The Epistles of Paul John Stevenson 2009

The Epistles of Paul © John Stevenson, 2009

Epistle as a Genre • What is an Epistle? • What is the basic form of an Epistle? • What was involved in sending a letter in the First Century?

The Epistles are to the Gospels what the Prophets are to the Torah Prophets Gospels Epistles

What are some of the “big ideas” presented in Paul’s Epistles?

Foundational Epistles Prison Epistles Prophetic Epistles Pastoral Epistles Romans 1 st & 2 nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 st & 2 nd Thessalonians 1 st & 2 nd Timothy Titus Philemon

Romans What is the “big idea” in the Epistle to the Romans?

Romans The Righteousness of God

Chapters 1 -8 Chapters 9 - Chapters 11 12 -16 The Righteousness of God has been revealed… In judging sinners Obedience of Faith (1: 5) In saving believers In His In the lives dealings of those with Israel who follow Him Doctrinal Practical Obedience of Faith

I am not ashamed of the gospel… • • It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes In it the righteousness of God is revealed How is the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel? • • In the wrath of God toward those who sin (Romans 1 -3) In the grace of God toward those who believe (Romans 4 -8)

The Righteousness of God is revealed… • • • In judging the pagans who rejected Him (Chapter 1) In judging the Jews who disobeyed Him (Chapter 2) In judging all men who have sinned against Him (Chapter 3)

Romans 3: 23 -25 a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. h[marto n Aorist active indicative of a`marta, nw (hamartano)

Romans 3: 23 -25 a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. dikaiou, meno i Present Passive Participle of dikaio, w (dikaioo)

Romans 3: 23 -25 a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. ca, riti Dative singular of ca, rij (charis)

Romans 3: 23 -25 a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. avpolutrw, se Genative singular of avpolu, trwsij (apolutrosis) wj

Romans 3: 23 -25 a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. i`lasth, rion Accusative singular of i`lasth, rioj (hilasterios)

We sinned God’s grace Propitiation Redemption How is a person Justified? Justification

Break into Groups of 3 -4 and discuss the following questions: • What does Paul mean when he states that people are justified by faith? • How can God justify someone when they are not inherently just? • How has this idea of justification impacted your own life?

We sinned God’s grace Propitiation Redemption How is a person Justified? Justification

Romans 4: 1 -2 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Romans 4: 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ” evlogi, sq Aorist passive indicative of logi, zomai (logizomai) h

Romans 4: 4 -5 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, logi, zetai Present passive indicative of logi, zomai (logizomai)

Our sinfulness Reckoned

Christ’s Righteousness Reckoned Our sinfulness Reckoned

The Righteousness of God is revealed… • • In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4) In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5)

Romans 5: 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- One Man

Romans 5: 13 -14 …for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Why did people die between Adam and Moses? If death comes through sin and If sin is not reckoned without law then and if the law did not come until Moses

Adam’s sin was imputed to all men

Romans 5: 18 -19 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

The Righteousness of God is revealed… • • In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4) In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5) What about sin? – – • Can we continue to live in sin? (6) What about the sin that is still in our lives? (7) In adopting us as His children (Chapter 8)

What about Israel? How can we see God as righteous when His own chosen people do not believe and receive His promises? • • • Not all Israel is Israel. God is sovereign and able to chose whom He wills. Salvation is offered to all who believe. Israel’s unbelief has resulted in blessings to the Gentiles. All Israel will be saved.

Chapters 1 -11 Doctrinal Chapters 12 -16 So What? Practical I Urge you… • To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice • Do not be conformed to this world • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Galatians Our Freedom in Christ

What is Legalism?

Galatians Chapters 1 -2 Chapters 3 -4 Chapters 5 -6 History Doctrine Practice Paul’s apostleship & vindication come from the Lord Man is justified We are to walk through faith by faith and alone love

Romans Galatians • Calm reflection • Passionate, emotional • Christianity in the study • Christianity on the battlefield • Later Epistle • Earlier Epistle • Justification by faith set forth systematically • Justification by faith defended from attacks • Our Constitution • Our Declaration of Independence

Galatians 1: 1 -3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Galatians 1: 6 -9 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 6

Galatians 1: 8 -9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Paul and Jerusalem • Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1) • Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2: 1 -10) • Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2: 11 -16) Antioch Jerusalem

Who has Bewitched Does God give You? Did you receive the Spirit and the Spirit by the Miracles by the works of the Law or by Faith? Law, or by Did you suffer hearing with so many things faith? in vain? Are you Having begun by so foolish? the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Salvation is through faith Appeal to of Abraham Appeal to Scripture Appeal to friendship Appeal to Adoption Appeal to the Law Appeal to the Covenant Promise Appeal to the Tutor

If you are free… Don’t be entangled in a yoke of bondage Do good to all men Don’t turn your Freedom into an Opportunity for The flesh Walk by the Spirit Share all good things Bear one another’s Burdens

Galatians 6: 14 -16 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Discuss the following questions: • What has been your own experience in coming to understand the gospel? • What are the various errors into which people fall in their understanding of the gospel?