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 loved. And those who were formerly not God's people, are now his people.

Paul addresses one of the most controversial topics in our passage today: election. Paul confronts the belief that God is unfair, and makes the argument that God is not. Rather He is sovereign. Instead, God has the prerogative to show mercy on whom He will, and to show His wrath to the others.

Paul makes the argument that the problem that Israel as a whole has not believed is not because God's word or promise has failed, but that just because someone is descended from Abraham does not automatically make them a "true Israelite." Not every descendant gets an automatic pass. His illustration is Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, but only one was the child of promise. Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob, but only one was the child of promise. 

In Romans 9–11, Paul turns his attention to the question of the Jewish people. If Christ was their Messiah, and He was, then how is it that the Jewish nation missed it? Paul begins his discussion of this topic in Romans 9:1–5 by showing his true heart and concern for the Jewish people. 

In Romans 8:31–39 we find one of the greatest assurances for the believer, that is their eternal security. Paul describes this security in terms that leaves nothing in the universe out, and that shows that those who have placed their faith in the Gospel are forever secure as nothing can separate them from God's love.

In this session we discuss one of the most hotly debates themes in all of Scripture, that of election, predestination, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. Romans 8:29–30 is a key text in understanding this debate. Although there is still an element of mystery surrounding this topic, there are some comforting truths to be examined in this text.

What does it mean that all things work together for good to those who love God and those who are called according to his purpose? In this session, we explore this promise that God sovereignly orchestrates all the experiences of the believer to bring about His eternal purpose and the believer's best interests.

One of the greatest ministries of the Holy Spirit is His intercessory work on behalf of believers. In this session we explore His intercession in the realm of prayer, where when we do not know for what we need to pray, He does, and intercedes on our behalf.

Paul continues his discussion of the redemption of nature when the Lord returns and those of us who are believers receive our glorified bodies. Nature is personified as a living thing that longs for that day, the day we receive our full adoption and the curse on the created order is lifted.

Perhaps one of the greatest illustrations Paul uses to describe our salvation is that of adoption. In Romans 8:15–17 Paul explores this metaphor, and shows the meaning and significance of what it means to be adopted as one of God's children. Not only does God become our Father, but we are co-heirs with Christ in His inheritance!

What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God and what does that look like? In this session we examine Romans 8:12–14 in which Paul gives us the answer to these two important questions.

Having described the unbeliever, that is, one who lives according to the flesh, Paul now describes the characteristics of a believer. These are 1) they have the indwelling Holy Spirit, 2) the body of sin has been destroyed, and 3) someday the mortal will put on immortality.

In this session we examine Romans 8:5–8 in which Paul describes those who walk according to the flesh. There are some who see these as carnal believers, that is, believers who are living in sin, but it is best to see them not as believers, but as unbelievers.

We continue our examination of Romans 8 by looking at the freedom we have in Christ. Not only are we no longer under condemnation, but what the law could not do, Christ did for us. We could not meet the righteous requirements of the law, but Christ did! For those who place their faith in His finished work fulfill the righteous requirement as well, not because of what they have done, but because of what Christ did for them.

We begin what I believe to be one of the greatest chapters in the Bible - Romans Chapter 8. In this first session we discuss the wondrous truth that Christ has freed us from the principle of sin and death that Paul outlined in Romans 6-7. Because of this, we are no longer under condemnation!

Paul continues his struggle with indwelling sin by discussing the war that rages within each believer over their flesh, their unredeemed fallenness, and their new life in Christ, their desire to live holy. Thankfully, there is a resolution, which is in Chapter 8, but before the resolution can be appreciated, the struggle needs to be understood

In this passage of Scripture Paul describes his frustration of living the Christian life. The things he wants to do, he does not. And the things he does not want to do, he does. Why? It is because he is fleshy, and his fallen humanness does not allow him to do that which he wants.

