Romans

Written after Paul left Ephesus, presumably at Corinth. R3182:5 Somewhere about the year 4188 A.M.—about 1812 years before the Millennial dawning. R3030:5
We now come to the study of one of the most notable of all the Pauline epistles, the epistle to the Romans. Apparently this noble production, like the other epistles, was the result of merely accidental circumstances: Paul, while in Corinth, saw an opportunity to send greetings and counsel to the church at Rome by the hand of Phoebe, who was about to sail thither; and, in consideration of their condition and circumstances, he wrote this letter. The church at Rome was composed of both Jews and Gentiles, and naturally there were among them some unsettled questions incidental to the transition from Judaism to Christianity, which the Apostle in this epistle endeavors to adjust. This epistle was sent from Corinth. It was dictated by Paul and written by Tertius, at the house of one of the Corinthian Christians—Gaius. Up to the date of its writing Paul had never been in Rome. It is not known how the church at Rome started, though there were Christians there who had been in the way for many years. It was probably one of the results of the outpouring of the holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; for on that occasion there were present "strangers from Rome." (Acts 2:10) These probably returned to Rome with the blessings of the gospel, and began to live Christian lives and to preach the truth to others; and a company of believers, even in the midst of that corrupt city, was the result. It was the capital city of a great and powerful empire, presenting all the contrasts of wealth and poverty and all the hideous deformities of sin. Yet God could work even there, and his Word was quick and powerful. R1582:1,2,4 Paul was expecting soon to visit Rome, that imperial city, the mistress of the world. R220:3*, 402:6*
The early churches, whether composed of Jews or Gentiles, although they had accepted of Christ and had become his disciples, were still largely influenced by their former Jewish ideas and prejudices. And until these prejudices were overcome, growth in grace, in the knowledge of the truth, and in the full assurance of faith, was greatly hindered. It was with this thought in mind and that he might assist the Jews to a humble recognition of their position, as well as to encourage and strengthen the Gentile believers, that Paul wrote his remarkable letter to the church at Rome. Paul's letter to the Romans was part of his effort to free both Jews and Gentiles from the former yoke of Judaism, and to lead them to implicit confidence in Christ as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, whether Jew or Gentile, as well as to give them a clear appreciation of the chief favor of God now offered, and the conditions on which it might be obtained. R1140:1,2,3, 868:3 The epistle to the Romans was intended as a vindication of the plan of God and his dealings with the world, Israel, and the Gospel Church, past, present and future. R929:3While the Apostle Paul was a wonderful logician, and in his writings has set forth more than any other Apostle, yet we notice that he is in pursuit of a certain object; he is not beating the air, not discussing theological points for the sake of making an argument or showing his own ability. His arguments along doctrinal lines lead the reader in every instance onward and upward, as a stairway, to a grand upper room of perfected Christian character: and nowhere is this more manifest than in his epistle to the Romans. R2212:3
Paraphrase of the first eight chapters of the epistle—R1223:3-1224. Summary of first six chapters—R929:3-931

[NTC - Romans 1:1]

An apostle— Penned by a divinely inspired Apostle, the early Church carefully cherished this epistle, and thus we still have it today. R1582:1 The selection of Matthias to fill the place of Judas as the twelfth apostle was a blunder. The Lord had his own choice for this office. R2823:2, 2657:5

[NTC - Romans 1:3]

Our Lord— He was our Savior or Redeemer first, and having bought, ransomed, us from the dominion of death, he became rightfully our owner, our Lord, our Master. R745:4; E17
Seed of David— Jesus is still the seed of Abraham (and of David), though highly exalted and now of a totally different nature—of the divine nature. R3513:2 Jesus the Christ was the Son of Man, not in the sense of simply being a man, but because he was the son of the man David, with whom Jehovah made an everlasting covenant. R944:1* He is "the root and the off-spring of David" since his exaltation as well as before. (Rev. 22:16) R160:1*
According to the flesh— "The Word became flesh." (John 1:14—R.V.) "God sent forth his Son, made of a woman." (Gal. 4:4) R3476:4 Referring to his change to a human being. R316:2* Not incarnate. R3476:3 But not according to imperfect flesh. R196:3

[NTC - Romans 1:4]

Declared to be— Proved to be. R1508:3 It is one thing that Jehovah accepted the ransom price and manifested his acceptance by the resurrection of our Lord and the descent of the holy Spirit at Pentecost; quite another thing will be the deliverance from death of the redeemed ones. R2051:1 The resurrection did not make him the Son of God, but declared the fact. R106:5*
The Son of God— If he was the Son of God, and also Son of Man, he had two natures. R106:5*
With power— Might and authority. R810:1 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matt. 18:18) R810:1 Agreeing with Peter's testimony (1 Pet. 3:18), that Jesus was quickened in spirit. R2797:2 Or, powerfully declared. R106:5*
By the resurrection— The might, authority, or power, was gained by his sacrifice. It was recognized of God and declared to men by his resurrection. R810:1, 745:1 Our Lord's baptism did not constitute him The Christ in the full sense of the word, but he was declared to be The Christ with power when he was raised upon the spirit plane. R5090:2 The death of Christ was necessary, but, in itself, is not the medium of blessedness. In resurrection, in immortality, Christ is the root of the medium of blessedness for all the nations. R1436:4*

[NTC - Romans 1:5]

Apostleship— Since all of the apostles must be eye-witnesses of Christ's resurrection, Paul was caused to see him—"last of all he was seen of me also; who am not meet to be called an apostle." (1 Cor. 15:9) R162:5

[NTC - Romans 1:7]

To all that be in Rome— Up to this time Paul had never been in Rome. It is not known how the Church at Rome started. It was probably one of the results of the outpouring of the holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. R1582:2 Composed of both Jews and Gentiles; and naturally there were among them some unsettled questions incidental to the transition from Judaism to Christianity. R1582:1 Some of these were probably converts from amongst the Gentiles, while undoubtedly a considerable proportion were converts from Judaism. R2719:2 Apparently, like other epistles, written as the result of accidental circumstances. Paul, while in Corinth, saw opportunity to send greetings and counsel to the Church of Rome by the hand of Phoebe, who was about to sail thither. R1582:1
Called to be saints— But not called as apostles. R1582:4 The Apostle addressed Christians and not the worldly. R4478:2, 5941:3, 3181:3 We are to recognize a great difference between calling men to repentance and calling them to the high calling of the divine nature and joint heirship with Christ. F87 The word "saint" does not signify actual perfection, merely, as in our Lord's case, but also those reckoned holy through him. R2987:4, 5856:3 Those who cannot properly apply this term to themselves cannot properly apply to themselves the exceeding great and precious promises contained in these epistles, for they are addressed to and meant for the saints. R2987:4 First, "honored" with light; second, they had, by repentance and faith accepted it and been justified; third, they had been "called;" fourth, they had accepted the calling and given themselves wholly to the Lord. R4214:3, 2377:5 Not only justified by faith in Jesus, but have obtained by consecration, sacrifice, access into "this grace"—the begetting and promises of the divine nature. R648:6 The call is with a view to finding amongst men some who shall become one with the Redeemer as new creatures. F87

[NTC - Romans 1:9]

With my spirit— Greek, pneuma; my new mind, my new heart, my renewed will. E312

[NTC - Romans 1:11]

Some spiritual gift— Such as the gifts of tongues and interpretations, some of which were given to all the early Christians by laying on of the apostles' hands, and never in any other way. R1582:4

[NTC - Romans 1:12]

Mutual faith— Illustrated by the two blind men healed by Jesus (Matt. 9:27-31). Showing the advantages of Church fellowship in respect to faith stimulation. Let us be helpers and not hinderers to fellow-pilgrims. R4589:1

[NTC - Romans 1:14]

I am debtor— Under obligation, not because they had done something for Paul, but because God through Christ had done something for them, and Paul, as the servant of God, was charged with the commission to preach the gospel unto all nations. R1582:4

[NTC - Romans 1:15]

As much as in me is— To the extent of my ability. R1582:5
I am— God works through instrumentalities, and his truth is the instrument for human salvation. R1582:5
Ready to preach— Not that we will be out of accord with our brethren and neighbors, but that to the Lord and his Word we must be true. We love to tell the story, and to refrain from doing so would be woe to us. (1 Cor. 9:16) R4006:5
You that are at Rome— Implying that Christianity was already established at Rome before Paul's going there. R3143:3

[NTC - Romans 1:16]

I am not ashamed— Paul had no feeling that the gospel of Christ would not withstand the light and criticism of Rome, then the capital city of the world. R1223:3 Paul was not ashamed to bring it into contrast and competition with all the philosophies of men then extant. R1582:5 The gospel, the good news, is so good and so grand, that those who really see and understand it, have no occasion for feeling shame when they tell it to others. R921:3 We need not be bashful or ashamed to talk about it before the whole world. CR56:6 It needs no apology on God's part, neither on the part of any of his ambassadors. R921:3 The Lord puts his plan, his Word, as his representative, saying—He that is ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with his holy angels. (Mark 8:38) R2597:4 Even in the Apostle's day, he noted the tendency of the Adversary to bring in false doctrines. He was not only ashamed of his false gospel, but denounced it and warned the Church of it. NS538:2 There may be certain creeds of which we might be ashamed, but the Christian religion, as presented in the Word of God, should be the standard of Christendom: and of that we are not ashamed. R4981:3; CR192:2 In contrast, at the World Parliament of Religions, while the faith of various heathen religions were elaborately set forth by their representatives, there was no systematic presentation of Christianity. D187
The gospel of Christ— Gospel signifies good news, glad tidings, something to make one rejoice and be glad. R402:3*, 4982:4, 2593:5, 220:2* The primary "good tidings" is the news of our ransom—that Christ died for our sins. R923:4 The religion of Christ is the most God-like religion, because of its breadth, its justice, its impartiality, its love, its goodness and merciful qualities. R4982:3*, 220:2* Its ingredients delineated. NS539-540 Contrasted with the religion of Mohammedans, Brahmins, Confucians and Buddhists and found superior by recognizing God's justice, including the concept of love and being world-wide. R4981-4982; CR192-194 Contrasted with the gospel of the Roman Catholic faith, Calvinism and Arminianism. R2593-2597, 402-405*, 220-222*; NS843-844; A100 Contrasted with four false messages. R924-925
For it— The divine promises of present and future blessings are the power of God unto our cleansing, our salvation. R5739:4
The power of God— His Word and providence. R3282:1 By which he works in us, first to will aright, and then to do right. R1698:6
Unto salvation— This gospel has in our hearts a transforming and renewing power, a sanctifying power, which no error could possibly have. R2597:1 Unto our cleansing. R5739:4 What a transforming influence upon our lives—by the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:2) CR56:6 All religions say that it is divine justice that is opposed to sin, but Christianity offers a satisfaction for divine justice: "Christ died for our sins." (1 Cor. 15:3) R4982:2; CR193:2 As Paul said to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." (2 Tim. 3:15-17) R200:5
That believeth— And not to every one. R1582:5 Receiving the spirit of that Word into good and honest hearts. R1698:6
To the Jew first— Until AD 70. R4337:2 God's blessings of every kind begin with the Jew. He gave the Jew the first opportunity under the Abrahamic Covenant. And when it comes to the blessings of the New Covenant, the opportunity will come to the Jew first. Q165:2 Millennial blessings will begin with Israel. OV88:3 Out of respect to the Covenant made with their father Abraham. R1582:5 The offer to become spiritual Israelites made first to the Jews living when this privilege was opened up. R5837:1 When all the Israelites indeed of that nation had been selected, the opportunity of joint-heirship with Christ was then opened to the world in general. NS111:2 Why to the Jew first? "He is not a Jew who is one outwardly; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly." (Rom. 2:28, 29) Because he believes first, here, in time to reach the great salvation. R404:5*, 222:5
To the Greek— The Gentiles. R1582:5

[NTC - Romans 1:17]

For— Because. R924:4
Therein— In the gospel. R1582:5 Paul is proceeding to answer objections and doubts liable to be raised by Jewish converts among the Romans. R1223:3
The righteousness— Justice. R924:4 Revealed—Paul's message revealed the righteousness, the justice of God, which other messages did not. R925:1The deep philosophy of God's plan makes manifest his righteous character. R1582:5
From faith to faith— We must come with faith begotten of reverence for the all-wise Author of the plan. From this starting point faith will progress to higher and higher altitudes. R1582:5To our faith, for our further faith. R924:4, 926:4 "For the righteousness of God by faith is revealed therein in order to faith" (Diaglott) R759:6* His righteousness is revealed for the express purpose of inducing men to have faith in him. R759:6*
The just— The justified by faith. R1582:5
Shall live— Must continue to live by faith, until faith is lost in full fruition of the sure promises of God. R1582:5

[NTC - Romans 1:18]

The wrath of God— As retribution for their wrong course. NS111:4 The entire period from the time Adam fell is properly called a time of divine wrath. R5402:4, 1506:4 Death and all the evil now permitted to come upon the culprit race are manifestations of God's wrath which will be yet further shown in the great time of trouble. R1506:5, 5402:5, 4972:6, 787:1; CR185:6 It came through the disobedience of our first parents; the only ones who have escaped from that wrath are the saintly few, begotten of the holy Spirit. CR186:4 "The wicked shall not go unpunished" (Prov. 11:21); but the wrath of God is always just, and tempered with mercy. "His mercy endureth forever." (Psa. 106:1; 107:1; 118:1-4; 136) HG319:4
Is revealed— Displayed. R787:3 In a variety of ways, to let man feel the real weight of condemnation incurred by willful transgression. R5402:5In every funeral procession, in every ache and pain. A140 Revealed by every physician's and undertaker's sign, by every funeral procession, every hearse, every graveyard, every tombstone, every piece of crepe and every badge of mourning. E409; NS366:3; Q328 You feel it, and you see it all about you in the dying of our race. Q328 Not in a future life, and in flames of torment; but in the present life and at the present time. E409 Illustrated in the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira. R1426:1
Against all ungodliness— Not only against the grossest of sinners—for the least unrighteousness is sin. E409 Therefore it is plain that both the heirs and the subjects of the Kingdom of God must have that character which is both begotten and developed by the faith of the gospel. R3114:2
Who hold the truth— Greek, katecho; hold down, or suppress, as do the various ecclesiastical systems of Babylon. R3648:2, 5259:1 In this text the word hold is used, not in the sense of retaining the truth, but of oppressing it. R5259:1 He cannot see the virtues of a truly righteous character as an inspiring and impelling power, though he may know of them theoretically, and hold the truth even in unrighteousness. R2087:6*
In unrighteousness— Through injustice. D68 Meaning to have a knowledge of the truth that we do not live up to. Not to live according to the truth would be to hold it in unrighteousness. Q726:3, 719:7 It might be possible for any of us to depart from the spirit of the truth and still hold something of the letter of the truth, and to use the letter of the truth injuriously to ourselves and others. Q720:T Knowledge does not necessarily produce right practice. A clean theology includes the "duties we are to practice" as well as the "doctrines we are to believe." R85:2* If knowledge is righteousness Paul should not and would not have written as he did. The nature of the unrighteousness is apparent in the context. R49:6* For instance, Satan had certain knowledge respecting the Lord, and misused that knowledge. Also, Simon Magus, in the Acts, misused what knowledge he had of the truth. Q720:T

[NTC - Romans 1:19]

Manifest in them— Apparent among them. D69

[NTC - Romans 1:20]

The invisible things— His plans. C374
The things that are made— As in the Great Pyramid. C374 There are two Bibles issuing from the same Divine Author: the Bible of the unwritten word, and the Bible of the written word; or, rather, one Bible in two volumes, the volume of Nature and the volume of Scripture; and the first volume is the second volume illustrated. R29:6*
Godhead— Greek, theiotes, deity. This is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. E71, D69; R1515:4 A meaningless word, a bad translation. It should be rendered divinity or deity, and then it would be intelligible. R1515:4, 249:1* Divinity. (Rotherham) R249:1* The word godhead, like the word Trinity, carries with it the idea of a society, which is not the idea of the original. R249:1 Signifying, to the ordinary English reader, a God with several bodies and but one head. E71
So that— Having the testimony of nature as to the existence, power and goodness of God, and of conscience indicating what is right and what is wrong. D69
They— The heathen nations have not been without responsibility because they did not like to hold God's righteous authority in remembrance. D68
Are without excuse— In pursuing an evil course of life. D69 God is not chargeable with any injustice toward the degraded heathen. It is their own fault that they are so extremely degraded. HG354:1

[NTC - Romans 1:21]

When— In the remote past. R1717:5, 1835:6 Away back before the Deluge. R648:4, 5305:1
They knew God— To some extent at least. D69 The world had a law from God, not written upon tables of stone, but incorporated in man's very character. But they have lost sight of it, or most of it, and are now strangers and foreigners unrecognized by God. R1733:6 What powers of mind and body the first man enjoyed, at the time God created him in his own image and pronounced him "very good," we cannot well judge by looking at the generally degraded race. R1683:6 God's law on tables of stone was given to Israel after two thousand years of falling had almost effaced the moral likeness. R1365:5, 1223:4
They— A general picture of the race, aside from Israel. R1723:5 With the exception of the family of Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah and Shem in the world that was; of Abraham's family in the Patriarchal age; of Israel in the Jewish age and of the Church in the Gospel age. R1257:3
Glorified him not— Such great degradation as we see manifested in some of the heathen peoples came about through disregard of the simplest principles of righteousness, the laws of which were distinctly written originally in man's very nature. HG354:1 In proportion as men have disregarded the Lord's will, arrangement and laws, so far as they knew them, in the same proportion have they injured and degraded themselves and their posterity. R3038:4Humanity could have helped themselves by seeking to follow God's way. R5305:1
Became vain— The Apostle is showing how it comes that some of the heathen are so very much more degraded, the nature-written law coming to be more nearly effaced, than others. R1717:5,1365:5 The more selfishness came in and gained control, the more the law of love was erased from Adam's heart. R1723:5 The Bible teaching of Adam and Eve and the fall. R3365:5
In their imaginations— Inventing false religions which justified their evil ways. Succeeding generations endorsed and justified the evil course of their forefathers by subscribing to their doctrines, thus assuming the accumulation of their guilt and condemnation. D70
Their foolish heart— Their perverse heart. D69
Was darkened— As the natural result of such a course. D69

[NTC - Romans 1:22]

Professing themselves— The Lord seems to be letting mankind learn the lesson that civilization does not spell salvation. R5974:6 Feigning learning. F45
To be wise— Thus theosophy, the religion of wisdom, claims that its wisdom is divine, resulting from direct intuition and communion with God, and rejects philosophical reasoning and Scripture revelation as hindrances to true wisdom. R5801:2, 1643:5 Unbelief or infidelity is spreading, beginning with learned college professors who pursue the method of holding up the earlier portions of the Bible as myths and generally discrediting the entire book. R1831:2
Became fools— Again the learned, professing to be wise, foolishly are rejecting the wisdom from above. Again immorality is rampant: anger, malice, hatred, strife, backbiting, whispering, wars, and murders are prevailing. R5974:6 Proving to their own satisfaction that all the religions of the world are really one, differing merely in proportion to the degrees of their evolution. R3365:3

[NTC - Romans 1:23]

Changed the glory— Thus gradually men came down to idolatry and bestiality, dishonoring and degrading themselves. R2719:2
Uncorruptible— Greek, aphtharsia and aphthartos (from the same root), are rendered immortality twice and immortal once, but would more properly be rendered incorruption and incorruptible. E397 Greek, aphtharsia. Used interchangeably with athanasia, and translated immortal or incorruptible; though athanasia has more the thought of unchangeability. R204:1
Into an image— Idolatry is the synonym of evil. It precludes the recognition of the one true God, whose purity and holiness are directly adverse to the spirit of idolatry. R1835:6
And to birds— Evil spirits have had much to do with the degradation of the human family. Operating along the line of man's natural and religious instincts, they have perverted these to sensualities and to idol, demon and animal worship.R3068:3

[NTC - Romans 1:24]

God also gave them up— Gave them over, through the lust of their hearts for impurity. D69 Without the grace of God, man's tendency has been downward. F45 In the first chapter of Romans the Apostle shows that God was not responsible for the prevalent degradation throughout the world. In the last chapter he concludes with the crushing of Satan under the feet of the saints during the Millennial reign of Christ. R2719:2 For a time permitting them to work all manner of uncleanness. But while God has allowed the world liberty in regard to their own wills, nevertheless he has not abandoned them. R5909:6 The deep degradation which came upon men soon after the flood. R3139:2 Allowed man to take his own way—to lose himself in sin and the misguidance of the Adversary; that eventually, during the next age, mankind shall see what the real nature and outcome of sin is. R5305:1 Interfering only when the corruption became so great as to make life injurious rather than a favor. OV250:1 Except for the one nation of Israel, which he undertook to specially deal with under the Law covenant. NS702:6
To uncleanness— Without selfish ambition or the law of necessity to spur men on, the tendency of mankind would have been toward a barbaric indolence, contentment with a hut instead of a palace, with hieroglyphics instead of education.R4109:6
Through the lusts— Giving themselves over to fleshly desires which the light of nature taught them were improper, they became more and more bestial and degraded. HG354:2

[NTC - Romans 1:25]

Changed the truth— Exchanged the truth. D69
Of God— Concerning God. D69
Into a lie— For a false religion. D70
Blessed for ever— Worthy of praise forever. D69

[NTC - Romans 1:26]

For this cause— The death sentence affected our race not only physically, but also morally and mentally. Thus, the mental, moral and physical deterioration surrounding us in the world are more or less directly connected with original sin. R3921:5
God gave them up— God did not strive with or endeavor to reclaim them, but let them alone to pursue their chosen evil course and to learn from experience its bitter fruits. D69
Vile affections— Infamous passions. D69 Our great Adversary has for thousands of years found sensuality, immorality, to be one of his best avenues through which to attack mankind, especially those who have acknowledged the Lord. R5974:3 Sodom was given up to wickedness and the basest immoralities. R1617:6

[NTC - Romans 1:28]

