Romans: The Conflict Within Man

By Raymond Ming

You have heard people say, We just go by the Bible, but recognize that it is an interpreted Bible that people claim for a guide. How you interpret the Bible depends on the spirit in your heart. In order to be shown the ever-living truth of Gods eternal word, the Holy Spirit of God must be in your heart.

Followers of Christ read Scripture on their knees, through the lens of His sacrificial love. We are not here to pick Scripture apart but to let Scripture pick us apart.

Servants of Gods word avoid proof-texting or cherry picking. Scripture is a unity and a harmony. Verses concord with one another like notes in a musical chord, giving rise to a truly sound doctrine that echoes the symphony of faith. It is Jesus who tunes our will with Gods salvation of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490860169

Raymond Ming

Ray Ming was born in Arkansas but grew up in Santa Paula, California. Popular and good-looking upon his graduation from high school, he was plunged by the Devil into a self-centered life of spiritual destruction. Not until the age of sixty-two, when his Christian brothers immersed him in the waters of Baptism, did God grant him a spiritual rebirth and turn his soul around. As a missionary and evangelist, Ray now works tirelessly with youth and adults, both here and abroad. Failing health and advanced aging is an ever-present cross to bear, but as Scripture teaches, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). “To God be the glory forever and ever” (Gal. 1:5) is his daily mantra as he continues an inter-generational ministry, totally fulfilled to serve the next soul the Lord puts in front of him.

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Copyright © 2014 Raymond Ming.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-6014-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6015-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6016-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014920481

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/26/2014

Contents

Preface

Romans Chapter 1

Letter to the Romans (Rom 1:1-7)

Paul’s longing to Visit Rome (Romans 1:8-17)

God’s Wrath against Mankind (Romans 1:18-32)

Romans Chapter 2

God’s Righteous Judgment (Romans 2:1-16)

The Jews and the Law (Romans 2:17-29)

Romans Chapter 3

God’s Faithfulness (Romans 3:1-8)

No One Is Righteous (Romans 3:9-20)

Righteousness Through Faith (Romans 3:21-31)

Romans Chapter 4

Abraham Justified by Faith (Romans 4:1-25)

Romans Chapter 5

Peace and Joy (Romans 5:1-11)

Death through Adam, Life Through Christ (Romans 5:12-21)

Romans Chapter 6

Dead to Sin, but Alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-15)

Slaves of Righteousness (Romans 6:16-23)

Romans Chapter 7

An Illustration From Marriage (Romans 7:1-6)

Struggling With Sin (Romans 7:7-25)

Romans Chapter 8

Life in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17)

The Future Glory (Romans 8:18-27)

More Than Conquerors (Romans 8:28-39)

Romans Chapter 9

God’s Sovereign Choice (Romans 9:1-29)

Israel’s Unbelief (Romans 9:30-33)

Romans Chapter 10

Israel’s Unbelief (Romans 10:1-21)

Romans Chapter 11

The Remnant of Israel (Romans 11:1-10)

Ingrafted Branches (Romans 11:11-24)

All Israel Will be Saved (Romans 11:25-32)

Doxology (Romans 11:33-36)

Romans Chapter 12

Living Sacrifices (Romans 12:1-8)

Love (Romans 12:9-21)

Romans Chapter 13

Submission to the Authorities (Romans 13:1-7)

Love, for the Day is nearer (Romans 13:8-14)

Romans Chapter 14

The Weak and the Strong (Romans 14:1-23)

Romans Chapter 15

The Weak and the Strong (Romans 15:1-13)

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles (Romans 15:14-22)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome (Romans 15:23-33)

Romans Chapter 16

Personal Greetings (Romans 16: 1-27)

PREFACE

By Barry Fike

Members of the Church of Christ in Santa Paula California still remember the night that Ray Ming walked into that Sunday Bible Study over ten years ago. One of his former contractor friends was in that class and almost fell out of his chair when Ray walked in. Asking Ray what he was doing there, Ray replied, Well, you’ve been inviting me to church for about thirty years. I thought it was about time I took you all up on your invitation.

That was the beginning of a journey that Ray has continued to walk in the strength of God’s Spirit. Ray has taken The Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) in full stride, going around the world to spread the soul- and life-saving message of the Gospel.