We continue our examination of Paul's argument that just like a woman is free from her husband to marry another if her husband dies, so also we have died to sin so we can be joined to another, Christ. We are no longer under the bondage of sin, but now have new life in Christ.

We begin Romans 7 in which Paul makes the argument that the believer has been freed from sin so that we are no longer in bondage to our old master, which leads to death, but are free to server a new master, Christ, in which we now have new life in the Spirit. He uses the axiomatic truth of marriage, in which each member is bound to the other as long as that person is alive, but if their spouse dies they are free to marry another without being called an adulterer.

We complete our look at Romans 6 by looking at verses 20-23 in which Paul contrasts the wages of sin with the free gift of eternal life. Men may think that they are free in their sin, but Paul tells us that those who live in sin work hard to receive wages, which will result in eternal death. On the other hand, God offers a way to eternal life by the free gift of salvation in Christ. 

We continue our discussion of Romans 6 by looking at several passages regarding our need to see ourselves as slaves to Christ and not slaves to our flesh.

In our continuing look at Romans 6, we find Paul asking the question in verse 15, "If we are under grace and not law, then can we continue to sin since, after all, we have been forgiven?" His emphatic answer is "NO!" Why? Because it is an axiomatic truth that we are slaves to that which we obey. We have been freed from sin to serve Christ, why would we want to continue to serve sin? The only response for a true believer is to not obey sin, but to obey Christ.

In this session we look at how our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection has freed us from bondage to sin. We are no longer captive to sin, and due to our identity with Christ, we can now experience victory.

Paul continues his discussion of our union with Christ by showing that when Christ died, we died with him, and in doing so the power of sin has been broken in our lives. Sin has no power over those who are dead, and since we died with Christ, sin's power over us has been cancelled.

What enables us to have victory over sin? It is our union with Christ. In Romans 6:3, Paul begins a discussion on this topic by showing that our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection has freed us from the tyranny of sin.

Romans chapter 6 and 7 deal with the issue of indwelling sin. Why is it that those who have been justified continue to struggle with sin? Does not the Holy Spirit give us victory over sin? In Romans 6:1-2, Paul answers those who believe that if God is glorified in showing grace to us when we sin, they why don't we really sin, so He can be really glorified?

One of the greatest hymns, in my estimation, is Grace Greater Than All Our Sin. In Romans 5:18-21 we read of God's grace, a grace than all of our sins. Some may think that they can sin so much that God gives up on them - but that is not possible. No matter what we have done, and no matter how many times we have failed Him, God's grace is greater.

The bad news that Adam's sin brought death to the entire human race is balanced by the good news that the death of Christ on the cross brings life to all who believe. All men are under the curse of sin but birth, but by placing one's faith in the finished word of Christ, the curse of sin is replaced by the free gift of eternal life.

In this session we explore the reality of sin after the fall of Adam and Eve. Paul makes the argument that even though there was no law prior to Moses, the fact that all men died proves the reality of sin.

We continue our look at the results of Justification in Romans 5. In this session we look at concept of reconciliation. We were once enemies of God and Christ, but by placing our faith in the finished work of Christ we are no longer enemies, but friends. Our relationship with God has been restored, which means we now have the assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal glory.

Paul, having shown that the concept of justification by faith was not a new doctrine, but in fact taught in the Old Testament by using Abraham and David as examples, now turns to the results of justification. In Romans 5:1-5, he lists several results of justification in the life of a believer: peace with God, access to the Father, an expectant joy, perseverance through suffering, a promise of maturity in Christ, and the love of the Holy Spirit which has been poured out in our lives.

We complete our study of Romans chapter 4 by examining the life of Abraham. Paul shows that Abraham was a model of justification by faith, and not works, which was directly opposite that of the view of the Jewish rabbis of Paul's day.