Even as— The fall of the race from perfection was proportionate to their alienation from God. SM377:1; NS111:5
They— The fallen race of mankind. E448; R3463:6, 1683:6, 1091:5 The great majority have followed Satan, the opponent of God. R5909:3; SM78:T
Not like to retain— Men are themselves to blame for their degradation. R1223:4 Willingly departing from him. R5909:3 Thus it was by wishing to forget God that man exposed himself to the influence of this wily and powerful, unseen foe. Therefore he has been obliged to work against Satan's machinations, as well as his own personal weaknesses. A263The degradation of the Gentile nations was not the result of their creation in a depraved condition, but the result of their not choosing to retain the knowledge of God in their hearts. R2394:5, 1223:4, 1091:4; HG112:3; NS111:5 Because of a wrong conception of God before their minds. CR418:5 It was because of willful sin that man was cast off from divine favor; but it was subsequently, when he did not wish to retain God in his thoughts, that God gave him over to a reprobate mind. E448 The Apostle explains the lesser degradation of some and the greater depravity of others by saying that, while all sinned and fell, some indulged more willfully and fell more deeply than others. R3256:4 We disobey and know it, reach out our hand, and in strange inflation of our little godless minds we set up ourselves, and by self-exaltation are ruined because we have left our God. R3257:1*
God in their knowledge— The law of God was originally inscribed upon the heart of the first perfect man. That law, whether ignored or recognized, has always been in the world, and sin against it has always been imputed to men. R3654:6 Neglecting divine regulations. NS111:5 Let us not be ashamed of regulating our lives (as with "The Vow") so as to avoid temptations as far as possible. R5975:5
God gave them over— "God tempteth no man." He merely abandons to the tempter, or to the evil-preferred course, those who choose the wrong way. NS95:1 They became children of Satan in the sense that they became obedient to him. R5623:6 God merely permitting them to take the course which they, as free moral agents, chose. NS111:5, 712:4 Abandoned them to their own way, permitting them to hasten and to increase their degradation. R2394:5 God has established certain laws, in harmony with which he operates, and those who from any cause come into conflict with these reap the penalty or wrath of their own course. A308 Thus the Scriptures explain the present condition of the world. God has let go of mankind during these six thousand years. CR490:2; HG112:3 God merely intervened when, in the condition of things before the Deluge, to have permitted their evil ways to continue would have been a serious wrong. R5305:1 Other nations were not specially chastised for idolatry as was Israel, but were allowed to practically take the course they chose. R3463:6 As he gave over the world of mankind in general, so in the Harvest of this age, the Lord will give over, or abandon to temptation, all in the nominal church. NS95:1
To a reprobate mind— A worthless mind. D69 Present degradation is a fall down from a height; a failure to retain God in their knowledge—an effacing of the law from their hearts and minds. R1717:6 By which they have degraded themselves more and more. SM78:T; NS510:4 Degradation, not advancement, was the course from Adam to Noah. From being "very good" the race became so depraved that they were unfit even to be allowed to live a few years under the curse. R866:1
To do those things— To try their own ideas of self-government independent of God. A263 To pursue the lusts of their depraved minds and to learn by sad experience the bitter fruitage of sin. R5716:6 They giving themselves over to things that were not profitable, defiling themselves, etc. OV250:2 These various dispositions—carelessness of life, the overcharged or drunken condition as respects earthly affairs, lack of self-restraint in connubial relationships, are apt to go hand in hand with a wrong spirit in the church—a spirit of strife, contention and willfulness. R3181:6
Are not convenient— Are improper. D69 As people leave God and his Word, they are ready for anything. R1831:3

[NTC - Romans 1:29]

With all unrighteousness— The Apostle's meaning is more refined than the following words represent—saints should not be intoxicated with the spirit of this world—intoxication for money, wealth, business, dress, music, art, etc. R3181:4
Fornication— Not the general lasciviousness of the world; but urging the saints to continence in social relations—to lift their minds from earthly affections and lawful sexual congress. R3181:2
Full of envy— When the Apostle comes to strife and envy, he notes two qualities which not only imply a wrong condition of heart, but also represent elements of character which would be injurious to the whole body of Christ. R3181:5
Malignity— Bad habits. D69
Whisperers— Secret slanderers. D69

[NTC - Romans 1:30]

Backbiters— Revilers. D69
Despiteful— Insolent. D69
Disobedient to parents— Whoever learns to respect his forebears will proportionately have consideration for others; while those disobedient to parents and without natural affection, are prepared to be covenant-breakers and anarchists.R4019:2 One of the notable features of our day—marking the day of trouble in the end of this age. R4019:2

[NTC - Romans 1:31]

Without understanding— Obstinate. D69

[NTC - Romans 1:32]

The judgment of God— The ordinance of God—that those who practice such things are worthy of death. D69
Which commit— Who practice. D69
Such things— We are not to forget that these condemned qualities are being inculcated and fostered by all the higher teachings of the worldly wise. R4019:2
Worthy of death— Torment is unjust as well as unmerciful; but taking away life from those who will not conform to the New Covenant's just, holy and kind regulations is reasonable, just and merciful. R3083:5
Have pleasure in— Are approving. D69

[NTC - Romans 2:1]

Thou art inexcusable— Men are themselves to blame for their degradation. R1223:4 The great degradation we see in some heathen peoples came through disregard of the simplest principles of righteousness. HG354:1 The heathen giving themselves over to fleshly desires, which the light of nature taught to be improper, they became more degraded and bestial. HG354:2 Ignorance and superstition in the world are not the fault of God. R1091:4 The Apostle was not talking about the rejection of Christ by the heathen, for they had never heard of him. HG354:2
O man— All men, Jews and Gentiles, have come into some measure of darkness. R648:4

[NTC - Romans 2:4]

His goodness— God's goodness is revealed in Christ. R100:1* The goodness of God leadeth men to repentance. R759:5* Whoever now hears of God's goodness and is not melted by the thought of his need for a Savior, may never accept his favor even in the age to come. SM359:2
Longsuffering— Greek, makrothunia; corresponds to the common thought of patience, it means merely longsuffering. R2790:6
To repentance— All who have heard the gospel message with a measure of understanding and appreciation have thereby some responsibility concerning it. SM359:2

[NTC - Romans 2:5]

Day of wrath— The "day of trouble," the period of forty years introducing Messiah's reign. B137, 138 The great time of trouble in the end of the Gospel age specially. R787:3, 5402:4, 4522:2 These troubles are really the outgrowth of human wrongdoing. OV345:T In the awful trouble of the Day of Wrath, the world will have an illustration of its own money-mad condition. R4522:2 The wrath manifested in death, for Adam's sin, is supplemented by that to come in the time of trouble because of the willfulness and perversity of Adam's fallen children. R787:3 Millennial purgatory. R1471:1
Revelation— With wrath upon the nations, will the Lord reveal to the world the fact of the change of dispensations, and the change of rulers. B138
Judgment of God— Against all who are in opposition to righteousness and truth. R1471:2 The retribution will be very heavy at first, making a "time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation." (Dan. 12:1) B138

[NTC - Romans 2:6]

Who will render— When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth. Q793:4; A298
Every man— Applicable in some degree to everybody; but specially to the Church. R4501:3
To his deeds— Whatever we are permitted to do one for the other is in the nature of a test of our loyalty to God, of our justice toward the world, or of our loving devotion to the brethren. R4501:6 There is great danger of "presumptuous sins." R1802:3

[NTC - Romans 2:7]

To them— Only a certain class—believers in Jesus who flee from iniquity. R142:5, 5768:4, 279:3 Those begotten of the holy Spirit. R5371:3 The class called to be Christ's associates in the Kingdom. R5711:4 Those who have consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ and been counted members of his Body. R5710:6"Elect" class, tried and tested. R3106:6 Who have fellowship with their Master's sufferings. R2317:5 "The Church," "the Body of Christ," "the Royal Priesthood," "the seed of Abraham." R1879:4, 2317:5
By patient continuance— Patiently, perseveringly cultivating and developing the character-likeness of our Redeemer. R4501:3 By patient development of Christlike character in meekness, gentleness, patience and love. R4502:1 The precious promises of God are incorruptible seed, and if retained and nourished will develop in divine nature. R1642:4The requirements of character for the high position are exacting; few of the many called will win the prize of divine nature. R1642:3, 281:3 Not only faith, but loyalty also is necessary. R5844:2 The permission of evil allows opportunity for sacrifice and heart development. R1879:1 The successful enduring of these tests is indispensable to those whom God would thus honor. F125, 63
In well doing— In sacrificing the human interests. T28; E411 The various tests of the present time are tests of faith loyalty to God and entire submission to his will. R5844:3 By full and hearty obedience of mind. R1642:3 Working out the fruits of righteousness, prepares us for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. E411 To develop in us more abundantly his Spirit, and thus to fit and prepare us for glory, honor and immortality. E411 Those who sacrifice earthly rights and privileges will eventually attain to glory, honor and immortality beyond the veil. HG732:3*
Seek— Joint-heirship with the Lord in his heavenly power and Kingdom are the hopes set before the Church. R2479:5, 5371:2, 3774:1 They seek to do only the will of the Heavenly Father. R5711:1 It remains for us to make this calling and election sure. R3913:5; E390 To glorify the Heavenly Father.R2698:6 "Seek chiefly the Kingdom of God." (Matt. 6:33) R2479:5 This prominence, God's people should seek by, faithfulness, humility, love and zeal in the service of the Lord. R5711:2 Prayer is an excellent aid in seeking. R2479:5 By setting our affections on heavenly things and lifting our affections from earthly things.R2479:5 The saints in Christ are exhorted to seek immortality. E390 Only one way to seek for the great prize successfully, by patiently and perseveringly cultivating the character-likeness of our Redeemer. R4501:3
Glory— "It became him; in bringing many sons unto glory." (Heb. 2:10) E395 The plane to which the Church will be resurrected. R5760:3,1879:4 The call of this Gospel age is a call to glory, honor, and immortality. R5371:2 "Sown in dishonor" they will be raised in glory. (1 Cor. 15:43) R5711:1This is the glorious inheritance of Zion. R5711:2 "When his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Pet. 4:13) R5118:3 The Church, as their Lord, enters glory at resurrection. R1879:4 "Here unto were ye called." (1 Pet. 2:21) R3913:5 Far above angels, principalities, and powers, and every name.R2859:6 The first resurrection. R2859:6 The spirit condition. R2317:4 Changed by resurrection power from human nature.R1879:5
Honor— Joint-heirship with Jesus. F125; R5677:4 This class will receive pre-eminence over all other classes, all other stations, in earth or in heaven. R5711:1 This promotion can be received from no other quarter than God himself, on his own terms. R5711:2 This great eminence Lucifer sought to grasp, will be granted as a reward to The Christ, Head and Body. R5711:2 The Lord has called us out of the world to share with him his spiritual, heavenly glories and honors. R3913:5 Joint-heirship with our Savior in the heavenly Kingdom which will dominate the world for the thousand years. HG694:5; F125; R5677:4If we are found faithful God will exalt us in due time, but he cannot exalt any who are not humble. R5844:1
And— It is right for us to seek for them. R5082:3
Immortality— Greek, aphtharsia; incorruption. Closely related to athanasia; immortality. R2339:4, 3175:2, 281:5, 204:1; E397; F727 One that cannot decay, that cannot die. R3175:2 Indestructible existence which needs no refreshment or supply; possessed of inherent life. R1641:6, 192:4* Second death will have no power. R1642:4 None may claim an immortality outside Christ, nor that life is the result of obedience to the Law. R5871:4 Only those of the wise virgin class, who have copied the Lord's character, will be counted as "more than overcomers." R5371:3 Only the Little Flock, the Bride class, will have immortality. R5371:6 Immortality is conditional, it is a reward conferred upon those who are faithful and obedient to the Lord's commands. Q834:3The reward for those who keep their covenant of sacrifice with the Lord. R5006:6, 5759:6, 5371:3, 297:4, 281:3 From the Church of the first-born, a part will attain divine nature, and a part everlasting life. R5371:6 They will be exalted far above angels and be granted divine nature as their Master and forerunner. R5711:1, 2479:5; F63; NS172:2 The great promotion which God purposes to give his true saints of the Gospel age. R5711:1 The Bible explicitly limits immortality to the Father and Son, and holds out this hope to the saints. R3774:1, 5371:6 Will be instantaneous at the second advent of the Redeemer for the establishment of the Kingdom. R3107:1 God has promised these to those who love him. R2699:1 The first resurrection, Christ's resurrection. R5711:1, SM253:T Our Lord has already obtained these as a reward for his faithful sacrifice.R2479:5 A gift, a well spring of life in himself, springing up everlastingly. R1642:4 Given to the Son, and also promised as a gift to the followers of Christ. R715:4; F727 The joy set before Jesus. R281:3 Not possessed by natural man, else if possessed by him, why seek for it? R802:5*, HG129:6 While Romanism teaches that immortality is inherent in all men, the Scriptures teach that immortality is a glorious prize to be sought for and to be obtained only by the elect. R560:4*, 2047:1, 744:
Eternal life— At his return he will render rewards to his faithful; he will render eternal life. F402 This promotion can be received from no other quarter than God himself, and on his own terms. R5711:1 "The gift of God is eternal life." (Rom. 6:23) E285 Only attained through the blood once shed as the ransom-price for the whole world.R5871:4; E285; HG305:6 Granted to those who seek for glory and honor and immortality through tests of faith and loyalty to God, and of entire submission to his will. R5844:3 As a reward to all who so strive, including the Great Company, who do not attain the highest reward. R3154:1 None can claim that faith in some great teacher and obedience to his instructions will bring eternal life. R5871:4 The power of God to perpetually supply the conditions essential to an everlasting condition. R3774:1 The Law promised eternal life to any Jew who could keep it. PD66/78

[NTC - Romans 2:8]

Contentious— The contentious spirit or disposition is generally found amongst those not living up to the spirit of the truth which they have already recognized. R4009:1 Faultfinding, irascible, the dissatisfied, a disposition that will not be rewarded with eternal life. R4501:3 Those who are disobedient to the truth. R2804:1 Alas, that amongst those in the truth these contentious persons are found doing a destructive work, instead of a helpful work. R4502:2
Do not obey— Who disobey? Those who know the truth. R222:1*, 404:4*
And wrath— At or during the thousand years of the Lord's second presence. R1471:2

[NTC - Romans 2:9]

Tribulation and anguish— More or less in connection with the present life—either as part of the Great Company or those who die the second death. R4502:2 In the Millennial age. R1412:3 He who suffers tribulation will have it as a witness of wrong doing and the King's displeasure. R1412:3 We expect they will be beaten with many stripes, they will have punishments—not eternal torment. R3779:4
That doeth evil— The Scriptures declare, a just recompense of reward to every soul that doeth evil. R3779:4
Of the Jew— Who, at the time of the crucifixion, and ever since, has represented all Israel. C253 After the Babylonish captivity the name "Jew" became synonymous with "Israelite" and included all who hoped for the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promises. C292; R1340:6

[NTC - Romans 2:10]

Glory, honor, and peace— The world of mankind, the righteous and obedient, will receive perfect human conditions. Q794:T
To the Jew first— At the second advent, as a people they will be a firstfruit among the nations. A298 During the Millennium, as a natural result of his training under the Law. A297; R5000:2 The sprinkling of Israel will come first, as the offer of the privilege of becoming members of spiritual Israel was first offered to the Jews.R5000:2 The preaching of the gospel of the high calling was to the Jew first, because they as a people were already justified from sin and consecrated to God typically. R952:1, 5000:2
Also to the Gentile— "All the families of the earth." (Gen. 12:3) A298 Who even typically were without God and without any knowledge of his plan, or hope of sharing in it. R952:1 When God's judgments are abroad in the earth, those who comply, both Jews and Gentiles, will experience divine favor. Q793:T

[NTC - Romans 2:11]

No respect of persons— The Jew could not claim that they had more of a right to everlasting life and salvation (restitution) to original perfection than the heathen. R929:5* The Jew will have the first blessing, not by reason of partiality on God's part, but because he made a covenant with their father Abraham. R5964:3*

[NTC - Romans 2:12]

Sinned without law— The Gentiles, without the Law given at Sinai, were sinners. R1223:4
Perish without law— Died under sentence of some law aside from Sinai's Law. R1223:4
Sinned in the law— The whole Jewish nation: "All who sinned." (Rom. 3:23) E417
Judged by the law— The one specially favored nation under the Law Covenant, was also the one specially condemned. E417

[NTC - Romans 2:13]

Shall be justified— If a man would be justified to life under the Law given him he must keep it perfectly. R929:5 He that receiveth the Law nor he who hears the Law is justified by it—but he that does the things required by the Law. NS18:4 None being righteous, none could be acquitted or approved before God, whether they had the Law or did not have it. R2719:5

[NTC - Romans 2:14]

Have not the law— The written Law, the Law given at Sinai. R587:4, 1223:4, 789:5, 556:2*
Things contained in the law— Some heathen people do some good things in harmony with the divine law. R2344:6
A law unto themselves— The original law of God remaining in their hearts condemns them. R5070:6, 6:5 "That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God." (Rom. 3:19) A101 With a sufficiency of light, of intelligence to condemn them all. HG361:1 The Gentiles were condemned, not justified by the light of conscience. A101

[NTC - Romans 2:15]

Shew the work— Give some evidence. R587:4, 1717:5, 789:5
Law written in their hearts— Remnants of the original law, fragmentary proofs that it once was innate in humanity. F351 This glimmer of conscience, often distorted by superstition and error, illustrates when it will fully be written in their hearts. R789:5 We may still find traces of the original law in the most degraded of men, the world over. R1717:5, 789:5, 587:4
Their conscience— Since the rest of the world recognizes by their consciences that they are condemned. then the whole world stands guilty in God's sight. R5070:6, 556:2*
Accusing or else excusing— The world realizing their blemished and imperfect condition find their conscience sometimes accusing and sometimes endeavoring to excuse them. HG361:1; A101This condition of things among the heathen are the warped and twisted remnants of the original law of man's being. F351 Thus acknowledging wrong-doing. R3398:3 No matter how fallen, man still has in his heart enough of the original law that his conscience will either accuse him of wrong-doing or excuse his conduct. R5070:6, 1717:5, 789:5, 587:4

[NTC - Romans 2:16]

God— Jehovah was the original Lawgiver and Judge, and will forever maintain this position. F396
Judge— Greek, krino; to distinguish, decide, try; referring to the judgment of the Millennial age. R2426:4
The secrets of men— Of the world. F396
By Jesus Christ— Showing that a knowledge of Christ is necessary. R33:4* The world's judgment (trial) by Jehovah is committed to the well beloved Son. R2426:4 The Jew cannot be released by keeping Moses' Law, nor the heathen released by keeping the law of conscience, the whole world must accept Christ. HG283:4

[NTC - Romans 2:17]

The law— Given to the Jews and not to the Gentiles, only a Jew could get its blessing or its curse. R4868:2

[NTC - Romans 2:20]

A teacher of babes— Whoever exercises the gift of teaching lays himself open to increased responsibility in the sight of God and men. (James 3:1) R2156:3

[NTC - Romans 2:24]

Is blasphemed—Not the grosser meaning of blasphemy but the kind of careless living practiced among the Jews. R5404:3 Under divine instruction, care and recognition; if they did the things dishonoring to God, they were blaspheming his name. R5404:3 Blasphemy was a terrible thing among the Jews. R5404:3 There is a great danger of Christians profaning God's name by careless living. R5404:5
Among the Gentiles— Before the world. R5404:3
Through you— The Jewish people, who had come into relationship with God through the Law Covenant. R5404:2 The name of God is blasphemed among the heathen through Christendom today, as it formerly was through the Jewish nation, because it misrepresents him and practices unrighteousness. D71, 72

[NTC - Romans 2:26]

Keep the righteousness— If a man not a Jew, do perfectly the will of God, he would be acceptable with God. R929:5

[NTC - Romans 2:28]

A Jew— This text applies to natural Israel, not to spiritual Israel. R4586:2 True Israelites, engrafted into the root of promise. R2443:1

[NTC - Romans 2:29]

One inwardly— The special privilege of a part in the Messianic Kingdom will be granted only to those Jews who prove loyal to the Law and the prophets. R5964:3 The orthodox Jews will be more ready to receive the blessing of the new dispensation promptly than will any other people. R5964:3
Circumcision is that of the heart— The law of circumcision passed away when that to which it pointed, circumcision of the heart, was set forth. HG582:4 Spiritual Israelites must have circumcision of the heart, which signifies a cutting off—a separation from the flesh, its aims, hopes and desires. R3022:3 The putting away of the sins of the flesh, which both antitypical priests and Levites should practice, symbolized by both priests and Levites washing in the laver in the Court. T119

[NTC - Romans 3:1]

Hath the Jew— A race in every way marked as distinct and peculiar. C244 God passed by all other nations of the earth. (Amos 3:2) R1978:6,2396:2

[NTC - Romans 3:2]

Much every way— They had privileges and special provision of divine favor which Gentiles did not have. R5504:3, 4656:4 If they committed a trespass the priest would offer a peace offering for them and cleanse them. These were blessings by virtue of their covenant relationship. R4656:4 Let not the greater responsibility of Christendom be forgotten with their still greater advantages of both the Law and the gospel. D71 Israel had advantages every way under their Law Covenant, yet those who failed the Law came under a curse not upon others nations. R5046:1,1725:1 The Law was a great benefit as an educator to show them their own weakness and need of salvation. R929:5, 4037:6 They were made to differ from other men by reason of God's dealings with them and promises to them. SM380:1; R532:6 The advantage is evidenced by the fact that nearly all the early Christian converts were from the Jews, or from Gentiles exposed to Judaism. R4038:1 As long as the Israelites would be faithful and loyal to God, they would be thoroughly protected against their enemies. R5504:3 The Jews were blessed with a Law Covenant on the "third day" and were blessed in it for a whole age. R4570:4 The Law Covenant was conditional and because of Israel's disobedience the divine promises to them passed away. R3108:2 Even the Jews were not offered a full, complete reconciliation but merely a typical one. NS365:4 All of their difficulties were profitable to them as a nation and individually to those rightly exercised by the tests and thereby drawn near the Lord. R4037:5 These divine gifts, favors, blessings, promises are all symbolically represented in the rich man's condition, in the parable of the rich man. HG428:2, NS304:5 The middle wall of partition has been broken down between Jew and Gentile, there is still a selection according to favor. NS331:3 The Jewish people had a certain amount of light. R3895:1 A people distinguished and honored among the nations, attracting the wonder and admiration of the world. C244
Unto them— God passed by all the other nations of the earth and recognized only Israel. R1978:6 They alone were recognized, and this continued until Christ came, after that they were given up and their house left desolate. R532:6 From among that elect favored nation God made still further selection of faithful ones for his purpose as outlined in Hebrews 11. NS369:1
Oracles of God— Law and prophecy. R2604:2, 5241:5, 4344:2 The Law and the testimony of God. R1846:2, 1742:6, 532:6 Called in the New Testament the Holy Scriptures. R1622:3 Which came to Israel through the conditional arrangement of the Law Covenant. R3108:2 The divine message respecting the divine promises, present and to come. SM396:1; R1223:4; CR103:6 That collection of sacred writings, the Word of God, which were committed to the care and guardianship of the Jewish people. R1622:3 Even now the influences of the divine promises make them still a great people. SM380:1 They had not received the spirit of the truth but merely in the Law and prophets the shadow of good things coming after. R2070:5 Developing among them poets, lawyers, statesmen, philosophers, leading them from a nation of slaves to a people distinguished and honored among the nations. C244 The very blessings of God's oracles tended to make them nothing but proud and ultimately assisted in their rejection of the Savior. NS304:5

