Auxano Ministry
By the grace of God I am what I am:
1 Cor. 15:10a
Romans
Foundation of the Administration of Grace
Romans
Introduction
There are over 5,800 manuscripts(1) of the Koine Greek New Testament. This includes books, pages, and fragments. Of these manuscripts only 61 are complete New Testaments.(2) When it comes to the Pauline epistles there are approximately 800 copies(3) which include complete sets, books which include individual epistles or multiple epistles, pages and fragments. When it comes to complete sets of the Pauline epistles only one varies from the order we have today of Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
When it comes to the complete copies of the New Testament there is no set arrangement of the books and the epistles except the book of Revelation is generally last and the Pauline epistles are always together and in the same arrangement of Romans through Philemon. Sometimes the Gospels are first and sometimes they are just before the book of Revelation.
Now when it comes to the Pauline epistles they are not ordered according to when they were written but rather according to the doctrinal epistles. There are three doctrinal epistles Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians. The doctrinal epistles of Romans and Ephesians are followed by a reproof epistle and a correction epistle. Thessalonians stands alone as a doctrinal epistle without a reproof epistle or a correctional epistle. Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, although some refer to them as epistles, are letters to individual leaders. They are not addressed to the church at large and therefore were not encyclicals.
What is the reason or purpose of a reproof epistle or a correction epistle?
Since we are about to consider the epistle to the Romans we will focus on the first set of epistles. The reproof epistle of Corinthians is because of their wrong application of the doctrine in Romans. They remembered the doctrine Paul had taught but they were applying it incorrectly. Now when it comes to the Galatians, some of the Galatians had practiced their wrong application for so long that it became their new doctrine replacing what Paul had taught them.
The order of the writing for the first doctrinal epistle of Romans is Galatians, then 1-2 Corinthians, and then Romans. Notice the order of this sequence, something is off. Can you receive reproof or correction before you receive the doctrine? Paul seems to have put the cart before the horse. The questions that come up immediately are these; How do you write a correctional epistle, to the Galatians, before the doctrinal epistle of Romans is even written? The same question exists for Corinthians. How do you write the reproof epistles of 1-2 Corinthians before the doctrinal epistle is written? The answer is really simple. Romans is what Paul taught when he entered a city. The oral teaching of the doctrine of Romans is what people believed to gain their redemption, their justification, and their righteousness. Because of what they heard Paul teach, as they believed, God created His gift of holy spirit within them.
Galatians 3:2
This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law,
or by the hearing of faith?
Before we go any further, let’s go back and pick up something I left hanging earlier. I said the third doctrinal epistle, which is Thessalonians, had neither a reproof epistle nor a correction epistle. Why is that the case? Thessalonians is the believers hope of Christ’s imminent return for the Body of Christ. A believer can hold this hope, and each day becomes easier to handle, or a believer can ignore this doctrine and thereby allow the world to wear him down day by day. In either case, the doctrine of Thessalonians stands alone because it deals with the gathering of those who have believed, collectively known as the Body of Christ. This doctrine deals entirely with God. God will have His son gather the Body of Christ. Those who are dead will rise first, then we which are alive shall meet him in the air. Our believing will not bring it to pass, and our unbelief will not prevent or delay Christ’s return. The entire event is in God’s hands and God’s timing, and He needs neither reproof nor correction.
Another view of the Church epistles of Romans through Thessalonians is the doctrine itself. Romans teaches the foundation of what God has done FOR and IN the individual, that is why Paul taught this doctrine first. It is what a person believes in order to be saved. Then in the doctrine of Ephesians we see the great mystery unfolded, what God has done IN us as a group. We learn about how we are the Body of Christ collectively. We are the habitation of God. Then finally, in Thessalonians we learn what God will do FOR all of us. If these epistles were a jigsaw puzzle, as you consume and assimilate all right doctrine, you would see the complete and perfect composite of the Administration of Grace.
Remember, as I showed you once before, the Pauline epistles are encyclical. What does that mean? An encyclical is an epistle that is passed around to every fellowship or church.
1 Corinthians 16:1
Now concerning the collection for the saints,
as I have given order
to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
They knew what Paul had said to the Galatia fellowships because they had received a copy of that epistle. Before Paul left Corinth, that fellowship or church, would have received copies of 1-2 Thessalonians and a copy of Galatians. All of Paul’s epistles were encyclical. When Paul wrote the first epistles to the Thessalonians a copy would have been sent to one of the churches of Galatia and it would have then passed on to all the churches in Galatia. The same is true with the church in Philippi. Later when Paul wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians copies would have gone out to all the cities that had fellowships, even to the cities that did not receive their own epistle but had a church, cities like Berea, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. In this manner every church or fellowship received every epistle.
Colossians 4:16
And when this epistle is read among you, cause
that it be read also in the
church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise
read the epistle from Laodicea.
We are not missing the epistle for the Laodiceans, it is one of the epistles we have that was originally addressed to another church. With each epistle being an encyclical all were fully knowledgeable of God’s Word.
Acts 20:27
For I have not shunned to declare unto
you all the counsel of God.
Shunned is the Greek word hypostello and could be translated held back. Declare is the Greek word anangello and could be translated make known. Counsel is the Greek word boule and could be translated purpose.
The essence of the verse is, “For I have not held back in making known to you the purpose of God.”
Although this statement was made to the leadership in Ephesus, it could be made to every church where Paul held forth the words of God and people believed. That is the power of encyclicals! The epistles of Romans through Thessalonians went to every city so that every believer, in every city, heard every teaching. But it all begins with the foundational epistle to the Romans.
