Romans 16:24

Romans 16:24 says, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  In this verse, Paul states what should be our prayer for everyone at all times, especially our fellow Christians.  We need the grace of God with us each minute of the day if we are to be effective servants of God.  Verse twenty-five adds, Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,   The necessity of Christ coming to die for the sins of humanity was not a new thought.  God knew that this was the only way to redemption from the time of creation.  This was pointed to throughout the Old Testament, but the truth of the fact, the exact details, was still hidden.  Paul tells us how we are to be able to be effective followers of Christ, and that is through the grace of God, present in us through the Holy Spirit.  Paul knew firsthand the power of the gospel to change lives, and if we are followers of Christ, we know this same power of transformation in our lives.  We are new creatures, born again into the kingdom of God. Verse twenty-six continues, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  This is really a continuation of verse twenty-five.  Paul tells us that what was once hidden is now made manifest.  The death, burial and resurrection of Christ was and is an accomplished fact.  Though even the Jews, God's chosen people, were still somewhat in the dark, not to mention the Gentiles, concerning the exact nature of the awaited Messiah, through Christ everything was made manifest.  The coming of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament, but that does not mean that the Old Testament is no longer relevant.  We still need to learn what it tells us about God, but we can now understand the Old Testament in light of the accomplished fact of its prophecies in Jesus Christ.  God completed His salvation plan through Christ, and it is the eternal, everlasting plan of redemption.  We do not need to look for a new way or a further revelation.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.  Paul reminds us that God alone is wise enough to know how to redeem us. We cannot do it through our own understanding but must come to God through faith.

Romans 16:17

Romans 16:17 says, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  After Paul had asked that those he was writing to acknowledge certain individuals for their faithful service to Christ, he then warned them to avoid those who would cause divisions and try to change the gospel.  We today must be the same, uplifting those who are truly proclaiming the gospel and avoiding those who want only to cause divisions in the church.  Verse eighteen adds, For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.  Paul was warning them that some would profess to be followers of Christ simply to benefit themselves materially. Paul also said they would deceive the hearts of the simple with good words and fair speeches.  I believe that this is a warning to us that we must be grounded in the scriptures.  We are not to judge fellow believers, but we are to judge what those who profess to be believers in Christ proclaim.  If anyone presents anything other than forgiveness through the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross as a way to being restored to God, we are to avoid them.  Many people will use fair words, those things that sound good or are maybe simply what we want to believe to draw us away from God.  Verse nineteen continues, For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.  Paul said that their obedience to Christ was noted abroad.  We need to live so that our obedience to Christ will be noted by those around us.  He again warned them about false teachers who would lead them away from the gospel.  We simply must avoid evil to be effective in our witness for Christ.  When we are effective witnesses for Christ, we can expect to come under attack from Satan.  That is why we must always remain grounded in the gospel.  Verse twenty states, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.  Paul reminds us that God is victorious over Satan. God is the God of peace, and as His followers we are to let our lives reflect that peace.  Paul said God would bruise Satan under their feet shortly.  We need to remember that with God, any amount of time can be shortly.  We are to live by faith in Christ continually and not be overly concerned about when Christ is going to return to claim the church.  Verses twenty-one states, Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.  Verse twenty-two adds, I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.  Paul was not the only one who cared about the Roman Christians, nor was he alone in his ministry.  We should note that Tertius was the scribe of Romans, not the author of the book.  The author was Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We today need to care about the welfare of Christians everywhere and to realize that we are not alone in our work for God.

Romans 16:1

Romans 16:1 says, I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:  In these next few verses, Paul begins to single out people who had been a help and a blessing to him and ask his fellow believers to accept and uplift them.  There are most likely people in our lives who have helped us spiritually, and even materially as we follow God's call.  We need to always be thankful for them and concerned for their welfare as well.  In verse one, Paul said he commended to them their sister Phebe.  Paul recognized that even if we don't know each other, we as followers of Christ are all brothers and sisters through our salvation by Him.  We should be able to commend each other to fellow believers.  Paul said Phebe was a servant of the church at Cenchrea.  We don't really know much about this church, but Cenchrea was about twelve miles from Corinth, where there was great opposition to the gospel.  Verse two adds, That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.  Paul asked the believers in Rome to receive her in the Lord and help her any way they could.  She had helped many, including Paul, and now as a woman alone in a new city, she was going to need help.  Paul looked to fellow believers to provide this help.  Verse three continues, Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:  Verse four concludes, Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  In Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila had helped Paul during his time there.  They were fellow tent makers and stood with Paul in spite of a threat to their own lives.  We today need to help help our fellow Christians, even if it costs us. Aquila and Priscilla had been in Corinth because they were exiled from Rome but had evidently now been allowed to return.  Still, even when their lives had been uprooted, they were still serving God.  Not only did they help Paul, but they made their home available for worship services.  Verse five states, stating, Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.  They had evidently continued this practice in Rome.  Paul asked that they salute Epaenetus, one of the first converts to Christ in Achaia.  Paul would remember him especially, since he was proof of the effectiveness of the gospel of Christ to save the lost.  In the next several verse, Paul asked that certain individuals be remembered by the church. Verses six adds, Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Verse seven continues, Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Verse eight states, Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. Verse nine adds, Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.  Verse ten continues, Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. Verse eleven states, Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.  Verse twelve adds, Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.  Verse thirteen continues, Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.   Verse fourteen says, Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.  Verse fifteen adds, Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.  Verse sixteen continues, Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.   We may not know a lot about most of those named here, but they were all important to Paul in his spreading of the gospel.  Both men and women were named.  There are many followers of Christ today who are at work spreading the gospel who may never be known to most people, even to fellow believers.  We must be thankful for their service to God, and like Paul acknowledge them when we have the opportunity.  Paul knew that others were working to help him spread the gospel, and we must remember that as well.  Paul reminds us to also salute one another through our love of Christ.