[NTC - Romans 3:4]

Let God be true— The outcome will show that God is true and will prove many so called wise men to have been in error in many of their guesses respecting truth. SM275:1 If all would decide to let God be true and show all human creeds to be imperfect, there would be a great creed smashing work done, the Bible would be studied as never before. R2614:4, 1087:4 Though it disprove many of the theories we once believed and almost worshipped, we want the truth. R4774:2; OV136:5
But— Though it make. R870:6, 2835:6, 2614:4
Every man a liar— Particularly every Evolutionist. F41; R2835:6; NS428:4 Showing all human creeds to be imperfect and misleading. R2614:4 Let the issue be squarely drawn as between the words of God and the words of men. NS509:4 If any teacher, a human being or a paper published, is wrong on the one vital point—the ransom—we should have nothing further to do with such until it is fully retracted. R1453:4 Test every item of teaching which you receive as your faith regardless of how much you esteem the person who presents it. No fellow-mortal is infallible. R1136:5

[NTC - Romans 3:5]

Taketh vengeance— Vengeance is translated wrath in Romans 5:9. R787:3 It would be as improper for our Creator to refrain from righteous indignation when there is a just cause, as it would be to be angry without a cause. R787:3

[NTC - Romans 3:6]

God judge the world— As its Supreme Judge. F396 The Greek for judge is: krino; to distinguish, decide, try, etc. R2426:4

[NTC - Romans 3:8]

Slanderously— Very vehemently the Apostle protests that their condemnation was just, who slanderously reported that he taught, let us do evil that good might follow. R1269:2 Is it lawful for me to cheat, to steal, to bear false witness, to kill, or to do evil that good might come? The Apostle Paul resents this charge against him and calls it slander. R1778:1, 871:6 The same is true today. R4680:5 To charge that God did evil, or caused evil that good might follow, is to charge the Holy One with what any honest man would be ashamed of. Paul terms it "slander." R848:3, 3145:3, 871:6
Let us do evil— Some so misconstrued the Apostle's words at the time, declaring that evil might be done if good follow. R1269:2 If God is the author or creator of sin (evil), then indeed he would be the chief of sinners. R848:3
That good may come— The Apostle Paul condemns as unworthy of any servant of God, the idea that the end sought justifies the means. R1312:3
Whose— Some in opposition to the Gospel message. NS403:5
Damnation is just— Damnation in its original signification had the same meaning as our word condemn. NS402:3 The Apostle is speaking not of God's judgment, but of the general judgment of himself and the Church. NS403:5 The Apostle had a right to condemn them, and to say that this misrepresentation of the message of the Lord was evil. NS403:6 As it was just in the Apostle's day, to condemn and specify individuals, so it may be proper for the Lord's people today to openly rebuke those who oppose the divine message. NS403:6 A condemnation of, "The end justifies the means." R1312:3, 3145:4

[NTC - Romans 3:9]

Are we— We Jews. R2719:5, 4586:3, 3398:5
Better than they— The Gentiles, living according to the light they possess. R2719:5, 4586:3, 3398:5
Both Jews and Gentiles— Jews must become dead to the Law and Gentiles dead to sin in order that both might become one in Jesus Christ—Christians. R4586:3 The Jews are not justified to life because God gave them the Law any more than are the heathen to whom he never gave any special favors. R3398:5
All under sin— Jews as well as the Gentiles are all worthy of condemnation. R648:4, 4586:3 All were unworthy of eternal life, and the race had been in this pitiable condition for four thousand years, when God in his mercy sent a Savior. R2050:6

[NTC - Romans 3:10]

There is none— None measure up to the glorious image of God, as first it was represented in father Adam. R5196:6, 3238:2 None of Adam's posterity—all the world has been unjust. E96, 102; CR21:3; OV150:2; Q510:T None are sound of mind or body, all are out of the way. R5978:1 None up to the standard of perfection required by the Law, hence not approved of it. R812:2 "None could give a ransom for his brother." (Psa. 49:7) E96, 102, 418; T78; R777:1 God's scale is 100 points of character—a perfect man. None have 100 points. Q727:T All sane people recognize themselves as imperfect and hence as unworthy the recognition of the great Creator. They cannot commend themselves to him as being worthy of his favor and eternal life. R4618:4
Righteous— None perfect, sound in mind and body. E252; R5978:1, 5169:6, 5108:6, 4991:4, 4386:5 Perfect in the sense that God is perfect.R5794:1, 5336:5, 5309:1 Absolute righteousness. R4977:2 Righteousness of the will, holiness and purity of heart are possible. SM394:T; R5108:6 The Advocate imputes a sufficiency of his merit, to make these perfect in the sight of justice. R4854:6, 5439:6, 4597:6; OV227:T; SM307:2 We are merely righteous in our intentions and efforts. R4597:6 There is a relative righteousness, however, which God can approve. Those walking in the ways of righteousness, while trusting in the precious blood are spoken of as righteous. R5218:2, 5032:3 All need divine mercy; the humble and contrite would be much more acceptable to God than the boastful, the proud, the self-conceited. R4986:5Mental, moral and physical imperfections are manifest everywhere. OV295:1; CR131:2; SM612:2, 394:1 Therefore all are condemned. R648:4, 929:5 The fountain, Adam, having become contaminated by sin and death, none of his posterity can be free from contamination. R777:1; SM612:2 Thus we account for our sorrows, our pains, our troubles. NS188:3 All are sharers of the original sin and its consequences. A407 All come short of God's standard, but some have not lost their reverence or appreciation of justice, which are drawing influences toward God. R5201:2 Various qualities of murder, lust, covetousness, etc., are more or less seen in the unbalanced mental and moral conditions resulting from the fall. R4991:4; NS501:5 Whoever therefore, claims that he is righteous and on that rejects the Redeemer, is a hypocrite—in a wrong condition of mind.R4587:5 All learning this, will look for the promised Messiah as their sin-bearer, to justify them and to discipline them and make them perfect and able to obey the Law. R2684:1 Our experiences teach us that it is impossible for fallen humanity to attain absolute righteousness. R3321:2 In the Millennial age, the disciplines and humiliations for present wrong doing will have one consolation, they will be in some measure shared by all. R1655:3 "All we like sheep have gone astray." (Isa. 53:6) R1217:1 Actually, there is none just, but there is a class "justified by faith." A20 Although some are less fallen than others, less depraved, all have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God. E418 The curse of sin has laid its heavy hand on the entire man—mind and body. A252 We have nothing of ourselves to offer that God could accept; our Advocate imputes of his merit to make the sacrifice good. Q658:4
No, not one— All come short of the glorious standard which God has set. R5242:3, 4587:5; SM430:3 None actually righteous according to the strict standard of the Law. SM307:2; R812:2* All the trying in the world could not prove this divine statement an incorrect one. SM394:T It becomes part of our test how we shall deal with our brethren who are imperfect and whose imperfections grate upon us and irritate us. CR274:1 All have violated the divine law, and all are under the sentence of that law, even though some have sinned more egregiously than others. HG746:3; NS242:6 God sought not the perfect in mind, morals, or features, but the honest and sincere. R4003:1 Jesus was distinctly separate from the Adamic race—his life came not from Adam but from the Heavenly Father. Therefore he was separate from sinners. R3938:6; SM306:1 The Scriptures close every door of hope save one, showing that not one of the condemned is able to secure eternal life by meritorious works. A101 If there were one righteous one, he might give a ransom for Adam and all condemned in Adam's transgression, but none could be found. E418, 102; NS473:6 It was because the Lord beheld and saw that there was no man competent to redeem the world that he laid help upon one who is mighty to save to the uttermost. E96 Those who hotly pursue evildoers must realize they themselves have weaknesses, frailties, imperfections. NS401:2 The Evolution theory contradicts this. R2837:4

[NTC - Romans 3:13]

Poison of asps— Honeyed words and deeds are the baits behind which is fastened the hook of slander, evil-speaking, evil insinuations. R4480:6 Some of the thorn and brier class (Matt. 7:16) are courageous enough to make lies; others, less courageous, love the lies and are mean enough to circulate them. R5148:1 Those who throw literal stones are much less dangerous than those more outwardly decorous who have the poison of asps under their lips, who backbite, speak evil of and slander others. R2560:5

[NTC - Romans 3:15]

Their feet— The wicked. R705:3 "For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood." (Prov. 1:16) R2053:2

[NTC - Romans 3:18]

No fear of God— Evidently these are unregenerate. R4841:1

[NTC - Romans 3:19]

That what things— Curses as well as blessings. R1725:1
The law— The Law Covenant. R1725:1 Written to the Jews, unwritten to the Gentiles. R929:6; A101
It saith to them— Its promises of life were only to the one nation. R1725:1, 1729:4, 973:5 Moses also made the same statement, "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Even us who are here alive this day." (Deut. 5:2, 3) R5046:1, 1725:1 The Apostle shows that this curse was upon only those who were under the Covenant. R5046:1, 1725:1
Under— The Greek word en is also translated "in, through, by, with." R826:3
The law— The Law Covenant. R1725:1 So it is true of the law of love, it speaks only to the consecrated believers in Christ. R1729:4, 973:5 Jesus was born under the Law that he might redeem those who were condemned under the Law. E417
May be stopped— From self-justification. R1582:3 From claiming the right to life. A101 Silences them from any reply as appeal from the eminently just verdict. R929:6 That eternal life may be seen to be "The gift of God." R6:4, 544:4
All the world— Both Jews and Gentiles. R4341:3, 2719:5, 929:5, 556:2*; A101 The Gentiles, who had not the written Law, were condemned, not justified, by the light of conscience, even as the Jews who had the written Law were condemned by it. A101 The Law revealed that all are sinners—proving that no man could make himself worthy of lasting life. R1223:4 All the world except those in Christ, for those without the written Law are a law unto themselves. R556:2*, 544:4
May become— Stands. A101 May realize that they are. R3398:6
Guilty before God— All are under sin, all are condemned, all are unworthy of life. R929:6, 4341:3 The Jews through inability to keep their Law Covenant, and the Gentiles through inability to live up to the light of their consciences. R1582:3, 5070:6, 544:4, 257:6, 6:5

[NTC - Romans 3:20]

Deeds of the law— Works. (Diaglott) R13:6 Represented by the first ascending passage in the Great Pyramid. C337, 370, 368 Even the best of the Jews could not keep his Law. CR434:6 Receiving a Law is not keeping that Law. R5070:2 The Christian is not under the Law Covenant and has nothing to do with its terms and conditions. R2269:3, 1498:3 The Jewish church was always adding Christ's teachings to the Mosaic Law instead of accepting the sacrificial death of Christ. R972:1 The Law judges by the deeds of the flesh, while the law of Christ judges by the intent of the mind or will. R543:1 God's object in giving Israel the typical Covenant, was to show them their own depraved condition. R789:2; 428:6 The Jews tried to justify themselves by their own works, they did not build on the Rock, Christ Jesus. R428:5 None could keep the Law perfectly, though they might have come much nearer to a perfect observance of its requirements. B84 Jews died because none of them kept the Law—because no imperfect being could keep the requirements of God's Law. SM43:4 Sacrifices of bulls and goats yearly never took away sin, but merely in a typical manner pointed toward the "better sacrifices." NS365:4 God, however, assured Israel that at some time in the future he would make with them a New (Law) Covenant. NS698:2
Shall no flesh— None of the fallen race, needing justification. R5046:2, 1725:2 "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law." (John 7:19) B84 The Law condemns as unworthy of life, every creature which cannot and does not fulfill its every requirement perfectly. R688:2; NS641:6
Be justified— Faith in Christ's finished work alone justifies. E444; R5027:4; 823:3; CR435:1; OV280:1 The only way to obtain justification in God's sight is by the acceptance of Christ and by a full consecration. R5027:4, 823:3; OV280:1 In man's present imperfect condition the Law must and does condemn everyone under it and justifies none. R542:3 If the Jews were justified by the Law, then Christ died in vain. R4785:4 The Jews found that the Law, instead of perfecting, justifying, them and giving them eternal life, brought to them a greater realization of sin than they ever had before. CR192:6 The nation of Israel tried afresh each year to demonstrate their loyalty to God and his righteousness by obedience to the Law, but only failure could and did result. SM70:3 Perfect obedience to the Law was impossible. R5653:3, 3843:3, 542:2; OV428:6; Q433:2; SM43:4 For over sixteen centuries the Law Covenant was in force and not a Jew was able to keep it. Q433:2 The Law, so far from justifying the Jews, showed them to be in a condition of sin by their inability to keep it. R2719:5 God has provided for both Jew and Gentile one way to come into harmony with him—Christ. R2719:5 Israel may have imagined it possible to gain everlasting life under the Law, but God never had such expectations. R1725:2 "The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." (Rom. 8:4) R823:3
His sight— His presence. (Diaglott) R13:5 God's sight. R6:5, 544:4, 257:6
Knowledge of sin— The intention of the Law was to prove to the Jews and all men the impossibility of any but perfect man to fulfill the Law. R3843:3 This was the real blessing of the Law Covenant—it showed them their sinful condition and their inability to lift themselves out of it. CR192:6

[NTC - Romans 3:21]

But now— Applies to the whole time, from Christ's first to his second coming, at least, and covers the Gospel age up to the time Christ with his saints takes the Kingdom. R518:4
Righteousness of God— Justness. R1030:1 The Law became a witness to God's righteousness—that he had been right that Israel had not kept the Law and that all mankind were unfit for his favors. R2719:5 God's method of justification has been witnessed, attested by the Law and the prophets. R1030:2
Without the law— Apart from the Law. R1582:6, 1030:1 Aside from the Law, though in perfect harmony with its spirit. R929:6
Witnessed by the law— "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls." (Lev. 19:11) R1030:5 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Heb. 9:22) R1030:5
And the prophets— We should look to the Law and the prophets and see how they thus vindicate God's character. R1583:1

[NTC - Romans 3:22]

Righteousness of God— The Law witnessed to the justice of God in providing the ransom for sinners. R2719:5
By faith of Jesus— As a ransom for sinners. R2719:6 Whose righteousness is imputed to us by faith. R1498:3
Them that believe— Whether Jews or Gentiles. R2719:6, 504:4
For there is— For now there is. R2719:6
No difference— There is no distinction, all are fallen sinners. R929:6

[NTC - Romans 3:23]

All have sinned— Original sin. NS419:5 All are sharers of the original sentence; are unworthy of divine favor and need a Redeemer. E407; R4982:4, 2719:6
Come short— Of the grand standard of divine holiness and perfection. CR451:3; R5267:4, 5201:1, 4587:5; OV366:2
Glory of God— As a standard of that perfection which was given to father Adam in his creation. NS410:6; R5169:6, 5360:5; F101; PD7/13 All come short of that glorious perfection which God originally created and which alone he can approve. HG656:4, 650:1, 193:2; NS233:5 Come short of that perfection or likeness of God which really honor and glorify him as the Creator. NS449:5

[NTC - Romans 3:24]

Being justified— God will justify; clear from guilt. R929:6, 504:4 Not one was ever "called," i.e., invited to run for this Kingdom prize, who was not first justified. R1141:2 God's grace continues to maintain our justification while we abide in Christ. F160
Freely by his grace— By God's favor. R1350:3 By his divine favor, not because of their merit. R929:6 All of the Heavenly Father's grace is extended to us through our Lord Jesus' sacrifice. E461 There was no obligation upon our Creator to recover us from the just penalty he had placed upon us. F105
The redemption— Greek, apolutrosis; the deliverance, the justification, which continues to be ours so long as we abide in Christ. E434; F159, 160 This is the foundation doctrine of Christianity, which in these days of worldly wisdom is rapidly coming into disrepute. R1582:3
In Christ Jesus— The Apostle shows the value of the death of Christ, to both Jew and Gentile, who are alike condemned to death. R1582:3 Thus the conditions the Lord clearly points out, the conditions upon which salvation is provided for all men. R1442:2

[NTC - Romans 3:25]

Whom— Jesus. R641:1
God— The Judge. R504:4
Propitiation— Greek, hilasterion; is incorrectly rendered propitiation; it signifies propitiatory, i.e. place of satisfaction. E442, 434; R2719:6, 641:1; 420:6, 128:1; T124; HG54:1 Propitiatory-covering. (See Rotherham's translation and footnote) R1223:5, 688:1, 641:5, 420:6 The Mercy Seat or channel of mercy or appeasement. E442 Satisfaction—for Adamic sin. R504:4 Place of satisfaction, of justice. R1582:6, 2719:6, 2328:2, 1336:1 Appeasement or satisfaction—for Adamic sin. R430:2, 838:3, 504:4, 420:6 Our Lord Jesus, representative of Jehovah's justice, wisdom, love and power. T125 At the moment Jesus died, that was the decisive act which legally released man from the bondage of sin, and secured for him the right to live again. R669:2
Faith in his blood— Blood given, blood shed, death. R1336:1 In the sacrifice; the ransom-price. E434 Christ's blood was the price given for the "Church of God" and for the whole world. R1336:1 Faith, not in his example, but in his blood. R1810:4* His blood became the basis for the forgiveness of our sins, made peace for us, opened up the way to reconciliation, and transferred us back to sonship in God's family. R1230:3 This insures that everyone coming to the Father must admit that he is a sinner and cannot meet the penalty of his own sin. R3729:5 We must by faith grasp the agency of God's grace—the ransom—before we can realize its full blessing. R441:2
To declare— "For an exhibition." (Diaglott) R128:1
His righteousness— Jehovah's righteousness. R1336:1 Right doing. R441:5, 660:6
For— In. R504:4, 430:2
The remission— Forgiveness. E461 Passing by the sins formerly committed. R1030:1*
Sins that are past— Imperfections and shortcomings that were ours at the time of our consecration. R4601:6, 5750:3, 4615:5, 4585:1,2, 2689:3, CR97:1 Our Advocate did a thorough work as respects the sins of our flesh; they are past and gone. CR97:1 In proportion as we realize this and act upon it, it gives us preparation for further divine leadings and blessings. HG453:6 "Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven, whose transgression is covered." (Psa. 32:1) HG147:5
Forbearance of God— God sent his Son who paid the claim against the condemned race, to set them at liberty without violating his own laws. R504:4

[NTC - Romans 3:26]

That he might be— That he might continue. R3279:5
Just— In pronouncing the penalty against our race. R2698:2, 2822:2 In releasing the sinner from the penalty justly upon him, and giving him an individual trial. R929:6, 1983:6, 1125:2 The sacrifice for sins was demanded by justice and furnished by Jehovah, that he might be just. R1267:2 By substituting Jesus for Adam. E17 The justice of his sentence and the unchangeableness of his decrees. R1125:2; HG292:1 Since the death sentence is against every member of the race, none could justly be released without a ransom. R3706:6 The demand of justice must be paid before the work of release and restitution could begin. R4792:6, 5071:1, 3707:1 Reconciliation necessitates first a redemption of the sinner—a payment of his penalty. E419, 401 Nothing can ever be done by the Almighty that can violate his justice. R3707:2 God was just in pronouncing the penalty against our race and could not clear the guilty through any process of injustice. R2698:2; E17 God having justly condemned Adam and his race could not justly reverse his own sentence, without a cause. R1583:4 Enabling him to forgive sins that are past as well as those present, pardoning sinners he had once condemned. R929:6 The fact that God provided so expensive a ransom-sacrifice for sinners, proves that his justice is inviolable and unbending. R1583:4 God's justice as manifested in giving his Son to be a ransom for all, before that sin could be blotted out, evidences a firmness and justice that is sublime. R769:3 Justice could no more forgive the willful sins which invoked the second death, than it did the Adamic sin which invoked the first death. R769:3 Justice could not object to announcing the redemptive plan in advance to those with the requisite faith—justifying them to fellowship with God. F111 Divine love could not make void divine justice; it was necessary that God should be just, if he would be the justifier. R4792:6 Justice will be satisfied when the Body members are presented before the Father. R3710:4
And the justifier— And yet be the justifier. R3279:5, 5194:1, 504:4 Of men already justly condemned to death. R1267:2 Release the well-disposed from the penalty of sin, death and disfavor. R1125:2 Here is the triumph of love and mercy, not through a failure of justice or conquering it, but a satisfaction of justice. R2328:2, 429:4; E17; NS412:6 The penalty for Adam's sin and how that penalty should be met, was optional with the Almighty, so long as no principle of justice would be violated. R3707:3 None could be counted free from the sentence of death until after the great sacrifice for sins had been made. F111; R3706:6, 1591:3, 1583:4 The only way open for our reconciliation consistent with divine law was by giving a corresponding price or ransom. R5194:1, 4941:6, 2822:2, 2698:2, 769:3, 657:5 God cannot justly be the justifier of anyone who does not believe in Jesus. R2059:2 God, the condemning judge, himself also the deliverer, by providing a ransom. R504:4The Judge sent his Son and paid the claim against the condemned race, that he might set them at liberty without violating his own laws. R504:4 His law will be manifested to all as unchangeable and perfect, even while pardoning sinners he had once condemned, who by faith laid hold of Jesus as their justifier from guilt and condemnation. R929:6, 1125:2, 441:1 An earthly judge could not justly set the prisoner free, but if someone paid the imposed penalty, the judge could be just in justifying the formerly condemned. R429:4 We need not fear that our justification is incomplete, for Jehovah himself is the justifier. R199:3
Of him— Of any sinner. R3279:5
Believeth in Jesus— All who shall become his disciples and follow his leading and direction. CR413:6; R3707:1 God cannot justly be the justifier of any one who does not believe in Jesus.R2059:2, 5071:1

