There are two short passages in Paul's letter to the Romans, which form the basis
(1) Romans 3:12,16-17
Paul quotes some lines of Old Testament poetry. In these verses, notice the expression, "the way".
(2) Romans 12:1-2
Paul makes a heartfelt plea. In these verses, note the key word,"living".
We put the keywords from these passages together, to create the title and concept for this lesson: "God's living way". There is a way which leads to the life of God. It is not the way of death and destruction. What is this way, and are you walking in it?
Lets look at the first passage now, but instead of reading it in Romans, we will read it direct
The fool has said in his heart,
"There is no God!"
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt,
There is none who does good, no, not one.
Their feet run to do evil,
And they make haste to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
The way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice in their ways,
They have made them crooked paths.
Whoever takes that way
Shall not know peace.
Paul could have added many such passages but he leaves it to us to expand that theme by our own search.
Thus says the Lord:
Stand in the ways, and see,
And ask for the ancient paths
Where is the good way,
And walk in it.
Then you shall find rest for your souls
But they said, "We will not walk in it."
There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Enter by the narrow gate,
For wide is the gate,
And broad is the way
That leads to destruction,
And there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate,
And difficult is the way,
That leads to life,
And there are few who find it.
Are you choosing God's living way, or are you refusing to walk in it, and choosing your own way instead? You determine that for yourself. God has determined that if you choose his way, you will end up
Why did Jesus say "few" find God's living way? Is it because God himself predetermined who would find his way, and only chose a few? Or are people predestined to life because they have chosen to walk the way which God predetermined would lead to life? Paul shows us that God predetermined the path, not the persons, and it is not God's will that there are few who find the path. That is God's sorrow. Notice carefully
For whom God foreknew,
He also predestined
To be conformed to the image of his Son...
The question we ask is, who is the "whom"
The "whom" is simply God's church or family of faith. God foreknew that he would have that church. It is your choice whether you belong to it. You decide whether you are named among that "whom" or not. God decided what your destiny would be, if you made
Paul's point is that God's living way is a way predetermined in the foreknowledge and eternal purpose of God. That does not stop you saying, "I will not walk in it". But if you will walk in it, and so long as you walk in it, you are certainly predestined
Predestination simply means this: God has prepared a way to life eternal. This living way is certain and immutable, because it has been predetermined according to God's eternal purpose and sovereign will. If any one will walk in this way, they are destined
This raises another question: Suppose you choose to walk in God's living way, and for a while you do so. But then you decide to leave that way, and walk again according to the way which leads to death. What is your destiny then? The question may be asked in these terms: Once saved, are you always saved --even though you repudiate
To you, that may be a silly question. If you leave the path, you cannot expect to arrive at the destination at the end of that path. Yet many hold it as a precious doctrine, that once you are saved you cannot be lost, no matter how you walk, or
Let's look at the other passage that forms the basis for this lesson.
...by the mercies of God,
That you present your bodies
A living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
Which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world,
But be transformed by renewing of your mind,
That you may prove what is that good
And acceptable and perfect will of God.
Imagine that some people do what Paul says. But some time later they turn their back on that. They present their bodies as instruments of sin. They conform themselves to the world once more. They disobey the perfect will of God. They spit in the face of God's Son.
Starting from chapter 12, the rest of Romans
Not lagging in diligence,
Fervent in spirit,
Serving the Lord,
Rejoicing in hope,
Patient in tribulation,
Continuing steadfastly in prayer...
Imagine somebody says to Paul, "I won't do that. I will turn my back on Christ. What you tell me in the last six pages of your letter, that I refuse to do. Nevertheless, I still demand all the blessings promised in the first sixteen pages of your letter."
Therefore consider
the goodness and severity of God:
On those who fell, severity,
But toward you, goodness,
If you continue in God's goodness,
Otherwise you also will be cut off.
I leave you with Paul's own closing message:
Now to him who is able to establish you,
According to my gospel...
The commandment of the everlasting God
For obedience to the faith,
To God, alone wise, be glory
Through Jesus Christ forever, Amen.