Romans Lbw

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Pauls letter to the *Romans An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book o

!omanswww.easyenglish.info

Hilda Bright and Keith SimonsThis commentary has been through Advanced Checking.Words in boxes are from the Bible.

A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.

About Pauls letter to the *RomansAbout the first Christians in Rome

ome was the most important city in the world at the time of !aul. "t had a vast army. That armycontrolled all the countries that surround the #editerranean $ea. $o the rulers of ome wereextremely powerful and wealthy. They employed many people. #any slaves had to work in ome.

And ome was also an important city for trade.!aul had not visited ome at the time when he wrote this letter. !aul wrote most of his letters tochurches that he himself had established. But the church at ome was different. There werealready many Christians in ome long before !aul arrived there.The Bible and other ancient records help us to understand the history of this important church%&. About '( *A.).. The first Christian church began in erusalem+ on the day called *!entecost. ,nthat day+ !eter *preached to many visitors to erusalem. Among them were -visitors from ome+both * ews and * entiles who believed the * ewish religion/. $ome of these were probably amongthe '((( that became Christians 0Acts 1%23&&4 1%5&6. They carried the *gospel to ome.1. 52 *A.).. The *7mperor Claudius ordered * ews to leave ome. There had been some troubleamong the * ews. A * oman called $uetonius wrote that someone called -Chrestus/ had causedthe trouble. Chrestus may have been a * ew who caused the trouble. But -Chrestus/ may be thesame as -Christus/ 0that is+ *Christ6. * ews opposed those who *preached the message about*Christ. $o the trouble might have begun at that time.'. A8uila and !riscilla from ome were probably Christians before they met !aul in Corinth 0Acts&9%&3'6. :ater they probably returned to ome+ after they worked in Corinth and 7phesus.Christians used to gather in their home 0 omans &;%'3


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Pauls letter &. !aul dictated his letter to Tertius 0 omans &;%116. !aul wrote it during his stay in Corinth+probably about e had completed his work in the east. Therewere elders 0leaders in the church6 to take care of the new churches. !aul wanted to visit ome onhis way to $pain 0 omans &


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1. an -*apostle/. This showed that !aul had authority to *preach the *gospel. At first+ the word-*apostle/ described the &1 *disciples whom esus had -sent out/ 0:uke ;%&'6. !aul said that he toohad received a special command from - esus *Christ and od the ather/ 0 alatians &%&6. AllChristians should declare od/s good news. But !aul knew that od had given him a special task.*,ld Testament *prophets like eremiah had previously carried out such a task on behalf of od.

od had chosen eremiah from before his birth 0 eremiah &%


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This *gospel message does not impress everyone. !eople may say that it is too simple. ,r theymay say that it is foolish. But !aul realised that many people would be ashamed to follow esus. "nfact+ esus himself realised that+ too. esus knew the difficulty for his *disciples to remain loyal tohim. esus said that people would laugh at them. !eople would tell lies about them+ and peoplewould even attack them 0#atthew e opposes all the *unholy and wicked things that

people do. They are so wicked that they even oppose the truth. 1' The truth about od isplain to them. od has made it plain to them. !( 7ver since od created the world+ it hasbeen possible to understand the 8ualities of od. We cannot see od/s 8ualities. But we cansee the things that he has made. $o we know clearly about his *eternal power. And we knowclearly that he is od. $o people have no excuse for the way that they act.

!1 They knew od. But they did not give him the honour that od deserves. They did notthank him. Their thoughts became nonsense. Their foolish minds became wicked. !! Theysaid that they were wise. But they became fools. !" They preferred *idols instead of the real

od. They preferred an image instead of his greatness and beauty. They preferred a model of

something weak instead of od who lives always. $o they made *idols in the shape of people+birds+ animals and snakes. !# And od let them carry out their *sinful desires. Because oftheir evil attitudes+ they did not respect their own bodies. !$ They believed a lie instead ofthe truth about od. They chose to *worship and to serve something that od created. Butthey ought to *worship and to serve od himself+ who created everything. >e should receivehonour always. *Amen.

Derse &9 od is angry. But his anger is not like human anger+ which is often selfish. >e is angrybecause of *sin. 7specially+ he is angry because some people have chosen to be very wicked. $o

od/s anger is like a @udge/s anger when the @udge issues a @udgement 01 Thessalonians &%


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Derse '& - oolish/ means that people do not learn from experience. They do not remain loyal toany agreement. They do not show any natural love+ even for their own children. -Without pity/ is anaccurate description of the way in which many masters dealt with their slaves. #asters thought thatslaves were mere possessions rather than people. * oman law allowed masters to punish andeven to kill slaves because of a very small mistake or accident. This was a very wicked law.Derse '1 !eople had *sinned themselves. And they encouraged other people to *sin too. Theyknew that this behaviour was wrong. But *sin was controlling their lives.

,ur societies today may be as wicked as society was in !aul/s time. ,r+ they may be less wicked.,r+ they may even be more wicked. But !aul/s words are still true. !eople still refuse to obey od.They prefer to follow their own desires. And then their own evil thoughts begin to control theirbehaviour. And that is the reason why people behave in such a wicked manner.

Chapter !Pauls ans+ers to those +ho */udge other people !:1-1%

1 )he0 cannot a oid Gods /udgement !:1-#1 $o+ you who *@udge someone else have no excuse. When you accuse another person for

whatever reason+ you yourself are guilty. ou yourself are doing the same things for which you*@udge other people. ! ?ow we know that od *@udges wrong actions. >e *@udges peoplewho do evil things. And his @udgement is right. " Although you are only a man+ you *@udgeother people. But you do the same things. $o do not imagine that you will avoid od/s

@udgement. # )o not neglect od/s great kindness and patience. od is kind because hewants to help you to turn away from your *sins.

Derse & !aul begins to argue in the same way as the writers did at that time. >e imaginessomeone who does not agree with his opinion. Then he answers that person in various ways. "nthe * reek of verse & and verse '+ !aul speaks as if he is writing to a particular -man/. But !auldoes not say who that man is. "t might be someone who is proud. >e is proud that he is not wicked.>e is not like the evil *pagans that !aul described before. >e might be a * entile. >e would say

that not all *pagans behaved in such wicked ways. But in verses 23&& !aul shows that he isspeaking especially to * ews. #any * ews wanted to teach in the first Christian churches. Enlikethe * entiles+ these * ews knew od/s law. $o they were happy to accuse other people. But !aulsaid that they should be accusing themselves too.Derses 13' od/s @udgement is true. >e knows all the facts. But a man is very 8uick to accuseother people. >e does not want to think about his own *sin+ which may be worse. esus spokeabout this attitude. >e spoke about a man who had a great piece of wood in his eye. This manwanted to remove a tiny bit of dust from another person/s eye 0#atthew =%&3e thinks that od/skindness and patience have no value. But od waits patiently. >e wants people to *repent. >istime is not the same as human time. But suddenly the time will come when od will *@udgeeveryone 01 !eter '%9326.

! Gods /udgement is fair !:$-11$ But you refuse to change. ou are not sorry for your *sins. $o+ you are storing up the

experience of od/s *wrath against yourself. The day of od/s *wrath is coming. Then peoplewill see that od/s @udgement is fair. % od will give to everyone what their actions deserve.

7 $ome people patiently continue to do what is right. They desire *glory+ honour+ and life thatnever ends. And od will give them *eternal life. & But some people are selfish. They do notobey the truth. They follow evil ways. $uch people will suffer od/s anger and *wrath. 'There will be trouble and pain for everyone who does evil things. That will be first for the* ews+ and then for the * entiles. 1( But there will be *glory+ honour and *peace for

everyone who does the right things. That will be first for the * ews+ and then for the * entiles.11 od does not prefer one person or nation to another. >e *@udges everyone in the same

way.

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Derse < The * reek word for -store up/ usually means to store something precious. But those whowill not change their ways are storing up something terrible. They will suffer because of od/s greatanger. They will discover that od/s @udgement is fair.Derse ; Both parts of the Bible record the fact that od *@udges human actions. or example+ in the*,ld Testament+ see !salm ;1%&1 and eremiah &=%&(. "n the *?ew Testament there are examplesin #atthew &;%1= and evelation 1(%&1.!aul is not saying that a person can earn *eternal life by his good deeds. ,nly *faith in esus will*save that person. But after a person has trusted esus+ that person will want to please him. $othat person will do the right things+ because of the *faith that od has given to him. $ee ames1%&=.Derses =3&& !aul speaks about people who continue to practise their *faith. >e contrasts them withselfish people. $elfish people care only about themselves. >e also contrasts what will happen tothem. The good people will en@oy *eternal life. They will have close relations with esus and the

ather 0 ohn &=%'6. !eople who continue to do wicked things will suffer od/s @udgement. esustold a story about this. irst+ he spoke about a wise person. $uch a person practices what esustaught. That person is like a man who built his house upon a rock. 7ven a terrible storm could notdamage that house. But a foolish person does not practice what esus taught. That person is like aman who built on sand. And the storm destroyed that house 0#atthew =%1531=6. A building without

a proper base is weak. And a person/s life is weak+ if that person does not trust esus. That personcannot avoid od/s @udgement.- irst for the * ews and then for the * entiles/ shows that od makes no difference between them.Both * ews and * entiles can know od/s *salvation or od/s @udgement. !eter/s *vision and hisvisit to Cornelius taught !eter this truth. od accepts anyone -who respects him/. od acceptsanyone -who does the right things/ 0Acts &(%'53'e will onlyconsider as *righteous the people who obey the law. 1# * entiles do not have the law.$ometimes they do naturally what the law orders. $o they have a law in themselves+ althoughthey do not have the law. 1$ Their hearts know what the law orders. Their consciences tellthem what is right. $ometimes their thoughts blame them. At other times+ their thoughtsexcuse their actions. 1% And so+ on the day of @udgement+ od will *@udge everyone/s secretlife. od/s @udgement will happen by esus. This is what my good news makes plain.

