THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THOSE OF ISRAEL RACE IN ROME – (2)
PREFACE
ROMANS 1:
Verse 1: “…the Gospel of God” – the Gospel the Kingdom. Paul preached the Kingdom Gospel (Acts 19:8, 20:25, 28:23 and 31).
Verse 5: “We”– Israel –“… obedience to the faith among all (Israel) nations… “ (Jude 3).
Verse 6: “…among whom (of the Israel nations) ye also (are) called … “(2 Chronicles 7:14. Isaiah. 48:12. Amos 9:12, Acts 15:17).
Verse 7: “To all (Israelites) that be in Rome …called Saints.” (Note: the words “to be” are not in the original text). Israel – saints, (Psalm 89:5-7, 148:14, Daniel 7:18-27, Acts 9: 13 and 32, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1, Jude 3. Revelation 13:7).
Verse 13: “You”– Israelites in Rome, ” … among other gentiles,” that is, among other Israel nations.
Verse 14: “Greek”– Greek-speaking Israelites. “Barbarians” – wandering clans of Israelites and other sections of Israel further afield.
Verse 14: “Gospel of Christ” – Our Lord taught the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23).
“To the Jew first and also to the Greeks” – to the Circumcision and also to the Uncircumcision. (see definitions).
Note : If these Greeks were of alien Race, why should they be given preferential treatment above other alien races? Obviously, they were of Israel, the race destined to receive the light (Matthew 4:16).
This text occurs frequently, see Acts 18:4, 19:10 and 17, 20:21, Romans 2:9-10, 3:9, 10:12, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 10:32, 12:13, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11.
ROMANS 2:
Vs. 3-4: “Thou” – Israel.
Vs. 9-10: ” … to the Jew first, and also to the gentile.” The word Hellen is here erroneously translated as gentile. The word Hellen are the Greeks. As in Romans 1:16 these verses refer to the two sections of Israel, the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, and similarly in many other texts.
Verse 14: “Gentiles” – Israel nations, who, like the pagan Israelites in Rome, had lost knowledge of the Law given to Israel.
Verse 24: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles, (pagan Israelites – the uncircumcision) through you (those following Judaism, the Jews’ religion)“.
What must not be lost sight of in these chapters is the ever-present controversy between the two sections of Israel, the Circumcision or Jews, and the Uncircumcision or pagan Israel who had lost the Law. The former are censured by Paul for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Paul’s racial theme centres in these two sections of Israel. It is to them that he expounds the Kingdom Gospel. His concern is not with alien nations.
ROMANS 3:
Verse 1: “Jew” – One who practises Judaism. They were racially impure. Many subversive aliens, Idumeans etc., were located in Judea who were followers of Judaism, of the Sanhedrin and the Law of the Talmud.
The rulers of Jewry, the chief priests and elders of the people, mostly aliens, had subverted the true LAW OF THE LORD, which had been in their custody. That custodianship was declared terminated in Matthew 21:43. These alien rulers should not be confused with the true Israelites, many domiciled in Galilee who accepted Our Lord’s teaching, and, being no longer known as Jews, became part of the dispersed Israel nations that regained control of the Oracles of the Kingdom.
Verse 9: “Jews and gentiles.” The word gentile should again read Greek, for the word is Hellen. Here again are the two sections of Israel, the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, all under sin, the one no better than the other. The same controversy persists, as the Jew claims that he is superior to pagan Israel (see F.F.).
Verse 19: ” …to them who are under THE LAW.” Only Israel ever had THE LAW – it was given to no other race.
Verse 20: “…deeds of the Law…” – the Law of Ordinances. ” … justified” – covered by propitiation prescribed by Ordinance-animal sacrifices etc. ” … By the Law is knowledge of sin” – cf I John 3:4.
Verse 21: “…the righteousness of God …” – N.T. atonement by the gift of His Son. ” … without the Law” – the Law of Ordinances.
Verse 22: N.T. atonement by belief in Our Lord and His sacrifice.
Verse 24: “Being justified freely by His grace” – attaining N.T.atonement by God’s gift of His Son, through the redeeming power that was in Jesus Christ. Sacrfices were justification at a price – they cost money.
Verse 25: “…faith in His blood” – belief that His sacrifice procured N.T. atonement for the past sins of Israel, whom He came to redeem from those sins.
Verse 27: “…law of works … “ Cover by deeds (sacrifices) prescribed by Ordinances. ” … law of faith …” Belief in N.T. atonement.
Verse 28: “Therefore we (Israel) conclude that we have atonement by belief (faith) in His sacrifice without recourse to deeds of the Law (Law of Ordinances)“.
