I Love Thy Law: An Expository Study of the Book of Romans

By Christopher Bickish

Most Christians are able to present the Romans Road, but how many are intimately familiar with the entire book? Books are written with a message which is to be sought out and applied. If prayerfully studied, the book of Romans will prove to be sufficient for equipping God's child with biblical theology. My desire is to see people edified by the message of Romans just as God has used it to change my life. This exposition may aid teachers, leaders, missionaries or pastors who wish to go through Romans in an expository fashion. Study Questions are included at the back of the book. In writing this commentary, I have tried to be as loyal as possible to the text; therefore, the Greek Textus Receptus is the basis for this work. The accuracy and integrity of the King James translation is unparalleled, and it is the only English translation which has been used apart from my own rendering of the Greek New Testament. Topics include: Christian Liberty, Spiritual Baptism, the Christian and Government

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781312674752

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I Love Thy Law:

An Expository Study of the Book of Romans

By Christopher Bickish

Ebook Edition/Copyright © 2015 by Christopher Bickish

All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your own use, please purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.  This book may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.  The study questions in the appendix may be copied for educational purposes.

ISBN 978-1-312-67475-2

Lulu Publishing

www.ilovethylaw.blogspot.com

Most Christians are able to recite verses from the book of Romans or to present the Romans Road, but how many believers are intimately familiar with the entire book of Romans?  Most people would not open a secular book and read a line or two and then skip to the end to read another line.  Books are meant to be read in their entirety.  Books are written with a message in mind, a theme which is to be sought out and applied.  The book of Romans is no different.  While many of its verses may be quickly accessed and utilized for the purpose of presenting the gospel, this should not be the extent of one's familiarity with Romans.  If prayerfully studied in its entirety, the book of Romans will prove to be sufficient for equipping God's child with biblical theology.  My desire is to see people edified by the message of Romans just as God has used it to change my life.

In writing this commentary, I have tried to be as loyal as possible to the text; therefore, the Greek Textus Receptus is the basis for this work.  The accuracy and integrity of the King James translation is unparalleled, and it is the only English translation which has been used apart from my own rendering of the Greek New Testament.

Paul wrote this letter to the Roman believers somewhere near 56 AD at the end of his third missionary journey.  This conclusion is reached by examining Paul's comments in chapter fifteen.  He mentions a collection for the poor saints of Jerusalem and how he desired to travel westward into Spain after having first returned to Jerusalem.  This harmonizes with the events of Acts 21.

The letter is addressed To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints (1:7).  As was common in those days, the Roman believers were likely scattered throughout the city with various homes serving as gathering places.  One such church is mentioned as having gathered in the home of Priscilla and Aquila (16:3-5).  The letter addresses both Jewish and Gentile believers, and it deals with issues peculiar to both these groups; therefore, it may be rightly concluded that these Roman believers consisted of both. 

Corinth is the most likely location from which the letter was written.  Paul sent the letter by the hand of Phebe who was a servant at the church in Cenchrea, a seaport of Corinth.  Also, Gaius is mentioned as being Paul's host when Romans was written (16:23).  This is likely the same Gaius who is mentioned in relation to the church at Corinth (I Corinthians 1:14).

Salvation by humble faith in the finished work of Christ is the overwhelming theme of the book.  In every chapter, the Holy Spirit guides the reader through many facets and applications of this glorious theme.

PART I: The Doctrines of the Gospel

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (1:1-2)

Paul is first identified by the Holy Spirit as being a servant.  The word used here for servant means a slave or one that is in bondage.  Whatever else Paul considered himself to be, he most certainly considered himself to be a servant.  Service to God is primarily identified by humility and submission.  True service is characterized by a heart that regards not its own desires but the desires of its Master.  Truly, the will of the Lord Jesus Christ was Paul's first and greatest concern.  Every Christian would do well to follow Paul's example and say to God as Mephibosheth said to king David, Behold, Thy servant!

Paul is next identified as being a sent one which is the literal meaning of the word apostle.  The office of the apostle existed only in the infant stages of the New Testament church.  After the completion of the canon, the office faded into the dispensational horizon, replaced by the eternally preserved Word of God as found in the Greek New Testament.  Evidence of the decline of this special office can be seen in Paul's inability in later years to perform the miracles of healing upon Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27).

Lastly, Paul is identified as being separated.  Three stages of separation may be observed in Paul's life.  He was separated to God's work from his mother's womb by God the Father (Galatians 1:15).  He was separated from the world unto salvation by God the Son on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).  Finally, he was separated unto missionary work by God the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-2).  All three Persons of the Godhead are intimately involved in the work of separating a soul from the world.  The Father draws men to the Son (John 6:44); the Son saves the man that responds in faith to this drawing (John 6:37); and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, seals and fills (John 16:8, Ephesians 1:13, 5:18). 