Romans 15:22 says, For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.  Paul was writing to the Romans, and he told them it was his desire to come to them and proclaim the gospel.  Paul was one of the greatest men of faith, but he did not get to do everything that he desired to do.  We need to make sure that what we are doing is really for God and not just a fulfillment of our own desires.  Verse twenty three says, But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;  Paul's desire to come to them was something that he had wanted for many years.  Again, we must put our desires second to following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Paul had not given up on his desire to go to Rome, but he was not going to put his desires first.  In verse twenty four Paul says, Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.  Paul said he was going to Spain, though we don't know if he really made it there.  We may have a desire to do many things today to proclaim the gospel, but we must first make sure that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do whatever we desire to do.  Paul did not always get to go where he wanted to go, but he always went where God needed him to be.  Verse twenty five says, But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.  Paul said was returning to Jerusalem at this time to minister to the saints.  We need to never lose sight of the need to help our fellow believers grow in knowledge of Christ.  Paul did not just reach people with the gospel and forget them once the accepted Christ, but he did all he could to help them grow in faith.  The saints were not those people who were morally superior to other people but they were all the followers of Christ.  They had not been designated such by any earthly group, but were saints by there faith in Christ.  Verse twenty six says, For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Christians in Macedonia and Achaia were sending contributions to the poor saints in Jerusalem.  We might think it would be the other way around, but though Jerusalem was considered the city of God, the saints, the believers there, were poor, at least somewhat because of those who called themselves God's people.  As followers of Christ, we need to do all that we can to help other believers, wherever they are.  Verse twenty seven says, It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.  I believe that Paul is telling us that we need to help fellow believers materially as well as spiritually.  Since we receive the free gift of salvation from the witness of others, then if we are better off materially than they are, and they are in need, we need to help them.  In verse twenty eight Paul says, When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.  Paul's plan was to deliver the contributions to the believers at Jerusalem then he was going to Spain.  We need to have a plan of how we are going to serve God today, but we need to realize that our plans may be changed by the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty nine states, And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.  I believe Paul is telling us that when we carry out our plans, we must make sure that we do so with the full blessing of Christ.  We must go under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. Verse thirty says, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;  Paul asked for their sincere prayers for him as he went to Jerusalem.  We today need the sincere prayers, not just empty words, of others as we do whatever God has called us to do.  Paul ask them to strive in prayer, to really feel a burden when they prayed.  Verse thirty one says, That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;  In Jerusalem, there were a lot of Jews who wanted Paul dead and a lot of believers in Christ who didn't trust Paul.  Paul asked for prayers for his safety and acceptance.  In verses thirty two and thirty three, Paul said, That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.  Now the God of peace be be with you all.  Amen.  He wanted to come to them in joy by the will of God.  When we go in God's will, it should always bring joy to us.  Paul wanted to be refreshed in faith, and we should want the same when we gather in God's will.  When we are doing God's will, we will always go in His peace.

Romans 15:15 says, Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, Paul said his boldness in writing to the Romans, who were Gentiles, came from the grace given to him by God.  We today need to be bold in that same grace.  We are to be God's representatives to the world, and the Holy Spirit will empower us to boldly proclaim the gospel.  Verse sixteen says, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.  Paul was being condemned by the Jews for proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles, but he told them that it was his calling from God.  We need to be led by the Holy Spirit when we proclaim the gospel to the world, but we must never attempt to limit those we will share the gospel with.  We may start to feel like the Jews in Paul's day did, which is that we are somehow morally superior simply because of where we were born.  Paul went where the Holy Spirit led him and proclaimed Christ boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is what we are to do today.  In verse seventeen Paul states, I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.  Paul did not say that he gloried in his abilities or heritage, but that he gloried through Christ in all things that pertained to God.   We are to glorify Christ in all that we do, because Christ restored us if we are truly followers of Christ.  Whatever we do in life should glorify God, and when it doesn't, we must ask for forgiveness and once more boldly proclaim Christ to the world.  Verse eighteen says, For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,  Paul was speaking to those around him from experience.  The one thing that no one can deny about our lives as followers of Christ is our salvation and the work that God has done through us.  They may argue about the truth of the Bible, but they cannot argue our about our salvation experience.  Verse nineteen says, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Paul was still sharing how God had worked through his life after he accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord.  The Holy Spirit had performed many signs and wonders through Paul.  Paul had preached the gospel wherever the Holy Spirit led him.  We are to do the same today, proclaiming Christ wherever we are.  In verse twenty Paul says, Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:  Paul was boldly going to preach the gospel where it had never been preached before.  Though we could say that was nearly anywhere in Paul's day, he could have stayed close to where others were preaching, but he took the gospel to those who had not been reached before.  Verse twenty one says, But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.  Paul again gave a scriptural reason for doing what he did.  He was led by the Holy Spirit to do what God's word said needed doing.  We today need to make sure that we are doing the same if we are to be successful followers of Christ.

Romans 15:7 says, Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.  We are to receive one another, just as Christ received us.  This is to be done for the glory of God.  When we gather together, whether as a small group in everyday life, or as a gathering of the church to worship and learn, we are to do it to the glory of God.  We are not called to occasionally live for God's glory, but to continually live for His glory.  Verse eight states, 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:  Paul tells us that Christ came first to the Jews, those of the circumcision, because they were the ones He had chosen to work through and had made His covenant with.  The fact that the overwhelming majority refused to accept Christ as the Messiah did not, nor does not today, mean that God rejected them.  What we have to realize though is that the Jews were not special because of their birth into the Jewish nation, but because of a covenant between Abraham and God, based on faith. In verse nine, Paul states, 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.  Paul is referring to Psalms 18:49.  We, the Gentiles, all those not born into the nation of Israel, are to glorify God, because through Christ, salvation is made available to all who believe.  Had the Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah, this does not mean that we as Gentiles would have never been able to find salvation through Christ.  We must remember that the nation of Israel was not chosen by God because they were better than anyone else, but because God chose them to proclaim Him to the world.  The intention was never for them to keep God to themselves, but to reach the world for Him.   The same is true for Christians today.  We are saved by faith in Christ and called to reach the world for Him.  Verse ten states,  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.  This is a reference to Psalms 22:22.  This was not some new thought that Paul had, but was God's plan.  We are to be united in worshipping God.  Christ came to save all, not just the Jews with the Gentiles being an alternate plan.  Verse eleven says, And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.  Paul tells us we are to praise God.  I do not believe that had the Jews accepted Christ as Savior that we, the Gentiles, would have been excluded.  The Jewish people would have simply been the ones to share the gospel with the world.  Paul was a prime example, being a Jew himself.  If I were to refuse to believe the gospel, that does not doom anyone but me.  Verse twelve says, And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  Paul was again referring to the scriptures, and said that Isaiah foretold Jesus coming to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews.  Verse thirteen says,  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  We as followers of Christ are to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  That power will never wane no matter the condition of the world, so if our hope comes from the Holy Spirit, it should never wane either.  In verse fourteen Paul says, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.  Paul was certain that his fellow believers were full of goodness and filled with all knowledge and able to correct one another in faith.  We today should be the same.  Being full of knowledge does not mean that we know everything, but that we are full of the knowledge of Christ.

Romans 15:1 says, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Paul is continuing to discuss our responsibility to other Christians.  He tells us that those who are stronger in their faith are to do all they can to help those who are weaker.  We cannot use or freedom through faith as a reason to act superior to others, but instead must use it to help them grow in their faith.  Verse two states, Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.  I don't believe that Paul is telling us to do everything our neighbor says, but that we are not to act in a way that keeps them from being verified, or built up. We also need to remember that Paul is speaking about followers of Christ, who may not be at the same point in their spiritual growth.  I believe he is speaking of matters that stand between believers and God.  The one who is stronger in faith should lift the other up, not put him down for his lack of understanding the true freedom he has over the things of this world.  Verse three says, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.  Here Paul tells us why we should do this.  As followers of Christ, we are to always look to Him for the example of how to live our lives.  Christ did not live to please Himself, though He certainly could have.  He took on the reproaches of mankind in order to bring salvation to the world, for their good and not His own.  Verse four says, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  Paul had again referred to the scriptures when speaking about Jesus.  In this verse, he reminds us of the purpose of the scriptures.  Those things that were written before, and for followers of Christ today, those things written around the time of Christ that were determined to be scripture, were written for us to learn from.  Paul tells us that through the scriptures we are to have hope, which brings us peace and comfort.  Does the Bible do this for us today?  We need to find peace and comfort through studying the Bible, not stress and worry about the condition of the world.  We know that God is victorious over the world in the end, and conditions are never going to change that fact.  What better reason is there for hope in life.  Verse five says, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  Paul tells us that God is a God of patience and consolation.  That is the reason this sinful world still stands.  God is patiently waiting for people to come to Him through the salvation of Christ to be consoled by Him.  Then, Paul tells us we are to be likeminded toward one another, through our redemption by Christ.  We are to follow the example Christ set when reaching out to the world and when relating to fellow Christians.  In verse six, Paul says, That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are to be united in our witness for Christ, which brings glory to the Father.  Once we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we should then live by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and when we do, God will always be glorified in our lives.

