Romans 14: William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

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1 Romans 14:9-10 Romans 14:9-The Christian Belongs To The Lord Because Christ Died And Came To Life In Order That He Would Be Lord Of Both The Dead And The Living Romans 14:9 teaches that the reason why the Christian belongs to the Lord Jesus as His possession is that the Father s purpose for His Son s spiritual and physical deaths on the cross and His resurrection was to establish the human nature of His Son as Lord of both the dead and the living. By way of review, we have noted the following thus far in our study of Romans chapter fourteen: In Romans 14:1, the apostle Paul issues a command to the Christians in Rome who are strong with respect to conviction to continue to make it their habit of welcoming into their fellowship those Christians who are weak with respect to conviction. Then, Paul says that the strong believers are to welcome the weak believers into their fellowship but not for the purpose of arguing over opinions. The strong believer is not to engage in a dispute or argue with the weak believer over his conviction with regards to his observance of certain days and dietary restrictions and abstaining from drinking wine. This command is designed to maintain unity among the Jewish and Gentile believers. Romans 14:1, Now, all of you (who are strong) continue making it your habit of welcoming into your fellowship the one who exists in a state of weakness with regards to conviction, not for the purpose of arguing over opinions. A biblical conviction comes about in a Christian when he or she has been fully convinced or convicted by the Holy Spirit through the teaching of the Word of God with regards to the will of the Father regarding a particular subject and thus has decided to accept this teaching. Consequently, this teaching becomes a part of their conscience, i.e. their norms and standards and thus governs their conduct. A conviction is a decision concerning what is true or God s will for the Christian s life, which in turn determines what the Christian should or should not do when faced with a particular situation or circumstance. Therefore, in Romans 14, Paul mentions that those who are weak in their conviction are those who regard certain days as more important than others and adhere to dietary restrictions and do not drink wine whereas those who are strong, like himself, do not adhere to these things. The weak abstain from certain foods and wine and observe certain days whereas the strong do not simply because the former are not familiar with the teaching of the Word of God regarding these things or they have been taught but 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 are not fully convinced yet. The latter are educated in the Word of God with regards to these things and have been fully convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God. The weak do not understand the implications of Christ s death in relation to the dietary restrictions of the Law or the implications of their union and identification with Christ in His death with regards to these dietary restrictions or they have not been fully convinced of these implications. Christ fulfilled the Law and the Christian has died to the Law and is no longer under its jurisdiction but is under grace. The strong believer has fully grasped the implications of his new found freedom in Christ whereas the weak believer has not whereas the weak believer is afraid to step out in faith in his new found freedom in Christ whereas the strong believer is already walking in his new found freedom. The former is like a child afraid to separate from his mother and go to school whereas the latter is already on the bus. The weak erroneously believe that grace is a license to sin whereas the strong are convinced that it is a license to love and serve God and one s fellow believer. The believer weak in his convictions erroneously believes that they must practice certain rules and regulations. They are focused more on externals and do not understand that liberty or freedom in Christ is not a license to sin but to love and serve God. This is all because they are not knowledgeable of the Word of God and need to be educated in it or they have been taught and are not fully convinced because they have to overcome false or inaccurate teaching from their past or traditions they have learned and observed in other denominations. Those who are weak in faith are saved and justified through faith in Christ but have not fully grasped by faith their new freedom and position in Christ and identification with Him in His death and resurrection. This is because they either need to be educated as to their new freedom and position in Christ and identification with Him in His death and resurrection or they have been taught but have not been fully convinced of it by the Spirit. They are hesitating being convinced because of their past experiences and exposure to certain legalistic teaching. In Romans 14, the Jewish believers and Gentile believers influenced by Jewish tradition who continued to observe dietary restrictions and the observance of certain days are those whom Paul describes as weak in faith, i.e. conviction. They are weak because they have not been fully convinced and have not yet accepted by faith the Spirit s revelation concerning their new freedom in Christ. This is indicated in that the New Testament makes clear that the dietary laws of the Mosaic law practiced by the Jews was an important issue in the apostolic churches (Mark 7:2, 5; 14-19; Acts 10) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 Now, in the Mosaic Law, the Israelites were prohibited from eating certain foods, which were called unclean (Leviticus 11; 20:15; Deuteronomy 14:3-21; cf. Leviticus 17:10-16; 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:15-25). They avoided meat and wine because they could not be sure that the meat had been prepared in a kosher manner such as in the case of Daniel and his friends in Babylon (Daniel 1:8; 10:3). The term kosher comes from a Hebrew word, the word is kashar, which means fit or right. Anything that is