Paul continues his discussion of Abraham and David by showing that Abraham justified by faith long before he was circumcised. The Jews thought that circumcision was a means of justification, some rabbis even teaching that Abraham sat at the gates of hell and would not allow any circumcised Jew to enter. Circumcision was a major issue with the rabbis of Paul's day, and in this section of Scripture he shows that true circumcision is not that of the flesh, but of the heart.

Paul continues his discussion of justification by faith alone (sola fide) by looking at two Old Testament examples. The first is David, and the second is Abraham. Jewish rabbis taught both were justified by their works, but Paul masterfully uses the Old Testament Scriptures to show that both of these men were not justified by their works, but by their faith in God.

We finally wrap up our discussion of the first major section of Romans, Paul's indictment of all mankind. Having shown that all of humanity stands condemned before God, Paul now turns to God's remedy, a righteousness that is obtained by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross. Without this righteousness, no one can stand justified before the Lord.

We complete our look at Paul's discussion of Salvation as found in Romans 3:21-31. The amount of truth and theology packed into these eleven verses could fill volumes. Our brief analysis in no way plumbs the depths of this truth, but nevertheless there are great riches to be found in this passage.

We examine what is perhaps one of the most succinct and deep discussions on salvation found in the Bible. In this section of Scripture Paul answers the question of how God passed over the sins of the Old Testament saints, how the righteousness of God is imputed apart from the law, and how God's grace extends to all mankind regardless of nationality or pedigree.

Paul continues his condemnation of humanity by focusing in on the significant advantage of being a Jew. The Jewish nation was given God's laws and promises. However, in spite of this great privilege, many Jews did not believe. Does that make God's promises ineffective? Not at all. Even though the Jewish nation rejected the Messiah when he came, there was nevertheless a remnant who did believe. However, the rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation will result in even greater condemnation to their privileged status.

Paul continues his charges against the religious Jew by showing that the rite of circumcision, one of the marks of what the Jews would consider as proof of their right standing before God, means nothing without a circumcised heart. In fact, Paul states it is better to be an uncircumcised Gentile with a circumcised heart, than a circumcised Jew with an uncircumcised heart. Being a true Jew is not a matter of externals, but one of an internal heart change before God.

Having brought charges against the heathen who do not have any knowledge of God's special revelation in His word, and the educated moral man that has a innate sense of right and wrong, Paul now turns to the Jews. His charges against them are even more severe as they not only have the inward revelation of God in their conscience, but they also have the written word of God and know exactly what God wants. Because of this, they are the most responsible and most condemned of all the groups Paul has brought before the bar of God.

Paul continues his case against the moral, educated person by showing that their innate sense of right and wrong speaks of a moral code to which they are responsible. Just knowing the code is not good enough - one must live by it. The fact that men violate their inborn sense of right and wrong is enough to condemn them before the bar of God.

We continue Paul's indictment of the Moral person - the one who has a knowledge of God, right, and wrong and yet believes that someone makes them better than the pagan person with no knowledge of God. Far from being in a better standing before God - the Moral person is in fact under greater condemnation.

We begin a new chapter in Romans in which Paul turns his attention away from men who have no special revelation of God to those who do have a knowledge of God and a knowledge of right and wrong. His conclusion is that it is more serious to know what God wants and not do it, than to not know God at all.

In this session we end the first of Paul's three indictments of mankind, the indictment against the heathen who do not have the special revelation of God but do have the general revelation as found in nature.

Paul continues his discussion on the guilt of mankind by showing the downward moral trend when a society abandons God and exchanges Him for idols.

We continue a look at Paul's condemnation of those that do not have the special revelation of God even though the have His general revelation in nature, and as such are still responsible to God to live up to the light that they have.

We begin a study of Paul's indictment of all mankind by examining the first group on the docket - the heathen who do not have the special revelation of God - only the general.

Perhaps two of the most important verses in Romans are the subject of our study in this session. These two verses, Romans 1:16-17, are the verses that Martin Luther struggled with until he understood the great truth of justification by faith alone. It is safe to say these two verses were the spark that lit the fires of the reformation.