[NTC - Romans 3:27]

Where is boasting?— Where is the room for. R2719:6 Who can boast now? R929:6
It is excluded— All boasting of works is shut out. R929:6 Because the Jew and the Gentile having come into Christ are on a common level. R2719:6
Of works? Nay— Our own works could not justify us. E444; R929:6, 560:5* Works of charity and slaying sin in one's self. R929:6
Law of faith— This is the law of love. R1322:2 "Faith worketh by love." (Gal. 5:6) R1332:2 Pure, true faith is opposed to boastfulness. R1159:4*, 2163:3 Life, favor, forgiveness and reconciliation is an unmerited favor of God, obtainable through faith in the sacrifice of Christ. R930:1

[NTC - Romans 3:28]

Justified by faith— In the sense that ours is merely a reckoned or faith justification. F103; R193:3 Not by any Covenant—the New Covenant has nothing whatever to do with justification by faith. R4474:3 It is the human nature that is justified or reckoned right in God's sight. OV315:1 This is our restitution; we who were aliens, by the blood of the cross are restored to God's favor, as Adam was before sin. R193:3 The word justification implies making right; and does not imply making over, or a change of nature. OV315:1
Without the deeds— Without necessity for the works demanded by the Law. R2720:1

[NTC - Romans 3:31]

Make void— Of none effect, useless. R542:5
The law— The law of righteousness. R2720:1 "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." R1729:6
Faith— The doctrine of faith, which we are now preaching. R542:5
Yea— Nay. R542:6
Establish the law— Proving that God's Law is perfect; and Israel was imperfect—thus leading them to Christ. R542:6 By the fact that the imperfect Jews could not keep the Law of works and that it had to be fulfilled by Jesus before they could be justified under the Law of faith. R2720:1

[NTC - Romans 4:2]

Were justified— To fellowship with God, not to life. F111; R4574:1 A narrow or a broad view of justification may be taken and both be true. R5474:1 This implies three different steps—two which were Abraham's and one the Lord's. R4574:1


[NTC - Romans 4:3]

Believed God— Though even the type had not yet come in his day, Abraham, as a justified believer, was a member of the "household of faith," typified by the Levites. T27 Concerning the Gospel: "In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Gal. 3:8) R217:2, 2873:6 The process by which all nations were to be blessed was not understood by Abraham except that it should be through his offspring, but he believed the fact without knowing how. R217:3 Abraham felt in some manner God would roll away the curse. OV428:1 It is only by the exercise of faith in our Redeemer that we are reckoned as covered with the robe of righteousness, and made acceptable. R4003:2
For righteousness— Faith will hide a multitude of defects. R4003:2 The Church's justification, like that of Abraham, is by faith. R4442:6

[NTC - Romans 4:5]

Faith— There is no merit in faith; it is not righteousness, nor does it justify us; but we are justified through faith. R555:3
Counted— Reckoned. R2854:2, 193:3 Although, perhaps, not blameless in character at the time, yet Abraham possessed that which would result in holiness, and God counted the work begun in him, as finished. R76:2
For righteousness— Justification. R193:3 The Ancient Worthies' reverence for their Creator and obedience to his Word of promise implied they had hearts full of trust and the proper spirit that God could count it perfection. R4386:1 Abraham was justified by faith and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. R76:2 Our endeavors to walk after the spirit are counted to us for righteousness. NS244:5; By Jesus; who became our willing substitute. R657:2,5

[NTC - Romans 4:6]

Righteousness without works— Justification by faith. R2194:3 Righteousness which he had not worked out. R2194:3

[NTC - Romans 4:7]

They— The consecrated, spirit-begotten, probationary member of the Body of Christ. R4842:1
Iniquities— The word carries with it the sense of wickedness, lawlessness. R2295:1
Sins— The word has merely the thought of transgression. R2295:1 Uncontrollable weaknesses, resulting from the fall. R1698:2, 2295:1
Are covered— Sin while not blotted out is covered. R2295:1 By the ransom. R1698:2 Concealed beneath the robe of Christ's righteousness, until the time for their blotting out in the first resurrection. R2194:3, 4842:1, 1654:2 The covering of sin takes place instantaneously, as soon as the believer has accepted of the redemption in Christ Jesus. R2194:2 Those justified by faith, who do the best they can are acceptable to God as though they were perfect. R3366:5 The sinner is forgiven the moral obliquity connected with the sin, which they no longer sympathize with, and the sin itself, while not blotted out is covered. R2295:1 The robe of righteousness does not cover, as some seem to think, the sins of the new mind. R4842:4 Even though the believer's sins are covered he still battles against those imperfections. R2194:3 All with faith in Christ's sacrifice, and consecration to God's service, come under the covering of the New Covenant. R1654:1

[NTC - Romans 4:8]

Not impute sin— Reckon. R1654:1 To the reckoned sons, Jesus' brethren, no sin is imputed. R489:4* God does not regard them as they really are but imputes their sins to Christ who imputes his worthiness to their account. R1654:2

[NTC - Romans 4:10]

In uncircumcision— Circumcision was instituted after the Covenant was made with Abraham. R4370:5

[NTC - Romans 4:11]

Sign of circumcision— Not as a requirement to his justification. R2720:1
A seal— Or mark of justification and harmony with God to which he had already attained. R2720:1

[NTC - Romans 4:12]

Faith of our father Abraham— The Jews have no right to the land of promise except as they hold to the promise of the oath-bound Covenant made with Abraham. R5178:1

[NTC - Romans 4:13]

Heir of the world— Lord Jesus. R1063:1*
Righteousness of faith— Abraham was justified by faith; reckoned in God's sight a perfect and righteous man. R196:3 It is faith, not water, that justifies. R1969:3

[NTC - Romans 4:15]

No transgression— No one could transgress a law that was not given to him, that was not applicable to him. R5070:2 The world has not yet come under individual condemnation. For the world has not yet been placed under divine law. R5071:2 In Paul's discussion of the Jewish view of the Mosaic Law, he uses this statement to show the Jews misunderstood the matter. R5070:2 "Sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Rom. 5:13) R5071:1 The world is under Adamic sentence and only those lifted out of that condemnation can come under another sentence. R5071:1

[NTC - Romans 4:16]

Therefore it— The Abrahamic Covenant, covering the Church. R4366:1, 4606:3
By grace— The spiritual seed is developed according to the spirit, according to grace, favor. R4606:3
Sure— There were no conditions with the Covenant, therefore it cannot pass away, nor be altered, nor added to. R282:2
To all the seed— All the children. NS287:3 Two seeds; the heavenly seed of Abraham and the natural seed of Abraham. Q642:2; R4453:1, 3259:5, 793:2, 282:2, 220:1, 201:3 "Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven (the spiritual class, the heavenly, the Church); and as the sand upon the seashore (the earthly seed)." SM368:1 One a heavenly class, the other an earthly class, with Messiah the head over all. CR157:4 Two seeds, one developed under faith, the other under Law and works. R5300:2; 1140:6; T35 The two elect churches, Jewish and Christian, are to be unitedly the agencies for blessing all the families of the earth. R1316:2 The promise, to bless all nations, will be fulfilled not only to Christ and the Church, but also to Abraham personally and his natural seed who come in harmony with the divine plan. R1140:6 Children according to natural process of generation, and children by special power of God, not actually children of Abraham, but of him whom Abraham typified. R793:2 There will be two phases of the Kingdom of God which is to bless all nations; an earthly and a heavenly phase. R1140:6 After Israel in the flesh receives mercy through the glorified Christ, they will be used as the Lord's instruments for blessing all the families of the earth. C299 The spiritual seed is developed during the Gospel age. The fleshly seed, the restitution class, will be developed under the New Covenant (the Ancient Worthies were developed before the Gospel age). R4366:1 Refers also to the faithful worthies of the past who will receive a share in the original promise and participate in blessing the Gentile world. R2375:5, 1156:6 Typified by Isaac and Ishmael. R793:2 The promises to the natural and the spiritual seeds are more or less intertwined. R3259:5 Those who now walk by faith are the true seed of Abraham. R1753:4 Israel cannot come into the bosom of Abraham, into the true rest and peace, because they failed to rightly apprehend and use God's promises and dealings. R1042:6; HG386:6 By the end of the Millennial age, his seed will include all the saved on the human plane. R4606:5; CR98:3
Which is of the law— The natural seed: the restitution class. T35; R5300:2, 1140:6, 201:3 The Abrahamic Covenant and the Law were distinct.T35 Those who will become the seed of Abraham under the New Covenant arrangement during the Millennial age by obedience to the Law under the better Mediator than Moses—Christ the Head and the Church, his Body. R4606:5, 4438:3; C299 "Sands of the sea." R4606:4 Pointing back to the Law Covenant given to Moses, and forward to the Law Covenant of the future. R4606:4 The earthly seed of Abraham will be developed under the Law. R4606:4 The old Law Covenant brought not forth the seed of Abraham, but the New (Law) Covenant will bring forth many children. R4453:1 The Ancient Worthies cannot be included in the spiritual seed, but logically be included with the natural seed. R4606:6
Is of the faith— The spiritual seed. R5300:2, 1316:2; T35 To whom pertain the Covenant and the exceeding great and precious promises in their largest fulfillment. R1753:4 We are counted Abraham's seed because of our faith and we become members of the spiritual seed. R4606:1 "The stars of heaven." (Gen. 22:17) R4606:4 The only children of Abraham thus far developed are those who are the seed of Abraham according to faith. R4453:1
Father of us all— Who are of the faith of Abraham. R1623:6 As Jehovah will be the Father of all the saved, not only the Church, but also the restituted world. R4366:1 Abraham's life was a long discipline of faith and patience; for he was to be the father of the faithful, a type of the fatherhood of God. R1915:3; SM201:2 Abraham was the father of the seed, only in the typical sense. R905:2 A worthy example to all his children, both those under the Law and those under the new covenant of grace. R1915:3 The father of the faithful. R1905:3 His children—all those who are of the faith of Abraham, whether of the fleshly or spiritual seed. R1905:3

[NTC - Romans 4:17]

Made thee a father— In the end of the Millennial age, all the perfect race will be "the seed of Abraham" under the New Covenant arrangement. CR98:3; R5388:5, 4646:1; Q196:3 All the families of the earth will become children of Abraham, who represented God in a figure. R5909:5, 5178:5, 1140:6 Abraham was a type of God, therefore, many nations would become children of God. R3601:1 "I have made thee a father of many nations." (Gen. 17:5) R5909:5 The Lord said to Abraham: "In becoming thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves." R5909:5 "Thy seed shall be as the sands of the sea-shore for multitude." R4646:1 The Abrahamic Covenant was to have a double fulfillment—first, in a literal sense to him and his posterity: second to the spiritual children of Abraham. R1630:1
Many nations— Seeds. R793:2 All kindreds and families of the earth will be blessed by the opportunity to become children of Abraham, children of God. R5909:5, 4646:1, 4366:1 It will be necessary for the people of all nations to become Israelites, thus become children of Abraham. NS724:4 These will be blessed under the New Covenant when the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled to Israel and all. R5909:5 The blessing of the Lord will be upon them all. R5388:5 By the end of the Millennial age all the perfect race will be "The seed of Abraham." R4646:1
Before him— Like unto him. (Margin) A likeness of the Father; Abraham represented God. R220:1, 1623:6, 905:2 As a type of him. R2908:3, 3601:1, 1156:6, 1140:6, 905:2, 793:2 Foreshadowing him whom he believed. R3601:1 Typifying him whom he believed. R3601:1 Foreshadowing, allegorizing. NS287:3
Quickeneth the dead— Maketh alive. R1436:3 God purposes their awakening, and speaks of the present condition of Adamic death as merely a suspension of life, not extinction. R5041:4, 666:6; Q211:4
Things which be not— God's plan for a resurrection is fixed. God speaks of things to come as if already come to pass. E535; R32:3*
As though they were— Using them as types. R1623:6, 3601:1 What is to be and is being developed is spoken of as already existing. R32:3* Abraham was not the father of many nations at the time, God was not referring even to his natural seed, but to Christ. R3601:1 In many prophecies the standpoint of the future is taken and the things are spoken of as accomplished facts. R1754:6 God not only speaks of things past as still present but also of things to come as if already to come to pass. E353; R1881:3; HG333:5 Death is really extinction, but because of God's plan to ransom and restore all through Christ Jesus, he calls Adamic death a sleep. R666:6 When in the process of accomplishment, as time is nothing to God. R117:3* Looking down prophetically to the end of the age. R4657:1 God thus spoke of the resurrection. PD32/44; R4657:1, 1881:3 Thus we need not quarrel with those who say that the world is now bought with a price. R4998:6

[NTC - Romans 4:18]

Against hope— But for God's grace and providence, Abraham would many a time have made shipwreck. R751:6
Believed in hope— Abraham believed God in his statement that in his seed (later shown to be Christ) all the families of the earth would be blessed. R2873:6

[NTC - Romans 4:19]

Not weak— Greek, astheneo; without strength, as in "Is any sick?" (James 5:14) R4099:2,6*
In faith— It was such an active, obedient, faith as would have accepted Christ personally, as it accepted the promises concerning him. R2874:1
Dead— Abraham, at the age of one hundred, received Isaac as one born from the dead. R751:6

[NTC - Romans 4:20]

Strong in faith— Even though literally he had seen but a scant realization of God's promises. R751:6*

[NTC - Romans 4:21]

He had promised— Let not your faith stagger at the promises of God. R905:6

[NTC - Romans 4:23]

It— Righteousness. R4442:6

[NTC - Romans 4:24]

Us also— The Church does not need a mediator or a covenant for her justification. R4438:1
Believe on him— Faith in God is the basis for our justification, and for Abraham's, though today faith in God includes faith in Jesus as our Redeemer. R2873:6
Raised up Jesus— "God hath raised up." R1005:5 Christ could never have raised himself. R2795:2

[NTC - Romans 4:25]

Who was delivered— To death. R391:3, 1247:3, 705:5, 393:4 "I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:15) R1247:5 A weighty suggestion of the love of God, who thus freely gave him up for us all. R1247:6
For our offences— Bearing the condemnation which those offences implied and involved, the very offences or weaknesses of the flesh which hindered the Jews from keeping the perfect Law given at Sinai. R2720:2 Since all men inherited imperfection and consequent condemnation in Adam, they also share in the redemption. R1247:6
Was raised again— Out of death. E442 Had he remained dead he could never have been the channel of our justification. F106, R1248:3, 1247:1 If he had not had a resurrection, our hope would have perished. R1248:3 The resurrection of Christ was necessary for the great work of justification, salvation and restitution. R1248:4; E442 Christ's resurrection is the pledge of our resurrection; "Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. 15:20) R1248:6
Our justification— Salvation or restitution. R1248:4 The word "justify" means to declare or make right. R1246:3; CR467:3 Clearing from guilt and condemnation. R930:1 Unblamable condition. R391:3 In order that he might justify us. R705:5 Our hope of reconciliation to God is based upon the fact that "Christ died for our sins," (1 Cor. 15:3) and he "was raised for our justification." R1878:3 God will now justly, justify freely all who call upon him for it through him who redeemed us with his own blood. R925:5 Our justification without his death as our ransom-price would have been legally impossible. R1247:1 Jesus rose again that he might make satisfaction to divine justice. CR467:3 Our justification, like that of Abraham, is by faith. R4442:5 Forgiveness came not only to those under the Law (Israel), for Abraham received the promise of a blessing to all nations. R930:1 The plan of God embraces all who believe. R930:1 Our justification is not accomplished until, in each individual case, the necessary steps of faith and full consecration have been taken, as a result of which the merit of our Redeemer is imputed. R5854:6; E444God will not be unjust to withhold that right to life which has been purchased for us according to his own plan. R393:4 The great work of actual justification is the work God purposed for the world; to this end the death and resurrection of Christ are all-important. R1247:1 The bestowment of this blessing upon the world waits for the election of the Church to be joint-heirs with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom. NS5:1

[NTC - Romans 5:1]

Justified by faith— In the sense that ours is merely a reckoned or faith justification. F104, 106; A124; R5470:2, 4476:1, 1262:1, 400:5, 199:2; CR470:4, 467:3 The word means to be made right, to pronounce free from guilt. CR470:4; R660:2, 441:1; 440:3, 391:1; Q408:2 The word justification has two meanings: to prove that a thing is right, or to make a thing right which is wrong. These terms are used in these two senses in Scripture. R659:3, 440:3 Faith in the blood of Jesus as our Redeemer. R4435:3, 4390:2, 2720:2, 2220:3, 1262:1, 1231:1, 759:2, 391:2; SM474:1 Not because of our faith, but through faith and because of Jesus' work of sacrifice as our ransom. R759:2* Our sins are forgiven, covered by the merit of the ransom. R1231:1 From sins past and present, also all future sins that are directly or indirectly the results of Adam's transgression. R1231:1 In the real gospel of God's love and favor to us and toward all in Christ. R1502:4By the acceptance of Christ as the Bread of Life—preceded by the realization that we have no life in ourselves. R2652:1 We must by faith grasp the agency of God's grace—the ransom. R660:2 We are not justified by prayers or works. R2548:2 Faith is the ground or base of justification. R2852:1 It is faith not water that justifies. R1969:3 Simple as faith is in the abstract, yet God has been pleased to honor it with results, which are glorious. R471:1* Only the justified are called to the "high calling." R4435:3, 4442:6, 1231:2, 648:5 As we are drawing near to God and are said to be in a justified condition. Q409:T Such are invited to present their bodies a living sacrifice. SM509:2 They shall be counted perfect, counted righteous, so long as their hearts, their wills, their best endeavors, are for righteousness. R3322:6 Brought into fellowship with God as justified human beings. R199:5, 648:5 Partaking of the human rights, privileges and blessings of restitution—in this age faith justification. R2652:1 Having accepted the promise of actual justification, we hold so to speak, a check in the bank of heaven for full justification or restitution payable in the Millennial age. R1262:1After repentance. R2941:2, 2225:6 The first step, coming to Christ for rest; the acceptance of him as the satisfaction for our sins. R2625:2, 3512:5, 3201:1, 2652:1 The first step of faith restores the believer to all privileges originally bestowed upon Adam, though their full realization does not belong to the present age. R1585:2 Our peace or harmony with God began with our faith. Our justification by faith began with the first element of our faith, when first we saw the Lord even imperfectly. R4901:1 Lifted to plane N. A232; R274:3 Neither the Ancient Worthies nor the Body of Christ are justified by a covenant or by a mediator. R4388:5, 4476:1 A reckoned justification attained instantly by the imputation of the merit of Christ. R5776:4 We reckon ourselves as God reckons us, justified freely from all things. R1262:1;Q408:2 In the perfection of his offering. R94:4 Abraham needed no mediator to justify him. "He was justified by faith." R4476:1 And by it also we enter into all other favors of the divine provision. R2220:3 Many have believed in the precious blood and have had joy and peace in believing and heard the call to the privilege of self sacrifice with Christ; but few responded. R1231:5 Very few lay hold upon justification fully. R199:5 The Apostle prayed for a certain church that their faith fail not. He knew if their faith was gone, all would be gone. R471:4
We— The fully consecrated. R5960:1
Have peace with God— From the time we first approach God we begin to have a measure of this peace and it continues with us as long as we are walking in the right direction, growing in knowledge and obedience. R4901:2, 4579:3; PT391:1* From the time we accept Christ we have joy and peace through believing. R2625:2 The immediate effect of faith is a blessed realization of peace with God. R1585:2 Applies to those fully consecrated, justified, accepted of the Father by the begetting of the holy Spirit. It would not apply to any who are merely approaching through the Court. R5960:1 Implies a good degree of harmony with the principles of righteousness, for faith in Christ is always reformatory. F116 In the Tabernacle arrangement, from the time of entering the court condition of faith, the peace continues with each onward step of obedience. R4579:4 One who merely believes in the Savior and wishes to do right, cannot enter into full peace with God. R5133:3 A condition that means one has become reconciled to God. It means the estranged is now in harmony with God—he has turned his back on sin and is seeking to walk in the path of righteousness.R5431:3 The "peace of God" can come only to those who have given themselves unreservedly to God. R5432:1 If faith and obedience extend to full consecration and begettal, it becomes the "peace of God which passeth all understanding, ruling in our hearts." (Phil. 4:7) R4579:3 Rest with God. R391:3, 930:1 Realizing that our sins and imperfections are covered. R2941:2 Implies some discernment of the future blotting out of the sins of the believer. F116 No longer enemies, but justified human sons, reckoned so. R274:3; A232 The first step toward holiness brings one into a condition of peace with God. T21 As respects their former sins and condemnation under which they realize that they had rested. But still have not yet become servants of God. SM509:2; R2941:2 Those whose faith or obedience stop find their peace with God diminish. R4579:3 The truth gives us this peace—believing that Christ died for our sins, rose for our justification; reckonedly being brought from death unto life. R3512:5 Until Christ's reign, the experiences of the believer are the joys of faith and hope of the present peace and communion with God. R1585:2 When we believe the "good news" of our justification, it causes us joy and peace to realize we may now come to God. R199:5
Through our Lord— By Christ's blood, by the life he laid down for us. R1231:1 Something Jesus has done for us, and not something for us to do for ourselves. R391:4 Not through personal worthiness of his favor. R1585:2 By whom we have received the atonement, his righteousness being imputed to us by faith. R1585:2 All things are of the Father and by the Son. (1 Cor. 8:6) E54 Anyone attempting to climb into the family of God otherwise "the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1) R3120:2
Jesus Christ— Not through other mediators. R2548:4 Our sins were laid upon Christ our Redeemer and his righteousness is transferred to our account. R1262:1

[NTC - Romans 5:2]