kosher is right, it is fit, it is proper, it is acceptable according to a Jew. Now, Jewish Christians in Rome were ostracized from the Jewish community because of their faith in Jesus Christ and had been forced to settle in Gentile communities in the city after their exile brought about by the decree of Claudius. Consequently, these Jews would refrain from buying meat in the Gentile sections of the city where they settled because they knew it was not prepared in a kosher manner. Correspondingly, Jews would abstain from wine as well out of concern that it had been tainted by the pagan practice of offering wine as a libation to the gods (Moo, page 831). Further indicating that the weak in Romans 14 are Jewish Christians who had a difficult time breaking from the Mosaic Law and Gentile Christians influenced by Jewish tradition is that Paul mentions the weak observing certain days. This was the case with the Jews who observed many days including of course the Sabbath as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. Also as the gospels make clear many first century Jews observed weekly fasting and prayer days. Therefore, it is clear that the weak in Romans 14 are Jewish Christians who erroneously believed that they were still bound to continue to observe the ritual requirements of the Mosaic Law and Gentile Christians influenced by Jewish tradition. Those whom he describes as strong in faith, i.e. conviction are the Gentile and Jewish believers like him who have been fully convinced by the Holy Spirit and have accepted the Spirit s revelation concerning their new freedom in Christ. Now, though he does not explicitly address the strong as such in Romans 14:1, it is clear that Paul is addressing those who are strong in faith as indicated by his statement in Romans 15:1 that the strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Therefore, a weak believer is someone who is not knowledgeable of the Word of God or they have heard the Word but have not been fully convinced by the Spirit. This is indicated in that the Lord Jesus taught that all foods are to be enjoyed and in Acts 10 the Lord told Peter that there were no longer dietary restrictions whereas in Romans 14:1-12, the weak believers observe dietary restrictions. Also Paul taught in Colossians 2:20-23 that observance of days is not mandatory whereas in Romans 14:5-6, the weak believer observes certain days William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 In Luke 7:33, the Lord Jesus admitted to drinking wine and Paul taught in Ephesians 5:18 not to be drunk with wine but did not prohibit the drinking of wine and told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 to have a little wine to deal with his stomach problems yet in Romans 14:21, the weak abstain from drinking wine. The weak have a conviction that observing certain days and dietary restrictions and abstaining from wine are God s will and this is because they have either been taught incorrectly or they are ignorant of the teaching of the Word of God regarding these matters. Or, they have heard the teaching and have not accepted it by faith because they are not fully convinced that they no longer have to observe certain days, or dietary restrictions or abstain from drinking wine. The strong have a conviction that there is no observing certain days and there are no longer dietary restrictions for God s people as in Israel and that it is nothing wrong to drink yet drunkenness is prohibited. This conviction is based upon the fact that they have received and accepted by faith the teaching of the Word of God in regards to these matters. Those who are strong in faith are to bear with the weaknesses of those who are weak in the faith and operate in love whereas the latter are to refrain from criticizing and condemning as guilty those who are strong and are to become strong themselves by learning and applying the Word of God. Then in Romans 14:2, the apostle provides an example which could cause a conflict between the believer who is strong with regards to conviction and the believer who is weak. Romans 14:2, On the one hand, one person is convinced with the result that they eat everything while on the other hand, the one who exists in a state of weakness eats vegetables. In this passage, Paul contrasts the believer who is strong with respect to conviction with the believer who is weak with respect to conviction. The former has the conviction that he can eat all things, which is based upon the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. The latter have the conviction that there are dietary restrictions, which was the will of the Father for the dispensation of Israel prior to the First Advent of Christ but is no longer the case during the dispensation of the church age. Then, Paul in Romans 14:3 first addresses those Christians who are strong with respect to conviction, which is manifested by the fact that they are fully convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the dietary regulations prescribed for Israel in the Mosaic Law no longer apply. He commands them to continue making it their habit of not regarding and treating with contempt the believers who are weak with respect to conviction in that they continue to observe these dietary regulations. Then, he employs an adversative clause, which addresses those Christians who are weak with respect to conviction, which is manifested by the 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 fact that they are not fully convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the dietary regulations prescribed for Israel in the Mosaic law no longer apply. Paul commands these weak believers who observe these dietary restrictions that they are to continue making it their habit of not condemning the strong believers. The reason why they were to continue doing this is that God the Father has accepted the strong believer just as He accepted the weak believer, namely, based upon the merits of the object of their faith, Jesus Christ. Romans 14:3, The one who as a lifestyle eats must continue making it their habit of not regarding and treating with contempt the one who as a lifestyle does not eat. On the other hand, the