Derses &13&' The * ews had the *written law. $o they knew about od/s standards. The * ews hadthe opportunity to listen to the law every *$abbath in the *synagogue. But to hear the law was notenough. They must obey the law. -,bey my orders and laws. The man who obeys them will live bythem/ 0:eviticus &9%


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od will *@udge by esus. esus himself said that the ather had given him authority to *@udge0 ohn


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! *Circumcision !:!$-!'!$ *Circumcision is a good thing if you obey the law. But if you do not obey the law+

*circumcision does not benefit you. "n fact+ you have become like an *uncircumcised person.!% But suppose that *uncircumcised people obey the law. od will accept them as if they

were *circumcised. !7 $uch people will accuse you. They are *uncircumcised+ but they obeythe law. od has given you the *written law and *circumcision. But you still do not obey od/slaw.

!& A person is not a real * ew if he is only a * ew on the outside. eal *circumcision is not @ust an outer physical act. !' A person is a real * ew if he is a * ew on the inside. eal*circumcision is *circumcision of the heart. "t is by the *>oly $pirit. "t is not by the *written law.

A person who lives as a real * ew may not receive honour from other people. But od willpraise that person.

Derse 1< *Circumcision was the sign that od gave to Abraham. "t showed the *covenant betweenod and his nation 0 enesis &=%23&(6. Because of the *covenant *relationship+ the * ews needed

to obey od/s law. !aul reminded the church in alatia about this. -7veryone who receives*circumcision must obey the whole law/ 0 alatians


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Derse 1 !aul was proud that he was a * ew. $o he answered that there were many advantages.>e spoke first about the honour that od had given to the * ews. >e had trusted the * ews with allhis messages 0)euteronomy 5%96. od wanted to use the * ews in order to benefit the whole world0 enesis &1%13'6. od wanted the * ews to show the rest of the world what od is like. !aulmentioned some other advantages later in his letter 0 omans 2%53


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Derses &(3&9 !aul used verses from the *,ld Testament. These verses show how wicked peoplecan be. >e put the verses together in a way that * ewish teachers called -a string of preciousstones/. !aul wanted to emphasise that *sin controls everybody. $o he repeated the word -all/. >ealso said -nobody/ and -not even one person/ more than once.Derses &(3&1 are from 7cclesiastes =%1( and !salm &5%&3'. These verses explain the nature of*sin. *$in is the result of actions against od. ?obody tries to discover what od is like. ?obodycares about what od wants. 7veryone has turned away from the right way to live. And that is why

people *sin.Derses &'3&5 These verses describe the *sins of speech. "n other words+ these verses show howpeople *sin by their words. $uch *sins are the result when people use the *throat+ mouth+ tongueand lips in the wrong way. !aul uses !salms


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Derses 1'315 *$in is the greatest problem that people have. "t is a problem that affects everyone+from every nation. "t is a terrible problem+ because *sin ruins the *relationship between people and

od. Because of *sin+ people have lost their right to enter heaven. *$in is the reason why peoplesuffer in this world. *$in controls the lives of everyone. "t even controls the lives of the best people.!eople have tried to free themselves from the power of *sin. They have tried to do this in manydifferent ways. But all their efforts have failed. ood works cannot free anyone from the power of*sin. #oral behaviour cannot free anyone from *sin/s power. 7ven religion cannot succeed. !eople

may be very sincere when they do such things. And it is better to be a good person than a badperson. But these methods still cannot make a person *righteous. They cannot make a personperfect. And od/s standards are perfect. $o even the best person/s efforts are hopeless.But the wonderful news is that od himself is willing to free us from the power of *sin. !eople haveworked so hard to become *righteous+ and they have all failed. But od offers *righteousness as afree gift.?obody deserves this *righteousness. But esus died in order to suffer the punishment for *sin.!eople simply need to trust him. They should confess their *sins to od. And they should invite himinto their lives. Then od will forgive them. "n other words+ he will make them *righteous. ?obodycould earn *righteousness. But it is od/s free and generous gift. And he offers it to everyone+ fromevery nation.

Derses 1e frees us from *sin. $o we can live as odwants. esus did this at the cost of his life. "n other words+ he died so that we can be free from *sin0#ark &(%5e is the od of the * entiles too. es+ heis the od of people from every nation. There is only one od. "( $o od will establishagain his friendship with both * ews and * entiles. >e will do this by the same *faith.

"1 Well then+ *faith does not make the law of no use. Iuite the oppositeF ather we makethe law stronger.

Derses 1=319 ?obody can *boast. ?obody deserves to be *righteous. ?obody earns *peace with

od by means of that person/s own good actions. A person becomes *righteous only when heaccepts od/s gift by means of esus. !aul said that he would be proud of only one thing. esushad died on the *cross for him 0 alatians ;%&56.

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Derses 123'( * aith is the same for everyone. There is only one od. * ews said this every day inthe words in )euteronomy ;%5. -:isten+ *"srael+ the *:ord our od+ the *:ord is one./ * entiles donot have a separate od. $o * ews and * entiles all have the same way of *faith. -Without *faith+ itis impossible to please od/ 0>ebrews &&%;6.Derse '& The law still has value. !aul imagines someone who would oppose him about *faith. Thatperson would say that !aul was telling people not to obey the law. But !aul was not saying that.

Actually+ !aul was teaching people that the law was very important. "n fact+ the law teaches us that

we need *faith. And we can only obey the law by means of *faith.-The law/ can mean%a6 the law of #oses+ which is in the first five books of the *,ld Testament. The purpose of the lawwas to show what *sin is. $o people will know that they need od. They must confess their *sin to

od+ and they must trust him. Then od by means of *Christ will forgive their *sin. When a personknows this+ he will want to obey the law. >e will no longer obey because he is afraid of od/spunishment. "nstead+ that person will gladly obey because he loves od. $o he is making the lawstronger.b6 all the *,ld Testament. * ews sometimes meant this when they spoke about -the law/. "t is *faiththat makes a person at *peace with od. "n chapter 5+ !aul will talk about the *faith of Abrahamand )avid. $o the law itself encourages *faith.

But the real meaning of the law is how od wants people to live. >e wants people to show loveand kindness. >e wants people to be fair. >e wants people to have a humble attitude and torespect him. The rules in the *,ld Testament exist in order to teach people about this. But theserules are less important than the law itself 0#icah ;%94 !salm e discovered how to be *righteous. ! But hedid not become *righteous because of his works. "f that were correct+ Abraham could *boastabout it. But he could not *boast in front of od. " This is what the *scriptures say% -Abrahamtrusted od. od accepted Abraham/s *faith. $o Abraham received *righteousness becauseof his *faith./ # When a person works+ he does not receive his pay as a gift. >e receives itbecause he has earned it. $ But it is different when a person receives *righteousnessbecause of his *faith. That person does not work in order to achieve that result. "nstead+ hesimply believes od. And od makes someone who was not *righteous+ to be *righteous. %)avid says the same. >e tells us how happy some people are. od makes these people*righteous. They do not have to work to earn his *righteousness. )avid says%

7 ->appy are those people whose wicked deeds od forgives. >appy are those people whose *sins od excuses.

& >appy is the person whom the *:ord never accuses of *sin./Derses &3' !aul wanted to teach about *faith. And he wanted to prove that his message about*faith was not a new message. $o he explained how the *,ld Testament taught the same messageabout *faith. !aul chose Abraham and )avid in order to show *faith in the *,ld Testament.

Abraham began the * ewish nation. )avid was the most famous king of the * ews. !aul wanted toshow that they received *righteousness because of *faith+ and not because of their good deeds.

Abraham was called the -friend of od/ 0"saiah 5&%96. >e was a *righteous man 0"saiah emight have been able to *boast to other people. But he could not *boast to od his *Creator. oddid not accept Abraham because of his 0Abraham/s6 good works. od accepted Abraham becausehe 0Abraham6 believed od. "n other words+ Abraham had *faith. Abraham believed od/s promisethat he would have a son. >e would have more *descendants than there are stars in the sky.

Abraham had *faith that od would make this happen. >e had *faith although he was an old man.>is wife $arah was old too. $he was far beyond the age when women have children. odaccepted Abraham/s *faith and od considered him *righteous 0 enesis &


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Derses 53< A person who works receives wages. That person has earned those wages. But aperson cannot earn a right *relationship with od. * ighteousness is a free gift from od. A personreceives it because of *faith. That person used to be a *sinner. But+ because of od/s great love+

od has changed that person/s life.Derses ;39 "n !salm '1+ )avid describes the person who has real @oy. This person knows that odhas forgiven him. >e has not obeyed od/s laws. >e has failed to reach od/s standards. But then

od made that person *righteous.

esus told a story about a tax3collector 0a man whose @ob was to collect taxes for the government6in :uke chapter &9. That tax3collector asked od for *mercy 0:uke &9%&'3&56. The tax3collector washumble and he was sincere. >e put his trust in od. od does not accuse such a person becauseof his *sins. "nstead+ od considers him *righteous.