Romans 14:16 says, Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  I believe Paul is again warning us against allowing our good, our right relationship with God, to be spoken ill of because we insist that everyone live in the freedom that we have through Christ.  We must live with consideration of how our actions might affect others.  This does not mean we are to be hypocritical, because we must always live under the authority of the Holy Spirit.  It does mean that those who are stronger in their faith must put those who are weaker ahead of their own freedom over things of this world.  If our actions cause anyone else to stumble in their relationship to Christ, or even in coming to Christ, we are to put concern for them ahead of our own freedom through Christ.  We cannot become morally superior in our actions.  Verse seventeen says, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  I believe Paul is telling us why the things of this world should not become stumbling blocks.  God's kingdom is not about anything material, but is about righteousness, and peace, and joy through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Our actions should display these things and not lead to hatred and division.  If we are living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will never have any doubts about how to act with others.  Verse eighteen says, For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  Paul tells us that we are to serve God in all things through Christ.  When we live under the authority of the Holy Spirit, our actions will always be acceptable to God and bring honor to Him.  Paul also tells us that when we live in a right relationship to God that by our actions we will be approved by men.  In verse nineteen, Paul says, Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  We as followers of Christ are to seek to live in peace, especially with our fellow believers, and to edify, or build up, each other's faith.  In verse twenty Paul says, For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  I believe Paul was telling us that what we eat or don't eat cannot stand between God and us of itself, but that if we feel that it is wrong to eat certain things then we should not eat them.  We are not to try to impose our beliefs about this on others, but we are not to allow our beliefs to come between God and other people either.  Verse twenty one says, It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. This is a further statement of what was just said.  We may not personally see anything wrong with eating or drinking certain things, but we should not do so if it causes someone else to fall.  Verse twenty two says, Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  Paul tells us that we should live by our faith in God and not condemn ourselves by our actions.  Whatever we allow for in life should be consistent with our faith in God and bring glory to Him without weakening the faith of others.  Verse twenty says, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.   I believe Paul is telling us that even if everything is pure to eat, if we doubt that, then we should not eat whatever we feel that it is wrong to eat. If we cannot in God faith do something, then for us it is wrong.  Still, we must always remember that the things of this world cannot separate us from salvation through Christ.

Romans 14:9 says, For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.  Paul tells us in this verse why we need to do all for the glory of God.  Christ died to redeem everyone, and those that accept His free gift of salvation have everlasting security through Him.  We do not suddenly no longer belong to Christ when we die, but are freed to be in an even closer relationship with God.  As long as we live, though, we are to be Christ's representatives in the world. Verse ten says, But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  I believe Paul is reminding us that it is not our responsibility to judge fellow believers.  We cannot let ceremonies and rituals separate us from other believers in Christ.  That is the key though. Not everyone, or religious organization believes in salvation through Christ alone, but it is still not our responsibility to judge anyone.  We are to reach out with the love of Christ to them.  We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  We can only obtain mercy by the sacrifice of Christ, so He alone is worthy to judge anyone.  We are not to allow the way others worship to cause us to look down on them.  As long as they are worshipping God through their relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord, we are to rejoice with them.  Today, there is almost a dividing line between traditional and contemporary worship, but if both bring honor to God, they are both correct.  Neither group should feel superior to the other.  Verse eleven says, For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  Here Paul is referring to Isaiah 45:23.  The fact that not everyone believes this does not change the truth of the fact.  Paul was not stating some new truth, but was simply reminding people of what the scripture already taught them.  Verse twelve states, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  We need to rejoice as followers of Christ that when we stand to give our account before God that we are forgiven through Christ.  If we were to stand before God without salvation through Christ, we would all be condemned.  One day, ever knee will bow and every tongue confess to God.  It does not say that those who believe in God, or even just those who believe in Christ, but everyone will stand before God to give an account.  Verse thirteen says, Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.  Paul tells us that what we need to judge is our own actions, to ensure that we don't put a stumbling block in the way of anyone.  We can really only be accountable for our own actions, which flow out of our thoughts.  For that reason, our minds must be attuned to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  In verse fourteen, Paul states, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  Paul had no doubt that Jesus Christ had led him to understand that nothing was unclean by nature, but if a person felt that something was unclean, then for that person it was.  Then, in verse fifteen, Paul says, But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.  I believe Paul is telling us that we are to live so that we do not become a stumbling block to others coming to Christ.  We may know that no earthly action can separate us from our faith in Christ, but does not mean that we are to act superior to those who feel certain actions do stand in the way.  Paul used the example of eating meat used in sacrifice to God.  Paul knew there was nothing wrong with eating it, but he was not going to eat it if it kept anyone from coming to Christ.

Romans 14:1 says, Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  Paul begins to address some of the disputes that had arisen among Christians.  He tells us that we are to receive those who are weak in faith, but we are not to get into disputes with them over unimportant issues.  The only issue that really matters is that a person accepts Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Any other issues, it is not the responsibility of one Christian to judge another, but it is really the responsibility of the one stronger in faith to help the weaker one to grow in faith.  Verse two says, For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  There are Christians today who do not eat meat, and I would guess this is what Paul meant when he referred to those who eat only herbs.  There was also the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols in Paul's day.  Some Christians would eat it and some wouldn't.  I believe we can also apply this to the things that we drink.  We are not to let these things become points of contention between believers, but we are to reach out to one another in the love of Christ.  This takes away any judgmental attitude, and it is always the responsibility of the one who is stronger in their faith in Christ to uplift the one who is weaker.  We are never called to get on a spiritual high horse as it were.  This is stated in verse three, which says, Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  I believe Paul is once more warning us against judging others because of physical factors.  What we eat or don't eat is not the issue, but the fact that God has received us through Christ is.  If we are followers of Christ, God has received us, no matter what we choose to eat.  Diet will never make us morally superior, so we need never judge or even dispute with fellow believers about it.  In verse four Paul says, Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  Paul was asking us why we feel that we are capable of judging other Christians, since they are not our servants, but God's.  God alone is qualified to judge each believer, so we don't need to attempt to make it our responsibility.  We need only to love others as God loves us.  In verse five we read, One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  I believe that Paul was talking about what could be called holy days, under ceremonial law.  The Sabboth, or the Lord's Day as it would become, was the one day that was to be observed.  We today vary on the importance of certain holy days, but we need to be certain in our own minds why we do or do not view them as important.  Verse six says, He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  I believe Paul gets to the heart of the matter here.  Whatever we are doing or not doing, we should give thanks to God and do it for His honor.  We are not to live in a certain way to make ourselves look better than others, but always live that God might be glorified and the lost of the world might be reached with the gospel.  Verse seven says, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  We may feel that what we do is is no one else's business, but Paul tells us that our lives always impact others.  As followers of Christ, we must always live to bring glory to God.  Verse eight says, For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.  This is the truth that believers must live life by.  Whatever happens, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's, and for that reason we must always attempt to live for His glory.