By whom also— Through Christ. R1262:4 Because of the price which he paid for us. C202 Reference to a second privileged step of faith: the step of consecration. R1585:3, 4243:1, 3201:2, 2941:2, 2720:2, 2285:6, 930:2 We are not only justified out of sin, but are also brought by operation of our faith in the glorious standing of members of Christ.R4989:2 We not only have faith-fellowship with God but complete and actual justification to life and our begetting of the holy Spirit. R4640:2
We— "Brethren," of the household of faith; justified believers. R1885:3 All who by faith are reckoned alive from Adamic death during the Gospel age. R1231:6 A class of saints who have not only been justified by faith but have obtained the begetting to the divine nature. R648:6
Have access— The privilege, invitation or opportunity of the Gospel age, is the door. C206 No one ever entered in without the robe. C203 To the Father. R1227:3 By reason of the opportunity which our justification gives us of becoming members of the High Priest, sharers in his sacrifice. R4390:2 Not until we became justified human sons of God were we invited to sacrifice our human rights and reckon ourselves heirs with him of future glories. R925:6 An access by faith of a still higher grace, or position of favor. R1585:3 The call to joint-heirship with the only begotten Son and heir. R1387:1 Are privileged also to hear of a prize or high calling during the Gospel age to be living sacrifices. R1231:6 "The second blessing." R1262:2 "Favor upon favor." (John 1:16—Diaglott) R1262:3
Into this grace— Of justification. R422:2, 339:1 Into this further grace. R2285:6 Favor; the "high calling." C206; R1585:3, 1262:3, 1231:6, 1007:5, 434:4 The privilege of sonship. R3201:2, 4901:1, 4640:3, 4390:2, 4243:1, 3020:2, 1387:2, 648:6 The place of God's peculiar favor, a step beyond mere justification, consecration. R4243:1 The privilege of being "transformed" to a higher nature. R1585:3 The access into this higher grace cannot be obtained except from the standpoint of the previous grace of justification. R1585:3 The invitation to be the beloved Bride of Christ to be made like him and to be in his glorious presence forever. R1262:3
Rejoice— We rejoice in the fact that we are already sons of God without rebuke, and to be changed and share his glory. R4640:3 We have good cause for rejoicing, it means not only blessing ourselves but participation with Messiah in blessing all the world of mankind. HG374:3; NS374:3
In hope of— In hope of sharing, as Christ's joint-heirs. R2720:2, 2941:2, 2225:6, 1387:2, 1263:4, 1007:5 Sharing the divine nature and the Kingdom power with our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus.R1231:6
The glory of God— Which is to be revealed in our Lord and in us as his members in his Kingdom. R4434:4 High exaltation of Christ beyond the glory he had with the Father before the world was.R1262:4 A glory of office, what is second only to that of Jehovah, the great Emperor of the universe. R1262:4 Glory of character. R1262:4 A glory of power of "All power in heaven and in earth." R1262:4 The privilege of becoming heirs of glory, joint-heirs with Jesus on a specified condition; if they would suffer with him. R925:6

[NTC - Romans 5:3]

Glory in tribulations— Brought upon them by their faithfulness to Christ and his word. R3281:4 Happy in present trials, difficulties, and oppositions. SM386:1; R3309:6 Knowing that we must be tested, tried and disciplined to fit us for our future exalted station. R1007:5, 1585:5, 648:5 As joint-sufferers. R930:2 These experiences are similar to those of the Master, thus we have evidence that we are walking in his footsteps. R3281:4 Because it is God's method of chastening and polishing us for a share in the Kingdom. SM371:T; R1585:5, 648:5 Not because we love tribulation but the patience, the experience, the character, which God assures us are a fruitage of tribulation, if we are rightly exercised thereby. R2737:3, 199:4 If our sufferings be the way by which the Lord would attract and bless others of his true sheep. R5365:5 The Christian's life is not a sad or morose one, but a most joyful one, even in tribulation. R4592:4 In proportion as we are able to realize our own imperfections and the perfect will of God concerning us. R2213:5 We have tribulation because the world is traveling in the opposite direction to righteousness; in the way of selfishness and gratification of the flesh. R5218:2 Whoever escapes experiences that would develop the fruits of the holy Spirit will never gain a place in the Kingdom. R5779:6
Knowing— If rightly exercised. R1585:5 It is the knowledge that makes such a difference. CR432:4, 387:4
Tribulation— Tribulation is necessary for the development of patience. R1721:3 Tribulation works out the fruits of the holy Spirit. R5951:3 The favorable results of tribulation follow, on account of a genuine consecration. R3281:5
Worketh patience— We learn to cultivate patience in trial. R5879:2 Patience in submitting to trial will lead to large and valuable experience. R1585:5 "Let patience have her perfect work." (James 1:4) R2737:3 "Yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness." (Heb. 12:11) R1721:3 Worketh the various facets of the jewel essential to it in the eyes of him who is shortly to gather his jewels. R2405:1

[NTC - Romans 5:4]

Patience— In the exercise of patience the lessons of experience have made you stronger, increased your faith, zeal, and gratitude. R1721:3
Experience— Of God's love and wisdom and grace and comfort, which will strengthen our confidence in God. R1585:5 He who would relate an experience of what the Lord has done for him, must at the same time narrate what he has done for the Lord. R1022:1* Will brighten our hope and strengthen our confidence in God. R1585:5 According to Webster it is "wisdom gained from experience," appropriate for Christian as well as worldly experience. R1022:1* Christian experience is not sitting down letting the Spirit of God work in our hearts—it is eminently practical. R1022:1* Christian experience is not the exaltation of feeling only inspired by ardent songs, prayers, Christian fellowship. He who is dependent on such for his vitality is an infant in experience.R1022:1* Christian experience is putting off the old man; growth in grace, building character, laboring in the vineyard, visiting the widows and fatherless, keeping unspotted from the world. R1022:1*
Hope— This does not mean we get all our patience first: then all our experience, then all our hope; but that they are all developing together. R5779:5 This deepens the sense of fellowship with God and gives confidence to the hope of final and full acceptance with him. R1721:3 The embroidery work adding stitch to stitch in its development. NS449:6

[NTC - Romans 5:5]

Maketh not ashamed— Those inspired by this hope experience no sense of shame under the discipline and trials they must endure, but glory in tribulations and rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for his name's sake. R1585:5 In the glorious message they hear there is nothing to be ashamed of, it is the power of God unto salvation. R1585:6
Love of God— Because with this hope we have the realization of God's love. R5779:6
Shed abroad— Made known. R197:5* Enlarging our hearts. CR446:4; R3933:1 By the holy Spirit. R1007:5The love of God grows in our hearts and fills us. R3933:2 Producing love for the brethren and all the good fruits of the spirit. R2456:1 Displacing the spirit of the world, the spirit of selfishness. R3281:2 We are led to still wider love beyond the household of faith, for whom we delight to lay down our lives. R3933:2
In our hearts— This is conditional to those who, hearing his commandments, are moved by responsive love to do them. R2456:1
Given unto us— Imparted to us from the truth. R1007:5

[NTC - Romans 5:6]

Without strength— The sin of Adam left mankind in this condition. R77:6 Greek, asthenes; sickness in the sense of moral or spiritual form. R4099:6*To help ourselves. R1585:6
In due time— "The fullness of time." (Gal. 4:4) E451 God's appointed times and seasons are an important feature of his plan. B25;R598:3 The time of the payment of our ransom price was definitely prearranged. R1585:6 When God sent forth his Son as the man Christ Jesus. E451 There was a particular appointed time for the payment of our ransom, as well as every other feature of the wondrous plan. R1586:1 Just as surely there is a due time for the second advent. R598:4
Christ died— Our Lord's mission to earth at the first advent was to undo for the race, legally, the results of Adam's transgression, and to secure the right to resurrect them. R1125:4;NS293:6; HG292:6 This was Jehovah's original plan, and before sin entered even before the foundation of the world, love provided the "Lamb of God." R788:3

[NTC - Romans 5:7]

Will one die— That would be a great stretch of love. R197:6*
Peradventure— Possibly. R197:6*
For a good man— The greatest love amongst men is to lay down his life for his friends, but for his enemies is certainly a much higher type of love. R2648:3

[NTC - Romans 5:8]

Commendeth his love— Greek, agape; disinterested or divine love. R2807:4, 3949:2 Pity-love, the sympathetic love of a benefactor. R1693:6 This can be no more than pity-love, it cannot be fellowship-love. R1693:6 The Bible, alone, tells of a God touched with the feeling of human infirmities and with sympathy toward sinners. R5032:1 God devised the plan, provided the ransom, and sent his Son to die for us, because he loved us. R77:1:* Not until then was the divine love manifested to mankind, although it had existed all along. E451 God does good even to the unthankful, giving sunshine and rain and food to all. R1693:6 We must have the mind of the Lord, but we are to have no sympathy with the evil. Q322:T God loved us while we were yet sinners and Christ died to commend that love. R77:2* Until then the world knew nothing of God's love. There it was demonstrated. R2120:6 Undoubtedly God's love was known to the angelic hosts before, but not to the same extent. SM472:2 Here is manifested pure, unselfish love. R31:5* The proof of the love of God is not only the most conclusive on record, but it is also the most conclusive conceivable. R1328:3 Salvation is an act of God's free grace, an act to which he was impelled only by his abounding love. R1266:6 This is a grand ennobling love which, without having the least fellowship with the impure, pities the fallen and longs for their rescue from degradation. R4766:4 How much more does he love us now that we are no longer aliens, brought nigh by the precious blood and begotten by his holy Spirit. R4277:6 Both the Father's and the Son's love, but primarily the Father's. R9:5
While we were yet— Hence the reconciliation is not the result of our "slaying the enmity in us." R728:4, 1231:1 In Jesus' case, it was more than any earthly love or friendship. R5664:5 It is because God saw that the hearts of humanity are not really in that deplorable condition intentionally or deliberately that he has provided the way of escape. R5275:5 If God so loved the world, even while they were yet sinners, then love and benevolence toward the world on our part cannot be out of harmony with his will. R4766:1, 1955:3 If God loved us while we were yet sinners to make such careful provision for our redemption, much more now that we are no longer rebels, we may have confidence in his love and providential care. R2556:3
Sinners— Enemies. R405:3*, 1175:1, 728:4, 404:4*, 290:2*, 222:2* Christ died for the ungodly. Q510:T Once we are accepted of God in Christ, we need no ransoming, having no sins to expiate. It was while we were yet sinners we needed a ransom. R1590:1:
Christ died— To open up a way of reconciliation with God. E446 By the one sacrifice of himself once for all, he expiated the sins of all the ungodly. R1590:1 The method by which the change is effected from the curse of sin and death to the blessings of divine favor and life. R866:4 So love can go beyond justice. R5644:1 "The Son of Man came—to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45; Matt 20:28) R866:4 Deadness to sin is not the ground for forgiveness of sins past, it does not take the place of Christ's sacrifice for sins. R728:2 While the death of Christ does not secure spiritual life for any, it makes it possible for all. R77:3*, 42:5*
For us— Those who turn from sin and have accepted God's provision in Christ. Q392:2 Children of wrath even as others—parts of the world. R1590:1

[NTC - Romans 5:9]

Much more— Saved by his life. R197:1* We are not reckoned in the fallen condition as the world, but recognized as brethren. R197:1*
Being now justified— A "making" right. PT391:2 To life. R16:3
By his blood— By the death of Christ paying the penalty for Adam. F105, SM725:2: Blood shed as the evidence of death. R1336:1*,1337:4, 1459:1, 441:1, PT391:2* In the blood of him: in the human life of him. PT391:2* The death of the man Christ Jesus, his blood that secured our release from sin and death. E446 The blood of Christ, the anti-typical sin-offering, reaches unto all that are in their graves and secures for all mankind an awakening from death. R1395:6 The classes saved during this Gospel age do more than believe, repent, live righteously, they make a covenant to follow in Jesus footsteps. SM725:2 Became the basis for the forgiveness of our sins, made peace for us, opened up the way to reconciliation, transferred us back to sonship with God. R1230:3 Regarding Jesus as an "example" would be of no profit or advantage. Jesus was "nothing" if not a Redeemer—a justifier from sin and its penalty. R1459:1
Saved from wrath— Restored to the proper condition of sons—liberated from sin and death, the manifestation of God's wrath. R1586:1

[NTC - Romans 5:10]

Enemies— All mankind are opposers of God and righteousness, so far as their imperfect conduct, though all are not such at heart. R1175:1 The whole race were reckoned and treated as enemies condemned to death because represented in Father Adam. 1028:1* Convicts before the Judge. R504:1
Reconciled to God— The atonement being finished as far as he is concerned. E26, 25 The opposition and curse of his violated law was lifted. R587:5 One of the prominent features of God's plan, by which his love is manifested, is Christ's death. R483:1 The death of Christ reverses the curse that came on all by the first Adam. R197:6*
Death of his Son— Our justification, without his death as our ransom price would have been legally impossible. R1247:1 Both the death and resurrection of Christ were indispensable to God's plan for human salvation or justification. R1247:1 His death justified us to human life. R253:3 The laying down of the blood life or psuchee. R53:3* This was the point of reconciliation between God and man, hence Christ is our "Mercy Seat." R39:1*
Much more— Much more easily believed, is the promise that. R705:5
Being reconciled— Guiltless, acquitted by the Judge who once condemned us. R504:1 Being justified and reckoned as sons of God. R1586:1 Atoned.R43:1 Reconciliation for the sins of the whole world was made, (Heb. 2:17) but all have not yet accepted the reconciliation through faith. R677:4* We may readily believe and accept of all the marvelous favors promised us as followers of the Lamb who justified us. R930:2
We shall be saved— Brought back to perfection and harmony with God and his law. R587:5 Recovered fully from the imperfections and penalties of sin. R705:5 As we continue to trust in the merit of our Redeemer, accept the free gift of God's love, we have the Scriptural assurance of salvation. R1586:4 The higher and spiritual form of salvation. R197:6*
By his life— Now he ever liveth as a divine being, with all power and authority in heaven and in earth to accomplish the remainder of the plan of our Father. R1028:4* Christ is thus shown to be both the restorer of old, and Giver of the higher life—the second Adam. R197:6* His example and aid enables us to become partakers of the divine nature. R257:3By the impartation of his spiritual nature and the benefits that follow by his zoee, life. R53:6*

[NTC - Romans 5:11]

By whom we— The Church, alone, as yet. E19, 37; R190:5
Have now received— Having this reckoned standing now. R1586:4 We who believe have now received the atonement. R1586:4 We are now reckoned of God as perfect through Christ, and as worthy to be called his sons, and receive favors of sons. R1586:4
The atonement— Greek, kattalage; the satisfaction of justice and the restoration of God's creatures to harmony with himself. E19, 20, 488 Perfect and restored in God's sight. R190:5 We and our Father are in full harmony and communion. R37:2

[NTC - Romans 5:12]

Wherefore— Relating back to the atonement of verse 11. R43:1*, 483:3* Contrary to the teachings of Evolutionists. A61, 162; R2395:3
As by one man— Father Adam by his disobedience involved himself and all the race in what the Scriptures designate a "curse" or penalty; death penalty. SM28:2, 779:2; R5372:2, 3093:1, 2100:5 The responsibility of the fall was in Adam. R5716:6, 5402:6, 4552:2, 930:3; E189; PD10/17 Satan's falsehood was the cause of the disobedience of the first man. Q799:2 The effect of Adam's fall upon his offspring, through heredity. R5719:6 Only imperfect dying beings could be produced from diseased sperm or life-seed from Adam. E102 Father Adam once had life, but he lost it through disobedience in Eden, and instead the death sentence rested upon him. R3475:2 The condemnation of Adam as a man has not condemned his children in a separate way, but counted them all as members of the one man. R4499:4 Adam's children are as sure to get a blessing from Christ's redemptive work as they surely did share in the curse that came upon Father Adam. R3686:4 It is better that all are condemned in Adam, than individually to death, that all may be released by one man—Christ Jesus. HG731:2 In whom all sinned. R2050:3, 13:1 Adam was originally perfect and pleasing to God. OV383:3 The tomb represents the penalty on Adam for his transgression, and this has been inherited by all of his children. R5463:3 Adam created, or brought this "hell," or condition of death, upon the race by his disobedience. Q785:TThe death of the race depended not upon Eve but wholly upon Adam. E102 Adam was not deceived, therefore had greater responsibility than Eve. PD10/17Although Eve was "first in the transgression," her act did not imperil the race; because the race was not in her, but in Adam. R2100:5; Q264:2 Eve's identity was so linked with Adam's that, even if she had not sinned in partaking of the forbidden fruit she would, as part of him, have shared his penalty—death. R2100:5; A124 Had Eve alone sinned the race would not have died. Adam's offspring would have been the same, the imperfections of Eve would not have affected them. R776:6 As death depended not upon Eve, yet she shared in the bringing of it, so the restored life depends not on the Bride of Christ, but upon Jesus, but she shares in the work of restitution. R777:1 Through Adam's sin, condemnation was precipitated upon the entire human family—and his bride, mother Eve, was a participant with him in the entire matter. R4138:5 Adam and his bride were one, not twain, hence Eve shared the sentence which her conduct helped to bring upon Adam. A124: R2100:5 God purposed that the entire race should be born from one pair, in order that when sin entered and involved the whole human family, so the death of one person would suffice to redeem the entire race. R5900:1 The propagating of the species did not begin until after the fall—a merciful providence that every member of the race might share in the redemption. R1552:1 If ministers of all denominations do not believe Adam's condemnation passed upon all, how can they believe in the redemption accomplished by our Lord Jesus once for all for Adam and his posterity. R4017:2
Sin entered— There was no sin or death in the world prior to Adam's transgression. R2395:3, 4972:6, 981:4 Adam sold himself and his race into sin. E452 The cause of all earth's woes and sorrows. OV295:1 "The fathers have eaten a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge." (Jer. 31:29; Ezek. 18:2) R2608:5, 2611:4 The sin was disloyalty, disobedience, and its penalty was death. R5979:2 At Eden, and manifested its tendency to be continually downward, except as God introduced the "salt of the earth," (Matt. 5:13) whose influence has been to keep the social mass from utter corruption. R1091:3 The evidence that sin and death and all the train of evil came by one man's disobedience, is certainly a positive denial that God is the author of it. R871:3
Into the world— Adam's sin was the world's sin because he was the world—the race of natural men being in him. R145:2* This is far from the teaching of Evolution; the Bible teaches the very reverse. R5140:3
And death— The death sentence, or curse, or the wrath of God. HG228:4; NS228:4 The wrath of God is revealed in the death sentence that has been on our race for 6000 years. Q328:T; NS231:6 Entered. R1196:4 The race was doomed to extinction. R875:2 The whole world of mankind was judged unworthy of everlasting life by Jehovah. F395 The sentence being not to die merely, and after a period live again, but to remain dead, eternal death. R875:3 The wages, penalty, sentence of sin. E452; F395; R1026:2 Everywhere the penalty of sin is described as destruction. R1026:3 It was not eternal torment that passed upon man nor upon all men, but death. R4552:2; 1085:2, 1026:2; CR209:1, 21:1; NS586:3, 119:6 If eternal torment were the penalty would the Apostle be justified in making such a statement? R1026:3 The curse of death is much more reasonable than the mistaken creed of eternal torment. HG650:2 All the aches, pains, sorrows and sickness which we experience are parts of this dying process. R4972:6, 3921:5 Adam lost eternal life and divine fellowship, and instead got sickness, pain, sorrow, death. R4552:2 God, who gave the opportunity for life eternal, had the full right, the full power, to terminate that life when used contrary to his divine injunction. SM29:T God's wisdom and justice cannot be impugned—the sentence of death is justly upon all men through Father Adam. R1506:6 Adam and Eve before they sinned, and our Lord Jesus who was sinless, alone had life, ever lived; all others born under condemnation are properly speaking, dying, not living now. R1105:5 The word is sometimes used in a figurative sense, but behind all this is the actual death which passed upon all. R891:2 Adamic death was the penalty for sin inflicted after and because of that figurative death of righteousness, sin. R911:4 Adam became a slave of sin, and as a result, a slave of death. R5355:3 Death and sin. R5372:2
By sin— As the result of sin. E309; F333; R3391:2, 3256:4, 2395:4, 2100:5, 2050:3, 1718:2, 1196:4, 1026:3; SM779:1 As a consequence of sin. R1085:1 Or as a penalty of sin. R1026:3 Before sin entered the world there was no death. R981:1 Condemnation of death resulted from Adam's willful sin. R1452:6 There would have been no such thing as death in the world aside from sin; thus sin and death constituted the curse. SM799:2; NS643:2 Sin, disobedience, brought the penalty, death, which has impaired the image of God, and in every way degraded man. R1374:4 Thus the death sentence and all its concomitants passed on Adam's race, because all were infected by the disease of sin. R4426:3, 4138:5, 1374:3, 1105:5 This teaches that sin, sickness, and degradation are evils; not due to poor workmanship on the part of our Creator, but by heredity through Adam's transgression. R2395:3 Adam lost his powers of perfect manhood and all right to their perfection through disobedience. R1228:4 Adam was rejected from divine fellowship, expelled from Eden, and subjected to dying conditions. SM612:1 Jesus' ransom-sacrifice affected Adamic death and Adamic sins and none other. R1454:2 Willful sin is not Adam's sin in any sense of the word. The ransom from Adamic sin would therefore not affect a release for willful sin. R1454:2
And so death— Adamic death, the first death as opposed to second death. HG356:5; NS357:5 The sentence of death came upon Adam, and indirectly affects all his race. E331; R2847:5 Human longevity has decreased, while mental, moral and physical ailments have increased. OV128:1; HG586:3 From the divine standpoint everyone is dead who is either under the sentence or whose life to any extent has been impaired as a result of the curse. R3417:5 The wages of sin is death—including trials, weaknesses, and sufferings of the present life incidental to the dying process. R2847:5 As death was caused by sin, so all calamities spring from the same cause, and are under control of him who has the power of death, the devil. R583:5 As death is a curse, so is sickness the death-poison working in our system. R2000:1 All sickness is part of the dying process and hence is foreign to man's natural condition, as designed by God. R2000:1 As death is a mark of sin, and would not come except as a penalty for sin, so is sickness because it is part of the dying process. R2000:1 The worst, therefore, that could befall the children of the wicked would be—death. R3133:4 The first death comes upon the entire human race (Adam excepted) independent of individual will. R1324:1 There is a radical difference between the law regulating the first death and that regulating the second death. R1324:1 The resurrection will be the only actual salvation from death.R1253:2 Had God not provided redemption through Christ, the death penalty which came upon our race in Adam would have been everlasting, but all have been redeemed from death. R1086:1; HG586:3 The penalty is the just expression of the will and law of God toward man—"The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23) R723:2
Passed upon all men— All the human race. R838:3 Before they were born. R1780:1 The world of mankind may be regarded as a convict race under sentence of death. Q764:4 Rendering all men convicts, with whom God has been pleased to deal variously. F174 Thus the whole creation was made subject to frailty (to the inherent taint of sin and its condemnation to death). R1780:6 Adam's fall extended in a natural way, and with increasing force and momentum, to his posterity. F395 Under God's law the entire race was judged representatively in Adam. R723:2 It extends to all mankind not merely the hoary-headed sinners, but to the newborn and unborn babes as well. R1477:5 The infant of but an hour shares in the pain and dying process as well as those who live longer and participate in the transgression of the laws of righteousness. F333 Hence all being sinners, all have infirmities, sicknesses and dying. R4138:5 "Born in sin and shapen in iniquity, in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psa. 51:5) NS351:5 Adam's children were born to him after he forfeited his life-rights and he was unable to give to his children more than he possessed—a dying nature. R5972:2 As all of Adam's children were condemned before their birth, so all of them were redeemed, and the majority of them before their birth. R3686:4 Although purity should be cultivated from infancy, the hope of the world does not lie in the purity of infancy and the avoidance of sin. The hope of humanity is in Christ. R2049:4 The downward or sinful tendency inbred in our very constitution is so strong that none is able to fully overcome it. R4812:1 All of Adam's posterity have inherited weaknesses, mental, moral, and physical. R4552:2, 4982:1, 3921:5, 3391:2, 2256:4; PD11/18;NS650:2 The death penalty was inherited by all Adam's children, so that not a man in all the world of Adam's race had life. R3475:2, 1565:6 Heredity has much to do with every member of our race, nevertheless there are counter-balances in nature. R4812:1 Since the children of Israel, as well as the other nations, were Adam's posterity, they shared his sentence of death. R5046:3 In that all were condemned in the one transgression, the sin of one man. PT387:4*; SM662:2; Q760:4 God had a charge of disobedience against mankind, and justly placed a ban or condemnation upon Adam and his race—"Dying thou shalt die." R3915:3 The death sentence passed against Enoch and Elijah, as well as the remainder of Adam's children, and wherever they are they must still be under the death sentence. R3417:5, 2153:5 Enoch was preserved from actual dissolution in death—although already under that sentence legally dead. R3378:4
For that— In whom. (Margin) R1477:5*, 1324:1*, 690:2*, 483:4*, 43:3* By reason of inherited sin and sinful dispositions. E24, 484; R2759:2, 2395:3
All have sinned— Every human soul sharing in Adam's fall and loss. E428; R5719:6, 5372:2, 4982:1; OV207:1; Q264:3 All are sinners. E24; R4812:1, 5372:2, 3391:2, 2759:2, 2395:2; OV207:1; SM699:T Not all individually, but as represented in Adam.R3654:3 Not willingly. R1781:1 It is not true that infants, idiots, etc., are innocent of sin. Although they have not committed willful, personal sin, as members of the race of Adam, they are sharers in original sin. R2050:3, 192:4 "The fathers ate a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge." (Ezek. 18:2) E309If you have lived just as morally and as carefully as you could, you have fallen short of perfection, because of the weakness inherited through Adam's fall. R604:5 Degeneracy began at once, and affected the offspring according to laws of nature. R3391:2 The lesser degradation of some and the greater depravity of others, even though all have sinned, some have indulged more willfully and fell more deeply than others. R3256:4 This is contradicted by Christian Science with their theory that there is no sin, no evil, therefore, no divine sentence against Adam and his race and no such thing as death. R3900:2