one who as a lifestyle does not eat must continue making it their habit of not condemning the one who as a lifestyle eats because God the Father has welcomed him into fellowship with Himself. Now in Romans 14:4, the apostle Paul poses a rhetorical question to the weak Jewish believers who don t eat meat unless it s kosher because they continue to observe the dietary regulations prescribed for Israel under the Mosaic Law. The implication of the question is that they are wrong to condemn as guilty before God the strong believers who don t observe these restrictions. He then teaches these weak believers that in the judgment of their own Master, the Lord Jesus Christ these strong believers will stand or fall and in fact they will stand since the Lord is able to make them stand. Romans 14:4, Who are you who condemns another s slave? In the judgment of his own Lord, he, as an eternal spiritual truth stands or falls but he will, as a certainty be made to remain standing because the Lord is, as an eternal spiritual truth able to cause him to remain standing. Paul employs the figure of diatribe by employing a rhetorical question in this passage. He presents an imaginary dialogue with a hypothetical Christian who does not eat meat unless it s kosher because he continues to observe the dietary restrictions prescribed for Israel under the Mosaic Law. That Paul is addressing a hypothetical Christian who continues to obey the dietary regulations of the Law is indicated in that in Romans 14:4, Paul employs the verb krino to describe the weak Christians as he does in Romans 14:3. In Romans 14:4, the personal pronoun su refers to a hypothetical Christian who continues to observe the dietary regulations of the Law and is in the emphatic position in this rhetorical question. This emphasizes the implicit rebuke in the rhetorical question that is directed to a hypothetical, weak Christian who condemns as guilty before God the strong Christian who does not observe the dietary regulations of the Law like they do. That this weak believer is hypothetical is indicated by Paul s statements in Romans 15:14-15, which makes clear that the Roman believers, both weak and strong, were actually practicing everything Paul 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 had prescribed in the epistle. Thus, he was simply giving them a friendly reminder in support of the teaching that they were already receiving from their pastors and were obeying. This rhetorical question brings out the implication of the prohibition that appears in the adversative clause in Romans 14:3. The declarative statement in the judgment of his own Lord, he, as an eternal spiritual truth stands or falls brings out the implication of the rhetorical question. It reminds the weak believers that they would be totally out of line to condemn as guilty before God the strong Christians since they re approval and disapproval is determined by their own master, the Lord Jesus Christ and not by them. The adversative clause but he will, as a certainty be made to remain standing makes it clear to the weak Christian that the strong believer is approved by the Lord and rejects any idea that they are in the wrong. The causal clause because the Lord is, as an eternal spiritual truth able to cause him to remain standing teaches the strong Christian will remain standing approved by the Lord because the Lord is able to make him do so. It emphasizes with the weak Christian that the Lord s approval of the strong Christians service does not depend upon observing the dietary regulations of the Law but rather is depends upon the Lord s power. Also, it emphasizes that Christian service does not depend on the Christian s ability but on the power of God. In Romans 14:5, Paul turns from a discussion of the Jewish dietary regulations to a discussion regarding the Jewish observance of certain days such as the Sabbath. Romans 14:5, Furthermore, on the one hand one person regards one day as more important than another day while on the other hand another person regards as important each day. Each and every person without exception must be thoroughly convinced by his own reasoning. The Jews who observed many days including of course the Sabbath as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. The nation of Israel was commanded to observe the seventh day of the week, which they called the Sabbath (Exodus 20:11; Deuteronomy 5:14). The nation of Israel not only observed the Sabbath but also many special days such as the Day of Atonement and a day of Preparation each week, which was the day preceding the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; cf. John 19:31, 42). The gospels and the epistles make clear many first century Jews observed weekly fasting and prayer days (Matthew 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35; 13:10-17; 14:1-5; John 5:1-16; 9:1-35; Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16-23). Paul taught in Colossians 2:16-23 that observance of days is not mandatory. Romans 14:5 continues the discussion in Romans 14:1-4 regarding the contrast between the Christian who is strong with respect to conviction and one that is not 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 by advancing and intensifying this discussion. It continues the contrast between the strong and the weak by advancing upon and intensifying this contrast by raising the issue of the observance of certain days as prescribed by God for Israel in the Law. Like the observance of the dietary regulations, the observance of certain days such as the Sabbath was a cause of disharmony in the churches in the first century. This passage contrasts the weak believer who regards one day such as the Sabbath as more important than the other days of the week with the strong believer who regards everyday as important. The former has the conviction that he must observe one day such as the Sabbath above another whereas the latter have the conviction that every day should be devoted to doing the Father s will. The command each and every person without exception must be thoroughly convinced by means of his own reasoning teaches that each believer in response to