Romans 13:6 says, For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.   I believe Paul was talking about supporting the government materially.  We may feel that there are way to many taxes on us today, but that does not give us the right to ignore paying them or to attempt to find dishonest ways to avoid them.  In verse seven we read, Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.  We are to be good citizens, supporting those in a position of authority.  We may not like taxes, but we usually want what they provide for us.  Usually when we disagree with how taxes are spent it is because someone else benefits from that more than we do.  We may not want taxes, but we want the government to step in when there is a natural disaster that affects us personally.  We need to remember that nothing of this world will go with us into the kingdom of God to come, and therefore should not be our greatest concern.  Verse eight says, Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  Some interpret this to mean we are never to borrow money, but I don't believe that was what Paul was saying.  I believe he was telling us not to attempt to cheat others out of what we owe them.  If we live life out of love for our fellow man, then we will always want what is best for them.  This will eliminate any desire to attempt to keep for ourselves what we owe them.  We must always remember that we are to live to bring honor to God.  Verse nine says, For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Paul is talking about the commandments that have to do with the way we relate to other people.  If we are followers of Christ, we already have to be obeying the commandments that relate to God and us.  In this verse, Paul reminds us that we are still to follow the other commandments, not for salvation but to be able to live at peace with our neighbors while bringing honor to God.  After reminding us of all the things we shouldn't do, Paul summarised it all by telling us what we should do.  We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  When we do this, disobeying all the other commandments mentioned here will never be a possibility.  In verse ten, Paul states this truth again saying, Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  If we truly love our neighbor as God expects us to, we will never even have thoughts of wishing them evil.  When we love God and our neighbor as we should, the law is fulfilled, because we will never have a desire to go against the law of God.  Of course, since we still have free will, we may still have times when we don't love as we should, and then we find ourselves under the penalty of the law again.  This does not mean we are suddenly not saved, but it does mean we are in need of repentance and forgiveness.  Verse eleven says, And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  I believe Paul was calling for Christians to awake spiritually because the time of Christ returning was closer than they thought.  We today hear many Christians saying that the second coming is going to be soon, but we really need to be spiritually awake because for each follower of Christ everyday we are one day closer to being united with Him.  Verse thirteen says, The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  We are to walk in the light of Christ, and not to live in a spiritual slumber.  The day to do what God calls us to do is at hand.  Verse thirteen says, Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  Paul calls on us to live honestly with God and with all people.  This will then keep us from all the negative actions mentioned in the rest of the verse.  Then in verse fourteen, Paul tells us, But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.  This is how it is possible to live above the sinfulness of the world.  We put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe this means to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 13:1 says, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  This verse and the next few have to do with how we as followers of Christ relate to those in power.  Here, Paul tells us that we are to be subjected to those that rule over us, because they only have the power that God allows them to have.  Theirs is an earthly power and God has the eternal power.  The early Christians were accused of attempting to overthrow the government and establish an earthly kingdom, and Paul I believe was reminding them and us that ours is not an earthly kingdom.  The question becomes where do we draw the line at obeying the government?  If we are called on to do something that is clearly against God's law, then should follow the law of God.  I cannot imagine what it is like to be a follower of Christ in some parts of the world today, but wherever we are, we need to acknowledge that God is the One Who will be with us no matter what.  We must put our faith in Him and live up to our calling as Paul taught in the last chapter.  Many things are done today in the name of Christ that are just the opposite of what He teaches.  I wish I could say that I fully understand when we should not submit to the powers of the world, but can only conclude that if it has to do with earthly things, then we should, but if it has to do with violating the laws of God, then we should not.  Verse two states, Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. This verse is for me especially hard to understand, but I believe has to be interpreted in the light of loving your enemies.  We must submit to the will of God as His followers, and in doing so acknowledge His sovereignty over all.  We are to live in a way that reflects honor on God.  Verse three states, For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  I believe Paul is saying that if we are obeying the law, we have nothing to fear from the law.  Once more, I believe we have to draw the line at any law that would cause us to do anything against the law of God, but even then we have to ask how do we go against that law.  I believe that whatever action we take has to be under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and must bring honor to God.  We also have to realize that there will be consequences when we disobey the law.  Verse four says, For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  Paul lived in a time when Christians were being openly persecuted, but he said they were to still obey the rulers of the land, but under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When we do this, we do not have to fear those in power.  I do not believe that this means that there is never a time to stand in opposition to the rulers of whichever country we live in, but that when we do that we are sure that we are doing it to bring glory to God.  Verse five says, Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  I believe Paul is telling us that as followers of Christ we are to obey the laws of the government not just to avoid punishment, but also that we won't have a guilty conscience.  We cannot follow God and break the law without it bothering us.  We are to live to glorify God.  Again, I believe that if we must chose to obey the law of man unless it violates the law of God, then we must choose to obey the law of God, no matter what it costs.  I also believe the Holy Spirit will guide us in this decision, and it will always be one that will bring honor to God.

Romans 12:10 says, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;  In these next few verses, Paul tells us how we should live our lives as followers of Christ.  First, we are to have a brotherly, or God given love for one another.  We cannot have this type love for others and want anything less than what is best for them.  We are to put them above ourselves.  Just as Christ died to save all people, we are to be willing to die to self will to reach others with His message of salvation.  Verse eleven says, Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;  Here, Paul is telling us how God expects us to live in the world.  Again, when I say Paul is telling us, we need to acknowledge that is God telling us through Paul.  We are not to do our work half heartedly, but to the best of our ability.  We do this because the way we do our work reflects on God.  If we claim to be followers of Christ and try to do as little as possible to get by at work, this does not show the world that we live by a higher standard.  As God's people, whatever we are doing we represent Him to the world.  Verse twelve says, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;   Paul tells us that we need to be a rejoicing people because we have hope in Christ.  This enables us to be patient in tribulation.  When we encounter problems in life, we need to just patiently continue to serve God.  We can do this more effectively if we are in continual prayer with God, seeking His strength to see us through.  Verse thirteen says, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  I believe this means more than paying the preacher, though that is certainly included.  It means we are to help fellow Christians who are in need.  I know we are called to help everyone we can, but we should especially be looking to help meet the needs of fellow believers.  We should willing reach out to those around us with the love of God.  Verse fourteen says, Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.  Here Paul moves from our fellow Christians to the rest of the world.  We are to bless those who persecute us and not curse them.  We cannot pray for the destruction of others even if they hate us, but we must pray for their salvation.  We can never eliminate all the evil from the world as long as people have self will.  Verse fifteen says, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. We are to share in the lives of others.  If the have good news, we are to rejoice with them and not be envious of them.  If they are suffering, we are to suffer with them.  Verse sixteen states, Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  I believe that Paul is telling us that we are to treat all people equally, no matter their standing in the world.  If we attempt to live by our standards instead of God's, then we are truly wise in our own conceit, which is not wisdom but a lie.  Verse seventeen says, Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  We are not to live by the philosophy that says I'll get even with you, but we are to forgive others.  I believe living honest in the sight of everyone means more than financially, but means in every aspect of our lives.  Our actions must be consistent with our words and beliefs.  Verse eighteen states, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  It may be impossible to live at peace with some people, but we need to make sure we aren't the ones who make it impossible.  We are to show the love of God to the world.  Verse nineteen continues this thought,stating, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  As followers of Christ, we are to have the same attitude He had on the cross and ask that God forgive those who harm us.  Verse twenty says, Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  We may want to believe that God does not mean this in all instances, but I don't see an exclusion.  I do not see a concept of let's destroy them before they harm us.  Verse twenty one concludes this thought saying, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.  We are to overcome evil through the goodness of God.  I believe that to approach the world any other way as followers of Christ is to give in to evil.