Abraham is the *father of all +ho ha e *faith #:'-1!' This happiness is not only for *circumcised people. "t is also for *uncircumcised people. We

have said that od accepted Abraham/s *faith. And that is how od made Abraham*righteous. 1( od did not consider Abraham to be *righteous only after Abraham was*circumcised. ?o+ od considered Abraham to be *righteous even before Abraham was*circumcisedF 11 Abraham received the sign of *circumcision afterwards. "t was the proof of

the *covenant that od had made with Abraham. >is *faith made him *righteous while he wasstill *uncircumcised. $o Abraham is the *spiritual *father of everyone who believes od. Although they have not been *circumcised+ Abraham is their *father. $o od makes them*righteous too. 1! >e is also the *spiritual *father of the *circumcised. But it is not enough ifthey are merely *circumcised. They have to live by the same kind of *faith that our *father

Abraham had. >e had that *faith before he was *circumcised.

Derses 23&& * ews believed that a man needed *circumcision. They did not consider anyone a real* ew without *circumcision. A * entile might believe the * ewish religion. But he could not be aproper member of the * ewish *faith without *circumcision. This matter caused a very seriousargument in the first churches. #any * ewish Christians insisted that * entiles had to be*circumcised in order to become real Christians. !aul dealt with this problem in his letter to the

alatians. od considered Abraham *righteous before he received *circumcision. >is genuine*faith in od began &5 years before the sign of *circumcision. *Circumcision was the proof of the*covenant that Abraham had already made with od 0 enesis &e also brings into life thingsthat do not exist.

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Derse &' The * reek word for -promise/ means a promise that someone makes because of love.$o there must be no demand to give a promise back. od promised to Abraham that by him0Abraham6 all the people on earth would receive *blessing 0 enesis &1%'6. od also promised that

Abraham would have more *descendants than stars in the sky. But od/s promises did not dependon law. od did not give the law until 5'( years later 0 alatians '%&=6. Abraham accepted od/spromises by *faith. That is+ Abraham trusted od 0>ebrews &&%93&16.Derse &5 ,ne must not add to od/s promise what the law orders. This would cancel the promise.

?obody can obey the law perfectly. $o if the promise depended on the law+ od could not carry outhis promises. * aith would no longer have any value.Derse &< The result of law is punishment+ because people do not obey the law. $o people couldnot receive the benefit of od/s promise by means of the law. !eople must receive this benefit by*faith. And they can only receive it because of od/s kindness 0his *grace6.Derse &; The promise comes from od/s *grace. Abraham and his *descendants can be sureabout od/s gift. This is because they can accept it by *faith. The promise is for anyone who hasthe same *faith as Abraham. "t is for * ews and for those who never had the law. $o Abrahambecame the *father of those with *faith. !aul showed that the promise came true by means of

esus *Christ. By *faith+ people all over the world receive od/s love. >e cares about them. Thelaw would say that they are guilty. But people can become *righteous by *faith in od. od forgives

them because of his great love.Derse &= The change of Abram/s name was a sign that od had made a *covenant with him.-Abraham/ means -*father of many nations/ 0 enesis &=%ere !aul is thinking especially about the promise of a son to Abraham. Abraham was soold that his body seemed -almost dead/ 0 omans 5%&24 >ebrews &&%&&3&16. But od is the powerful

od who created the world from nothing. $o it would be no problem for od to create many*descendants for Abraham.

)he *faith of Abraham #:1&-!$1& There was no reason for hope. But Abraham had hope because he believed od. $o he

became the *father of many nations+ as od had promised. od had said+ - our children willbe as many as this./ 1' Abraham/s *faith did not become weaker. >e was much too old tohave children. >e was about &(( years old. >is wife $arah was also too old to have children.

!( But he always believed in od/s promise. >is *faith became stronger. >e gave honour tood.!1 >e was sure about od/s power. >e believed od/s promise. And Abraham was confident

that od was able to do these things. !! $o od considered Abraham to be *righteous. !"The words -considered to be *righteous/ are not only for Abraham/s benefit. !# They are alsofor us. We believe in the od who raised esus our *:ord from death. $o od will consider us*righteous too. !$ >e handed over esus to die because of our *sins. od raised esus tolife in order to make us *righteous.

Derses &931& rom a human point of view+ it was impossible for Abraham to have children. Both heand his wife $arah were much too old. But Abraham believed in od/s power. >e did not lose hopethat od would carry out his promise. "nstead+ Abraham/s *faith increased. >e trusted od/spromise. >e was sure that od would carry it out.Derses 11315 "t was not only Abraham whom od would consider *righteous. We believe that odraised esus from death. $o od considers us *righteous too. esus becomes our *:ord.Derse 1< The priests and udas handed over esus to !ilate. The * omans then killed esus on a*cross. These men thought that they had control over these events. But in fact+ these events werepart of od/s plan to -hand over/ esus. od -did not keep back 0rescue6 his own son+ but he gavehim up for us all/ 0 omans 9%'16. esus/ death was a *sacrifice to cancel the effect of human *sin.

od accepted his *sacrifice and raised him from death. $o if we believe in the death and*resurrection of esus+ od considers us at *peace with himself. >e considers us as *righteous.

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Chapter $)he *blessings that +e recei e because of Gods *grace $:1-11

1 We are *righteous because of our *faith. $o we are friends with od because of our *:ordesus *Christ. ! By esus+ we receive od/s *grace. And we remain in this *grace. We are

@oyful+ because we will have a part in od/s *glory. " And that is not all. We are @oyful whenwe suffer. We know that our pain produces courage. # ,ur courage to continue producescharacter. Character produces hope. $ And hope will never disappoint us. od has filled ourhearts with his love. >e did it by means of the *>oly $pirit whom he has given to us.

% At the right time+ *Christ died on behalf of bad people. >e died for us when we had nopower of our own. 7 "t is very unusual for someone to die on behalf of a good person.!erhaps someone might even be willing to die on behalf of a good person. & But this is how

od has shown his love for us. *Christ died for us while we were still *sinners.' The blood 0death6 of esus has made us *righteous. $o we are even more sure that esus

will *save us from od/s *wrath. 1( We used to be od/s enemies. But the death of his sonhas brought us back to od. $o we can be much more sure that his *resurrection life will*save us. 11 That is not all. We are @oyful in od because of our *:ord esus *Christ. odhas brought us back to himself by means of esus.

!aul shows the *blessings that come to people. These *blessings come to people after they haveinvited od into their lives. $o they have trusted od. And od has made them *righteous becauseof their *faith. !aul says -we/. $o he includes in these *blessings himself and everyone who has*faith.Derse &&. riendship with od. We used to be od/s enemies 0 ames 5%56. But he has made us into hisfriends 07phesians 1%&'3&26.Derse 11. We receive od/s *grace. or the word -receive/+ !aul uses the word -prosagoge/+ which means-introduction/. !eople use this word to introduce someone to a king. esus prepares the way for us

to approach od the ing. Then we can receive od/s *grace. !aul uses the same idea in hisletter to the 7phesians 01%&94 '%1(6.-We remain in this *grace./ This means that nothing can separate us from od/s love. 0$ee

omans 9%'93'2.6 >uman kings may sometimes be kind. But then they may stop their kindness toanyone who no longer pleases them. od/s love never changes.'. A part in od/s *glory. This promise gives great hope to Christians. !eople usually use the word-hope/ when they merely want something to happen. or example+ people say+ -" hope that it willrain./ They want it to rain. But they are not sure that it will rain. Christian hope is different. od willdo everything that he has promised to do. We can be sure about this. od created people to havea part in his *glory 0"saiah 5'%=6. *$in has spoiled our *glory. But we are sure that one day we shallsee od in all his *glory. Then od will change us+ so that we can have a part in his *glory 0& ohn'%16.Derses '355. oy when we suffer. !aul does not mean the ordinary pains and troubles in life. >e means whenpeople suffer as Christians. This happens because other people oppose their *faith. !eople mayinsult Christians and attack them. But we should be @oyful even when we suffer. ,f course+ thisdoes not mean that we want to suffer. But we are @oyful for a different reason. This is the reason.We are sharing what *Christ suffered. When we suffer it will help to prove our sincere *faith. When*Christ suffered+ the result was *glory. And when we suffer+ the result will be *glory too 0 omans9%&=6.When a person suffers it can produce good 8ualities in his character. We know this from humanexperience. A person who is suffering may learn courage to continue his life as a Christian. The* reek word for -character/ 0dokime6 means that his troubles are like fire. ire removes anythingdirty from metal. Troubles test a person. "t makes him a stronger and better Christian. Then hishope for the future will be stronger too.

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1& The result of one man/s *sin was that everyone became guilty. $o the result of one*righteous act is that everyone can become *righteous. And everyone can receive *eternal life.

1' #any people became *sinners because one man did not obey od. $o many will become*righteous by the one man who obeyed od.