the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God must be thoroughly convinced by means of their own reasoning as to whether or not they are to observe the Sabbath. Paul does not want the weak Christian to attempt to live by the strong Christian s convictions. Each person is to have their own convictions as a result of being thoroughly convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God. The danger for the weak believer if he attempts to live by the strong Christian s convictions is that he could sin against his conscience, which is what Paul teaches in Romans 14: If a Christian is not thoroughly convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word that they do not have to adhere to the dietary regulations prescribed by God for the nation of Israel in the Law and do not have to observe certain days such as the Sabbath and yet they don t observe these things, they will sin in their own minds. The reason being is that they are not practicing that which they know for them is the will of God even though they are incorrect in their conviction that they have to observe these dietary regulations and days prescribed by God for Israel in the Law. The strong Christian is not to impose his convictions upon the weak Christian who simply needs to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they will be thoroughly convinced in their own mind that they don t have to observe the dietary regulations or observe certain days prescribed in the Law for Israel. The command each and every person without exception must be thoroughly convinced by means of his own reasoning also emphasizes that a Christian s convictions are a private matter and are not to be subject to public scrutiny. It denotes that the Roman believers are to be characterized as those who are thoroughly convinced by means of their own thinking in response to the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God as to whether or not you should observe certain days as prescribed in the Law William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 Paul s statements in Romans 1:8 and 15:14-15 indicate that the Roman believers were in fact obeying this command. Romans 14:6 teaches that the conduct of both the weak Christian and the strong is governed by a conviction and based upon obedience to the Lord resulting in the giving of thanks to the Father. Romans 14:6, The one who as a lifestyle honors this day, regularly honors it because of the Lord s command. Also, the one who as a lifestyle eats regularly eats because of the Lord s command. In fact, he regularly gives thanks to God the Father. Also, the one who as a lifestyle does not eat, regularly never eats because of the Lord s command. Also, he regularly gives thanks to God the Father. This passage teaches that the Christian who is weak with respect to conviction honors certain days as prescribed by the Law for Israel because he is thoroughly convinced that the Lord is commanding him to do so. On the flip side of this he teaches that the Christian who is strong with respect to conviction does not observe the dietary regulations prescribed by God for the nation of Israel in the Mosaic Law because he too is thoroughly convinced by the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that he does not have to. Then in order to emphasize the sincerity of the strong Christian s motivation he teaches that this strong Christian also gives thanks to God the Father in prayer every time he eats food of any type including those prohibited in the Mosaic Law. Next, he points out to his readers that the Christian who is weak with respect to conviction observes these dietary regulations because he is thoroughly convinced that the Lord is commanding him through the Law to do so. To emphasize the sincerity of their motivation, he teaches that like the strong Christian, the weak one gives thanks to God the Father as well but for these dietary regulations, which he believes distinguish him from the other members of the human race as a member of God s covenant people. In both cases, the strong and weak desire to obey God and believe, that they are. They both have a conviction that God wants them to do certain things and not do certain things. Both are sincere in their motivation and both desire to obey God and give thanks to the Father. Both want to obey God s word and both believe that they are doing so. Both can cite passages of Scripture to support their convictions. Both are not observing heathen practices and thus are not conforming to the standards of Satan s cosmic system. In Romans 14:6, Paul is trying to give the weak and the strong some perspective about each other in that they both are sincere in their motivation and both desire to please the Lord and both are not sinning! He does this because he does not want them to divide over these issues of food and special days, which are non-essentials William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 Today, non-essentials are water baptism, the observance of Lent in the Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday or woman wearing hats in church or drinking alcohol. Some Christians will not fellowship with other Christians because one believes in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and another believes in mid or posttribulation rapture. Some Christians will not fellowship with other Christians because they read from a modern English translation rather than the King James. Some Christians don t observe Christmas because it is not commanded in the Word of God and believe that it is pagan in origin and they condemn those who do observe Christmas. There are some Christians who do not do anything on Sunday and condemn those who do. Christians divide over these things and this ought not to be and is a sign of immaturity and legalism. An essential that could not be compromised are the person of Christ, that He is both God and man. There is also the doctrine of the Trinity, which we must never compromise. There is also the doctrine of justification through faith alone in Christ alone and never by obedience to the Law or any system of merit. Immorality of any kind in the church is not to be tolerated (1 Corinthians 5:1-11). Paul does