Romans 12:4 says, For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  I believe that Paul was continuing with the thought of why we shouldn't think more highly of ourselves than we should.  We might tend to think that what we do for God is more important than what others do, but Paul tells us that we don't all serve the same purpose in God's kingdom.  We are all given certain gifts by God, and all are necessary for the advancement of His kingdom.  Verse five states, So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  I believe Paul is continuing to tell us why we should humbly accept whatever role God calls us for.  We should never aspire to do what someone else is called to do, and should certainly never be jealous of their calling.  Everyone is needed to carry out their calling for God's kingdom to function properly.  Though there are many members of the body of Christ, we are to be one in purpose.  All the members, functioning according to their purpose, makes for the strongest body of Christ.  In verse six, Paul begins to give examples of the calling a person may have telling us, Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  Paul tells us that we have different gifts, but they are all given to us by God's grace.  He says that if we have the gift of prophecy, the we are to prophesy according to the faith God gives us.  I don't believe that prophecy here means fortelling the future, except to the extent that the gospel tells us of everlasting life, but means proclaiming the gospel and the effect it should have on our lives.  There is nothing new to add to the gospel.  Verse seven says, Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  Paul is still pointing out that we all have a different calling.  He is also telling us that is our responsibility to fulfill that calling, so the kingdom of God might grow and our faith might expand.  Anytime we are fulfilling God's call for our lives, we are growing in faith.  We need some to minister and some to teach, but not all.  In verse eight, Paul says, Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  We certainly need people to exhort the word of God, but how often do we think of giving as a calling?  If God's kingdom is to expand, funds are required since God chooses to work through His people.  We are to give, not for show, but with simplicity.  We certainly need people today to rule with diligence.  As with giving, ruling should not be self serving, but for the good of all people, especially the poorest and least powerful.  When we show mercy, it should be with cheerfulness.  Since God has shown mercy on us, we should likewise be cheerful in showing mercy on others, and not do so grudgingly.  Verse nine says, Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  I believe Paul is telling us that God wants us to share His love with everyone.  We cannot decide that certain people are unworthy of God's love.  We are to hold on to God's will for us, which is the good, and abhor that which is not His will, or the bad.  When we as followers of Christ all function together as one body, we can accomplish so much more than if we try to do things our way.

Romans 12:1 says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  This has always been the passage that I come back to when life is seemingly out of control.  God, through Paul, is asking us to give ourselves to God.  It is by the mercy of God that this is even possible, so it is certainly not an unreasonable request.  We are to be a living sacrifice.  Once we accept Christ and become His followers, we are to daily sacrifice ourselves to His service.  We are not called to death, but to life everlasting.  Too often we live as though once we accept Christ we have to sacrifice so much, but we are not called to sacrifice anything that we really need.  We are to live by God's plan for our lives.  Paul says this is a reasonable service.  God gives us everlasting life, so it is only reasonable that we would want to live our lives for Him.  Verse two says, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Paul says that we are not to be conformed to the world.  I believe this is more than in the way we look and talk, though those are certainly aspects of not conforming.  When we want to look and act like everyone else in the world so that people will not think we are different, this is not what God says to us.  We are to be different, and not just in outward appearances, but in an inward change.  We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We are no longer to think as the world thinks, but are to follow God's leadership in all things.  A transformer can take something small and make it larger, or it can take something large and make it smaller.  I believe too often we feel that when we accept Christ that our lives have somehow been made smaller.  We dwell on what we have given up for God, instead of seeing how much He has improved our lives.  We cannot be His followers without being transformed into something better.  Our very thought processes are to be changed.  We need to remember that God looks to the reason for actions and not just the actions themselves.  In verse three, Paul says, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  Paul was speaking to them through the grace God had shown him, not through the status he had achieved by birth and education. He called on us to do the same, relating to people through the grace God has bestowed on us.  When we do, we cannot think to highly of ourselves.  Instead of being boastful, we are to be sober, because we owe everything to God through faith. Since God has freely provided salvation for all, it is a small thing that He calls on us to do to willing submit to Him through faith.

Romans 11:28 says, As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.  I believe that Paul was still attempting to tell the Gentiles that they had no reason to feel superior to the Jews or anyone else because they were saved by Christ.  The fact that the Jews had rejected Christ brought the gospel to the Gentiles.  Had the Jews not rejected the gospel, they would have been the ones bringing the gospel to the Gentiles.  The Jews were and are still loved by God.  I believe this special relationship has nothing to do with anything that the Jews, or Israel ever did, but simply has to do with the fact that God chose them to work through to reveal Himself to the world.  The same can be said of anyone.  We as followers of Christ do not have a special relationship with God because of anything we did of our own merit.  Verse twenty nine says, For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  I believe that Paul is saying that the call of God to all people goes out even before we repent.  I do not believe that this means repentance is not necessary when we accept God's call, but that He calls and equips us even before we acknowledge Him.  In verse thirty, Paul states, For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
The Gentiles in the past had not believed God, and there are certainly many, many today who still do not.  Still, through the gospel of Christ, we are called to be God's people in the world today by accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We have obtained the mercy of God, even though His chosen people do not accept Christ.  In verse thirty one, Paul states, Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  We, as followers of Christ, now have the responsibility of reaching out to the Jews, wherever they may be, with the gospel.  They failed to follow God's leadership, but He still reaches out to them.  In verse thirty two, Paul says, For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.  I believe that Paul was saying that that the failure of the Jews to follow God's leadership showed the need for the mercy of God, not the law or heritage, to bring salvation to everyone, including those who were called His people. Verse thirty three states, O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! This tells us where we stand in relationship to God's knowledge.  His knowledge and wisdom are so deep that we cannot understand them even if we try.  I believe this is why the gospel is so simple even a child can understand it.  We do not have to have all the answers about why everything happens.  We only have to put our faith in one thing that did happen, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty four continues this thought stating, For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?  When we continually ask God why something did or did not occur that we wanted, we are attempting to God counsel God.  We cannot always know the why of everything, but we can know God is with us if we are His followers.  That should be enough no matter what happens in life.  Verse thirty five says, Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  I believe that Paul is asking what can we give God that wasn't already His.  We can offer nothing but obedience to Him through faith in Christ. Everything we have already belongs to God.  Verse thirty six says, For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.  Once more, we must acknowledge first and foremost that everything is God's today and forevermore.