Derse &< Adam chose to do what he wanted to do. *Christ/s gift came because he loves us. >e didwhat od wanted. #any people died because of Adam/s *sin. #any people received the gift of lifebecause of esus.Derse &; Adam/s one *sin brought od/s @udgement. Adam was guilty. Afterwards+ people *sinnedvery many times. But the death of esus was sufficient to make people *righteous. >e did not needto die many times 0>ebrews 2%196. >is death was the perfect *sacrifice for *sin.Derse &= !eople suffer death because of the *sin of one man+ Adam. od/s huge supply of *graceand his gift of *righteousness come by means of one man+ esus *Christ. Those who accept od/sgift will rule with esus in his *kingdom. "n the end+ od will defeat death 0& Corinthians &


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11 "n the same way+ consider that your old *sinful nature is dead. "nstead+ live for od by*faith in *Christ esus. 1! Therefore do not allow *sin to control your behaviour. )o not obeythe wrong desires of your body+ which will die. 1" )o not use the parts of your body as toolsto do evil deeds. "nstead+ give yourselves to od. ou are people whom od has broughtfrom death to life. ,ffer the parts of your body to him. >e will use them as tools to do what isright. 1# *$in shall not be your master. The law does not rule you now. od/s *grace hasmade you free.

Derses &31 !aul has emphasised od/s *grace. $o some people were suggesting that they weregiving od honour by continuous *sin. They were providing od with the opportunity to show moreof his *grace. !aul opposed this idea very strongly. "t was a terrible idea. "t was a strange way tothink.We know that *sin used to control our lives. But our *sinful lives ended when we becameChristians. od rescued us from the power of *sin. ,f course+ Christians still do wrong things. Butthey should certainly not allow *sin to control their lives again.Derses '3< !aul reminded them about the meaning of their *baptism. !eople decided to turn awayfrom their *sins. *Baptism followed 0Acts 1%'96. $o by *faith they began a new *relationship with*Christ. Because of this experience+ we take part in his death and *resurrection. ,ur old+ *sinfullives have ended. And we rise again to a new life where we live in order to serve *Christ.

Derses ;3= ,ur -*sinful bodies/ does not mean that the physical body itself is wicked. !eople callednostics thought this. But it is not true. -*$inful bodies/ means that *sin controls our natural desires.

Then our natural desires become *sin. or example+ it is natural for the body to need food. *$in canchange our desire for food. We can want more food than we need. !erhaps we steal because weare greedy. And then other people suffer because we have taken their food away.But now we are united to *Christ by *faith. $o our old nature has ended. "t is as if our old naturedied on the *cross with *Christ 0 alatians 1%1(6. Therefore *sin has no power over us. *$in was likea master and we were his slaves. *Christ has freed us to obey him.Derses 93&( We believe that we shall have a part in *Christ/s new life. We have a new kind of life inthe present. We also have a part in his *resurrection. *Christ was not like :aGarus+ whom *Christbrought back to life 0 ohn &&%&3556. :aGarus would die again in the end. *Christ/s new life was a

completely new kind of life. >e died once only. >e would never die again. >e lives always in orderto praise od the ather. ,ur *resurrection will be like *Christ/s *resurrection. We too shall not dieagain. We shall live with *Christ always in order to give honour to od.Derse && $o a Christian should remember the meaning of his *baptism. >e died with *Christ androse again with *Christ. $o that Christian will have a new attitude to the way that he lives. -"fanyone is in *Christ+ he is a completely new person/ 01 Corinthians


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1' Because of your human weakness+ " have written this in a way that you can understand.ou used to offer parts of your body as slaves to a *sinful life. ou were becoming more and

more wicked. But now give your bodies as slaves to a *righteous life. Then you will become*holy. !( ou used to be slaves to *sin. At that time+ *righteousness did not matter to you.

!1 ou did things then that now cause you to be ashamed. ou did not receive any benefitfrom them. The result of these things is death. !! But now that *Christ has freed you from*sin+ od has made you his slaves. The benefit that you receive causes you to live a *holy life.

And the result is *eternal life. !" When you *sin+ the only result of your efforts is death. But*eternal life is a free gift from od. And we receive it because of what *Christ esus our *:ordhas done.

Derse &< !aul repeats his thoughts from verse &. :aw no longer rules them. But to continue in *sinis a terrible and stupid idea. "f they have accepted od/s *grace+ they will try to obey him.Derse &; !eople who choose to obey someone become that person/s slave. A slave must doeverything that his master orders. A person who *sins becomes *sin/s slave 0 ohn 9%'56. The resultof *sin will be *spiritual death. Those who obey od will live in the right way. od has forgiventhem. >e has considered them to be *righteous. ?obody can serve *sin and serve od at the sametime. -?obody can serve two masters/ 0#atthew ;%156.Derse &= !aul praises od because of the Christians in ome. They have accepted od/s

promises and they have obeyed him. And+ like other new Christians+ they learnt how to pleaseod. $ince the beginning of the first church+ the *apostles taught that 0Acts 1%516. And !aul too

could write to the Christians in Thessalonica+ -We taught you how to live in order to please od/ 0&Thessalonians 5%&6. $o Christians knew that they should not *sin.Derses &93&2 od has freed them from *sin. $o they can become as slaves to a right manner oflife. !aul is sorry to compare the life of a Christian to that of a slave. But he uses this language tohelp them. They are slow to understand. They need someone to remind them about the results of*sin. "t is like the effect when someone becomes a slave. That person has to learn how to obey hismaster. "n the end+ the master controls the slave completely. And if Christians begin to *sin+ theywill soon become more and more wicked. "t is easy to *sin at first in small ways. But one *sinfollows another sin. And worse *sins follow. >owever+ if Christians obey od they will begin to livea *holy life. And their lives will please od.Derses 1(311 *$in does not really benefit anyone. "t controls people. "t ruins people/s lives. And itcauses death. -)eath/ is what evelation 01(%&54 1&%96 calls the -second death/. This is the terriblepunishment that is the result of *sin. And it is permanent. But people do not have to suffer thatpunishment. *Christ died so that we can be free from the power of *sin. And we are free as soon aswe invite him into our lives. Then+ because *Christ has freed us from *sin+ we can be od/s slaves.We can live a *holy life on earth. And afterwards+ we will live with od in heaven.Derse 1' A soldier received his pay because he had earned it. >is wages were what he deserved.

A slave also had to work hard. But he did not receive any wages. >e worked because his masterforced him to work. $o a slave/s efforts achieved nothing good for the slave!aul has explained that Christians used to be slaves to *sin. "n other words+ *sin was like a master.*$in controlled their lives. But they received no wages and no benefits for their efforts. )eath wasthe only result of their efforts.

od/s *grace is wonderful. >e gives a free gift that nobody deserves. !eople receive this gift of*eternal life by *faith in what esus did. !eople receive this free gift when they invite esus intotheir lives. ?obody could earn their own *salvation. ,nly esus could pay the price to free peoplefrom *sin. And he did that when he died on the *cross.

And so Christians are glad that esus is their *:ord 0in other words+ their master6.

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Chapter 75reedom from 3a+ 7:1-!$

1 An e ample from *marriage 7:1-%1 Christian *brothers and *sisters+ " am speaking to people who know the law. ou should

know that the law has authority over a person. But it has authority over that person only whilehe lives. ! or example+ a married woman belongs to her husband all the time that he lives.But if her husband dies+ she is free from the law of *marriage. " $o+ while her husband lives+she must not marry another man. "f she does+ she is guilty of *adultery. But if her husbanddies+ she is free from the *marriage law. Afterwards+ if she marries another man+ she is notguilty of *adultery.

# #y *brothers and *sisters+ when *Christ died+ you also died in relation to the law. Thishappened so that you may belong to *Christ instead. od raised him from death. ?ow ourlives can be useful to od. $ ,ur human nature used to control us. The law brought to ourthoughts *sinful desires that we carried out in our bodies. The result of our actions was death.

% The law used to control us. But now we are free. "t is as if we died in relation to the law. $owe can serve od in the new way of the *>oly $pirit. We do not serve in the old way of the

*written law now.Derses &3' !aul wanted to emphasise a Christian/s freedom from law. $o he used an examplefrom a law that the Christians in ome knew well. A woman belongs to her husband while he isalive. "f she marries another man during her husband/s life+ she is guilty of the crime called*adultery. But after her husband dies+ she can marry another husband. The first husband/s deathends the control that the law had over that woman.Derse 5 Before we became real Christians+ *sin controlled our lives completely. A cruel husbandacts as if his wife is a mere slave. And *sin had a similar effect on us. We wanted the law to free usfrom *sin. But the law was unable to achieve this. "n other words+ our best efforts to obey the lawcould not free us from *sin. "nstead+ the law declared that we were guilty. And it declared that thepunishment for our *sin was death.

But+ because of od/s *grace+ *Christ died for us. By *baptism we take part in the death of *Christ.$o+ like a woman whose husband has died+ we are free from the law. *$in used to control us like acruel husband. But death has ended that situation. And we have chosen to love *Christ. ,ur*relationship with him is also like *marriage. But it is a good *relationship. We want to belong tohim. We want to serve him. And we shall live with him always.Derses


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Derses =39 Derses &3; do not mean that the law is *sinful. !aul says that such an idea is certainlynot correct. The law showed us what *sin is. !aul chose the last of the &( *commandments as anexample. "t is easy to think that an action may be wrong. "t is more difficult to realise that ourthoughts can be *sinful. To want other people/s possessions is a *sin. !aul would not know thisuntil the law told him 07xodus 1(%&=6. $o the law is good. "t shows what *sin is. But our humannature seems to want things @ust because od forbids them. $t. Augustine said that he and someof his friends stole some fruit. >e did not even want to eat them. >e knew that it was wrong. And

that was the only reason why he stole them.Derses 23&& !aul discovered that *sin cheats us. This is what we think% -" shall be happy when "have more things. " want things that " cannot have./ But these things cannot satisfy us. We thinkthat we can avoid the punishment for our *sin. But such things do not make our lives better."nstead+ they bring death. !aul uses a military description. The word for -opportunity/ also meansthe place where soldiers begin an attack. *$in used the *commandment as a place from which toattack people.Derses &13&' The law is *holy because od gave it. And od is holy and perfect. $o the law is*righteous. od intended the law to help people. !aul says that the law is good. "t is notresponsible for death. "t is *sin that causes death. The law was good for people. But *sin used it tocause death. That is what *sin does. "t turns something good into something wicked. or example+it can turn love into a wrong sex desire. *$in uses the law wrongly. This shows how terrible *sin is.