This work in your hands was a labor of love and an assignment from the Lord that Ray accepted in order to share the simple Love of God with everyday people. His story can be your story if you allow your life to become a Light and a Leaven for God’s Heavenly Kingdom on earth.

The revelation of God is the man Jesus Christ. Jesus is The Father’s Word made human flesh to dwell among us. In speech and action, Jesus is The Word and The Will of God. He is The Word of God’s teaching. The Gospel narrative about Jesus’ good works reveals The Father’s Will. Both His words and deeds are recorded in Scripture. However, The Holy Spirit is required in any reader of Scripture in order to reveal The Word’s true interpretation.

Learning what God’s Will is for your life is the end result of reading and understanding Scripture through prayerful comparison of verses and their various translations, one to another. To illustrate this point, below are three translations or versions of the same verse:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15, KIV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15, NIV

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15, NASB

The English word for approved is the Greek work dokimos. The background of this word is enlightening. In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into molds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft, and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens to stop the practice of whittling down the coins then in circulation. Some money-changers were men of integrity, who would not handle counterfeit money; they were men of honor who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation themselves. Such a man was called a dokimos, an approved one, and this word is used here for the Christian as he is to be seen by the world (Barnhouse, Donald Grey, Romans: God’s Glory, 18). Someone who correctly handled the money of the world was a dokimos. Isn’t it interesting that Paul uses the same word here to identify those who correctly handle The Word of God?

The Spirit of God within a man makes him interpret the Word selflessly and therefore, teach it rightly. To interpret the Word rightly means to render its selfless meaning unto selfish men, (who think greed, lust and broken promises are good or forms of freedom). Only a dokimos, by his own example, will be equipped by God to convict the minds of the populace and bring men to God’s salvation.

But how is this to be done? In your hands is a concordance. A concordance places verses side-by-side that express a similar sense of The Word of God so that, by prayerful comparison, the reader can easily discern their right interpretation in The One, Selfless Spirit of God. Exegesis is the science of determining the original meaning of a biblical statement within the context of other verses. Hermeneutics is the science of applying sound doctrine (knowledge of God’s character, universal values, and eternal truth) to historical states of temporal values, particular knowledge, and partial understanding. People often read the Bible with an agenda in mind. They look for preferred sayings, take them out of their moral context, and string them together with other verses in order to make a selfish case for some particular argument that departs from the universal understanding of sound doctrine.

This is a sustained effort by Ray Ming and other Christians like him who are dedicated to spreading the knowledge of God into the hearts and minds of common men. Through a simple reading of the scripture, alongside companion scriptures, one can see not only the consistency of thought throughout the Bible, but also the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of the men who wrote the letters that we now call Holy Writ. Allow the words to seep into your heart as you pour over the meaningful intentions that Paul wept over and prayed over as he was inspired and employed by God’s Spirit to write down God’s salvation of us. This is not a task that will take an hour, a day, a week, or a year. You must be as truly inspired to search the Scriptures daily as the apostle was to write them down, for the rest of your life. Only in this way will you be referred to as the dokimos of your neighborhood, city, state, or nation. The treasury of recorded scripture is in your hands. What will you do with it? Hopefully it will inspire a labor of love for God, similar to the vocation Ray Ming received in compiling it. Reading scripture is a call from God to remember that man once lived in the garden-paradise of God.

….I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their hearts will I write it…. Jer 31:3

ROMANS CHAPTER 1

(Rom 1:1-7)

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:1

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1 Cor 1:1-3

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:11-17

11 But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:2

2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Gal 3:6-18

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:3-4

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:

John 1:6-18

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:5

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Acts 9:10-19

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:6

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ

Rev 17:6-14

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Letter to the Romans

Rom 1:7

7 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.

Rom 8:29-39

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

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?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

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.

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.

(Romans 1:8-17)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

Rom 1:8

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world

1 Cor 1:4-11

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Rom 16:17-20

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

Rom 1:9

9 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

2 Tim 1:3-9

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Phil 1:7-11

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the… defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

Rom 1:10-13

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 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.

Rom 15:30-33

30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Rom 15:22-27

22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

Paul’s Longing to Visit

Rom 1:14-15

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

1 Cor 9:15-19

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Rom 15:20-26

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great