Romans 11:22 says, Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  I believe that Paul was again telling us that God is a God of mercy and goodness, but that He is also a God of justice.  God could simply condemn all people due to their sins, but He chose to make a way to redemption due to His mercy.  To those who reject that way to salvation, which is faith in Christ alone, this gospel becomes a severity, as it separates those who reject it from God for all time.  In verse twenty three Paul states, And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  Paul was still referring to the unbelieving Jews in his day.  He did not say if they believed that they would be a branch again, but they would also be grafted in to the Root, which is Christ.  They would not suddenly be made whole by their own merit.  We can never become a part of the family of God, followers of Christ, by any physical factor.  Once we accept the fact that we are simply sinners saved by grace, we can never feel superior to anyone else.  We, as followers of Christ, are to live to bring glory to God and never to ourselves.  Verse twenty four states, For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  The Gentiles were a wild olive tree, going there own way without any direction from God, but they were grafted into the good olive tree, or the family of God.  If God could and would bring them into His family, then He could certainly graft the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, into the true vine if they believed in Christ.  We need to acknowledge that the Jews had to come to God through Christ.  Physical birth could not save them, and only a spiritual rebirth, a grating in to the root of Christ could.  Verse twenty five says, For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Paul always wanted to educate those he witnessed to about the truth of Christ and the kingdom of God.  I believe here he was warning the Gentiles not to become conceited because of their salvation through Christ.  The Jews might be blinded to the gospel, but they were still the people that God had chosen to work through first, and He had not and will not give up on them.  In verse twenty six, Paul states this saying, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  I believe that Paul is speaking of the true Israel, those who do accept Christ as Savior and Lord.  The Deliverer, Christ, shall turn them from their ungodliness.  Verse twenty seven states, For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.  The covenant that God had with Israel was based on their obedience to His will, and when they come to Him by faith in the covenant of Christ, He will take away their sins.  That is the only way anyone can come to God, but it is also the way that all can come to God.  We must never think that the gospel is only for a select few.

Romans 11:15 says, For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?  Paul was still speaking of the Jews receiving salvation.  They were the people God had chosen to work through to bring knowledge of Him to the world.  The Israelites, or Jews, were not chosen because of any moral superiority to the rest of the world, but because they were a weak and insignificant group of people.  We never find in the Bible where God chose people because they were morally superior to others of their own merit.  What made them morally better was accepting God's call and following His purpose for their lives.  Paul was still calling on the Jews to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord, that they could truly be God's people.  In verse sixteen Paul states, For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  Paul was again referring to the Jews.  They were the firstfruit, the ones God had chosen to work through.  I believe that Paul was saying that had they been holy, in the right relationship with God, the world could have been reached, or brought into the right relationship with God, through them.  This was God's plan, but the overwhelming majority of those who called themselves His people rejected it.  They wanted to rulers over the Gentiles, and not servants of God to reach them.  We who profess to be followers of Christ today must be careful that we do not start to feel that we are better than the lost of the world and more worthy of salvation of our own merit.  We are called to serve God humbly that we might reach the lost and dying world, and not to sit in judgment praying for their destruction.  Verse seventeen tells us, And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou,being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  Paul was speaking to the Gentiles.  They, and we, were grafted into the family of God through the root, Jesus Christ.  Many of the existing branches, the Jews, were broken off, because they rejected that root. Verse eighteen says, Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  I believe Paul was warning the Gentiles against beginning to feel superior to the Jews.  Just because the Jews had rejected Christ did not mean that God had stopped calling to them.  In verse nineteen Paul states, Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  This I believe is a continuation of Paul's telling the Gentiles and us that due to the Jews rejecting Christ and their role in spreading the gospel, the task went to the Gentiles, which means us.  The Jewish nation today still rejects Christ.  Verse twenty says, Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:   They were broken off due to disbelief in God's salvation plan, which can only be received through faith.  Since we stand reconciled by faith, we can never be high minded in our relationship to other people.  Paul in verse twenty one issues a warning, stating, For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  If God did not spare the Jews, the physical descendents of Abraham, then we need never believe that He will save us for any reason but faith in Christ. For this reason, we must never feel superior to other people based on where we were born or what family or social standing we were born into.  God still calls all people.

Romans 11:7 says, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  I believe Paul was telling the Jews that they had allowed themselves to become blinded to the truth of God.  Only a few accepted that Christ is the Messiah they were waiting for, and that was by faith and not their birth into the nation of Israel.  Many people today know what the gospel of Christ teaches, especially those who have grown up in the church, but they refuse to accept that Christ is the only way to salvation.  They want to believe that there are other ways to reconcile themselves to God, but just like the overwhelming majority of Jews in Paul's day, they are blinded to the truth.  Verse eight states, (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.  Once more, we can see this as God causing them to not be able to accept Christ, but I believe that it means that He allowed them to reject Christ because they refused to see the truth.  To me, in the context of what the whole Bible teaches about God, He wants all to come to Him.  He may choose to work through a particular group, but He does it to reach the whole world.  In verse nine, Paul refers to David, stating, And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: I believe Paul is saying that those things that were to set the nation of Israel apart as God's people had become a hindrance, a stumbling block, to their following the will of God.  This was not some new thought that Paul had, but went back to the days of David.  We need to be careful today that rituals do not get in the way of our relationship to God.  We certainly do not need to be a stumbling block to others, and the Jews in Paul's day had.  Verse ten is a continuation of nine stating, Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.  God did allow the eyes of the Jews to be blinded to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah, just as He does with people today. God does not cause this spiritual blindness, but He does allow it.  If God chose before hand who will and will of not be saved, then faith has no meaning. Verse eleven states, I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.  I believe that Paul was saying that the Jews not accepting Christ was intended to show that they had fallen out of their relationship with God.  God had not rejected them, but they had rejected God.  Through their disbelief, the gospel went to the Gentiles.  Verse twelve says, Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?  I believe Paul was asking if the fall of the Jews brought a richness, the gospel of Christ, to the Gentiles, then how much greater would it be for the Jews to reach the Gentiles through belief in Christ themselves.  This is what Paul was doing.  He did not cease to be a Jew, but became one both physically and spiritually.  In verses thirteen and fourteen Paul states, For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.  Paul said that he was an apostle to the Gentiles, but he still hoped to reach the Jews, those of his flesh, with the gospel of Christ.  As we today reach out to the lost world we need to never forget those born to God's people, the Jews.  They too need to hear and accept the gospel.

Romans 11:1 says, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  Paul was clarifying that God had not cast away the Jews, His chosen people to bring His message to the world.  Paul told them that God should forbid that such a thought would even exist.  Then, Paul reminded them that he was an Israelite, born a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  These facts neither brought him salvation nor prevented him from receiving salvation.  Our earthly heritage today is the same.  There is no one today who is saved nor denied salvation by who they were born to or where they were born.  In verse two, Paul asks, God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,   Paul was speaking to the Jews, God's chosen people, and once again he asked if they knew the scripture.  We today, as followers of Christ, need to ensure that whatever we teach is based on the scripture, God's written word to us.  When we search the scripture, the Holy Spirit will guide us to its truth.  Paul reminded them of a time in their history when Elijah made intercession against the Israelites with God.  Verse three tells us why he did this, stating, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  Paul was reminding them that this was not the first time they had rebelled against God.  Elijah, in his day, said that he alone was faithful to God.  There were many people born physically into the nation of Israel, but they were not spiritually Israelites, which was the key.  They were killing the prophets of God and tearing down His altars, His places of worship.  If they were somehow saved simply by being born physically as a defendant of Abraham, this would not have mattered.  Elijah said he alone was left to serve God and they sought his life.  My brother recently reminded me that this is what today is called the Elijah complex.  We start to feel that we alone are serving God and the world is out to silence us.  In verse four we read, But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  Paul reminded them that God told Elijah that he was not alone.  God had preserved a remnant of seven thousand.  I do not believe that this means God picked seven thousand at random and made them faithful, but instead that he knew the hearts of seven thousand were still true to Him.  Even though I live in what is called a Christian nation, and everything that is happening seems to work against God's will, there will always be a remnant as long as we await Christ's return.  We don't need an Elijah complex, either as an individual or a nation.  In verse five Paul states, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  Paul said there was a remnant then, and we can be sure that is true today, by the grace of God.   Verse six states, And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  Here I believe Paul is telling us that salvation cannot be by works and grace at the same time.  If we can earn our salvation by our own actions, then grace, salvation through Christ, would not be necessary.  Since we cannot earn salvation by our works, by God's grace, He provided the only way to salvation.