[NTC - Romans 5:13]

For— Notice verses 13 to 17 are parenthetical, used to offset a misapprehension of the Jews; the main line of the Apostle's argument passes from verse 12 to 18. R3654:2
Until the law— Previous to the Law Covenant with Israel. R3654:6 There was a law previous to the Law of Moses. It was the law of God originally inscribed upon the heart of the first perfect man. R3654:6 That law, whether ignored or recognized, has always been in the world, and sin against that law has always been imputed to men. R3654:6
Sin is not imputed— The sinner was conceited until the Law came. Sin was not properly known as "exceedingly sinful." (Rom. 7:13) R99:4* The world has not yet come under individual condemnation. R5071:1 Only those who are lifted out of Adamic condemnation can come under another sentence. R5071:1 The only ones who have, in any sense, been released from this Adamic condemnation are two classes; the natural Israelites and the spiritual Israelites. R5071:2
When there is no law— There can be no transgression. R4868:3 The world has not yet been placed under divine law. R5071:1

[NTC - Romans 5:14]

Nevertheless— Because justice recognizes only perfection. E484 Although the Mosaic Law had not yet come to revive in the Jews the knowledge of God. R3654:6
Even over them— Over those who did not know the Law and did not sin according to Adam's transgression; including infants. R4868:6, 3655:1
That had not sinned— Willfully; for it reigned over infants as well as over those capable of personal sin. R3655:1
The figure— A type. R3655:1, 257:3, 29:2* The first Adam, was instituted to be to the race natural, what the second Adam is to the race spiritual. R29:2*
That was to come— Christ, the second Adam. R3655:1, 257:3, 29:2*

[NTC - Romans 5:15]

Not as the offence— The results of the offence and the free gift are entirely different. R3655:1
Is the free gift— "The gift of God is eternal life." (Rom. 6:23) E285
The offence of one— Adam. R3655:1
Many be dead— Under the condemnation to death. R3655:1 All men were either dead or dying—under condemnation to death reckoned of God as dead. R729:1The many. R3655:1
Grace of God— The gracious plan of God. R2285:4
Gift by grace— Christ, as the exponent of that plan. R2285:4 By the divine favor. R3655:1 The Apostle is speaking of the gracious plan of God, and Christ as the exponent of that plan. R2285:4 God's favor in Christ. R37:3 This grace has not yet gone to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles in general. R4634:5
Hath abounded— Speaking from a prophetic standpoint. R4634:5 The only way in which it has abounded is through the promise of God that the death of Christ will yet be made efficacious for all.R4634:5
Unto many— Effects for "Israelites indeed." R4504:5

[NTC - Romans 5:16]

For the judgment— Greek, krima; sentence. R1853:4, 3655:1
Was by one— By one offence. R3655:1
Condemnation— Condemned to death. R391:1 Man was condemned 6000 years ago, and if a Jew, he was additionally bound by the Law Covenant, and has not escaped the condemnation that is in the world. R1726:1; HG231:6 The penalty still remains and is strictly enforced. R688:6 Being unclean, all are cut off from fellowship and communion with the holy and righteous God. R391:1
Is of many— Is the forgiveness of many. R3655:1 Note the contrast of the one and the many here, the object of which is to increase our estimation of the value of the free gift. R3655:1
Offences— The sacrifice of Jesus is the basis of forgiveness to only such offences as come more or less directly as a result of Adam's disobedience and fall. R723:3, 1984:4

[NTC - Romans 5:17]

Death— God decreed death as the penalty for sin. R1230:6 The sentence of death—extinction. R1230:6 With all its attendant miseries and troubles, is the just penalty for sin. R787:2 Exposure to the disorders of nature as experienced in earthquakes, cyclones are adjuncts of the curse. R787:2Individual sin, except in the first man, has nothing to do with hereditary death. R1477:5
Reigned by one— By that one, Adam. R3655:1, 5779:3 Over all, for 6000 years. R2050:3, 5779:3, 2907:4 The past 6000 years have been a dying time in which death has reigned. R1105:6 God foresaw the results of leaving Adam to his own will—that in his inexperience he would not submit his will to the Creator's will. R1230:6
Abundance of grace— Divine favor. R3655:1
Of righteousness— The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us by faith. R3655:1
Shall reign— As sin and death have reigned for 6000 years, now soon grace and truth shall reign unto righteousness and life. R2907:4 A reign of righteousness and life is to succeed the present reign of sin and death. HG627:5 It is the Adamic death that he shall destroy during his reign. R764:1
In life— The Millennium of Christ's reign is to be a re-living time, a time in which life will reign. R1105:6 Father Adam will be one of the last to be awakened from the sleep of death. R4499:1 Eternal life. R2720:3
By one, Jesus Christ— Who paid the full corresponding price. E444; R1230:5, 809:3, 776:2, 770:5 Who will completely eliminate sin from our nature, so that men will have an actual righteousness of their own. R3655:4 By his death destroyed the enmity (curse) for all who have been cursed in the first man's disobedience. R448:2 Jesus ransomed no one from the second death, the ransom was in settlement of Adamic death only. R763:6 Showing how broad a foundation he has laid in the ransom of all by the second perfect man, even as all had come under sentence through the first perfect man. R1265:1

[NTC - Romans 5:18]

Therefore— "For God shut up together all for disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all." (Rom. 11:32) A300
As by the offence— The things to be restored are the things that were lost through Adam's transgression. A177; R329:2, 235:3* Sin. R1218:3 The world's first crisis trial. R669:4, 2856:4, 891:6
Of one— Adam. E25; R857:6, 332:5 A perfect man had sinned and forfeited all right to life. R464:2,642:1
Judgment— Sentence. R3654:3, 3261:2, 891:6, 669:4 The sentence or decree of death which came upon Adam was merely the judicial sentence, not the degradation which followed as a consequence.R2856:5
Came— Extended to all the seed of Adam. A156; R1450:1
Upon all men— Sharers of Adam's death sentence. R5596:6, 454:5 Condemning them as unworthy of life. R430:5, 911:4, 676:6* As all lost life in the first Adam, so all may receive life by accepting the second Adam. A108; HG344:6 All lost life, not of their own will or choice—in the first Adam. R545:3,258:5 The entire race of Adam was in him when he was sentenced, it was condemned with him. R5293:3 Adam's children were begotten after his humiliation. Through the law of heredity they have been "born in sin and shapen in iniquity," (Psa. 51:5) and accordingly under condemnation to death. R4018:6*
To condemnation— The death sentence. E25; R2395:4, 903:1, 391:1, 15:5 Excommunication from God, and final extinction of being. R688:6 The justice of God is manifest by rewarding sin with death. R496:1 First death entered and spread throughout all the race entirely independent of human will or personal act (except Adam's). R1450:1* Man's first chance in Eden resulted in total loss. R704:2 Adam could only bequeath to his posterity the remainder of the ever-declining inheritance which he himself possessed, a spark of life under condemnation. R3654:3 The only exception being in the case of children where one or both of whose parents are believers. (1 Cor. 7:14) R2719:1
Even so— So the results of Christ's obedience will be shared by all who believe into him. R1601:6 By the same law of heredity. R3654:3
Righteousness of one— Of the one who gave his life a ransom. R3654:3, 2272:2 Life for life, (Jesus' life for Adam's life). R2051:1 A spotless Redeemer. E444 Jesus gave himself, unblemished with a perfect seed or race in him unborn, untainted with sin, as a full ransom-price. HG395:2 Jesus, another perfect man, bought back the forfeited rights by giving his unforfeited human existence a ransom, an equivalent price. R464:2, 642:1, 432:4 All but Jesus died because of the inherited taint. R441:2 The actual death of Christ. R911:4, 2720:2, 676:6* The love of God is manifest by the death of his Son to release us from that just condemnation. R496:1 Herein the economy which pervades all of the divine plans; God condemned all in one that he might have mercy upon all through one. R381:1, 363:6 This generation all die on account of Adam's sin, but will live again on account of Christ's righteousness. R351:1 Our Lord's offering of himself a sin-offering and corresponding price for Adam and those who lost life in him. R1725:2 Jesus, by the payment of the penalty upon Adam, gained the legal right to restore him and his posterity to life. R3654:3 The death of Jesus was a complete settlement toward God of the sin of Adam. A128 The most economical arrangement that could have been made. R5429:6, 381:4, 363:6 Adam's trial was a personal one and not a representative one; our Lord's trial was a personal and not a representative one. R1601:6 The world's second crisis trial. R669:4, 2856:4, 891:6 "The man Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Tim. 2:6)A131 God provided the Redeemer for the very purpose of lifting the death-penalty upon mankind. R5293:3 It was by giving up his life as a ransom for the life of the Adamic race, which sin had forfeited, that a right to life may come to man through faith and obedience, under the New Covenant. R5192:5 Notice the contrast of the first man, Adam, and his failure with the faithfulness of "the man Christ Jesus." R2395:4 So far as the divine law was concerned Jesus paid the full penalty of the whole world rescuing mankind from the tomb and completely raising those willing out of sin by the close of the Millennial age. R2759:3 God is not dependent on sinful flesh and blood to perfectly carry out the divine plan of justification of life. R1151:5
The free gift— Life became a free gift because we had as a race forfeited our right to the life originally given to Adam. R430:5 This free gift will come to the world in the next, the Messianic, age. R4760:2, 3261:3 It will not be their gift at once, but will become theirs as they come in harmony with the Lord during the thousand year reign under the New Covenant. R4760:6 Of forgiveness, which, if accepted, will constitute a justification or basis for life everlasting. A156 All will be awakened from the tomb, thus receiving some benefit from the New Covenant, irrespective of acceptance of Christ. R5293:1, 2759:2 First to the Ancient Worthies, next to the Jews, then to all the families of the earth. R4760:6As a gift, it will have certain conditions attached to it, it will be under the terms of the New Covenant. R4760:3 This revival from the dead is to all men unconditional, but a revival to immortality and eternal life is conditional. R630:2* Jesus redeemed all men in order that all men might have a second chance. R704:2 It is too late to avoid being condemned, our object must be to escape from the condemnation that is in the world. R688:6 Christ has abolished death, annulled it; made it void, or powerless to hold one of Adam's race. R630:3* The things to be restored by and through Christ, are those things which were lost through Adam's sin. R329:2
Came upon all men— Who shall come into Christ, the new head of the race. A128 The sentence of Adam's sin is settled by Christ for all who accept his sacrifice and come into covenant relationship which eventually all must have a chance to do. R1378:1 The world in general, not the Jews only. R2720:2 This word "all", occurs in 1 Cor. 15:22, 28; 1 Tim. 2:3, 6; 4:10; Heb. 1:6; 2:8; Rev. 15:4. The same Greek word is translated "every" more than one hundred times. Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9; Rev. 5:13; Col. 1:15. R838:4 All came under Adamic sentence without choice or knowledge, and latterly came under the benefits of the redemption similarly without choice or knowledge. R2197:3 First death entered and spread throughout all the race entirely independent of human will or personal act (except Adam's). R1450:2 All receive life at the hands of the second Adam equally without their will or choice, with the privilege of retaining it forever on specified conditions. R545:3 We are now in the dawn of the Millennial day. The day in which right will rule and wrong be fully subjected, man will be restored by natural processes. R470:4The cancellation of sin through the merit of the precious blood of Jesus affects not only Father Adam, but all of his children. SM307:T; R4760:3, 145:2* The remedy for sin was co-extensive with the penalty.R3655:4 Israel, as well as the other nations, were redeemed by our Lord's offering himself a sin-offering and corresponding price for Adam. R5046:3 After the Day of Atonement (Gospel age) shall have closed, forgiveness will reach the whole world through Christ—a remission of the sentence pronounced upon the world in the person of Adam. R3261:3 The long delay since the giving of the ransom until the release from the sentence of extinction, has perplexed many of the Lord's faithful during the Gospel age. R1178:1
Unto— Permitting their attainment unto. R2720:3
Justification of life— The appropriating to ourselves of the "flesh and blood" of Jesus, justifies us from sin and its penalty death—justifies us to human life and its privileges. R611:5Forgiveness of many transgressions. R4504:5 Right to life may come to men through faith and obedience under the New Covenant. R1637:2, 840:4, 838:3, 467:1 Justifying their living again. R15:5, 676:6*, 252:1 For the law of life in Christ made such free from the condemnation of death. R332:5 Man's only hope is in a resurrection, a re-vitalization or recreation from the dead. R1642:5 A justification to life is one thing, and a justification to more or less friendship with God is another: the latter is all the Ancient Worthies had. Fiii, 111 If Israel or any of the race were justified to life by the mediation of the death of bulls and goats as a sacrifice for sins, then the Apostle was in error. R792:4 The great High Priest will sprinkle the blood upon the mercy seat a second time, and that will fulfill all demands of justice. R4760:3 The new creation are reckoned to attain it now in advance of the world, by exercise of faith.F111 Will eventually be open to all men. F111 The law of heredity will cease (Jer. 31:29), and each will be given the opportunity of justification unto life. R4018:6* All of the accounts against humanity having been cancelled by justice mankind will be turned over to the Mediator. R5293:2 To those whose sins were reconciled for by our Redeemer's sacrifice—they were no longer under condemnation. R4504:5 St. Paul referred to the fall every time he mentioned justification or the ransom-sacrifice by which we were justified. R1794:4 That we needed to be justified or made right, proves that we were wrong, unrighteousness in God's sight. E444 The appropriating to ourselves of the "flesh and blood" of Jesus, justifies us from sin and its penalty death—justifies us to human life and its privileges. R611:5

[NTC - Romans 5:19]

For as by one man's— Adam's, the first Adam. E414; R408:3, 545:3, 258:5, 7:3; OV226:1 Not by one woman's, Eve's; the death of the race depended not upon Eve but wholly upon Adam. E102 Had Eve remained sinless, Adam's condemnation would still have affected the entire posterity. R777:1 The penalty all came through one man, therefore God can justly let the death of one man offset the death penalty. CR429:6, 430:1; R1395:1, 770:5 Adam's trial was a personal one and not a representative one. R1601:6
Disobedience— Includes not only the act by which sin got possession of the world, but everything incident to its penalty. R5356:3
Many were made sinners— All who were in Adam. E25 "The many (all) were constituted sinners." (Diaglott) R15:5, 827:1, 252:1, 164:2, 96:3 The results of Adam's failure were inherited by those in him. R1601:6 Though a man may shorten his life by violating the laws of the physical nature. R477:2
Obedience of one— Jesus. E414; R408:3 The very chief of God's creation, higher than angels and archangels, was selected to undergo the labors of redeeming humanity. R164:3 Thus the Son of God was delivered for our offences. R1247:6 Jesus' sacrifice was a full equivalent and offset in God's sight, for the penalty which came upon Adam and all his race because of his disobedience. R1395:1 Our Lord's trial, like Adam's, was a personal trial and not a representative one. R1601:6 He condemned all through one representative, Adam, that he might have mercy upon all through another representative, Jesus Christ. R408:3 The perfection of Jesus is proven by his ability to give himself a ransom or corresponding price for the forfeited life and rights of Adam, who was perfect until he sinned. R776:3 The restored life of the redeemed race depended on Jesus, but the Church will share in the restitution work. R777:1 The philosophy of the ransom—all mankind were included in one man's sentence, that the penalty could be paid on behalf of all by one sacrifice. R2713:1 The merit of his obedience is as far reaching in its effects for the release of the human family from death, as was Adam's disobedience to destroy that life. R96:3,37:3 Christ's righteousness, and obedience even unto death, have become a ground of justification. OV226:1
Shall many— Those who get the first benefit of this provision in Christ are the Church. R5418:2 All who shall ultimately avail themselves of the privilege of the New Covenant. E25; R5192:5, 2856:5, 2272:2 Not many during the Gospel age, only a Little Flock, later the world of mankind. E414 This implies the resurrection of all the families of the earth that have gone down into death. OV250:4 A universal redemption from the curse. R1633:3 The results of Christ's obedience will be shared by all who believe into him. R1601:6
Be made righteous— Not "were made righteous." A156 "The many (all) will be constituted righteous." (Diaglott) R15:5, 827:1, 252:1, 164:2, 96:3 Justified from sin and death. R422:6 This grand deliverance is not yet, it is merely prospective. CR430:1 All, aside from personal demerit, may receive life by accepting the second Adam. OV226:1;R545:3, 258:5, 7:3 Every evil, whether in act, word, or thought, or every propensity toward evil inherited by us is fully atoned by Jesus already. R725:4 By being raised out of sin and death to perfection during the Millennial age. R2759:3, 417:6, 164:2 Made free from the death penalty—and ultimately shall have a resurrection. R5418:2Everlasting continuance of life may be had only upon the condition of full obedience to divine requirements. R1642:5 Neither justice nor the new Judge will release the culprit from the difficulties under which he labors, except as he exercises obedience. R2856:5

[NTC - Romans 5:20]

Moreover the law— The Mosaic Law. R3655:4, 930:3 The Law Covenant was added not to do away with sin, but that sin might be more distinctly seen to be sin. R2720:3
Offence might abound— The Law was given that sin and weakness might be more fully recognized; it did not cure sin, but exposed it, showed it up. R930:3 The Law brought with it a clearer knowledge of the will of God and therefore an increased sense of sin. R3655:4
Where sin abounded— Where the clearer knowledge of the will of God was given which enabled them to more clearly see their own short-comings. R3655:4, 2720:3, 930:3 Against our first parents and all their posterity. R2842:4 The Lord takes us just as we are according to the flesh. SM310:T Sin abounds more in some members of the human family than in others. Q139:T
Grace— As illustrated by God's taking out of the world of sinners a Little Flock to become sharers of the divine glory with their Lord Jesus. R2842:4 God's grace in Christ, forgiving and justifying, or counting as righteous. R37:3; SM309:2 Realizing our forgiveness through him, let us cease from picking our own character and our fellow saint's to pieces by the Law, which Christ kept for us.R930:1 If we grasp God's forgiveness through Christ, we must let go of the Law and abandon all hope of self-justification. R930:2 In that he provided, through Christ, a recovery of all who will of mankind from the penalty of sin and death. R2842:4
Much more abound— Israel had many special favors as well as chastisements from God. R3655:4 Implying that God supplies his grace in Christ to each needy penitent in proportion to his needs. Q139:T; R930:3 God's grace through Christ is not evenly distributed in the sense of giving so much to each individual, but is imputed to each according to necessity. Q139:1

[NTC - Romans 5:21]

As sin hath reigned— In the hearts or minds of men. E189 Both in Israel and in the world. R3655:4; SM789:3 The world has been under a reign of sin and death, not under a reign of righteousness and life. R6013:2 Sin and death are personified as great monarchs now ruling the children of men. SM611:1
Even so— Both in Israel and in the world. R3655:4
Might grace reign— In the Millennial age. R1772:1, 2907:4 A new order of things under control of Messiah will take the place of the present reign of the Prince of darkness. NS627:5
By— Through. R965:5
Jesus Christ— He instead of Adam, will be the father, life giver, or head of the new race. R3654:6 "He shall be called—the everlasting Father." (Isa. 9:6) R3654:6