not want the Roman Christians to divide over non-essentials. The strong is not better than the weak because he eats all foods and doesn t observe certain days like his weak brother or sister. Neither, is the weak Christian better than the strong Christian because they don t eat certain foods and observe certain days. There is no merit in what they practice. Therefore, the strong and the weak were not to despise each other because of these non-essentials. Paul teaches in Romans 14:7 that no Christian lives for himself and none dies for himself. Romans 14:7, Therefore absolutely not one person among us as an eternal spiritual truth lives for the benefit of himself. Also, absolutely not one person among us dies for the benefit of himself. Romans 14:7 draws an inference from verses 5-6 presenting the implication from these verses emphasizing that both the strong and the weak Christian live and die in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. Their purpose is to please Him and Him alone. This passage emphasizes that both the weak and the strong Christian are ultimately accountable to God. He will ultimately determine if they were a faithful or unfaithful servant. Therefore, there is absolutely not one Christian who conducts their life for the benefit of himself nor does he die for the benefit of himself but rather they live and die for the Lord and Him alone. The apostle Paul teaches in Romans 14:8 that if the Christian lives, he lives for the Lord and if he dies, he dies for the Lord. He draws an inference from this statement teaching that whether the Christian lives or dies, he is the Lord s William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 Romans 14:8, Because, whether if we live, we, as an eternal spiritual truth live for the benefit of the Lord or if we die, we, as an eternal spiritual truth die for the benefit of the Lord. Therefore, whether, if we live or if we die, we are, as an eternal spiritual truth the Lord s. This passage is structurally composed of two major parts. The first part is a causal clause and the second is an inferential statement. The causal clause: because, whether if we live, we, as an eternal spiritual truth live for the benefit of the Lord or if we die, we, as an eternal spiritual truth die for the benefit of the Lord. This clause explains why it is true that there is absolutely not one Christian who lives or dies for the benefit of himself or herself. It makes clear that there is absolutely not one Christian who lives or dies for himself or herself because they live and die for the Lord. This causal clause is composed of a correlative clause that contains two fifth class conditions that teach the spiritual principle that if the Christian lives, he lives for the benefit of the Lord of if he dies, he dies for the benefit of the Lord. The inferential statement: Therefore, whether, if we live or if we die, we are, as an eternal spiritual truth the Lord s. This statement is also composed of a correlative clause, which contains two fifth class conditions that teach the spiritual principle that whether if the Christian lives of if he dies, they belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8 emphasizes with Paul s readers that the life and death of both the weak and strong believer are inseparable in the sense that both are for the benefit of the Lord and His glory. All the circumstances, thoughts, decisions, words and actions the make up human life on earth for the both the weak and strong believer and all the circumstances surrounding their physical death are governed by the Jesus Christ who is their Lord. In life and in death, both the weak and the strong remain under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and are accountable to Him and Him alone. All of these circumstances surrounding the life and death of the weak and strong believer are for the benefit of the Lord in that they glorify Him. Therefore, the fact that the strong believer does not observe the dietary regulations and honor certain days as prescribed in the Law for Israel does not dissolve or disturb their union and identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not remove them from being under the authority of the Lord and thus does not change the fact that they are accountable to Him and Him alone. In the same way, the fact that weak believer does observe these dietary regulations and does honor these special days does not maintain their union and identification with the Lord Jesus Christ either. It does not maintain their position of being under the authority of the Lord and thus does not maintain their accountability to Him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 Therefore, the observance or non-observance of the dietary regulations or certain days as prescribed in the Mosaic Law for Israel does not dissolve, disrupt or disturb or affect adversely in anyway or even maintain the weak and the strong Christian s marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 14:8 emphasizes that the life and death of the believer, whether they are weak with respect to conviction or strong is one of service that benefits the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, whether a believer honors the special days and observes the dietary regulations prescribed for Israel in the Mosaic Law or not, they are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Life and death encompass the believer s entire existence. Therefore, Romans 14:8 emphasizes that there is no circumstance or word, action, thought or decision in life or circumstance surrounding the believer s death that would place them outside the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ or could sever their relationship to Him or could maintain that relationship. Consequently, condemning another believer for his convictions with respect to non-essentials is sin since doing so displaces the Lord from His position of authority over the believer and in fact rejects His authority. If the believer is under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ whether in life or death, his brother or sister in Christ has no business and is out of line and is seeking to replace the Lord Jesus