Romans 10:18 says, But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.  I believe that Paul was saying here that no one would have an excuse for not accepting salvation through Christ.  In a few short years, the disciples had carried the gospel to much of the known world.  The Jews of Paul's day wanted to keep God to themselves, making them superior to everyone else, or the Gentiles.  We today, as we profess to be a Christian nation, must be careful that we don't have the same attitude.  We have been blessed to have the gospel freely proclaimed, but that does not make us superior to other people.  We have a responsibility to reach out to the rest of the world with the love of God if we are truly followers of Christ.  Verse nineteen states, But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.  Paul asked if Israel did not know the gospel.  The sad news is, they still don't accept it today.  Paul reminded them that in the scripture even Moses had said that God would provoke Israel to jealousy by those who were not His people, but a foolish nation.  The gospel was now being received by the Gentiles, which should have made God's people, Israel, want to maintain that special relationship with God.  They were never chosen to be superior to others because they were better by nature, but were chosen by God to present His love to the world.  We find throughout the Bible that when the Jews failed the greatest was when they presumed on the will of God.  They professed to be God's people, but they didn't truly follow His purpose.  God then worked through those who were not His people by the promise to Abraham to bring about His purpose.  Verse twenty says, But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.  We can apply this to the Gentiles in Paul's day, but it was also true of the nation of Israel.  God came to them before they even sought Him, just as He comes to every person today before we even seek Him. Verse twenty one says, But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.  God did not give up on Israel, the Jews, at any time.  He continues to stretch forth His had calling them to salvation through Christ.  He does this not only with the Jews, though, but with all people.

Not too long ago, I came across a date that was followed by the letters BCE.  I was curious about the E, thinking maybe BCE was Before Christ Existed, but it seemed a little unnecessary to suddenly add an E.  So, I looked it up online.  To my surprise, it was a new form of political correctness and stood for Before Common Era, and A.D. was changed to CE, or Common Era.  Then, for me, the question was what was the dividing point between BCE and CE, and the only event that occurred that separated them was the birth of Jesus Christ, and we already have designations to divide time at that point.  If people don't want to acknowledge the reality of Christ, they should simply use the Jewish calender.  Changing the designation of what we call things before and after the birth of Christ does not change the reason for the dividing point in history.  Even if in the name of wanting to be politically correct we change the terms, we cannot change the reason for the terms.  There may be those who do not want to retain the knowledge of God in their life or the world, but they cannot remove the existence of God, nor the fact that Jesus Christ divides history.

Romans 10:12 says, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  Paul was speaking to the Jews in his day in particular, but to all believers in Christ in general.  There is no difference in people in the eyes of God.  Paul tells us that salvation is made available to all who call on God through Christ.  God is rich in His salvation, not limited.  I believe this precludes any concept that some are predestined to salvation and some to damnation. If this were the case, God would not be rich in His provision of salvation, but limited.  We cannot attempt to hoard the love of God, which is what the Jews in Paul's day were attempting to do.  Just as there was no difference in people in Paul's day in the eyes of God, there is no difference today.  Verse thirteen states, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Paul tells us that all who truly believe in Christ as Savior and Lord shall be saved.  There are no qualifiers in this statement.  Paul did not say if we fortunate enough to be elected, if we were born into a particular group, or if we were good enough we would be saved.  He simply says that whosoever shall call on the name of Christ in sincere faith, as the previous verses stated, shall be saved.  We do not have to wonder if we are saved if we truly put our faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.   In verse fourteen, Paul asks, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  This is a question for the followers of Christ today.  How is the lost world going to believe on Christ if they have not heard the gospel?  I do believe that God will reveal Himself to all people, but we are challenged to present the gospel that it might be easier to come to salvation through Christ.  Paul asked how they would hear without a preacher.  As followers of Christ, we are all to proclaim the gospel of Christ.  In that respect, we are all to be preachers.  In verse fifteen, Paul asks, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  We know that the scripture says that some are called to be preachers and teachers.  These indeed have a specific call to a life of spreading the gospel, but that does not excuse all Christians from the general call of the Great Commission.  We are to present the gospel of peace, the good news of Christ.  Verse sixteen says, But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  We know that not everyone who hears the gospel is going to believe the gospel.  This does not relieve us of the responsibility for sharing it though.  In verse seventeen, Paul states, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  I believe Paul is telling us that hearing the word of God, the gospel, leads to faith.  Not all will receive the gospel by faith, but it is our responsibility to share it.

 Romans 10:1 says, Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  Though the Jews were doing their best to destroy Paul, or at least discredit him, he was still praying for their salvation.  This should be the example we follow today.  The scriptures, or the Bible as we would say, tells us to reach out in the love of God to those who hate us.  Paul was living by this command.  We do not find him praying for the destruction of those trying to kill him, but for their salvation.  Verse two states, For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  I believe Paul was acknowledging their strong commitment to what they thought was the will of God.  It is good to be zealous in our beliefs, but only if our beliefs are based on God's truth.  In verse three Paul states, For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  Paul said that the Jews, God's chosen people, were ignorant of His righteousness.  Because of this ignorance, they were attempting to establish their own righteousness.   They still are today, continuing to look forward to the Messiah Who has already come.  Verse four states, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  I believe that Paul was stating the great truth of the Gospel, which is that Christ fulfilled the law of righteousness, which no one else is able to do.  We are no longer to look to the law for salvation, no matter how zealous we may be in trying to keep it.  We cannot become good enough for salvation through our own attempts.  We must simply come to Christ through faith.  The law was given to point people to Christ, not as a way to salvation.  In verse five, Paul referred to Moses, stating, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.  I believe Paul was saying that in order for the law to bring salvation, or righteousness with God, a person would have to keep every aspect of the law every minute, and we are not capable of that, which is the reason it was necessary for Christ to come to do what we cannot.  We cannot claim righteousness under the law.  Verse six states, But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)  Then verse seven continues, Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)  I believe that Paul was telling us that there is no one else who can do what Christ did.  No one was capable of bringing Christ down from heaven.  He came willing to be a sacrifice for all people.  No one could bring Christ back from the grave.  He alone could claim victory over death, which we can only claim through Him and not of our own ability.  In verse eight, Paul asks, But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  I believe Paul was asking if the law couldn't save us, then what could.  He tells us that we know the answer, that it is close to us, in our mouth and our hearts.  The answer is faith.  Paul said this is what we, as followers of Christ, preach.  Verse nine says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Paul tells us what is necessary for salvation.  We must profess Christ to the world, because we believe in our hearts, our innermost being, that Christ died for our sins.  Professing without faith is not enough. Verse ten continues this thought, stating, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Paul says as followers of Christ, we must believe in our hearts and proclaim with our words and also with our actions that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.  Verse eleven says, For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  The reason we profess Christ to the world is because we are not ashamed of the Gospel.  Paul boldly proclaimed Christ as his Savior and Lord, and we must do no less.