[NTC - Romans 6:1]

Shall we— A class of saints, consecrated to death. R648:6, 2720:3, 931:4 Gentile Christians. R952:2
Continue in sin— Venial (forgivable, not mortal) sins. R1984:1 To do so would be to sin willfully, changing the sin from venial to mortal. R1984:1Shall we transgress when we please, trusting to God's provision for our forgiveness? R930:3, 2720:3, 952:2 In justifying us, or imputing to us a righteousness not actually ours, God's intention is not to have us continue in sin. R1223:5
Grace may abound— Trusting to God's forgiveness in Christ. R930:3

[NTC - Romans 6:2]

How— With what consistency R649:1 How could we under such circumstances take pleasure in sinning. R930:3
We, that are dead— We saints that are reckoned dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit. D476; R1861:4 Consecrated to death. R649:1, 728:6 Regard our Lord's substitute for sin as though it were our former sinful selves that had died. R930:3
To sin— As far as our wills are concerned. F368; R2167:1 By or on account of, or as a sin sacrifice. R649:1, 728:6
Any longer therein— Have any fellowship with that which we are dying to destroy or remove. R649:1 By our covenant with God, we have declared ourselves dead to sin. R1528:1, 1628:4 We should repulse and oppose sin as our great enemy, which had once caused our death. R930:3 That our wills would be for sin would signify we had died as new creatures. F368

[NTC - Romans 6:3]

That so many of us— Already members of Christ's Body. F435: R1016:5; NS50:4
As were baptized— Immersed, not sprinkled. F435 This is the real baptism, of which immersion into water is the only beautiful and appropriate symbol. R1278:6, 930:4 An admission in Christ; into the Body or Church of Christ. R2825:6, 2465:1, 649:1 Greek, baptizo; to bury, immerse, cover up, submerge. If immersed into Christ, we lose ourselves. R132:3, 302:4, 132:3 Plunged, swallowed up, buried. R649:1: The Apostle is urging the vow of consecration. R4264:6 From the time of full consecration to God, we are counted as being dead. Q764:4 The Gentiles require immersion into Christ. R75:3 The laver clearly typifies baptism. R117:1
Into Jesus Christ— Not into water. F435: R2465:1, 514:1; CR75:4 This affords a suggestion of words which are suitable to symbolical immersion. F455; R1544:4 Into the Body, of which Christ is the Head. SM346:3; R2810:4, 1544:4, 1278:6, 649:1, 270:6; Q32:3: CR75:4, 171:4; OV241:5 None enter the Body of Christ except by the immersion of their wills into the will of Christ. R2465:1 Our introduction into the Body of Christ as wild olive branches grafted into the approved stock. R2931:4, 2825:6 We are not merely baptized into the glorious Body of the future, but we are baptized into Jesus that we might share in the death of Jesus, the sacrifice, and share in the glory of Jesus, the Messiah. R5054:4 Become with Jesus, The Christ, the Anointed, for Christ means anointed. SM346:3 Our oneness with Jesus as members of The Christ, may be clearly illustrated by the figure of the pyramid. R270:6, 135:1 Not into the Baptist Church nor any human institution, but the one true Church of the living God. R2810:4 The Disciples denomination misunderstand and are practicing John's baptism of repentance and remission of sins. R2417:6
Were baptized— Not into water, but into burial of our wills, which control body, hands, feet, eyes, mouth, brain, bank account, and all that we have. F436; R1542:5, 1008:2, 514:1; CR75:4 Scriptural baptism is indispensable. No one will be of the Little Flock who has not been baptized. R132:2 This baptism will not be complete until the last member shall have passed into death. PD56/69
Into his death— Made participators with him in his sacrificial death. F439; R4547:5, 1542:3, 514:1; CR75:5; OV241:7 "Being made conformable to his death." (Phil. 3:10) R133:1 A full consecration of our wills and ultimately a full laying down of our lives, faithfully unto death. R2700:6,2167:1 Self denial as we crucify the human nature with its affections and desires. R133:4 The eternal death of the human nature. R302:4 Not Adamic death, but a ransom or substitute for it. R649:1 We share also in the results of Christ's death; the putting away of the sins of the whole world. R649:1 It is hard to die in any sense, but it is especially hard to be dead to the world, its opinions, pleasures and wishes, while still in it. R133:5 By the giving up of things not sinful, and to which you have a right, as men. R133:2 In the Church's case also a death to sin. R2147:6 Praise and blame are nothing to him who is really dead and buried with Christ. R202:6* "Baptism into death" excludes no denominational lines. It includes those of every denomination and of no denomination who comply with its conditions of faith and obedience and consecration unto death. CR76:1; R4019:1 It is a very different thing to be baptized into death with Jesus, and to be baptized into water with him. CR171:4 Not for remission of sins. Q32:3 God has never counted any in as members of the Church of Christ except those who have fully surrendered their wills to him and become dead to the world. SM346:3; R2700:6 Gentiles needed to be baptized into Christ's death. PD57/69; R2825:6, 952:2

[NTC - Romans 6:4]

Therefore— Refers to the preceding verse. We want to be immersed into Jesus Christ, not just the body of humiliation, but specially the Body of glory. HG263:4
We are buried— We have been entombed. (Diaglott) R649:1 Burial of our human will into the will of Christ is our death as human beings. F436;R96:2, 132:3 In a sense each one buried loses his own individuality and self control and merges into the Body of Christ. NS326:3 The instant of this burial is followed by our begetting. F436 In symbolic baptism, one no more buries himself than he raises himself. We merely surrender our wills, our all, to the Lord. R3362:3
Him— Jesus. R759:3 Christ. HG258:3
By baptism— By the immersion. (Diaglott) R649:1 Nowhere does the Bible say that it is water baptism which inducts the believers into Christ. R5063:5;F440 The water immersion is merely a symbol or picture of the burial of the individual's will and interests in death. SM123:1; R1542:2,3, 962:3 Immersed into the Body, the true Church. R396:2 Begotten, at the moment of full consecration. E184; R1301:4 The door of sacrifice. R5446:3
Into death— Participation with the Redeemer in the death which he died. R5063:5; SM123:1 Death to self-will, earthly hopes, aims and prospects. R759:3 Death to the flesh. SM123:1 We are accepted only by giving up our own will, and taking instead the will of God. R5446:3
That like— In order that. R649:1
Raised up— Baptism is an emblem of both death and resurrection. R1322:2*, 930:4 He was resurrected to the divine plane. R5748:6
From the dead— For parts of three days he lay dead in the tomb—not alive in any sense. R5748:6 He had given up his human life never to take it up again. R5748:6
Glory of the Father— Divinity. R145:6*
Even so we also— From the time of our consecration, the immersion of our wills into that of the Lord. R1278:6 The Bride is called to the same glorious nature as her Head. R5748:6 Our condition is a reckoned one in Christ justified, dead, resurrected now. R649:1
Walk— Circumspectly not as fools, redeeming the time. R1753:2
In newness of life— Refers indirectly to our share in the first resurrection, refers chiefly to the present life. F440; Q591:2;NS52:4 In a new life. (Diaglott) R649:1 Reckon ourselves as though we had been resurrected, and were now actually spiritual beings, as Jesus now is; abstaining from sin and rejoicing in communion with him. R649:1, 3132:3, 1542:6 New creatures with an inward man, or hidden man of the heart who is being renewed day by day. R2231:6 Newness of hopes, ambitions, relationship to God through Christ. F437 Our resurrection is already begun. R5440:5, 1542:6 We are figuratively raised from the dead. R5089:2 As creatures of a new nature, to which we were instantly begotten after consecration. F436, 675, R154:4

[NTC - Romans 6:5]

Planted together— United with him. (Revised Version) HG264:2 Baptized. R132:3 Planting into death, in the likeness of Christ's death. F441Water baptism would be a very cheap guarantee to a place in the Kingdom. HG263:6 Not yet made a complete sacrifice. R99:3*
In the likeness— Pattern or sample. R2477:2 In the like kind, the sacrificial kind. R649:1 There is no other way to attain to the new nature. R5871:4
Of his death— We must be dead with him, suffer with him. R191:1, 3152:5
We shall be also— Sharers. R1542:6, 1278:6, 1260:2 Thousands have been planted in water who will never share in his resurrection. F441
Likeness— The experience of the brethren in resurrection will only be a duplication of the experiences of their Lord. R2477:2
His resurrection— The first resurrection. R190:6, 2671:6, 2477:2, 1542:6; SM152:3 The divine nature. R1442:1 The chief resurrection. R1511:2 Our Lord is the Head, the first born from the dead amongst many brethren. R2477:2: To glory, honor and immortality. (Rom. 2:7) R2773:1, 5871:4, 1262:6, 1260:2, 649:1 To spiritual perfection. R649:1 To the new nature and to ultimately share in the heavenly Kingdom. R3152:6The change will be instantaneous, except to those who have slept. R1260:2 We die to the world and rise to "walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." (Rom. 8:1,4) R133:6

[NTC - Romans 6:6]

Knowing this— Remembering in this connection. R649:1
That our old man— Human nature. R728:6, 212:1*; Q44:9 Our degraded, sin-inclined selves when under condemnation. R649:2, 99:3 Our former selves, justified by faith in Christ's sacrifice. R960:2, 3067:6, 931:4 The old nature given up at consecration, different from the "body of sin." Q44:3
Is crucified with him— Consecrated to death. R931:4 That we might be members of his Body, spiritual new creatures. R960:2 Was crucified in him, represented in Jesus when he was crucified. R649:4
The body of sin— A figurative personification of evil or sin. R931:4, 960:2; Q651:1, 44:9 The antichrist; a system of error which Paul saw would arise, counterfeiting and opposing the "Body of Christ." R980:2, 930:2 Organization of sin. R3067:6 The entire sin system with all its members and branches. R960:2 Represents all the sin in the world. Q651:1 Not a sinful individual. R980:2 Sin is here represented in figure as the great oppressive monarch whose reign with his servant death has brought so much distress on the world, all of whom he has enslaved, but from whose power we have been delivered by Christ's ransom. R930:6 Of the sin-offering. R728:6
Might be destroyed— Greek, katargeo; to render powerless, to destroy. R2001:4 Jesus in his own person represented sin as a whole and as such "He was made a curse" for sin. (Gal. 3:13) R649:4 When the last enemy shall be destroyed, which is death. Q45:T
Not serve sin— No longer be enslaved to sin. (Diaglott) R649:4, 728:6 Nor in any sense recognize sin as our master. R3067:6

[NTC - Romans 6:7]

He that is dead— He who died representatively in Jesus' death, who accepts that Christ died for his sins. R649:4 Those who have passed from death unto life through Christ and are new creatures. R4041:1:
Is freed— Has been justified from sin. (Diaglott) R649:4, 728:6
From sin— The great taskmaster, which previously held them in slavery to wickedness. R4041:1 Not original sin. R4041:1 Any who consecrated themselves to death with Christ must first have been justified freely. R728:6

[NTC - Romans 6:8]

Now if— The Apostle adds the conditions to become joint-heirship. R3709:3 After being sinners represented in Jesus' sacrifice, and justified thereby. R649:4
We— The Church. E411 As human creatures. A213 If we as justified persons. R649:4
Be dead with Christ— The same, sacrificial death, not a different death. CR327:5; F439; E411; R1260:2, 1015:6 A dying daily to the spirit, hopes, aims and ambitions of the world. R2123:2 Deny self, to mortify the deeds of the body. R2123:2,281:3 Self with its own selfishness or depraved desires, should be reckoned dead. D476; E411 As human beings we are consecrated to destruction, as sacrifices. A213 Suffer with him. C208 Those accepted by the Lord are sacrificed by him as parts or members of himself and their blood (death) counted in as a part of the blood of Christ. R4397:6 This thought should be in the minds of those who participate in the Memorial. R5643:1, 3962:1 His death was not the Adamic death. R382:6 It was Jesus' first death; to those who die with him it is their second death. R514:5 Adamic death is in the past to us, but the overcomers shall not be hurt of the second death. R514:5, 649:5
We believe that— As new spiritual beings. A213
We shall also— Changes which daily occur to our human bodies do not cause us to lose our identity. A202; R626:6
Live with him— On a higher than human plane of being. R328:6 Be made "joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him." (Rom. 8:17) C208; R5643:1, 1542:5 The transformation of mind, from earthly to heavenly, is the beginning of that change of nature. A202, 213 To know the power of his resurrection, we must expect the fellowship of his sufferings. R80:3

[NTC - Romans 6:9]

Dieth no more— Death having no more dominion over him. E90; R2822:6 No ransom will ever again be given for any; for none worthy of life will be cast into the second death. R2603:2, 5776:5, 5093:5, 2657:4, 701:6; SM31:T Our Lord's sacrifice was once for all. R2822:6 He redeemed them from the curse once. R701:6 He has finished with the flesh forever. NS459:1 For willful sinners, "There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." (Heb. 10:26) R2610:2, 4575:2, 769:6 There will be no resurrection from the second death. SM31:T; R5925:5, 5354:5, 5103:1, 2610:2, 1155:4, 553:4 If we sin willfully as new creatures, we would forfeit the right to live, and we could not be redeemed again. R5103:1, 4575:2 Those who die the second death will have no recovery; they have had their share in the atonement. R5093:5 It is impossible for Christ to die any more because he has been made a partaker of the divine nature, immortality. R1642:2, 677:4 Even if he did, the Scriptures declare it is "Impossible to renew them again unto repentance." (Heb. 6:4-6) R769:6 The Bible intimates a considerable number of goats at the end of the Millennial age under the second death penalty. Another sacrifice would do no good if they hadn't previously profited. R5925:5 Would any intelligent being give his life a corresponding price for one who proved incorrigible under such favorable conditions? R5925:5 The sacrifice of the Mass, practiced in the Roman Catholic Church, is in direct conflict with this scripture. R3960:6, 5641:6
No more dominion— No longer lords it over him. (Diaglott) R649:4

[NTC - Romans 6:10]

Died— This death and resurrection is the real baptism. R145:6*
Unto sin once— "By sin." (Diaglott) "For sin." (Murdoch's Syriac) R366:2 By or on account of our sins imputed to him. R648:3, 930:5, 882:1, 728:6, 649:4, 366:3 As a sacrifice for or because of our sin. R882:1 That one death, and only one ever referred to by our Lord or his apostles, was the death at Calvary. R4700:5, 5192:3
Unto God— By the favor and reward of God. R649:4, 728:6

[NTC - Romans 6:11]

Likewise reckon ye— Thus do you account yourselves. R649:4 The Lord's consecrated ones. R3246:3 The death of the flesh and its will, and the resurrection of the flesh as the servant of the new will are only reckoned matters. F600; R1594:3 The death of Jesus was reckoned complete when he presented himself a living sacrifice. T53 In our present reckoned condition we seek mentally and spiritually to appropriate the perfect likeness. R1594:3 We are not actually spirit beings until our resurrection, though when we receive the spirit of adoption we are reckoned as such. A197
Yourselves— Our will. R5358:3
Dead indeed unto sin— And to all human aims, and hopes of human glory, honor or life. T53; R5584:3, 2616:1 Mortifying, or deadening of the fleshly mind. R5486:5, 79:6 Dead people cannot sin. R3246:3 Old tempers and dispositions disappear and the new mind asserts its power. R1528:1 To self-will and worldly opinion. F450 This condition needs to be maintained by opposition of the new will to any activity of the old will over the flesh. F600 Praise and blame are nothing to him who is really dead and buried with Christ. R202:6* As sharers with Jesus of the penalty of the world's sin. R649:4 On account of sin, as sacrifices (see Diaglott). R728:6, 648:3 Having made a covenant with God. R1628:4, 1528:1 Now with every sin stain cancelled, we as he, present a sinless sacrifice. R366:3 Not for our own sins (which were blotted out by his sacrifice) but for the sins of others, even as was his death. R930:5 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3) R648:3 Dead to sin and mortality. R145:3*
But alive— There is nothing said about being reckonedly new creatures. We are to reckon ourselves as though we had been raised from the dead. R5325:2,3, 5060:6, 3132:3; A197 The Church has already been quickened together with Christ. R3132:3 Our dead flesh has been quickened through the power of God to serve him. Q680:2 Covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness. R4761:5 Our mortal bodies energized in the service of the Lord. Q508:2; R5584:3, 3132:3 Alert to know and do the will of the Lord in every matter. F451; NS55:3 Living by. R649:1 Resurrected to holiness and immortality. R145:6* No Jew can get eternal life under the terms of the Law Covenant. R4537:3
Unto God— Alert to know and do his will. F451; R5584:3 Daily growing more and more Christ-like. R1528:1 This means a constant warfare against the easily besetting sins of our old nature. R1528:1
Through— God's favor is conveyed to the sinner through his Redeemer, and in no other way. R965:5

[NTC - Romans 6:12]

Let not sin therefore reign— Because, as new creatures, we are begotten of a different spirit. R2720:4 There is a constant warfare against the easily besetting sins of our old nature. R1528:1, 1628:4 Even as now, sin does not reign in all, so that some now, in heart pass from death unto life. R1219:1 Do not allow it to dominate you; refuse to obey sin. R5356:3, 5378:5, 1626:5, 93:2
Your mortal body— Man is not immortal. R1642:5

[NTC - Romans 6:13]

Neither yield— Implying spiritual sickness. R2446:1
Unrighteousness— Iniquity. R649:1
But— According to your consecration. R649:2
Yield yourselves— Present yourselves, in harmony with your consecration. R649:4, 366:3 Presenting refers not to consecration, but to fulfilling the covenant already made. R608:1
As those— As if. R649:2
Alive from the dead— Just as though risen actually and possessing our promised immortal, spiritual body. R649:4
Instruments of righteousness— That you may be used as his agents and mouthpieces. R649:2

[NTC - Romans 6:14]

Sin— Sinful dispositions. R5901:3*
Ye— The Church. R5887:4, 4505:2, 3752:6
Are not— The Lord speaks not as he speaks to servants. R2487:2
Under the law— The Law Covenant. R4013:6, 5887:4, 5071:4,5, 4600:1, 4586:5, 4505:2 Jesus made an end of the Law Covenant, nailing it to the cross. R3752:6 The Christian is still bound to do what is right. R5072:5, 542:3 Jews who became Christians were freed from the Law to which they had been bound, but were still bound to do what is right. R5072:5,6 We are to recognize a distinction between the commands which Christ gave us and the Law Covenant. R5520:2, 4013:6 The Church is not put under the law of Sinai or required to keep it to get everlasting life. R5287:1 The Law killeth. R614:6 What was proper enough as a prohibition to the natural man would be inappropriate to the new creation. R4014:1 Nevertheless the Law is very precious to the Church looking at the spirit of it. R5287:1, 5071:4 Those sacrificing all their earthly rights are doing more than the Law could require. R5287:4 The New Law Covenant would condemn every imperfect person as did the Old Law Covenant. R4586:2We are not under the Law Covenant, but under divine favor expressed in the New Covenant, sealed by Christ's blood. R1728:6
But— As stewards. R2487:2
Under grace— Favor. R542:3, 5947:2, 1726, 973:4, 971:4 Which does not require the fulfillment of the Law. R5947:2 It is the spirit of the Law (love) manifested in us, through Christ that gives or guarantees life. R614:6 Covering our unwilling imperfections of thought, word, and deed. R1726:6, 971:4 Grace means what the Lord does for us freely, not as a reward of any kind. R5073:1 "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8:1) R614:5 We are not judged according to the flesh, but according to the heart intentions. Q180:3 Love is the fulfillment of the Law so far as we are concerned. R4600:1 We are not under the New Covenant; it applies to the Jews. R4586:2 We are not under the Law Covenant, but under the arrangement of grace, of God's favor. R5072:6 The Grace Covenant. R4600:1, 4505:2 Our relationship to God is of the same character as that enjoyed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, before the Law Covenant. R3752:6Some feel alarmed at the thought of being free from a law, but Abraham Isaac and Jacob were approved without a law. R3753:1 The Church is not under the Law, but it is valuable to them, providing a standard of perfection. R5287:1 Christ's word is our law; not a law of bondage, but of liberty. R973:4 Tithing, like all other features of the Law, was not given to the new creatures in Christ, but to the Jews. R1028:6 6:15
Shall we sin— Willfully. R1728:6, 973:4 We must not live in sin. R5098:1 Shall we live in sin while our hearts are in harmony with righteousnessR5098:1 Let us put off everything we think will be displeasing to the Lord. R5098:1
Because— Shall we take advantage of liberty to break away into sin. R973:4
Not under the law— The Law Covenant. R1728:6 We are no longer under Jehovah's Law given at Sinai, but under a new arrangement, under law to Christ. But since his law is in harmony with the Father's law, we are "not without law to God, but under the law to Christ." (1 Cor. 9:12) R542:6
God forbid— As sons, begotten of the spirit of adoption, we delight to do our Father's will. R973:4

[NTC - Romans 6:16]

That to whom— There are two great opposing forces in conflict—Christ and Satan—all mankind are serving one or the other. R1948:1
His servants ye are— There are two masters: one is God the other is mammon. R5896:5 "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24) R5896:5 All who with Satan serve sin, are his servants or messengers. R3084:1 The Adversary always secures and uses the best servants he can for his mouthpieces. R3120:1Mankind are slaves of sin. R5355:3 The world is unwittingly in the service of Satan. NS227:3 If we are serving sin, serving the flesh, we are slaves to it. R3893:1If our lives are in harmony with sin and unrighteousness we are not on the Lord's side, but on the Devil's. NS368:2 Millions of professed Christians imagine that they are serving the Lord while in reality they are serving the Adversary. R4033:5, 5693:4, 4327:1; OV275:3 If we are giving time and thought to grasping after riches and worldly honors; for selfishness in any form, if our sympathies and affections tend earthward, then we are serving mammon. R5896:6, 3893:1, 1626:6 If we are really living for the present life alone, let us not dishonestly profess to be a servant of the great King. CR16:5
To whom ye obey— To whom ye render service. CR16:5; R1217:3, 495:3 Not whom do we think we are serving, but who do we actually serve. R4033:5Seeing how wonderfully the Adversary can accomplish evil purposes, circulate falsehoods, and find agents for these services, proves that Satan is not bound. R5655:4, 4524:4 Careful scrutiny of thoughts, word and doings in the light of God's word, will show whether we are rendering service to the rightful master or the Adversary. R5896:6 If we are living for the present life alone let us not pretend otherwise. An honest servant of mammon is more respectable to the Lord than one dishonestly professing to be a servant of God. NS489:2
Sin unto death— Destruction; contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:5 The second death. R3084:1 We cannot know absolutely who have committed the "sin unto death," and who have not. R4592:1