Christ as sovereign king over the church by condemning them for their convictions with respect to non-essentials. Now, we come to Romans 14:9, which teaches that the reason why the Christian belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ as His possession is that the Father s purpose for the spiritual and physical deaths of His Son and His resurrection was to establish His Son in His human nature as Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:9, For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. For is the causal use of the conjunction gar (gavr), which introduces a statement that presents the reason why Paul s previous inferential statement in Romans 14:8 is true. Romans 14:8, Because, whether if we live, we, as an eternal spiritual truth live for the benefit of the Lord or if we die, we, as an eternal spiritual truth die for the benefit of the Lord. Therefore, whether, if we live or if we die, we are, as an eternal spiritual truth the Lord s. The apostle Paul teaches in Romans 14:8 that if the Christian lives, he lives for the Lord and if he dies, he dies for the Lord. He draws an inference from this statement teaching that whether the Christian lives or dies, he is the Lord s. Now, in Romans 14:9, Paul employs the conjunction gar to introduce a statement that presents the reason why the previous inferential statement at the end of Romans 14:8 is true. It introduces a statement that presents the reason why the 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 Christian belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ as His possession. The Christian belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and is under His authority because Christ died and came to life in order that He would be Lord of both the living and dead. To this end is composed of the preposition eis (ei)$) (eece), to end and the accusative neuter singular form of the demonstrative pronoun houtos (ou!to$) (ootoce), this. The demonstrative pronoun houtos, this is kataphoric meaning that it is pointing to the hina clause that appears later in the verse that presents the purpose for which Christ died and was raised to life. The preposition eis is a marker of purpose indicating that the purpose for which Christ died and was raised to life. He died and was raised to life in order that He would be the Lord of both the living and dead. This is why the Christian is the Lord Jesus Christ s possession as he states in Romans 14:8. We will translate this propositional phrase for this purpose. Christ is the nominative masculine singular form of the proper name Christos (xristov$) (cree-stoce), which designates the humanity of Jesus Christ as the promised Savior for all mankind who is unique as the incarnate Son of God and guided and empowered by the Spirit as the Servant of the Father. The proper name Christos in classical Greek identifies that which has been thus smeared or anointed. In the Greek New Testament, it is used only as a noun, either as an appellative ( the Anointed One, the Christ ) or a personal name ( Jesus Christ or Christ ). It corresponds to the Hebrew mashiach and denotes someone who has been ceremonially anointed for an office. In the Old Testament, three office bearers are expressly described as mashiach i.e. as anointed with oil: (1) Prophet (2) High priest (3) King. Therefore, the noun Christos signifies the three-fold offices held by our Lord: (1) Prophet (2) Priest (3) King. The anointing of oil on the individual assigned by God to one of these offices signified that he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, oil signified the presence and power of God the Holy Spirit, thus the Messiah or Christ was One Who was totally and completely guided and empowered by God the Holy Spirit. The Messiah is characterized by permanent possession of the Spirit, which enables or empowers Him as the Messianic Ruler to reign with integrity and wisdom. The word denotes the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth, thus He is the Deliverer of the human race in three areas through His death, resurrection, ascension and session: (1) Satan (2) Cosmic System (3) Old Sin Nature. The word Christos also signifies the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth who is the God-Man and signifies His three-fold office: (1) Prophet (2) Priest (3) King William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 The Lord s Messiahship has a four-fold significance: (1) Separation unto God. (2) Authorization from God. (3) Divine enablement. (4) The coming Deliverer. Christos signifies that Jesus of Nazareth served God the Father exclusively and this was manifested by His execution of the Father s salvation plan which was accomplished by His voluntary substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross. The word signifies that Jesus of Nazareth has been given authority by God the Father to forgive sins, give eternal life, and authority over all creation and every creature as a result of His execution of the Father s salvation plan. It denotes that Jesus of Nazareth was perpetually guided and empowered by God the Holy Spirit during His First Advent. Lastly, Christos signifies that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised deliverer of the human race from the bondage of Satan, his cosmic system and the old Adamic sin nature. In Romans 14:9, Christos emphasizes that Jesus of Nazareth, the incarnate Son of God delivered the believer from the sin nature, personal sins, the devil and his cosmic system, spiritual and physical death and eternal condemnation through His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths and resurrection. The word functions as a nominative subject meaning that the word is performing the action of the verbs apothnesko, died and zao, lived again. We will translate Christos, Christ. Romans 14:9, For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Died is the third person singular aorist active indicative form of the verb apothnesko (a)poqnhv skw) (apo-tha-nee-sko), which refers to both the spiritual and physical deaths of Christ on the cross. This is indicated in that Christ s spiritual death solved the problem of personal sin in the human race and His physical death and resurrection solved the problem of the sin nature. Therefore, both deaths serve together to redeem and reconcile sinful humanity to a holy God and propitiated the Father s holiness, which demanded that sin and sinners be condemned. Both fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law that sin and sinners be judged since the Law condemns the human race because of personal sin and the sin nature. Both destroyed the works of the devil. Our Lord s substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross defeated Satan in the angelic conflict by disproving Satan s claims that God lacks integrity and does not love His creatures (see Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). 