" )he struggle against *sin 7:1#-!$1# We know that the law is *spiritual. But " am not *spiritual. "t is as if *sin has bought me as

a slave. 1$ " do not understand what " do. " do not do what " want to do. "nstead+ " do what "hate. 1% " am doing things that " do not want to do. $o " have to agree that the law is good.

17 " do not still control my own actions. "nstead+ *sin+ which lives in me+ controls me.1& " know that nothing good lives in me. " mean that there is nothing good in my human

nature. " want to do what is good. But " cannot. 1' " do not do the good things that " want todo. " continue to do the wicked things that " do not want to do. !( " do the things that " do notwant to do. " do not choose to do such things. "nstead+ *sin+ which lives in me+ controls me.

!1 $o " discover that this law 0principle6 is operating in my life. When " want to do goodthings+ evil desires are there with me. !! "n my spirit+ my delight is in od/s law. !" But "see another law that works in the parts of my body. This other law fights against the law of mymind. "t makes me a prisoner of the law of *sin. The law of *sin controls the parts of my body.

!# " am a very miserable person. " ask who will rescue me from this *sin. "t brings death tomy body. !$ But " give thanks to od. >e rescues me by means of esus *Christ our *:ord.$o in my mind+ " am a slave to od/s law. But in my human nature+ " am a slave to the law of*sin.

Derses &531


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1. ,r maybe !aul was writing as a Christian. >e said that he loved the law 0verse 116. $omeonewho does not believe probably would not say this. But a Christian is not -a slave to *sin/ 0verse 1is cry expresses his great desire to be free fromhis weak human nature. >e wants to become more *holy.$o perhaps !aul was writing about the time when he was a !harisee. 0The !harisees were agroup of * ews who tried to obey all of od/s laws. !aul belonged to this group before he becamea Christian.6 ,r perhaps he was writing as a Christian who was struggling to live a *holy life. But heshows clearly that human knowledge is not enough. We can know what is wrong. We may decideto do what is right. But our power to carry out our decision is weak. !eter said that he would neverdeny *Christ. But he failed soon afterwards.We cannot live in a manner that pleases od by our own efforts. !aul emphasised this in alatians'%'. We can only become Christians by the power of od/s *>oly $pirit. And after we have becomeChristians+ we can only please od by the power of his *>oly $pirit.Derse 1' !aul uses another military description. A law was fighting a war against his mind. The lawof his human nature was making him a prisoner of the law of *sin. >e struggled to obey hisconscience. >e knew what was right. But he could not do right things. >is cry in verse 15 is a cry ofdespair.Derse 15 !aul is grateful that he can win the *victory over his *sinful human nature because of

esus *Christ. !aul will explain in chapter 9 how the *>oly $pirit can give to Christians the power tolive a *holy life.Derse 1< $ome people who have translated the Bible want to change the order of the verses. Theythink that the second part of verse 1< should be before the cry of verse 15. They say that it is in thewrong place after !aul/s words in verse 15. But there is no *manuscript evidence for this. "n verse1< !aul emphasises again his moral struggle+ which he described in verses &5315. And the wordslead naturally to omans 9%&+ which begins with the word -Therefore/.

Chapter &)he * ol0 ,pirit and Gods children &:1-"'

5reedom from *sinful nature &:1-#1 Therefore the people who belong to *Christ esus are not still guilty. ! Because of whatesus *Christ has done+ the law of his *>oly $pirit has given me life. >e has freed me from the

law of *sin that brings death. " The *written law had no power+ because our human naturemade it weak. But od did what the law could not do. >e sent his own son to be like peoplewho have a *sinful nature. od sent esus to be a *sacrifice for *sin. And so od *@udged *sinin *Christ/s human nature. # ?ow we can obey all that the law sets out in order to make us*righteous. We do not live by our natural desires now. The *>oly $pirit rules our lives instead.

Derse & !aul has explained how powerful *sin is. !eople might want to please od. And they mighttry to obey his law. But human nature is too weak to oppose the power of *sin.

od/s law explains how he wants people to live. But *sin seems like another law+ which opposesod/s law. $o people feel as if they are struggling against *sin. And their efforts to do the right thing

seem hopeless.But the wonderful news is that od frees people from the power of *sin. And he frees themcompletely. >e forgives their *sin. >e makes them *righteous. >e does these things because of his*grace. And he does these things for everyone who belongs to *Christ esus. They are not guiltynow. They have become od/s special+ *holy people 07phesians 1%&326.

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Derse 1 *$in is like a law that controls people. ?obody could avoid its power. And *sin caused themost terrible troubles. !eople have to obey *sin+ but the only result of these efforts is death0 omans ;%1'6.But od made another law that would free people from the law of *sin. !aul does not mean the*written law+ which told people the nature of *sin. >e is writing about a new law+ which tells peoplehow to live in order to please od.

eremiah wrote about such a law 0 eremiah '&%''3'56. "t would not be like the *written law. "t wouldbe in people/s hearts and minds. "t would show them how to know od and to love od. "t wouldgive them a right *relationship with od. And od would forgive their *sins.This new *relationship with od was possible because of the death of esus. After esus/ death+

od sent the *>oly $pirit. And the $pirit lives in us+ if we are real Christians 0 ohn &5%&;3&=6."t is the *>oly $pirit that gives life. "t is the *>oly $pirit who makes people able to breathe and so tolive 0 enesis 1%=6. "t is the *>oly $pirit who gives *spiritual life to Christians 0 alatians oly $pirit who raises dead bodies to life 0verse &&6.Derse ' The *written law showed people the nature of *sin. But it could not free people from *sin+because nobody can become *righteous by their own efforts. But od/s *grace was more powerfulthan *sin was. And od had a plan to rescue people from the power of *sin.

od sent his son to live in a human body. esus had a real human nature that could be tired+hungry and thirsty. 0-Thirsty/ means that he was sometimes desperate to drink.6 !aul says+ -like/*sinful human nature. !aul knew that *Christ never *sinned. *Christ obeyed his ather completely.Then+ on the *cross+ *Christ offered himself for human *sin. $o+ as a perfect *sacrifice+ he removedthe punishment for human *sin. We can receive the benefit of his death. od will forgive us and hewill make us *righteous. But first+ we need to accept what od did by esus. od did this becauseof his great love for people 0 ohn '%&;6.Derse 5 We could not become *righteous by our own efforts. And we could not obey od/s *writtenlaw by our own efforts. But od has changed our situation. ?ow we can be free from guilty feelingsand from the fear of punishment. The *>oly $pirit will guide a Christian. >e will give to Christiansthe power to live a *holy life. -:ive by the $pirit. Then you will not do the *sinful things that you wantto do because of your human nature/ 0 alatians oly $pirit. The $pirit guides theirminds. % The result of our natural thoughts and desires is death. But the result of thethoughts that come from the $pirit is life and *peace. 7 ,ur natural thoughts and desiresoppose od. $uch thoughts do not obey od/s law. "n fact+ such thoughts are not even able toobey od/s law. & ?obody who lives by their natural desires can ever please od.

' But your natural desires do not control you. The *>oly $pirit controls you if the $pirit of odlives in you. But anyone who does not have the $pirit of *Christ does not belong to *Christ.

1( *Christ lives in you. "t is as if your body is dead because of *sin. But your spirit is alive+

because *Christ has made you *righteous. 11 od/s $pirit lives in you. This is the same $piritthat raised esus from death. "n the end+ your bodies will die. But the $pirit+ who raised *Christesus from death+ will also bring life to your bodies. This will happen because the $pirit lives in

you.

!aul contrasts two kinds of life in these verses. a normal life without the power of the *>oly $pirit. $omeone who lives such a life cannot please

od. "nstead+ that person lives by their own thoughts and desires. And such a life will be *sinful+because *sin controls that person/s mind. )eath is the result of such a life. a life that the *>oly $pirit controls. This is the kind of life that a real Christian should have.

od/s $pirit guides that person/s thoughts and desires. $o that person pleases od. And theresults of that person/s life are good.

"n verses


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!aul uses three different names for the *>oly $pirit. These are% the *>oly $pirit+ the $pirit of *Christand the $pirit of od. But !aul is not describing three different $pirits. The *>oly $pirit comes from

od the ather and od the $on. $o the *>oly $pirit is also the $pirit of *Christ and the $pirit ofod. And the *>oly $pirit works in the life of the real Christian.

