dwelling in the land of Judah, but also all of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They were not dead. They were only scattered all across Europe and Britain.
Jas 1:1 James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James, knew where the Twelve Tribes had been scattered, and his Epistle is addressed directly to them.
So where are the so-called “Lost Tribes of Israel” today? My friends, just look around, do you see any Caucasians? Most likely, when you see one, you are looking at a descendant of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. And even having no remembrance of their ancestry, most of ISRAEL continues to CIRCUMCISE THEIR MALES by their ANCIENT TRADITION from The Lord’s Covenant with Abraham. So as you consider these facts in your mind, you will see that GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES, as the one He made to Abraham.
Rom 4:19-22 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Do you remember where this was written?
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Because he believed what God had said, The Lord counted that as Abraham’s righteousness.
Rom 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
And because we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that He was crucified as the propitiation for our sins and raised for our justification, the Lord counts our belief as our righteousness.
Rom 5:1-3 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
The word “tribulations” is from the Greek “thlip’-sis” which means “pressure (literally or figuratively).”
Rom 5:4-5 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Through The New Covenant in The Blood of Jesus we are given a new Heart and Mind, The Holy Spirit, so that the love of God fills our hearts. The trouble we experience because of our faith in Jesus produces patience, and patience produces experience, and experience hope, and with hope we have confidence in God.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Romans — Part 12
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
The word “Christ” is from the Greek “khris-tos’” which means “anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.”
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Note that the “prince” referenced is Satan, so the context is “the people of Satan that shall come…”
The word “Messiah” is from the Hebrew “maw-shee’-akh” which means “anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest,or saint); specifically the Messiah.”
At the set time, The Anointed One, The Messiah died for sinners.
Rom 5:7-8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Even while we were still sinners, our Lord died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Christ Jesus is our Savior.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The name “Jesus” is from the Greek “ee-ay-sooce’” which is “Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites.”
The name “Jehoshua” is referenced in The Old Testament.
Num 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
The name “Jehoshua” is from the Hebrew “yeh-ho-shoo’-ah” which means “Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (that is, Joshua), the Jewish leader.” The name “Jesus” means “The Eternal Savior.”
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Our salvation has come by our Lord’s resurrection from the dead.
Rom 5:11-12 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Adam, as a figure of all mankind, committed sin with That Old Serpent, and because of that sin, sin entered into this world. The literal truth of this precept is that Cain was born into this world, the son of Satan, who became the first murderer.
Rom 5:13-14 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
The nature of Adam’s sin is never explicitly described. But Eve committed sin with The Serpent also and she became pregnant. So it would appear that homosexuals reenact Adam’s sin which is a perverted mockery of God by the sin that led to the fall of man from God’s Grace, and brought death into the world.
Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Adam was the son of God and therefore had dominion over the things in this world. But by humbling himself to Satan, he gave his power to Satan, who became The God of This World, and Adam (figuratively mankind in general) became the servant of Satan.
Rom 5:16-17 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
What was lost by one man, Adam, our innocence and our never ending life, has been regained by one Man, even Jesus The Christ.
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Only Christ Jesus was without sin. He alone performed the righteousness of The Law and received the promise of Eternal Life. And He did so that we also would receive Life with Him by our belief in His Righteousness.
Rom 5:19-20 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
The Law teaches us the definition of sin, so that in our minds sin becomes exceedingly sinful. And because of that the unmerited favor bestowed on us by our Father to provide the atonement for our sins has become exceedingly gracious.
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our belief in Jesus and in the power of His Blood changes us from sinners awaiting the wrath of God into His dear children awaiting the promise of Eternal Life.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Romans — Part 13
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Should we keep on sinning so that God’s Grace may be magnified? Absolutely not!
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
We must not sin anymore, because our old sinful self is dead. That is, we must obey God’s Law perfectly. Does this seem impossible? Well it is with man but not so with The Holy Spirit.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
The baptism taught by John The Baptist and by Jesus symbolized the death and burial of the believer. And after Jesus was crucified, it also symbolized our being buried with Him.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Christ resurrected from the dead, and by His resurrection we are then resurrected with Him into Eternal Life. This was symbolized by our coming back up out of the water of the baptism as a new living person in the likeness of Christ Jesus.
Rom 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Though we all were servants of sin, that is, servants of Satan, now that we are partakers of the crucifixion of Christ, we are dead and no longer servants of sin. Therefore we must not sin anymore.
Rom 6:8-11 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The New Covenant gives us a new Heart and Mind, even The Heart and Mind of Jesus Christ our Lord. And it is impossible for Christ to commit sin. Therefore, with Christ dwelling in us, it is impossible for us to commit wilful sin again as long as we remain faithful to God and thereby remain in The Spirit.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We must not allow sin (Satan) to have dominion over us again, that we again obey Satan by the covetousness of our old self.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
The word “members” is used to symbolize the various parts of our bodies, and also the various members of our assemblies. We may enjoy the good things in this world that God has given us and which are lawful, but we must not transgress God’s Law. We should work to serve God’s Will in this world.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
With The Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus dwelling in us, and in Him is no sin, we are no longer under the wrath of God for transgressions of His Law. Instead, our new Life is by the unmerited favor granted to us by God because of The Blood of Christ.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Never think that we can willfully commit sin again and continue in The New Covenant. That is impossible! Let no man deceive you.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Anyone who enters into The New Covenant is no longer the servant of Satan, but of God. But if he falls away back into sin, then he again becomes the servant of Satan, which is Death.
Rom 6:17-18 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
We now obey God’s Law in Spirit and in Truth, and are now God’s People, and He is our God. This is The New Covenant.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.