1 John 3:8b, The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. Our Lord s spiritual and physical deaths reconciled both men and angels to God (See Colossians 1:19-20) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 The Cross of Christ dealt with man's sins, which have all been forgiven and have been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:13-14). Colossians 2:13-14, When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. The Lord s spiritual and physical deaths redeemed, or purchased the entire human race out from the slave market of sin in which every human being is born physically alive but spiritually dead as a result of the imputation of Adam s sin (1 Tim. 2:6; Mark 10:45; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9). This is called in theology, the doctrine of redemption. These two deaths redeemed the entire human race out of the slave market of sins since His spiritual death dealt with personal sins and His physical death dealt with the sin nature, both of which serve to condemn the sinner before a holy God. Ephesians 1:7, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Our Lord s spiritual and physical death propitiated or satisfied the righteous demands of a holy God that are sins be judged since His spiritual death dealt with personal sins and His physical death dealt with the sin nature, both of which serve to condemn the sinner before a holy God (Rom. 3:22-26; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). This is called in theology, the doctrine of propitiation. 1 John 2:2, He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. His spiritual and physical deaths reconciled the entire human race to God since His spiritual death dealt with personal sins and His physical death dealt with the sin nature, both of which serve to condemn the sinner before a holy God (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 1:20-22; 1 Pet. 3:18). This is called the doctrine of reconciliation. Romans 5:10, For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Our Lord s spiritual and physical deaths redeemed mankind from the curse of the Law since His spiritual death dealt with personal sins and His physical death dealt with the sin nature, both of which serve to condemn the sinner before a holy God. Galatians 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us -- for it is written, CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 The Law brought a curse on mankind since they could not keep it perfectly. The spiritual and physical deaths of Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law (see Romans 8:3-4). Romans 8:1-4, Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Therefore, the Cross of Christ is called the power of God and foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18) because it has crucified the old Adamic sin nature and therefore, freed the believer from its power. Both the sin nature and personal sins served to condemn the entire human race before a holy God, thus propitiation, redemption, expiation, reconciliation and the fulfillment of the Law were accomplished by the spiritual and physical deaths of Christ since the former dealt with personal sins and the latter, the sin nature. These two deaths along with His resurrection established Jesus Christ as Lord of both the dead and the living since His spiritual death solved the problem of personal sins and His physical death along with His resurrection solved the problem of the sin nature. His spiritual and physical deaths purchased the entire human race out of the slave market of sin and thus in His humanity they are His possession. In His deity, they are obviously His possession since He is the creator. His resurrection gave Him the victory over physical death. It established the fact that those who will live forever with God must accept Him by faith in order to receive a resurrection body like His that will enable them to live with God forever. Therefore, the Father rewarded His Son Jesus Christ in His sinless, glorified humanity establishing Him as Lord of both the dead and the living as a result of His spiritual and physical deaths and resurrection, which placed the entire human race under His authority. In His deity He is inherently Lord over every creature and all of creation because He is the creator. However, in His sinless human nature Christ became Lord of the dead and the living as a result solving mankind s problem with personal sin and the sin nature with His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross and of course through His resurrection. His deaths and resurrection established Him as Lord over both the dead and the living since His spiritual and physical deaths and resurrection gave Him the victory over spiritual and physical death. His resurrection established the fact that the Father approved of His spiritual and physical deaths as the solution to the human race s problem of the sin nature, personal sins, guilt before the Law, spiritual and 2010 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 physical death and eternal condemnation. It also of course, established the fact that He was in fact who He claimed to be, the incarnate eternal life of God, the Son of God. His resurrection demonstrated that God the Father established Him in His glorified human nature as sovereign over both men and angels and every creature and all of creation (Philippians 2:5-11). Let s look at how both the spiritual and physical deaths of Christ on the cross dealt with the problem of personal sins and the sin nature in the human race. Now, as we have noted many times, the Lord commanded Adam to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:16-17, The LORD God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Adam disobeyed this command. Genesis 3:1-7, Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Indeed, has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden? The woman said to the serpent, From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die. The serpent said to the woman, You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Adam disobeyed knowingly but his wife was deceived. 