Derse < !aul contrasts two opposite situations. >uman nature causes *sinful behaviour. But life inthe *>oly $pirit pleases od.!aul shows this difference very clearly in alatians e sets out many kinds of behaviourthat people follow because of human nature. But everything in that list is *sinful. And such thingscause pain or trouble. Because of human nature+ people may desire power+ entertainment orpossessions. And they do evil acts in order to gain these things. But then+ in alatians


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Derses &53&= !aul speaks about the difference between a slave and a son. >e describes someonewho adopts a child. At the time when !aul wrote+ a person might choose to adopt a child. Thatchild would continue that person/s name. And that child would receive that person/s property. Therewas a serious ceremony in * oman law that handed over the child to his new father. The ceremonyhad to happen in front of witnesses. The former life of the child did not still exist. >e began acompletely new life. >e had the same rights as children by birth. >e would receive his new father/sproperty.

,ur old life+ which the *sinful nature controlled+ has gone. We have begun a new life. We are thesons and daughters whom od has adopted. The *>oly $pirit is the witness in us that we havebecome od/s children. We can call od -Abba/. -Abba/ is the word for -father/ in the languagecalled Aramaic. This word shows the family love between father and child. Children in * ewishfamilies still use it today. esus used the word himself 0#ark &5%';6. "t showed the close*relationship between esus and his ather+ od. esus taught his *disciples to think about od as

ather when they prayed. 0:uke &&%16. !aul added the * reek word for -father/ for * omans whodid not know the word in the Aramaic language.Christians receive similar benefits to children whom someone has adopted. Christians have thepromise of od/s property+ because he is their new ather. They will share the *glory of od/s ownson+ esus *Christ. *Christ suffered before he received his *glory. $o Christians must expect tosuffer too. But they have the promise of future *glory. And that is a wonderful promise.

)he hope of *glor0 &:1&-!$1& We suffer now. But our present troubles seem very slight when we think about the *glory.

"n the future+ od will show us that *glory. 1' 7verything that od created waits eagerly forthat time. Then od will show who his children are. !( The world that od created suffereddefeat. This was not the fault of the world itself. But od allowed this because there was afuture hope. !1 od promised that he would rescue the world. od would free the world so itwould not become bad. >e would free the world so that it can share in the wonderful freedomof od/s children. !! We know how deeply everything suffers. 7verything that od created iscrying in pain right up to now. "t is in pain like the pain of a mother who is giving birth to achild.

Derse &9 !aul could speak about troubles and pain from his own experience. !eople had opposedhim and punished him. Those people hated !aul because he spoke od/s message. !aul hadsuffered physical difficulties like cold and hunger as he travelled on land and sea. >e also seemsto speak about a physical problem that was a painful nuisance to him. But he was sure that hewould suffer for only a short time. * lory would last always. !resent pain is very slight when wecompare it with the splendid life of heaven.Derses &2311 When people *sinned+ the world itself suffered. The world lost its original purpose.

And everything in the world suffered because of human *sin. !eople had *sinned. But often theyknew that they were doing wrong deeds. ?ature had no choice. !lants and animals also sufferillness and death. We know how human *sin spoils od/s earth. or example+ when people cutdown trees for selfish reasons+ they make the land bare. Then animals that live in forests cannot

continue to live there. And the crops that grow there are often weaker than the old trees. $o thatplace becomes poorer because people were selfish. >owever+ od promised that he would freehis world. Then the world could share the freedom of od/s children 0that is+ the real Christians6.The * ews were expecting a new age when the *#essiah would rule. The *prophets spoke aboutthis time. ?ations would be at peace with each other. !eople would make tools for war into tools forfarmers 0#icah 5%'356. The land would produce plentiful fruit 0 oel '%&94 Amos 2%&'6. 7ven amonganimals+ natural enemies would not attack each other 0"saiah &&%;326. Entil od changes his world+the world will cry in pain. "t is like a woman who gives birth to a child in pain. ,r+ it is like someonewho waits 0verse &26. "t is waiting for the new age to begin. That age will begin when esus returnsas king. When he returns+ everybody will see his *glory. And real Christians will share his *glory.They are the children whom od adopted. And the world will have peace at last.

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!" That is not all. We ourselves already have the *>oly $pirit as a promise of future*blessing. But we are crying inside as we wait eagerly for od to adopt us completely as hischildren. Then he will free our bodies as he raises them to a new life. !# od *saved usbecause we had this hope. This would not be hope if we had already received these things.?obody hopes for what he has already. !$ But we hope for what we do not have already. $owe wait for it patiently.

Derse 1' !aul has described how the world seems to cry in pain. "t is waiting for the new age whenod/s children will have complete freedom. And od/s children 0the real Christians6 also cry inside+

because they also desire that time.?ow our bodies suffer pain. But then pain and death will end 0 evelation 1&%56. ?ow our*relationship with od seems distant. But then we shall see his face 0& Corinthians &'%&16. ?owour lives are not perfect. But then everything will be perfect.The word -promise/ means that the *>oly $pirit is like the -first fruit/ of the harvest. The first fruit isthe beginning of the harvest. "t is like a promise that the full 0complete6 harvest will follow. $oChristians have received the *>oly $pirit. >e brings @oy in the present and a promise of *blessing inthe future. But we share the pain of the world that od made. We want to be free from theweakness of our physical bodies. We desire to be free from our human nature+ which still *sins.

od has adopted us as his children already 0 omans 9%&;6. But we are eager for the time when

od will change our human bodies. >e will change them to be like *Christ/s *glorious body0!hilippians '%1&6.Derses 1531< We can be confident about od/s plans for the future. We live in the time betweenpain and *glory. od will do what he has promised to do. We know this. $o we wait eagerly andpatiently at the same time.

)he * ol0 ,pirit and pra0er &:!%-!7!% "n the same way+ the $pirit helps us because we are weak. We do not know how we

ought to pray. But the $pirit himself acts on our behalf. >e prays with cries of pain that wordscannot express. !7 od+ who knows our hearts+ knows the mind of the $pirit. The $piritprays on behalf of od/s people+ even as od wants him to pray.

Derses 1;31= We do not know how to pray in our present situation. We do not know what is bestfor other people or for ourselves. But we have the *>oly $pirit to help us. esus promised that the*>oly $pirit would be our advocate 0someone who speaks to support another person6. The * reekword is -paracletos/ 0 ohn &5%&;6. That is+ the *>oly $pirit will speak on our behalf. The $pirit knowsabout our pain and he knows about the pain in the world. >e knows what od wants. $o the $piritprays on behalf of us. od knows our thoughts and the mind of the $pirit. $o od will answer theprayer of the $pirit on behalf of us.

Gods *eternal lo e &:!&-"'!& We know this. "n all things+ od works to help those people who love him. They are the

people whom od chose because of his plan. !' od decided long ago about the peoplewhom he knew. >e decided that they would become like his son. Then *Christ would be thefirst among many *brothers and *sisters. "( od had made his decision about them longago. $o he called them. >e called them+ and he made them *righteous. >e made them*righteous+ and he gave them *glory.

Derse 19 -We know/ means that Christians already have had this experience. od is alreadyworking in our lives. We have suffered pain and disappointment. !eople have opposed us. ,urtroubles have been great. But even at the worst times+ od was working for our benefit. >e washelping us. >e looked after us when nobody else cared. >e is our ather+ who loves us.

And od promises to continue to look after the people who love him. $o we should not be afraid offuture problems. And we should not be angry when unpleasant things happen. "nstead+ we shouldtrust him. >e has a plan. >e chose to adopt us as his sons and daughters. >e is looking after usduring our present troubles. And so he will bring us into his new age+ when we shall be free from allthese troubles.Derse 12 !aul speaks about the people whom od already knew. They are od/s special people.

od loves them. >e has a plan for their lives.

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"n the *,ld Testament+ od chose the people from *"srael to be his special people 0Amos '%16. odlooked after them in the desert 0>osea &'%e gave them many benefits 0 omans 2%53e decided to *save people. >e would help them to be *holy. >ewould do this by means of *Christ his son 01 Timothy &%24 & !eter &%1(6. *Christ shows us the *gloryof od 01 Corinthians 5%56. *Christ was the beginning of *creation 0Colossians &%&e would make them *righteous. And they would share his *glory. That is how they wouldbecome like *Christ 0& ohn '%16.Derse '( "t was od/s purpose since the beginning of the world to call people to himself. >e hasmade them *righteous. The *glory for Christians is in the future. But !aul speaks as if they havealready received that *glory from od. od decided this before the world began. $o !aul is certain.

od will do everything that he has promised to do. -When *Christ appears+ you will appear with himin *glory/ 0Colossians '%56.

"1 This then is what we shall say. od is on our side so nobody can successfully oppose us."! od did not keep back 0rescue6 his own son. But he gave him up on behalf of us all. $o

surely od will freely give us all things+ with *Christ. "" ?obody will accuse od/s specialpeople. "t is od who makes us *righteous. "# ?obody can declare that we are guilty. *Christesus died. But od raised him to life. ?ow he is by od/s right hand. >e too is praying on

behalf of us. "$ ?othing can separate us from *Christ/s love. Trouble cannot+ neither canhard times. ?or can attacks from those who oppose our *faith. >unger or lack of clothingcannot separate us from *Christ/s love. )anger or war cannot. "% The *scripture says%

-Because of you+ people are killing us all day long.They considered us as sheep that they kill./

Derses '&3'1 od did not save 0rescue6 his son+ esus. od/s love is so great. >e gave his onlyson to die on the *cross. This was the greatest gift that people could ever receive. $o od willcertainly give us everything else that we need.