Separation marks the people of God.  Paul saw himself as specially set apart for God's work.  Every redeemed individual should have the same heart.  The Christian is separated from the pleasure and pride of this world unto the humility and holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul says concerning this gospel, Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures.  The principles and practices of the gospel may be seen throughout the Old Testament.  Salvation has always been by faith in the imparted holiness and righteousness of God.

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: (1:3-5)

The Author of the Gospel is now introduced.  He is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the sole author of salvation.  Acts 4:12 declares, For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  The Bible declares no other to be the author of eternal salvation.  This title has been exclusively reserved for the King of Glory (Hebrews 5:9). 

The text says that He has been declared to be the Son of God.  This word means to determine or to mark off by boundaries.  The English word horizon has been derived from this Greek word.  The horizon is marked by a definite boundary.  Darkness and light are specifically defined by it.  In similar fashion, the Son of God has been defined.  As the horizon leaves no gray areas for confusion, God's declaration of His Son has left no man with legitimate grounds for uncertainty concerning the identity of the Savior.  God has clearly identified His Son by means of great power.  This power was demonstrated when Christ rose from the grave.  The resurrection of Christ from the grave differentiates the Christian religion from all other beliefs.  Death to self and life to God are intimately wrapped up in the events of such power.  When Christ descended into death and rose again the third day, he forever overcame the powers of darkness that hold the lost sinner in despair.  In like fashion, when a man turns to Christ in faith, the old man is forever put to death, and the new man takes up his home by means of the regenerating work of the Holy Ghost. 

The seed of David indicates His humanity while the Son of God declares His deity.  The text says that Christ was declared to be the Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness.  Everything about this Author is holy.  He is set apart from sin in every way and He demands the same of His redeemed (I Peter 1:14-16).

This holy Author has given grace to accomplish His work for a specific purpose.  This purpose is for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.  God's grace is the great enabler.  However, God's grace is not intended to enable for the purpose of self-accomplishment; it enables for the purpose of bringing glory to the one who gives it.  When God's gospel is declared through the agent of grace, it is intended to bring nations into obedience.  A biblical gospel is extremely confrontational.  When properly given, it challenges a man to turn from his own way and return unto God. Isaiah 55:6-7 declares, Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  A gospel that allows room for the desires of the flesh is a gospel which finds its foundations in the doctrines of hell.

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:6-7)

Having introduced the apostle and the Author of the Gospel, the Spirit now presents the audience of the Gospel.  Directly, they are the Christians of the church located in Rome, Italy.  Indirectly, the greeting applies to saints of all ages and to those who would search this tremendous book in hopes of finding answers to life's greatest questions.

Verse six describes the saved as the called of Jesus Christ.  Calvinistic influence may cause some to cringe at the description called; however, man's perverted influence should not move humble believers to cast off biblical terms.  The foreknowledge of God enables Him to know in advance who will and who will not accept Him as their Savior.  Salvation is open to all, but God deals in a special way with those He knows will respond.  His dealings with Jacob and Esau are a fine example of this.  The Lord says in Malachi, ...I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.  Knowing in advance that Esau would reject His righteousness, God ensured that Jacob would have the upper hand, though Jacob himself was guilty of great wrong.  In the end, Jacob bowed the knee to God's righteousness, but Esau continued to be a fornicator and profane person as described in Hebrews 12:16.  The called ones are simply those who are willing to open their hearts to the fear of God and, in faith, turn to His Son for salvation.  The term excludes none who are willing to humble themselves to God's truth. 

The saved of God are described first as beloved of God.  Were it not for God's love that fuels His grace, no one would know the joys of redemption.  The saved are next described as saints.  This word could easily be translated holy ones, individuals set apart from the world to God.  Every believer is, in standing, a saint.  At the moment of belief, God's righteousness is deposited into the spiritual account of the believer and he is fully justified before God.  This completely righteous standing demands a life that is set apart from the world along with its beliefs and behaviors. 

The saints are then greeted with grace and peace from the Father and the Son.  Grace means unmerited favor.  Such unmerited favor toward unworthy sinners brings a wealth of peace to the guilty mind.  No one deserves salvation, but, in love, God has reached out to lost man through the sacrifice of His dear Son.  Once the heart yields itself to this grace, the peace of heaven overcomes the plaguing of hell.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.  (1:8-10)

Paul's love for these people is evident.  The church at Rome was obviously one of tremendous testimony.  Their faith distinguished them in the eyes of all who heard of them. God's people should strive to be known for their dependency upon their Master.  The size of the building or the number of members carries no weight of eternal glory.