1 Timothy 2:12-15, But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. Adam acquired a sin nature when he disobeyed the Lord s command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Romans 5:12a, Therefore, based on this (principle), just as, through one man, the sin nature entered into the human race. This sin nature was passed down to his posterity, i.e. the human race William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 Romans 5:19a, For you see, just as through the one man s disobedience, the entire human race has been rendered sinners. The sin nature entered the human race through the transgression of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Romans 5:12a, Therefore, based on this (principle), just as, through one man, the sin nature entered into the human race. The sin nature resides in the genetic structure of the human body according to Romans 6:6. Romans 6:6, This we are very familiar with through instruction, namely, that our old man was crucified with Him in order that the sinful body would be deprived of its power with the result that we are no longer in a perpetual state of being slaves to the sin nature. Romans 7:24, A wretched person, I myself always am! Who will deliver me from this body, which produces temporal spiritual death? This is the result of the curse that the Lord put on the body of Adam and his posterity according to Genesis 3: Genesis 3:18-19, Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Physical death is the result of possessing a sin nature since it resides in the human body. Spiritual death entered the human race through the sin nature. Romans 5:12a, Therefore, based on this (principle), just as, through one man, the sin nature entered into the human race so that spiritual death entered through this sin nature. Spiritual death is the result of possessing a sin nature and is perpetuated by the sinner through committing personal acts of sin. It means that the sinner has no capacity whatsoever to experience or establish a relationship with a holy God since he has absolutely no merit with a holy God. Some calls this type of spiritual death real spiritual death, which is related exclusively to the unsaved. Spiritual death spread to the entire human race because of the imputation of Adam s sin according to Romans 5:12b and 15a. Romans 5:12b, Thus, in this manner, spiritual death spread to each and every member of the human race without exception because each and every member of the human race sinned (the moment Adam sinned). Romans 5:15a, However, on the other hand, absolutely not like this transgression is, as an eternal spiritual truth, also, in the same way, the gracious act. For if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of this transgression committed by the one, the entire human race died William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 God imputed Adam s transgression to every member of his posterity, i.e. the human race. Romans 5:12b, Thus, in this manner, spiritual death spread to each and every member of the human race without exception because each and every member of the human race sinned (the moment Adam sinned). Romans 5:18a, Therefore, as previously stated, just as through the one who committed the transgression resulted in condemnation affecting each and every member of the human race without exception. Romans 5:19a, For you see, just as through the one man s disobedience, the entire human race has been rendered sinners. Therefore, every member of the human is born into this world, physically alive yet spiritually dead and in need of justification. Thus, the status of spiritual death was passed down to Adam s posterity since spiritual death entered the human race through the sin nature. So, spiritual death is the status of possessing a sin nature due to the imputation of Adam s original sin in the Garden of Eden. Physical death is passed down to the entire human race through the sin nature. Adam died spiritually first (Genesis 3:6-8) and then physically (Genesis 5:5). This pattern holds true for his posterity, the human race. Now, personal sin is the result of obeying the desires of the sin nature. It is a manifestation that one has a sin nature. The penalty for committing personal sin is spiritual death. This is what Adam and Eve suffered the moment they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Spiritual death is the result of possessing a sin nature and committing personal sin perpetuates this status. Physical death is the result of possessing a sin nature that resides in the genetic structure of the human body. Spiritual death is the product of the sin nature and personal sin perpetuates this status of spiritual death. The human race is under the status of real spiritual death because of the sin nature, which was passed down from Adam. Therefore, spiritual death is the consequence of not only possessing a sin nature but also obeying its desires and committing personal sin. Spiritual reigned over the entire human race because of Adam s transgression. Romans 5:17a, For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. The entire human race was condemned because of Adam s transgression. Romans 5:18a, Therefore, as previously stated, just as through the one who committed the transgression resulted in condemnation affecting each and every member of the human race without exception William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

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