Derses ''3'5 !aul thinks about a court of law. The Christian has to appear there in front of a @udge.od is the @udge. >e has said already that the Christian is not guilty. $o nobody can accuse

Christians when od is on their side.Christians also have someone to speak on their behalf+ like a lawyer in court. "t is *Christ. !auluses an early form of *creed. >e says that *Christ died. *Christ rose again to life. *Christ is now by

od/s -right hand/. od/s -right hand/ means the place of greatest honour and authority. There*Christ is speaking on behalf of his people. $o Christians have the *>oly $pirit to speak for themon earth 0 omans 9%1;6. They also have *Christ to speak for them in heaven. >e speaks to odthe ather. -"f anybody *sins+ we have someone who speaks for us to the ather. esus *Christ+who is *righteous+ speaks for us/ 0& ohn 1%&6.Derse '< !aul says+ -?othing can separate us from *Christ/s love./ >e gives a list of = possible

troubles. !eople might think that such troubles could end our *relationship with *Christ. But !aul issure that they cannot do so. "n fact+ !aul had known many of these troubles himself 01 Corinthians&&%1'31=6. The word -war/ is a translation of the word -sword/. !aul may mean something else.!eople may kill Christians because of their *faith. But even this will not separate them from od/slove.Derse '; !aul reminds his readers that od/s people suffered in the past. >e uses words from!salm 55%11. These words describe how the people in *"srael were suffering. They were sufferingbecause they were loyal to od. They appealed to od to help them. :ike them+ we may sufferterrible troubles in this world. But like them+ we shall overcome because od loves us. ?othing canseparate us from *Christ/s love.

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"7 But in all these troubles+ we shall overcome. We shall do so by means of od who lovedus. "& " am completely sure that nothing can separate us from od/s love. ?either death norlife can separate us from od/s love. ?either *angels nor rulers can do so. ?either the presentage nor the age to come can do so. ?o powers can do so. "' ?either height nor depth canseparate us from od/s love. ?othing whatever can do so. od has shown us his love bymeans of *Christ esus our *:ord.

Derse '= 7ven while we are suffering+ we shall not be without hope. And that hope will notdisappoint us. od is on our side. ?obody can successfully oppose us 0verse '&6. And so we shallovercome. We shall win a great *victory. We shall win by the power of od who loved us.Derses '93'2 !aul thinks about everything that might try to separate us from od/s love. Butnothing will be able to do that. While we are alive+ *Christ is with us. "f we die+ we will be nearer to*Christ in heaven. $o neither death nor life can separate us from od/s love.Then !aul thinks about spirits. And he thinks about powerful rulers. Their power and authority isimmense. But even they are unable to separate us from od/s love.Then !aul tries to describe things that we can hardly imagine. >e refers to the entire period ofhistory. >e refers to the future age and the new world that od will create. Then !aul thinks aboutvast measurements of height and depth that seem to have no end. !erhaps he is thinking aboutthe distance between heaven and hell. !erhaps he is thinking about the battle between the*spiritual forces that rule heaven and hell."t is difficult for us even to think about such things. But !aul is confident that od/s love is morepowerful than anything else. There is nothing anywhere in time or space that can separate od/schildren from their ather. od loves us and he has shown us that love by means of esus *Christ.When esus died for us+ od showed us his love 0 ohn '%&;6. >e did this because he wanted toadopt us as his sons and daughters. >e did not want *sin to control us. >e wanted to forgive us.>e wanted to make us *righteous. >e is our ather od+ who really loves his children.

And esus *Christ is our *:ord because we want to obey him. esus is od. $o esus loves us asmuch as od the ather does.

Chapters '-11 Gods plan for *2e+s and *Gentiles"n these chapters+ !aul explains od/s future plans for the * ews 0in other words+ the *"sraelites6.

od had prepared the * ews during their history+ but most * ews had refused to accept their*#essiah. Because !aul was a * ew too+ he felt great pain in his spirit. >is own people had notaccepted their *$aviour. !aul was an *apostle to the * entiles. $o he explains how od/s plan forthe * ews agreed with his plan for the * entiles too.Chapter &1 can follow chapters &39 easily. $o chapters 23&& may seem like an interruption. Butthey should not interrupt !aul/s thought. !aul had explained the *gospel in chapters &39. ?ow hediscusses why his own people+ the * ews+ did not accept the *salvation of the *gospel. Also+ !aulmay have wanted to explain the situation in ome. There were now many * entile Christians in

ome. * ewish and * entile Christians may have had wrong ideas about each other/s importanceto od. !aul needed to write about this.

Chapter 'Gods *blessings for the *2e+s ':1-$

1 " speak the truth in *Christ. " am not lying. The *>oly $pirit guides my conscience. The$pirit agrees that " am telling the truth. ! " am very sad. The great pain in my spirit neverends. " " am sad because of my relatives. " mean the people from my own nation called*"srael. " would be willing to do anything to save them. " would even be willing to suffer od/spunishment or to separate myself from *Christ. # od adopted my *brother and *sister*"sraelites as his sons and daughters. od gave to them *glory. They received the *covenants.They received the gift of the law+ the *worship in the *temple and the promises. $ Abraham+"saac and acob belong to them. *Christ was born into their family. And *Christ is od over all.>e should receive honour always. *Amen.

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Derse & !aul wants his readers to understand that he is sincere. $o he makes three statementsthat will persuade them. >e is speaking the truth because *Christ is with him. >e is not lying. Wecannot always trust the human conscience. But !aul has the *>oly $pirit as a witness. The *>oly$pirit is the $pirit of truth.Derses 13' !aul is so sad when he thinks about his relatives+ the * ews. They have not acceptedtheir *#essiah. >e may remember what #oses prayed. "n #oses/ time+ the *"sraelites *sinnedwhen they *worshipped a gold calf 0a model of a young cow or *bull6. #oses thought that od

might not forgive the *"sraelites. #oses asked od to punish him instead. >e asked od to-remove his name from the book of life/ 07xodus '1%'16.!aul+ like #oses+ would -suffer od/s punishment/. This is a translation from the * reek word-anathema/. "t means something that a person would destroy completely in order to hand it over to

od. "f possible+ !aul would be willing to suffer this punishment so that the * ews could receiveod/s *salvation.

This statement shows how deeply !aul wanted the * ews to trust *Christ. "t shows how eagerly!aul was praying for them. !aul loved them so much that he did not even care about himself."nstead+ he appealed to od on their behalf.But !aul realised that nothing could separate him from od/s love 0 omans 9%'96. And !aul knewthat the * ews had to trust *Christ in order to receive od/s *salvation. This is the answer that od

gave to #oses% -" will remove from my book the name of the person who has *sinned against me/07xodus '1%''6. ,ur prayers are powerful. But they do not change the principles of how od acts.>is *mercy is great. But he will only *save people when they put their trust in him.Derses 53< !aul makes a list of the special ways that od has shown his kindness to the * ews.&. od had adopted them as his sons. -*"srael is my first born son/ 07xodus 5%116. -,ut of 7gypt "have called my son/ 0>osea &&%&6.1. The *glory was the evidence that od was present with his people. The name for it is the-$hekinah/. "t descended on the tent that the *"sraelites used for *worship in the desert 07xodus5(%'56. Also it descended on the *temple that $olomon built 0& ings 9%&(3&&6. "n the most *holyplace in the *temple+ od/s *glory was over the ark. That was the special box that contained the*commandments.

'. The main *covenant that !aul refers to is the *covenant with Abraham. od made a *covenantwith Abraham that Abraham would have a son and many *descendants 0 enesis &=%53&26. odwould give them the country called *"srael. And od would show his kindness to all nations bymeans of Abraham and his *descendant.>owever+ !aul does not @ust mention one *covenant. $o perhaps he also means the otheragreements that od gave to the * ews. When od gave the :aw 0at the mountain called $inai6+he made an agreement with #oses and the *"sraelites 07xodus 15%96. od promised to ing )avidthat od would establish his royal family 0!salm 92%'53'=6.5. The :aw. od had told his people how to obey him.


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Gods choice ':%-1"% ,f course+ od/s word has not failed. ?ot all the people who came from the family of

*"srael really belong to *"srael. 7 ?ot all the *descendants of Abraham are his true children.But the *scripture says+ -"t is by means of "saac that you will have *descendants./ & "n otherwords+ someone does not become a child of od by natural means. ,nly the children that

od promised became the *descendants. ' These are the words of od/s promise+ -" willcome back at the right time+ and $arah will have a son./

1( And that is not all. ebecca/s children had the same father+ our *ancestor "saac. 11 odspoke to ebecca before her two sons were born. od spoke to her before the two sons didanything good or bad. od showed his purpose and his choice. >e decided what wouldhappen. 1! "t was not because of anything that the two sons did. "t was because od choseit. $o od told ebecca+ -The older son will serve the younger son./ 1" "t is even as the*scripture said+ -" loved acob+ but " did not care for 7sau./

Derses ;32 Although they had all these special *blessings+ many * ews did not accept od/s son.But !aul knows that od/s plan for his people could not fail. !aul uses two examples from the *,ldTestament to explain this.The * ews 0or *"sraelites6 were the *descendants of Abraham+ "saac and acob. od made a*covenant with Abraham. But not all of Abraham/s *descendants are * ews. That is because the*covenant has a relationship with od/s promise. Abraham had several sons. But "saac was theonly son that od promised to Abraham.

od/s promise has a relationship with the work of od/s $pirit. "saac was not born in a natural way.$arah 0"saac/s mother6 was too old to have children. $o the real *descendants of Abraham arepeople who receive od/s promise by means of his $pirit. And a person only becomes a child of

od when that person receives od/s promise by means of his $pirit 0verse 96.$o+ not everyone who has acob 0*"srael6 as his *ancestor is a true *"sraelite. A physical*descendant of Abraham might not be a real * ew in the *spiritual sense. Those who believe od/spromises are Abraham/s real *descendants. !aul had explained this in chapter 5%&'3&;. odpromised to give to Abraham a son+ "saac. Abraham had a son already+ "shmael+ who was born toa slave called >agar. But it was by means of "saac that od would give Abraham *descendants.

