Romans 11:16-17 How can it be that if Israel has failed that Paul can expect that at some time in the future it will once again be included among God's people? This a question Paul now sets out to answer. But it is important to remember that in these verses he is addressing himself to Gentiles particularly, because he has something very important to say to Gentile believers. What does he mean by referring to Gentiles as being of a "wild olive?" Who are the ones with whom those of us who are grafted in are partaking? What is it we are partaking of? What warning does Paul give to the Gentiles regarding how they view Israel? Why is this warning necessary? Why were the "natural branches" broken off? How is it significant that Paul's use of the pronoun "you" when referring to Gentiles is always in the second person singular rather than plural? How do we know that, as severe as Paul's warning is, it does not teach that an individual believer can lose his or her salvation? How does the history of the Gentile church validate Paul's warning about being broken off? (53 min)

Keywords Jews, Gentiles, Security

Romans 8:37-39 In these verses Paul continues his concluding thoughts on the security of the child of God in God's love. When we are saved we receive the promise of eventually being glorified with Christ. Yet between those two events we encounter numerous adversities, many of them very severe. What does Paul mean when he says that through all of those things we are more than conquerors? What is it that ensures our overwhelming victory through sufferings? If God's heart is moved when He sees people suffer, as we know it is, then what is it about sufferings that Paul suggests someone might think would separate them from the love of God. How do we know that that will not separate us from His love? This brings up a troubling question, however, which Paul will go on to answer in the following chapters: If God's children are forever secure in HIs love, then what about the Jews, hasn't God rejected them? (66 min)

Keywords Glory, Love, Security

Romans 8:35-36 Having settled the issue that our sin no longer imperils the believer's safety in God's love, Paul now turns his attention to the circumstances and persons in our life whom we might fear could rob us of God's love. Paul's own life provides an evidence of what he tells us in these verses. What did God make clear about Paul’s future life as a Christian to Ananias? What did Paul mean in his second letter to the Corinthians when he wrote about always carrying in his body the death of Christ? What was the outcome for the Corinthians of Paul's experience of "dying daily?" Was Paul exaggerating when he wrote about the extent of his struggles? Were all of Paul's afflictions a direct result of persecution, or did they include other things. If Jesus promised that if we seek God's kingdom first, all "these things" that we need will be provided, how do we account for the fact that Paul at times experienced hunger, thirst, and exposure? What is the importance of Paul's quote from Psalm 44 about being put to death all day long? (58 min)

Keywords Love, Tribulation, Security

Romans 8:33-34 In this week’s lesson Paul continues to address the subject of the security of the believer. He uses a series of terms that have a legal usage, and create for us the picture of a courtroom in which we ourselves stand "in the dock." If we were to find ourselves on trial in the divine courtroom, who are the parties that we can imagine we would find bringing charges against us? Who would be the greatest and most telling witness against us? Why does one of God's children not need to fear such charges being brought? In a court of law, who is the one who pronounces the final punishment or condemnation? Who holds this position in the final judgment of mankind? Why does a Christian not need to fear such a condemnation? What are the four things that Christ Jesus has done that relate to the subject of the Christian's security in God's love? What are some of the things we know that Jesus is praying for us? Who does the most damage to the biblical doctrine of the security of the child of God? (58 min)

Keywords Judgment, Justification, Condemnation, Security