Paul's love is expressed in his unceasing prayers for these saints.  This does not mean that Paul was constantly on his knees; however, it is possible and proper for saints to be in a constant attitude of prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17).  How was Paul able to be in such a constant state of concern for others?  The answer lies within the text.  It says that Paul served God with his spirit.  Many Christians serve God with the actions but not with the spirit.  This is incomplete and untrue worship, because God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  God wants the heart and not simply the outward actions.  Until a man, woman or child gives God the spirit, he will find himself in a constant state of struggle.  Proverbs 20:27 says, The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.  A man cannot get away from his spirit; until he gives it fully to God, he will be in turmoil.  Paul was a saint who had fully surrendered his life to the Master.

Paul's love for these saints moved him to desire fellowship.  People want to be with the ones they love.  No desire for fellowship indicates no true love.  A man may constantly affirm his love for God's people but his words must be verified by his actions.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (1:11-12)

Paul's longing for these people is now expressed.  He desired to impart a spiritual gift to them.  This word means to share.  Men do not have the power to give anyone a spiritual gift.  This work is reserved for the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11).  With the existence of the apostolic office at the time of the writing of this epistle, it is possible that Paul was speaking of the Holy Ghost imparting a gift through him; however, more likely he is speaking of sharing the benefits of his gifts.  When one believer ministers to another, he is sharing his spiritual gift with that person.  Every believer ought to have this mindset.  As Paul longed to impart his spiritual gifts to these saints for the purpose of edification, each Christian should minister to others by means of the spiritual gifts that God has given to him.  Every Christian has a spiritual gift, and God has chosen it to be so in order that His Church might be edified.

Paul not only longed to edify these believers, but he also longed to be edified by them.  He says, ...that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.  Though Paul was mighty in spirit, he was not above the need for spiritual edification.  Some people may be viewed as strong towers having no need to be strengthened by others; however, all flesh is weak.  Some are stronger than others, but only God needs no spiritual help.  Regardless of character, rank or position, every believer needs to be a partaker of the gifts that God gives to others.  This principle keeps human pride at bay and encourages a sense of unity and fellowship around the perfect Head which is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul was not a proud man.  He recognized the joys of spiritual encouragement and engaged in them himself (Acts 28:15).

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. (1:13-15)

A trip to Rome was consistently in Paul's itinerary; however, he would not find himself there until Acts 28.  He desired to have fruit among the people of Rome.  A man who can be content with an unfruitful spiritual life should take serious heed to himself.  A lack of desire for spiritual fruit is unnatural in God's redeemed.  The Holy Spirit is active, not passive.  When He takes up His residence in the soul, He places within that newborn person a desire to please God.

Paul considered himself a debtor to all.  The immense love of God should move a man to feel obligated.  No one deserves salvation; therefore, such grace bestowed deserves a life dedicated to reaching other helpless souls.  The child of God is commanded to be a debtor to no man; however, a debt of charity is always authorized.  Paul was entirely ready to share the gospel with these Roman believers.  This may seem odd to some since these people were already saved; however, as the rest of the book lays out, the gospel is multifaceted.  It is simple enough for a child to understand yet deep enough to ponder for an eternity.  Within its jewel-covered walls are found such treasures as the fear of God, faith, humility, death, life, resurrection, victory, sanctification, surrender, separation, holiness, virtue, deliverance, grace, hope, peace and much, much more!

Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.  These next few chapters vividly expound upon this truth.  No one, in and of themselves, can stand before God.  The heathen man, the moral man and the religious man are all equally condemned.  Man's only hope is the righteousness of God.  These passages describe the bent of all humanity.  The heathen man described in 1:18-32 illustrates how far depravity can go when God is rejected.  The moral man spoken of in 2:1-16 illustrates the man who views himself as a good individual who would never commit the sins of the heathen, yet he is laden with hypocrisy and stands condemned.  Lastly, 2:17-3:31 lays out the pride and wickedness of the self-righteous.  Regardless of position or religion, all men are found guilty when compared to God's holy character.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (1:16)

This specific section begins and ends with the cure for man's condemnation.  This cure is simple faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The subject of faith must be confronted at both ends when discussing man's sin problem.  Paul was not ashamed to proclaim or to live the gospel.  Man's criticisms of it did not deter him.  The zeal with which the gospel is proclaimed cannot be determined by the current cultural climate.  A man must have the same loyalty to the gospel with all of its doctrines regardless of current popular opinion.  Often times, certain aspects and doctrines of the gospel are compromised due to the spiritual climate of the audience.  This is sin.

The Holy Ghost says, for it is the power of God unto salvation.  The word power is the same word from which the word dynamite is derived.  The gospel requires no special aid.  This gospel can stand alone.  It needs no funds or large auditoriums.  Its power is sufficient