!aul mentions the promise that Abraham/s wife $arah would have a son. This promise is inenesis &9%&(.

Derses &(3&'!aul gives a second example of od/s choice. "saac/s wife ebecca gave birth to two babies at thesame time+ acob and 7sau. Before they were born+ od said that the older son would serve theyounger son. 7sau was born first+ but od chose acob. >is choice made no reference to theircharacter. od made his choice before their birth. >e chose before they could act in good or badways. 7sau/s *descendants were called the 7domites 0or 7dom6. acob/s *descendants werecalled *"srael. The 7domites did serve *"srael at times in their history 0for example+ 1 $amuel 9%&'3&56. >owever+ the words from #alachi &%&3' which refer to *"srael and 7sau emphasise od/schoice. The original words -" hated 7sau/ mean -" did not choose 7sau/.

These events show that acob did not earn the benefit of the *covenant. acob received the benefitbecause of od/s *grace 0kindness6. !aul often emphasises that nobody can earn *salvation bytheir own efforts. And he repeats this principle in verse &1. ,ur *salvation depends completely on

od/s kindness. "t is a free gift. We can only accept or refuse that gift.

Gods right to act as he +ishes ':1#-!'

4 idence from the *8ld )estament ':1#-1&1# We certainly cannot say that od is unfair. 1$ >e said to #oses+

-" will choose the people who will receive my *mercy. And " will choose whom " will pity./

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1% $o our *relationship to od does not depend on what we want. And it does not depend onwhat we do. "t depends on od/s *mercy. 17 "n *scripture+ the *:ord says to !haraoh 0theruler of 7gypt6+ -" had a special reason why " made you king. " used you to show my power. "wanted people everywhere in the world to know my name./ 1& $o od does what he wantsto do. >e shows *mercy to anyone whom he chooses. But he makes a person unwilling tochange when he wants to.

Derses &53&; od does not choose a person merely because of that person/s *ancestors. And oddoes not choose someone because of that person/s deeds. But !aul emphasises that od is notunfair. >e is *righteous and he is perfect. !aul uses words from *scripture to show that od cannotbe unfair. od told #oses that he is kind to people. >e acts with *mercy and love when he dealswith people 07xodus ''%&26. >e does not deal with them as they deserve. >e shows his love tothem as he chooses.Derses &=3&9 The *"sraelites used to be slaves in 7gypt. The !haraoh 0ruler of 7gypt6 refusedcontinuously to let the *"sraelites go. od sent #oses as a *prophet to !haraoh+ to tell !haraoh tofree the *"sraelites. But still !haraoh refused. >e was unwilling to change his decision. We oftensay that such a person has a hard heart. $o !haraoh made his heart hard against #oses and the*"sraelites. $o in the end+ od let his heart stay hard. "n verse &=+ !aul refers to 7xodus 2%&;. odused the situation with !haraoh for his 0 od/s6 own purposes. od himself overcame !haraoh/s

strong army. And so od freed his people. And people across the entire region heard what odhad done.The Bible contains many passages that warn people not to have the same attitudes as that!haraoh. "saiah knew that the hearts of unbelievers would become hard 0"saiah ;%23&(6. And esusused "saiah/s words when the * ews refused to believe in him 0 ohn &1%'235(6. But od is notunfair if he makes a person/s heart hard. The result of *sin is od/s @udgement.

)he *Creators plans ':1'-!'1' $omeone may say+ - od should not still blame us. ?obody can oppose what od wants

to do./!( " shall reply to such a person% you are a mere man. ou have no right to accuse od.

*$cripture says+ -An ob@ect that someone has made cannot say to its maker+ J ou should notmake me like this.K / !1 The *potter has the right to make different kinds of pot. $ome potsare for noble purposes. ,ther pots are for unclean use. But the *potter makes both kinds ofpot from the same lump of *clay.

Derse &2 !aul imagines a person who is complaining about od. That person argues that odshould not blame people. !aul will now show that such an opinion is seriously wrong.Derse 1( !aul reminds people that od is the *Creator. !eople exist because od created them. "twould be very wrong for a person to accuse his *Creator. !aul is not talking about people who aresincere. They ask 8uestions because they want to know the truth. !aul is talking about people whodo not want to obey od. They try to find an excuse to oppose od/s authority.Derse 1& !aul uses an example from the work of a *potter. "saiah had used the idea of *clay and a

*potter. A *clay pot cannot pretend that the *potter has no skill. "n fact+ the pot is evidence of the*potter/s skill 0"saiah 12%&;4 5e says that the *potter has the right tomake different kinds of pot. $ome pots may be beautiful. ,ther pots may be ordinary. $till otherpots are for unclean use. $o od has the right to deal with people as he chooses. od does nothave to explain to people what he does. !eople should respect od. >is decisions are alwaysright. >is @udgements are perfect.

!! od is like that *potter. od shows his anger and his power. >e has been very patientwith some people although he is angry with them. Those people are like the pots that the*potter will destroy. !" od has done this so that he can show the greatness of his *glory. >ehas prepared other people to receive this *glory+ because of his kindness to them. !# We arethe people whom he has called. But he did not @ust call * ews to be his people. >e calledpeople from all the nations. !$ That is why od says in the Book of >osea+

-These people were not mine. But " will call them+ so that they will become my people.?obody loved her. But " will love her.

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!% " told them+ J ou are not my people.KBut+ in the same place+ " shall call them JChildren of the od who always livesK./

Derses 1131' od has the right to show his anger and his power. But he has been very patient withthe people who oppose him. >e has delayed the time for @udgement. >e has given them moreopportunity to *repent. Because they do wicked things+ they are preparing themselves forpunishment.

But od is preparing for *glory the people who have received his *mercy. These people will seeod/s *glory. And they will share it themselves 0 omans 9%&=3&96.Derses 1531; !aul includes himself with the * ews to whom od has shown *mercy. But !aul thensays that * entiles have become od/s children too.!aul uses words from the *prophet >osea. These words show that od intended this to happen.>osea had a wife who was not loyal to him. >osea thought that he was not the father of his wife/ssecond and third children. $o he named the second child :o3ruhamah. This name means that>osea felt unable to show love to this child. >osea named the third child :o3ammi+ which means-not my people/. These children were signs that *"srael had not been loyal to od. But in the future+

od would be able to call *"srael -my people/. And at that time+ od would show real love to them0>osea &%;+ 9324 1%1'6.

>osea was speaking about *"srael in his time. !aul saw >osea/s words as a *prophecy. The* entiles would also be people whom od loved. And !aul could see that this was starting tohappen by means of his own work among the * entiles.

!7 "saiah cries out about *"srael+-The number of people from *"srael may be as many as the sand by the sea.But od will rescue those people that remain.

!& The *:ord will carry out his punishment on earth. >e will carry it out 8uickly and he willcomplete it./

!' 7arlier "saiah had said+-The *:ord 0commander of heaven/s armies6 gave *descendants to us.

,therwise+ we would have become like $odom.We would have been like omorrah./

Derses 1=312 od has promised many wonderful things to the * ews. And he will do the things thathe has promised to do. >is *salvation is for all the * ews who remain 0"saiah &(%1(4 Lechariah&'%&6. But that will only happen after terrible troubles+ which will affect the whole earth. ew peoplewill remain then to receive the benefit of od/s promise 0Lechariah &'%9326.Derses 1=319 "saiah wrote at the time when an army from Assyria was attacking udah+ thesouthern *kingdom of *"srael. od had promised to Abraham that his *descendants would be verymany. ?obody would be able to count them+ like the sand by the sea 0 enesis 11%&=6. But becauseof their *sin+ od was using Assyria to punish the people in *"srael. $o only a few of them wouldremain 0"saiah &(%1131'6.

Derse 12 When od destroyed the wicked cities called $odom and omorrah+ their punishmentwas total. ?othing remained in those places. 7verybody from those cities died 0except for :ot andhis two daughters6. $o the people from $odom and omorrah had no *descendants. Theirpunishment was sudden and final.But od did not deal with the *"sraelites in the same manner. Their evil deeds had become verysevere at the time of "saiah. And "saiah warned them that they would suffer a terrible punishment.But od still had a plan for the *"sraelites. $o the punishment would not be total or final. >e wouldallow them to have *descendants 0"saiah &%26. "saiah gave his son the name+ $hear3@ashub 0"saiah=%'6. This name means -those who remain will return./ The name was a sign to the king and to thepeople. "f they trusted od+ some * ews would remain free to return to their country. or !aul+"saiah/s words were a *prophecy that many * ews would not trust od. ,nly a few would accepthis son and avoid @udgement. These few would -return/ to od to obey him. And by them+ odwould carry out his promise to *save the * ews.

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