Romans 9:27 states, Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:  Paul is referring to Isaiah 10:22-23 in this statement.  I believe Paul was telling the Jews that even though in the time during which Isaiah spoke, the physical number of the Israelites, or Jews, was great, only a small remnant actually followed God.  Today, there may be many who profess to be followers of Christ, but there may be only a small number, a remnant, who truly follow His will.  This is not a call for us to judge the validity of the salvation of others, but to make sure that we remain true to the word of God concerning salvation.  We can know that if anyone professes themself to be a follower of Christ, but claims to come to Him through any other way than through accepting His sacrifice on the cross, they cannot truly be His followers.  We must always present the gospel alone as the only way to salvation.  Just as not all who called themselves Jews, God's people, in Isaiah's and Paul's day were really His people in faith, not all who call themselves Christians today are truly His in faith.  Verse twenty eight says, For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.  The Jews had attempted to find a right standing with God for a very long time and had made many rules and regulations concerning how to be one of God's people.  Only a remnant had remained true to what being one of God's people really meant.  Through Christ, God finished the work of salvation.  He cut short the rules and regulations and made clear the one requirement.  That is that we cannot be saved by any way other than through faith in Christ.  Verse twenty nine states, And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.  Paul was referring to Isaiah 1:9.  These should not be unfamiliar verses to the Jews.  They may have considered the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah as a good thing, but Paul was reminding them that if a remnant of the Jews had not remained faithful to God, then all, even those who called themselves God's people, would have been destroyed.  That is why we as followers of Christ today must be His not only in word but in deed as well.  As long as there is a true remnant, there is hope for others to be saved.  In verse thirty, Paul asks, What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  I believe  Paul was asking if the Gentiles could find righteousness simply through faith.  We must understand that this is the only way to attain righteousness.  We cannot decide to find righteousness by our own merits, as the Jews felt they had, but can only come by faith in Christ, which the Gentiles were doing.  Verse thirty one says, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  This was simply the reverse of the question in verse thirty.  As I stated earlier, Paul was asking if the Jews had attained righteousness by the law, without faith in Christ, and the answer was no.  We see this in verse thirty two, where Paul states, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  Paul explains why the Jews who were relying on the law to save them were not righteous in the eyes of God.  They stumbled on the only way to salvation, which is through faith in Christ alone.  Verse thirty three states, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  Paul again referred to the scriptures to emphasize his point.  He was not telling them something new, but something that they should have known themselves if they were familiar with the scriptures.  We today need to make sure that no one attempts to proclaim anything as God's word if it contradicts the scriptures.

Romans 9:19 says, Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  There are people today who ask how a loving God can send people to hell.  They want to know if we are doing our best to live right why God would punish us.  The truth is that God does not send people to hell, but He allows them to go of their own free will.  We cannot become good enough to establish a correct relationship with God.  Only God can do that, and it is based on forgiveness through Christ.  Paul was still speaking of the Jews and the Gentiles and the spreading of the gospel.  Verse twenty says, Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? I believe Paul was asking them why they thought they should be able to question God.  Many Jews still opposed the sharing of the gospel with any but the Jews.  We today need to be careful that we don't attempt to make the gospel exclusive to a particular group of people.  Verse twenty one says, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  Here again, we could say that God, the Potter, chooses to make some good and some bad, but I believe that as the clay, if we have hard spots, sin,  that will not conform to the will of God we will be dishonorable vessels.  I believe that we too often attempt to take away the free will responsibility that we have and attempt to make even the bad things in life the result of God's will.  Though God could make everyone conform to His will, He instead allows us to choose.  Verse twenty two says, What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  Paul ask the question of God's wrath in relationship to the vessels fitted for destruction.  I believe we need to take note of God's longsuffering in relationship to these vessels.  If their destruction were preordained, there would be no reason for God's longsuffering in relationship to them.  God gives even those who have hardened their hearts against Him plenty of opportunity to come to Him through faith.  Verse twenty three says, And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  It is God Who is to be glorified by our salvation.  We can do nothing to shape, or earn it.  Verse twenty four says,  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  I believe Paul is pointing out that God calls all to salvation.  We are to become as clay in God's, the Potter's, hands, yielding to what He would make us.  Verses twenty five and six states,  As he saith also in Osee (Hosea 1:10 and 2:23), I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Paul was telling the Jews once more that the gospel applied to the gentiles, those who were not considered His people, just as much as it did to the Jews, who were considered His people.  We today, if we aren't careful, can start to consider people in other parts of the world as less deserving of sharing in salvation than we are, but that is never the case.  Christ came to save everyone, and all are equally undeserving of that salvation.  All who believe are saved for our benefit but for God's glory.  It is a choice each person must ultimately make for themself.

Romans 9:15 says, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  Paul was speaking to the unbelieving Jews in these verses, and those we verses have just looked at.  Just as God chose Isaac the younger over Esau the elder, so the gospel was now going to the Gentiles, the younger, as opposed to the Jews, the elder.  This was based not on God suddenly deciding to work through another group of people, but on the hardness of heart of the Jews, God's chosen people who were to bring His message to the world.  In this verse, Paul cited the example of Moses and the Pharoah.  God stated His right to show mercy on any He chose to show mercy on and withhold that mercy from those He chose to.  Now, once more, we could make this an arbitrary election or rejection, but I believe as always it is based on faith.  God was working  through Moses to deliver the Jews from Pharoah because Moses had faith in God's calling.  When God works through us today, it is because of our faith in Him and not the nature of our birth.  Verse sixteen says, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  I believe Paul was stressing the fact that we cannot come to God by our own ability, but only through faith in Christ.  We cannot will ourselves into the family of God.  We can only respond to God in faith.  The key to salvation is always to freely choose to put our faith in Christ.  God calls everyone, but gives everyone the ability to reject His call if they so choose.  Verse seventeen states, For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  I believe that this means that God allowed Pharaoh to become powerful, not that He made him powerful.  When we read that God God hardened Pharaoh's heart, I believe that simply means that God allowed him to choose to stand firm in defiance of God.  I do not believe that we can say that God calls some to salvation and that He causes others to be incapable of coming to salvation.  I know there are some who believe otherwise.  They believe our eternal destiny is determined even before we are born, but I will always believe that it is our free will to choose.  Verse eighteen states, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  In keeping with what I have just stated, I believe this means that God has mercy on those who come to Him through faith and rejects all others.  The hardening of the heart is due to people rejecting God, not God rejecting people.  We are told that God stands at the door and knocks, and that He will come in to any who open the door.  There would be no reason for God to knock at our hearts door if our relationship to Him were already determined.