Last day Commentary on Romans
Introduction
Many commentaries have been written throughout the centuries. Many prophecies await their fulfillment in the days we are living and the near future.
Dan 12:4¶.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Surely we are living "as in the days of Noah and the days of Lot in Sodom & Gomorrah". The Lord has put it on my heart to write a commentary where current events can be viewed in light of Biblical revelation.
About the Author
I was raised Russian Orthodox and went a few years to a private Catholic school. My parents were from Russia, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Born and raised in Chicago IL. around Humboldt Park and later moved to the Lincoln Sq. area. Dropped out of High School in the 9th grade. After a year of wandering, I enlisted in the USAF. I came back on leave to visit family and friends; I was about 20 yrs. old. One night I sat down at Wells park to enjoy the evening. A man with a gallon of wine approached and pointed his finger at me and said " you are a sinner." The moment he said that I was under great conviction. He shared some wine with me and began to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. The things he told me I never heard in all my years in the Russian Orthodox Church or the Catholic school. That I was a sinner and could not enter the glory of God. That God became a man to redeem us. Most important of all was that salvation is offered freely as a gift.
That night I was under strong convection of my wicked lifestyle. The next day (must have been divine providence) I saw the man who took me to his house. There he opened the Bible to Eph.2:8,9 and said " read it." As I read the scripture, it seemed to jump off the page. Then the revelation came to me, it was not my doing, my strength, but the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished My salvation and gave it to me as a gift. It has been 45 yrs. that I am trusting in the Lord and he completely changed my life. I know for certain I will enter paradise the moment I close my eyes in this world because he did it all and imputed to a sinner like me His righteousness. I would have busted HELL wide open if not for His grace and mercy.
The Lord has allowed me to serve him for 4 yrs. as a supervisor in two Christian rescue missions. In 1990 I started going into the Cook County Jail to share Christ with the inmates for 6 yrs. Then my wife and I were managers at a half-way house for women coming out of prison. We also held services at Glades correctional for about 6yrs. In 2002 we moved to San Antonio Tx. where I held Bible studies at Central Texas Detention Facility from 2004 to 2019. The prison was closed in Jan. 2020. For about the last 12 yrs. I have been street preaching the gospel in downtown San Antonio warning the public of the coming judgments on America for her sins.
Romans chpt.1
Rom 1:1¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Romans is not the first letter the apostle Paul wrote, but by God's order set first. Here Paul gives us understanding to our calling in Christ Jesus. In the 1st chapter 1st verse we have three divisions.
1.Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ: As saints our first attitude must be a servant's heart, a humble disposition. Our Lord taught plainly that if one seeks high places for himself, he will be brought down low. However, if he humbles himself as a servant he will be promoted by the Lord according to his calling in the Body of Christ. Many Christians do not know the will of God for their lives because they sought high places rather than the simple childlike obedience. Before you can lead, you must serve. Then when the Lord moves you up you become a servant to all.
[Luk 18:11-14 KJV] 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
It is also important that we accept the calling, position the Lord appoints us to. There are many parts to the Body of Christ. The church is complete, lacking nothing.
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
If we cannot accept our calling, then you will not live a satisfied, productive life in Christ. When you are in God's will your calling is not inferior or superior. This is the place you will find fulfilment in your work as a Christian.
[1Co 7:17-24 KJV] 17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
2. Called to be an apostle: We have in the Body of Christ five callings of leadership given by the Lord for the edifying the church. These five are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. The pastor-teacher is one word in the Greek. Not all teachers are pastors so the translators made them separate for our understanding.
[Eph 4:11-12 KJV] 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:...
Here we must separate the apostle and prophet from the other three. In the Old Testament the writers of scripture were the prophets. In the N.T. they are the apostles. These two together form the doctrinal writings of the church with the Lord Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone upon where all scripture must rest.
[Eph 2:19-22 KJV] 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
When we look at the great prophets of the first Testament, we could call none an apostle. It is only in the N.T. that the first apostle appears, The Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;... Our Lord as an apostle. The word means a delegate, a messenger, one sent forth with orders. The Lord Jesus Christ was a messenger of God, sent forth with orders from before the foundation of the world to redeem a holy people. Such were the orders given to his Son.
[Eph 1:4-9 KJV] 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:...
The reason there are no Old Testament apostles is that the Lord had to finish His testimony. The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. It was accomplished at the cross.
[Col 2:13-15 KJV] 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[Col 2:13-15 KJV] 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it[Col 2:13-15 KJV] 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it
Rev. 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
As a High Priest, The Lord had to have a sacrifice. He himself can be the only sacrifice. His sinless life is the only payment that could be made for the world.
[Heb 10:5-10 KJV] 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].
The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law.
[Rom 15:8-9 KJV] 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
So the apostle Paul who was not of the 12 was chosen to bring in the grace of God to the Gentiles. This could only be done after the atonement. The full price of our redemption had to be made first at Calvary's cross. Only then reconciliation can be offered as a gift to the world.