Verses 29-30: “He is God (the Lord God of Israel)“ to both sections of Israel, termed in these verses Jews, the Circumcision and nations (of Israel), the Uncircumcision.
Verse 31: “Do we (Israel) then make void the Law (of Ordinances) through faith (belief in His sacrifice)? God forbid: yea, we establish (make perfect) the Law (of Ordinances),“ which was but temporary, but stood only … until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:10)
Note: Only Israel had the Law of Ordinances. To apply Paul’s exposition to alien peoples called gentiles, confuses the whole issue. Paul’s writings are to the possessors of the LAW OF THE LORD – to Israel. They do not make sense in any other context.
ROMANS: 4
Verse 1: ” …Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh … ” or Abraham, the father of Israel in physical descent from the Patriarch. This chapter, addressed specifically and directly to the race, cannot be applied except directly to the race. It cannot be spiritualised, applied to aliens or to that nebulous non-existent theological creation “spiritual Israel.”
Verse 2: Old Testament cover or atonement was not available to Abraham because the Law of Ordinances was not in existence in his day; it was the Law that was added 430 years later at Sinai (see Galatians 3:17-19).
Verse 3: ”Abraham believed God.” He believed that what God had promised He would unfailingly fulfil – that the company of nations of his posterity would be a blessing to mankind (Genesis 12:3). He believed in The Redeemer, and in the redemption of the nation (John 8:56). He looked forward to the day when the LAW OF THE LORD and the full Israel polity would be implemented and bring in the city – or system of economic rule designed by the Lord (Hebrews 11:10).
Abraham’s belief or faith was the faith once (and for all) delivered to the saints – the set apart ones – of Israel (Jude 3). This faith has two components: the Law of Faith, thus, belief in the atonement by His blood as set out in the previous chapter (Romans 3:25-28). and belief in the Lord’s purpose to be implemented in the polity of His Israel nation, as established in all the national covenants with Israel.
Abraham’s belief was counted to him for righteousness, as affording him cover or atonement – in other words, his cover was exactly that later offered by the Saviour, since the Law of Ordinances (the law of works) was not available to him. This verse follows the main theme of Paul’s discourse on the law of works and the law of faith (Romans 3:27), and cannot be taken out of that context.
Verse 4: The same theme continued. ” …to him that worketh … “ ie, to those that continued in the works of the law (the Ordinances) could not be reckoned of grace, or counted as being propitiated by N.T. atonement (righteousness).
Verse 5: Those who discarded the O.T. Ordinances of atonement, and believed in His sacrifice, are counted as under the N.T. atonement
Verse 6: ” ….righteousness without works … “ N.T. atonement without O.T. cover by Ordinance (without the price – the sacrifice).
Verse 9: The two sections of Israel.
Verses 11-12: Abraham, “the father of all (Israel) that believe and have the faith of our father, Abraham.”
Verse 13: The O.T. Law of Ordinances had no bearing an the promises God made to Abraham, whose faith was founded in the N.T. atonement, which he foresaw (John 8:56).
Verse 14: This faith of Abraham’s is made void if his heirs remain based on the O.T. Law of Ordinances.
Verse 16: The Promise (Abrahamic) is made sure to all the Israel race, and not simply to that section of Israel in which the O.T. Ordinances were obeyed. That Promise is valid also to the Uncircumcision. to that other section of Israel then in process of coming to belief in the Atonement (N.T.) as earlier, Abraham, who had no O.T. code of Ordinances, had believed in it.
Verse 22: Atonement — righteousness — was imputed to Abraham for his belief in God and the future redemption of the Race.
Verses 23-25: Abraham’s faith (see note for v.3) the atonement – righteousness – of the N.T.,“not for his sake alone … but for us also.” that is, for all Israelites who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord. Again it must be stressed that Abraham’s faith included belief in the perfecting of the servant nation, Israel. Orthodox “faith” has discarded the material aspects of the faith delivered to Israel, and those things Abraham believed as to the nation that was to be of his posterity.
ROMANS 5:
Verse 1: “…being justified by faith …” having N.T. atonement by belief in his sacrifice, “We (Israel) have peace with Jehovah through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Verse 5: “… Holy Ghost which is given to us (Israel).“ (See notes on The Comforter as the driving power of the servant nation).
Verses 8-9: “Us” … “We” … Israel collectively.
Verse 10: “… reconciled to God …” Redemption of the nation by His sacrifice. ” .. saved by His life … ” (cf. v.21) Hope of eternal life through His resurrection
Verse 11: “…by whom we (Israel) have received the atonement (or reconciliation)“ The racial theme that runs through all the Pauline Epistles, though somewhat obscured at times by his treatise on doctrine, is always resumed, and must always be followed.