The Greek word translated “faith” is pistis. The root of pistis is peitho which means to persuade. Paul is endeavoring to persuade people to believe, to have conviction about the words they are hearing. What does all that mean? It means people have been convinced by the Adversary this is not the right path to reach God. In Galatia those who had believed were persuaded to cast it aside for another doctrine. When Paul entered a city, in going to the synagogue or speaking in the marketplace, he was trying to persuade people to turn to God from the ways of the world. Some believed in Apollo, others in Diana or Aphrodite, or like in Athens, they believed in every god which means no god. Paul carried God’s good news pertaining to Jesus Christ persuading people to put their trust in God and His son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:16-17
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
The word report is the Greek word akoe and is better translated in this context instructions. As Isaiah endeavored to give instructions to Israel, Paul spoke to instruct others in the right way to believe. Romans is filled with instructions on the right believing while also showing the benefits of that believing.
There is a section in the gospel of Matthew we should read.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
This is the figure of speech simile, an extended simile, a comparison by resemblance. These words are not doctrinally addressed to those who believe in the Administration of Grace, but principally they speak loudly.
If you build upon Christ your foundation is solid, and sure and will not fail. If you build anywhere else, your foundation is upon the shifting sands of false doctrine and that can only develop into defeat.
Romans is God’s Gospel pertaining to Christ, the solid foundation of victory.
Romans 1:1,3-4
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God,
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the spirit of holiness,
by the resurrection from the dead:
The epistle to the Romans is the foundation upon which a person must build to have a solid, unmovable foundation spiritually. It is God’s Gospel, His good news that pertains to His son Christ Jesus. He did; he accomplished what no other man could accomplish.
The successful person has confidence in himself. No one has more confidence in himself than himself. No matter how many others doubt him, he refuses to accept the unbelief of others as he strives to move ever forward. But even the most confident person, when honest, can look inside and see the failings and the shortcomings.
Have you ever looked at the man in the glass?
In the 1920’s there was an anonymous poem entitled, The Man in the Glass. Then, in 1934, in a somewhat rewritten form, Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr. published the poem, The Guy in the Glass. It was published under the name Dale Wimbrow.
The Guy in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest
For he’s with you, clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Everyone should spend some time with the man in the glass. A time for reflection of one’s character, an evaluation of the ethics or standard by which one lives. Often there is one area that is overlooked or missed when spending time with the man in the glass. That is the area concerning spirituality.
Who is your God?
Who do you worship?
The wise man will include spirituality when he examines the man in the glass. You cannot have an authentic meeting with the man in the glass without a consideration of your spirituality. Then when a full and honest accounting has been accomplished, the question must be asked, who is your God? Who or what do you worship? The answer for one young man in the gospel of Matthew was his wealth, his possessions.
Bible Study Tools defines worship as, “the reverence or adoration that one shows toward something or someone; holding a person or object in high esteem; or giving a person or an object a place of importance or honor.”
In Matthew chapter 19 there was a wealthy young man that had a goal of gaining eternal life. So, he came to Jesus and asked, “What do I need to do?”
Matthew 19:20-21
20 The young man saith unto him,
All these things have I kept from my youth up:
what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come and follow me.
The young man desired to earn eternal life, but all his works fell short. He lacked the one required aspect every person needs to gain eternal life, Jesus.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God.
The Greek word for sinned is hamartano and it means to make a mistake, to miss the mark. If you were hiking in the woods hamartano would be to wander off the path and not have the means to find your way back.
To come short is the Greek word hystereo which means to lack. It is a failure to fulfill your goal.
The word glory is the Greek word doxa and in this context means the perfection that is required to receive the righteousness of God. God shows in Romans that we all have made mistakes and gone off the path that leads to Him. All of us lack the perfection God requires to receive His righteousness. But in Romans God shows us how to overcome our failings, our shortcomings and have the perfection He requires.
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
In the epistle to the Romans the righteousness of God is revealed.
How to receive the righteousness of God is made known.
The general Structure of the Doctrinal Section of Romans is as follows.
a 1:1 - 15 Introduction
b 1:16 - 17 Foundational
c 1:18 - 3:20 The Need for Righteousness
d 3:21 – 5:11 What God has done FOR us
e 5:12 – 8:39 What God has done IN us
What is the conclusion of this new doctrine?
Romans 8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?
The Creator of heaven and earth is “for” you. The Greek word hyper is translated “for.” It is in the Genitive case. Therefore, the word for means in the interests of you, on behalf of you, for the purpose of you. That is how God acts, it is all for you.
32 He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?
What is included in these all things?
33 Who shall lay anything to
the charge of God's elect?
God that justifieth?
Do you know what it means to be justified? It is when the judge tells you to stand and face him as he reads the verdict of the court. Well, a Christian knows the verdict of God’s court because he understands justification.
34 Who is he that condemneth?
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us.
How do you get Christ on your side so that no one, absolutely no one can condemn you?
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
Amazing how some words in a verse will just jump out at you.
38 For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us
from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I want to close this introduction with a poem, written in 1916, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Tis The Set of The Sail
But to every mind there openeth,
A way, and way, and away,
A high soul climbs the highway,
And the low soul gropes the low,
And in between on the misty flats,
The rest drift to and fro.
But to every man there openeth,
A high way and a low,
And every mind decideth,
The way his soul shall go.
One ship sails East,
And another West,
By the self-same winds that blow,
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales,
That tells the way we go.
Like the winds of the sea
Are the waves of time,
As we journey along through life,
'Tis the set of the soul,
That determines the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
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1. The Earliest New Testament Manuscripts, Bible Archaeology Report
2. Manuscripts 101: Manuscript Contents, The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts
3. The Oldest Extant Editions of the Letters of Paul, David Trobisch, 1999