Verse 20: Confirms Israel as the central theme. “The law.” Both THE LAW and the Ordinances, were given to one nation only: Israel. Because of the lawlessness of Israel. Grace (or the gift of His Son) “did much more abound.” For in the ordered purposes of God, Israel constitutes the first fruits, by means of which the regeneration of mankind can follow.
ROMANS 6: THE LAW OF SIN
Notes : Although the two are closely connected, there is a definite line of demarcation between
(1) Sin’s Law, and
(2) THE LAW, the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments.
1. Sin’s Law is universal for all humans whatever their race, creed or colour, whatever their faith or belief, for they die a physical death, their mortal bodies disintegrating to dust (I Corinthians 15:22-23). for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), that is physical death as a result of Adam’s fall from perfection.
2 THE LAW provides a perfect code for national and individual conduct, which, if obeyed, brings security and peace. It brings ills and strife if its principles are neglected-either condition is a matter of cause and effect. We suffer the ever-present effects of lawlessness, but this sin – lawbreaking – (I John 3:4) is not the law of sin in operation. Under THE LAW, only certain aspects of wrongdoing are punishable by the death penalty, and this death sentence is not to be confused with universal human death under sin’s law. Sin’s law affects all mortals whether or not they know the Law of the Lord.
The doctrine expounded by Paul at once becomes confused if the terms he uses relating to law in its several meanings are not correctly applied.
Verse 2: “…dead to sin … “ This verse cannot be interpreted as implying that lawlessness no longer occurs, for we all continue to break the Law of the Lord.
The F.F.translation states, “dead by sin,” which is in keeping with Paul’s theme: in this chapter, his theme concerns the law of sin causing universal death to all humans. who are “dead by sin” on account of sin’s law. Paul sums up his exposition in Romans 6:11, “dead indeed to sin (universal physical death), but alive (in line to be resurrected) through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not now dead to lawlessness, but we have the assurance of life eternal – a future state. But every man in his own order, and there is no implication here that any but the very elect, the chosen few, will be accounted worthy to take part in the first resurrection.
Verse 12: In this next verse, Paul condemns lawlessness: “let not sin (breach of THE LAW) reign in your mortal bodies.”
Verse 14: But in this verse, Paul returns to his main theme: “for sin (sin’s law) shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under (sin’s) law, but under grace (the gift of life through the Saviour).“
Verse 18: “Being made free from sin … “ No man is made free from lawlessness, so here again Paul refers to the Law of Sin.
Verse 22: “being made free from sin … “ reiteration in the same theme, with emphasis on everlasting life, the final result. Mark the time-period, for this only happens in the future when the chosen few receive their immortal bodies – and others later as they become worthy.
Verse 23: In this verse Paul sums up, and shows that the universal death that now overtakes all mortals is eventuaIly – in the ages to come – to be overcome “through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Mark again the time period, for death is the last enemy to be overcome (I Corinthians 15:26).
ROMANS 7:
This chapter treats of law in some of its several values, and care must be taken to distinguish one from another. This is made difficult because in some instances the word law relates to more than one division or type of law, the two or more being coupled together.
Verse 1: Israel – “brethren that know The Law” – both the Law and the Ordinances.
Verses 2-3: Israel’s marriage law. In verse 3, while her husband is alive, and she “goes to” (F.F.) another man, she is an aduItress. This is not the holy state of matrimony. The word married in this sentence should read goes to (see Paul’s Purport in Outline).
Verse 4: “…dead to the law by the body of Christ… “ There are two types of law here: dead to service by Ordinances, and dead to Sin’s Law.
Verse 5: See F.F.
Verse 6: ” …delivered from the law…” – both the Ordinances and Sin’s Law. “…newness of spirit …” – – – belief in his sacrifice. ” … oldness of the letter … ” The Ordinances, which, along with the Order of Aaron, were then in process of being discarded.
Verse 7: “Thou shalt not covet (Exodus.20:17) … is the Law sin? .. ” (cf. F.F…… is the law wrong?”) “I had not known sin (lawlessness) but by the Law” (THE LAW).
Verse 8: For where there is no law, there can be no breach of that law (see F.F.).
Verses 9-13: These seem to deal with Paul’s personal experiences. Before his conversion, he thought himself alive without keeping THE LAW, because it was made ineffective by the Talmudic Law, the Tradition of the Elders, the law of Judaism, which he had previously preached (Galatians 1:14, Mark 7:7-13).When he was shown that these were false, and that life came not by Old Testament Ordinances, but by New Testament atonement, and by keeping the true LAW OF THE LORD (Matthew 19:17, Luke 10:25-28) he saw the error of his ways. He saw that the LAW OF THE LORD is holy, and spiritual (v.14).
Verse 22: “I delight in the law of God.”
Verse 23: Paul still in “captivity to the law of sin” (sin’s law, the law of sin and death).
Verse 25: Deliverance from sin’s law is through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ROMANS 8:
Verse 1: ” …condemnation … “ – death under sin’s law, eventually to be overcome for those covered by the atonement – Spirit – and not still clinging to the passing Ordinances – to the literal flesh of animal sacrifices.
Verse 2: ” … the law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ… “ – life eternal through His sacrifice. ” hath made me free from the law of sin and death “ – frees the obedient from sin’s law in the ages to come. Paul’s discourse on sin’s law which commenced in Chapter 6, comes to its climax in this verse.
Verse 3: He now contrasts the Law of the Spirit, that is, the spirit of His sacrifice as the way of atonement with the Old Testament law of fleshly sacrifices (the Ordinances).
Verse 4: That the righteousness of the laws and ordinances of the Lord might come to fulness of righteousness in us by the Spirit made available by the Supreme Sacrifice (cf Romans 3:31 and 5:11). Note: Paul’s call is always for the positive fulfilment of THE LAW in the full spirit of service and not the negative obedience that merely fulfils to evade the penalties.
Verses 5-13: Paul now continues to expound the doctrine of life, the life attainable to those who believe in the Spirit of Life in Jesus Christ. Man’s physical body “is dead because of sin (v.10)”, that is, that he will die in the normal course of mortal life under sin’s law. But as the Father raised up Jesus, so eventually will those deemed worthy also be resurrected at the time appointed.
Verses 14-17: This passage should be compared with Galatians 4. in which Paul’s racial theme is clearly stated, and shows that the people he addresses are descendants of Abraham’s family line from Sarah. “thou barren” (Galatians 4:27) and Isaac. “the only children of the promise” the heirs of the free woman (Sarah).
“The Spirit of God” (verse 14) refers to the Holy Spirit of the Lord God of Israel. The Comforter, Israel’s national blessing (See “Israel in N.T. 1-14. Study No. 5). Israel, led by the Holy Spirit, is destined to become the Sons of God, the only children of God, heirs to the promises. (Turn again to “Israel in the N.T. 1-14. and Study No. 13. Sons of God).
Hidden in a discourse of doctrinal truth, Paul’s ever recurring passages on the Israel theme come startlingly to life, and harmonise faultlessly with God’s great overall plan of the ages. Once the kingdom key is properly used, there is no difficulty in fitting these interludes on race into the Kingdom pattern. Conversely, if the racial theme is not followed, much of Paul’s testimony cannot be understood, and can only be falsely applied.
Verses 18-27: Veiled in this verse, the plan of the ages is set out.
Verse 18: ” … glory which shall be revealed unto us (Israel) … “
Verse 19: The world awaits the identification of Israel as the embryo Sons of God.
Verse 21: The world will be delivered from corruption by the Law of Liberty administered by the Children of God.
Verse 23: ” … We… “ – Israel – await resurrection.
Verses 24-25: In hope, having patience to wait for it in the ages to come.
Verse 26: Sustained by The Comforter, Israel’s national blessing.
Verse 27: The Holy Spirit makes intercession for Israel, “according to the will of God,” and in accordance with His great plan. Note: Saints are Israel (Psalm 89:5-7, 148:14, Daniel 7:18-27, Acts 9:13 and 32, I Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1, Jude 3. Revelation 13:7).
Verses 28-34: Continue in national theme.
Verse 28: “… to them (Israel) that love God, God worketh all things together for good” (A.RV). To Israel, who are called according to His purpose.
Note: The only nation called is Israel (2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 48:12, Amos 9:12, Acts 15:17). His purpose is national.
Verse 29: God foreknew and predestined the nation. Israel, for His particular purposes (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 41:8, 43:21, Titus 2:14, I Peter 2 :9).
Verse 30: Israel whom He called, He also redeemed – justified, and He also glorified (Romans 9:4).
Verse 32: The Father sent His Only Son to redeem Israel.
Verse 33: It was the Israel race that God elected. This cannot be gainsaid (Isaiah 45:4).
Verse 34: The resurrected Christ makes intercession for us – Israel.
Verses 35-39: Israel cannot be separated from the love the Father bestowed upon us through His Son. Israel cannot reverse or modify the Father’s will in any matter.
Note: The Father-Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel, who loved us – Israel (Isaiah 63:7-9, Jeremiah 31:1-4).
End of part two – part three to follow.