[NTC - Romans 6:17]

The servants of sin— Through the weakness of heredity. E189 Mankind are "slaves of sin." (Diaglott) R5355:3
Obeyed from the heart— Not mere outward acts, that would be formalism, but loyal obedience. R85:2

[NTC - Romans 6:18]

Free from sin— The Scriptures ascribe no sin to the new mind. R2440:3
Ye— Ye new creatures. R2440:3 Our fellow-freedmen in Paul's day. R1066:4

[NTC - Romans 6:19]

Infirmity— Greek, astheneia, used to denote moral, spiritual sickness. R4099:6*
Yield your members— Having consecrated, they must spend their life and the strength of every member of their bodies in his service. R608:1
Servants to righteousness— All who realize freedom through Christ's pardon, should submit themselves to their Redeemer's control. R1066:5

[NTC - Romans 6:20]

The servants of sin— Bond-slaves. R3512:6 The masses through ignorance, and the more intelligent through pride and selfishness. E189 In this captive condition they have been blinded by the god of this world. E189

[NTC - Romans 6:21]

Is death— Destruction; contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:5

[NTC - Romans 6:22]

Free from sin— Brought to a condition of sin-less-ness by faith in the ransom. R199:2
Become servants— Bond-servants; bond-slaves. R1066:4
Fruit unto holiness— Entire consecration. R142:5, 279:4 Sanctification. R199:2 Formation of character. R48:4 The first phase of real baptism; dying to sin and living to holiness. R160:3*, 48:4 "I am the vine, ye are the branches." (John 15:5) E140 The Church as branches draw the new life from our Lord the root. E140
And the end— And the end thereof will be. R142:5, 279:4 Not the beginning. R90:2
Everlasting life— Eternal life, redemption. R199:2

[NTC - Romans 6:23]

The wages— The curse or penalty. R4792:2, 5753:4, 1718:3; PD11/18 Punishment. R4695:4;HG356:4, 303:5 Neither love nor justice, as embodied in Jehovah, would sanction sin. R5603:3 All mankind were born under this sentence. R4840:3 Recognized as "a just recompense of reward." (Heb. 2:2) R1087:5, 1443:2 A just penalty. R1718:3 Experiences of sorrow, degradation, imperfection and death are all parts of the wage of sin. SM611:1 Since death is the penalty or wages of sin, when the sin is cancelled the wages must in due time cease. A157 This penalty has rested against Adam and his family for 6000 years. PD11/18; SM171:1 Is allowed to continue until the full close of this Gospel or sacrificing age. R364:1 The whole world is in alienation from God, banished from his favor and from everlasting life. R5355:6 Willful sinners will experience this wage as punishment, which will be everlasting. HG365:4 This wage has been completely met for us in the declaration, "Christ died for our sins." (1 Cor. 15:3) E442
Of sin— Departure from righteousness. R1443:2 Failure to do the perfect will of God. SM304:1 Disobedience in God's sight is sin. CR209:1 The smallest violation of law is sin. R454:3 All sin is mortal at the Supreme Judge of the universe's bar. R1983:6 We must shun sin if we would avoid its penalty. R361:1 Our general dying tendency resulted not from our own transgressions but father Adam's. NS701:6 We have all these terrible conditions on earth because sin entered the world. R5753:4Neither God's love nor justice would sanction sin. R5603:3 The great monarch ruling the world, has enslaved the entire human family. R5355:3 The great Adversary of God is responsible for the disaster which sin has wrought upon the earth. R5603:3
Is death— Absence of life, destruction, extinction, cessation of life. E465; R3025:6, 1377:3, 1087:5 Destroy, perish, die. HG427:3 Everlasting destruction. R4881:6; NS261:4 Life is the antithesis of death, there is no sentient being no feeling. HG192:1 The executioner being he "that hath the power of death." (Heb. 2:14) E449; R2599:6 Not eternal torment. A126; E464; A128; R5063:3, 4552:1, 3025:6, 2607:3, 2047:2, 1377:3, 1085:1, 863:3, 699:6; CR498:6; SM171:T, 663:2, 587:2, 305:2, 230:1, 86:3; NS844:3, 835:6 When death is eternal it is eternal punishment. Q768:2 A fundamental teaching of Christ and his apostles. R3106:6 Adam's disobedience was sin; punishable with death, not eternal torment. OV376:2, 440:T*; R5149:6, 4982:5, 4775:2; CR269:6; SM663:2 The wages of the smallest sin is death. R454:5 Second death is the extreme penalty of the divine law, not eternal torment. R4820:6 Everything that goes with death, as its natural result, is a part of the penalty. R5603:3, 2841:6; Q328:T Nowhere does it say that the wages of sin is purgatory. CR242:1; R5063:6; OV348:4
All, good and bad, go down to the tomb; to sheol [Hebrew] and hades
[Greek], translated "hell" in our Bibles. OV362:3; SM123:1 Mankind are still under the death sentence, the wrath of God. R4840:3 In the Millennial age none shall die for inherited sins, but it will be an individual penalty against all who sin wilfully. R2398:6; E387; HG268:1 "Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt thou return." (Gen. 3:19) R4552:2 Death does not annihilate matter, for matter is indestructible, but the being's existence is to terminate. R1377:6 God has enforced the penalty, and has thus manifested his justice. R5635:6 God has the right and power to destroy in death any creature who will not conform to his just and wise law. R3391:2 If our Lord had done anything wrong it would have been charged to his new creature. R5090:1 Without knowledge of what the penalty for sin is, we would not be able to understand how the death of the Redeemer paid the penalty against Adam and all in him. R3279:2; PT387:5* The great disease of sin. NS715:6 The experiences of sorrow, degradation, imperfection and death are all parts of the wage of this great taskmaster, sin. SM611:1;R5603:3, 5355:3, 5063:3 Witches, wizards, and necromancers, have personated the dead, to deceive and delude humanity and to contradict the divine sentence. SM118:1 Death was not pronounced against the angels.R4664:2 Death was the wage which God authorized Israel to inflict upon the Amalekites, a death penalty. R4207:4 The sons of the fallen angels were cut off in death, their birth was not authorized, they were not redeemed. R5160:4 Death is an enemy, not a friend. "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26) R625:6*, 2599:6 To give sinners eternal life would have been discreditable to the divine character and government, and injurious to his creatures. NS645:6 Second death. R1449:5*, 1882:4; HG334:6, 356:5 God's people are duty bound to make clear this feature of the divine program. All willful sin will bring death. R4881:6 "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezek 18:4, 20) R2607:3 "Dying thou shalt die." (Gen. 2:17) Not "living thou shalt live in torment." CR492:1; SM588:T
But the gift— Reward. R1878:4; E386 Not man's inherent self-possession. E285,387;R2047:1 No one could earn it. R5356:5 What we could not obtain legally under divine requirements, God proffers to us as a gift. NS766:5 Given only to those who have his approval, only the righteous. SM305:2; E386 God himself is the source of life. If everlasting life be enjoyed by any of his creatures, it must be as his gift. E417 Which all the families of the earth may attain through the glorious opportunity of knowledge and obedience in Christ's Kingdom. R5067:6 We are blest by the gifts which our Lord dispensed when he ascended on high; we in turn, will be his gifts to the world of mankind. R5067:6
Of God— Christ the life-giver provided of God for the race of Adam. NS340:4 God's word is the only evidence pointing out the way to obtain that gift. Q775:T
Is eternal life— Greek, aionion, signifies literally unlimited, i.e., a period upon which no limit is expressed. R699:5 Everlasting. R965:4Continuous life. HG394:5 Life unceasingly. R363:1 Life in its fullest sense. R4840:2 Given only to those who have God's approval; only to the righteous. SM305:2; R3066:1 God will not give eternal life to the wicked but only to those who will turn from sin to righteousness. R4881:6 Granted to those who seek it by living according to the spirit of holiness. R1878:4, 3432:6, 1378:4; E418, 404, 386 The hope for life beyond the grave is the resurrection hope. OV154:T;R4175:1; NS281:5 Everlasting life through Messiah's redemption work, restitution. R5149:6, 5093:2; SM769:2 The first resurrection, to glory, honor, immortality, the divine nature. R5149:6 Two classes will receive everlasting life, one on the heavenly plane, the other on the earthly plane. HG654:6 On conditions they (1) accept Christ as their Redeemer, (2) avoid sin and live in harmony with God and righteousness. R1878:3 Satan was given this gift, but it was conditional, dependent upon his obedience. OV304:2
Through Jesus Christ— "He that hath the Son hath life." (1 John 5:12) E386; Q768:2 Through the Redeemer's death at Calvary. R5146:6

[NTC - Romans 7:1]

Them that know the law— Jewish converts to Christianity. R1729:5, 2729:4
How that the law— The Law Covenant, represented as a husband. R1729:5, 2720:5
Dominion over a man— The Law Covenant is still a bondage with the Jews and will continue with them. R4474:3, 4505:1, 1729:5 The Law Covenant is not intended to be an everlasting arrangement with the Jew. R5163:1
As long as he liveth— The Jewish Law is as obligatory upon the Jew today as it was upon his fathers in the days of Moses. Only death could set the Jew free from that Law Covenant. OV279:2 The Law Covenant is binding upon every Jew from the day the Covenant was made until the present time. R4505:1 For any Jew to get free from the Law Covenant, he must die to the Law. R4504:1; R5163:1 The only ones who have been able to get from under it are those who have come into Christ. R5163:1

[NTC - Romans 7:2]

For the woman— Typically the Jewish people. R2720:5, 1729:5 The Jewish people, represented as a wife. R2720:5, 5163:3, 1729:5;
To her husband— Typically the Law Covenant. R2720:5, 1729:5
The husband be dead— The Law Covenant had not been abrogated as a bad Law, but had died a natural death through the fulfillment of the purposes of its creation. R2720:5 The Law should die, that Israel may be liberated. R2716:4

[NTC - Romans 7:3]

Adulteress— Blending the two covenants, and being united to both Moses and Christ, was wholly out of the question. R2720:5

[NTC - Romans 7:4]

Ye also— Those who realize that they could not gain everlasting life through their union with the Law Covenant. R1729:5
Dead to the law— Not die to the Law of God, but merely to the Law Covenant. R5359:3 Giving up all hope of attaining everlasting life through keeping the Law Covenant. R5359:3 Jesus' death cancelled all claims of the Law against a believing Jew. R3457:4 If a Jew became dead with Christ it made him free from the claims of the Law Covenant. F229; R5359:3, 4537:3, 4505:1, 1729:5, 1527:1 It is needful that the Law should die and Israel be liberated and prepared to be united (married to Messiah by a New Covenant). R2716:4 It is a mistake to teach that the Law Covenant died or was destroyed by our Lord. R1729:4 The children of Jacob are still bound by it unless they have died to it. R1729:4 Those accepted in Christ were entirely free from the Law of Moses. R2118:6 Jews by acceptance of Christ settled the claims of the Law and made them freemen in Christ. R1527:1
The body of Christ— The flesh of Jesus. R3457:4 Sacrifice of Christ. R1388:5
That ye— The Church. T102
Should be married— As New Creatures, as Christ's Bride. R3457:4; T102 The Apostle Paul recognized that those who had accepted Christ were entirely free from the Law of Moses; that to them Moses was dead and they were married to another, even Christ. R2118:6
To another— To Christ and under his law. R2118:6
Even to him— The glorified Christ. T102
Bring forth fruit— With proper, diligent cultivation, the character will grow and develop, and will become beautiful and fruitful. R4808:2

[NTC - Romans 7:5]

Were in the flesh— The flesh is reckoned dead, but is not actually dead; merely dying daily. R4615:1
The motions of sins— The struggles of the flesh, the desire for sin which may still lurk in the fallen members of our body. R4615:1 Which may manifest themselves in slander or backbiting or reproach, continuing to rankle in the heart, may bring forth anger, malice, strife and other wicked works. R5123:6

[NTC - Romans 7:6]

But now we— We Israelites. R1730:1
From the law— The Law Covenant. R1730:1 The Decalogue as well as the ceremonial features of the Law. HG584:1
That being dead— Being dead to that. R1730:1
Newness of spirit— With our minds, our wills. R1730:1
And not— And not be required to serve. R1730:1
Of the letter— Of the Law Covenant. R1730:1

[NTC - Romans 7:7]

Is the law sin?— Is the Law defective, sinful, bad? R1730:1
Had not known— The Law given to the Jew revealed his weakness. R6:4, 544:4, 257:6 Before the Law Covenant, I was not under it: but now I know, and sin came upon me because I could not keep what I had agreed to do. R4961:2
Sin— Original sin, Adamic sin, which passed through heredity upon all of Adam's children. R4961:2
But by the law— Those who failed to keep the Law came under its curse as well as under Adam's curse. R4961:2 The Law Covenant brought the Jews a measure of blessing. R5162:3
Thou shalt not covet— This verse proves that the Ten Commandments were part of the Law. R542:3

[NTC - Romans 7:8]

Sin was dead— Inactive, because, being already under sentence of death, we could not increase our penalty by disobedience. R1730:2 Sin existed but was dead, in a dead state, dormant. R99:4*

[NTC - Romans 7:9]

For I— The Jewish people. R1730:2
Was alive— Had a hope of a future life through the promises to Abraham. R1730:2
Without the law— Before the Law Covenant was made. R1730:2 The Apostle argues he was once alive to sin. R5060:6
The commandment— The Law Covenant. R1730:2
Came— Requiring us to obey its every command in order to secure life. R1730:2
Sin revived— Lived again, by effect of the Law. R99:4* We found we could not obey its requirements. R1730:2
And I died— Our hopes of life expired because we could not keep the Law Covenant. R1730:2

[NTC - Romans 7:10]

The commandment— While the Church is not under the Law Covenant, we are under the general instruction of the Ten Commandments. R5404:3 The Law Covenant given at Sinai. R5070:6, 1730:2
Ordained to life— Which was granted them apparently as a favor; and it was a favor in certain senses. R4595:3 Which promised life to the obedient. R1730:2, 1403:3 The keeping of which meant life. R5404:2; E417 Whose principles are not only worthy of life but are absolutely necessary to life and happiness. R1403:5
I— We Jews; I speak for my countrymen. R4013:2, 1730:2
To be unto death— Because we could not obey its requirements. R1730:2, 4595:3, 1724:5, 1403:3, 887:1 Except Jesus who was able to keep it. R887:1A man cannot be justified by receiving the Law, but by keeping the Law. R5070:3 The unsatisfactory feature of the Covenant was that it could not give life to Israel. R4961:2 The failure to keep which meant death. R5404:2 The Law made nothing perfect. R4010:6 The Jew was under more condemnation than were any other people in the world, condemned in Adam and also the Law. R5070:5,3 All sins were mortal sins under the Law Covenant. R1984:3 To emphatically condemn all under it to death, as transgressors unworthy of life. R454:6

[NTC - Romans 7:11]

Deceived me— The new mind has not intelligently nor willfully assented to a wrong course, but being deceived allows the flesh to have its way. R4628:2
Slew me— Taking from me the very hope of life it had helped to enkindle. R1724:5

[NTC - Romans 7:12]

The law is holy— The Law of Moses. R1322:6 Honorable. R2100:5 The Law is the standard of perfection. R5756:1 "The Law of the Lord is perfect." (Psalm 19:7) R1462:2 God's laws always have been perfect and condemned and opposed even the slightest sin. R410:3, 2602:1 The Law was not too severe. R455:1 The imperfection was with mankind. R410:3, 1224:2, 687:3, 503:2, 455:1; NS18:4 All must speak well of the Jews' first husband, the Law Covenant. R2720:6 God will make a better Covenant; for finding fault with the Law Covenant, he said, "I will make a new covenant." (Heb. 8:8) R4961:2 Our Lord explained that grand Law when he declared that it was briefly comprehended in one word—love. R1220:5 It is the ministration of condemnation and death to man because he is unholy, unjust, bad. R1322:6*
The commandment— The divine requirement. R4554:2 A law is a commandment, imposed by rightful authority, a rule of conduct which we are bound to obey. R5755:3 To obey it and to expect its reward of life for such obedience. R1403:3
And just and good— God, being perfect, could not give an imperfect Law. R5756:1, 3201:1, 687:3, 455:1 While the Law is good, it was useless as a justifier of sinners. R687:3 The Law and the Covenant were good in themselves, but not helpful to us, because we were fallen beings. R1730:2 Even though this is true of the Mosaic Law, the New Covenant is still higher and grander. R2329:1 It consists not in a merely passive refraining from evil, but in activity for good. R1463:2

[NTC - Romans 7:13]

Made death unto me— The Apostle is speaking as a representative of all true Jews. R2720:6
Might appear sin— God intended the Law should show us just how imperfect we are. R1730:2
Might become— Justification implies a recognition of the fact that sin is exceedingly sinful, and a desire to cease from it; to be free from its power as well as free from its penalties. F151
Exceeding sinful— Sin was not properly known as exceeding sinful, but was counted as in a dormant or dead state, until the Law came. R99:4* The sin-experience of our world will be used of the Lord as a perpetual lesson to the beings yet to be created in his image in other worlds, who shall learn by observation and instruction instead of by experience. F70; NS393:2, 260:4 They might see their own fallen and imperfect condition and learn the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and by this knowledge be prepared for the Redeemer. R410:5, 282:3

[NTC - Romans 7:14]

Law is spiritual— It came from the Spirit Being of the highest order—God himself. R5295:2 Did not take hold of merely fleshly instincts and control the body, but took hold of the heart, mind, will. R5295:2 Appeals to the intellectual or higher endowments of men and represents the divine mind or spirit. R636:2 Perfectly suited to all who are in full harmony with God's spirit, which, however, we and others were not because of original sin. R1730:2 Contains spiritual lessons, just as the rock in the wilderness and the manna afforded spiritual lessons. R5295:2 Represents the mind or judgment of the perfect Creator. R636:3 And could be kept only by a spirit-begotten person or a person in the image of God. R5295:2 The first Israelite permitted to see spiritual things was Jesus. R5295:3 The spiritual things were in the Law all the time but not disclosed to the Jew because of his own condition of mind. R5295:3
I am carnal— Imperfect—depraved; conformed to the course of this world. R455:1, 636:1,3 To be carnally minded is death. (Rom. 8:6) R636:5 The world is not subject to the Law of God, neither can they be. R5117:1
Sold— By Adam through sin, in self-gratification, in disobedience. E122, 189, 453; R636:3; NS379:2 When Adam sold himself and his posterity to sin he got his own will. R5355:3 Man sold himself to sin—justice did not sell him. R5355:6 Bought by Christ through self-sacrifice, in obedience to the Father's will. E453; R5355:6 Into slavery to sin. R455:1 Under dominion of Satan. CR490:3
Under sin— "The law of sin in their members." (Rom. 7:23) R2097:3 Into slavery to it. R2840:1, 5355:3, 2580:4, 2097:3, 636:3, 455:1; OV100:2 As a result, a slave of death. R5355:6 Into death and its wages. E452 Captivity to. R1626:3 The race in Adam was sold under sin six thousand years ago. R5284:1, 5355:3 The reason the Israelites could not keep the Law was not that the Law was imperfect, but that they were sold under sin. R5756:1, 5295:2 Sin has no just, no true right of control, but merely one of force. R1626:3

[NTC - Romans 7:15]

That which I do— We should extend the same measure of sympathy we have for ourselves to others. R5125:4 There is a tendency in our flesh to go with the world, because that course is in sympathy with our fallen flesh. R5117:1
I allow not— The Apostle was speaking of the Jew under the Law; that they could not comply with it because of the imperfection of the flesh. The verse also has application for us as Christians. Q337:1, 338:T
That do I not— Due to imperfections. NS518:2 To live godly is to live in opposition to the course of the world and our own flesh. R5117:1 The mind can rise to loftier heights than it is able to lift the body and its functions. OV366:1; R1224:2 Through ignorance we no doubt frequently leave undone the thing which we ought to do. R2587:4, 1224:3
What I hate— Because of antagonism of the legally dead flesh we cannot do the things which we would. CR97:1; R4810:4

[NTC - Romans 7:18]

In my flesh— In my fallen flesh. R2048:6
Dwelleth no good thing— No perfection. R2439:4, 4869:1 The Scriptures ascribe no sin to the new creature and no perfection in righteousness to our fallen flesh. R4810:5, 4871:6, 4869:1 Some are more imperfect and blemished in one way and others in another. SM430:3 Because of inherited imperfections. R4554:2, 2539:3, 5475:2 We are however to expect no trace of these evils in our hearts. R2464:4
To will— To be perfect in will. SM350:2; One might will to do perfectly or will to do wrong, either way the will is free. R5475:2 We should will to do perfectly, although none is able to do perfectly. R5475:2 This discrepancy between the new will and mind of the flesh requires continual vigilance. R3986:2 Man has freedom of will in respect to moral questions. R2539:3 There is such a thing as a dominated will. By yielding to occult influences, some persons are mastered by evil spirits. R5475:3 Those who practically lose their wills are insane, not by functional derangement of the brain but because possessed by evil spirits. R5475:3
How to perform— How to do all that I will. R3889:3
I find not— We all know how to will right, but how to do right is the problem. SM350:2 The human powers are blighted by the dying processes. R5475:2

[NTC - Romans 7:19]

The good that I would— We are all imperfect and cannot do the things that we would. CR425:2

[NTC - Romans 7:22]

For I— The Hebrew people, while still under the Law Covenant. R2720:6
Delight in the law— "Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart." (Psa. 37:4) R1840:1

[NTC - Romans 7:23]

But I— The Hebrew people under the Law Covenant. R2720:6
In my members— Fallen humanity. R37:4 The natural man. R191:6*
Warring— Paul found it necessary to exert his will continually to keep the body under. R1884:6
Law of my mind— With my mind I grasped the requirements of my covenant. R2721:1 None could render full obedience, except with it written in their hearts. R587:4
The law of sin— That we desire to do better than we are able to do, proves that the fault is not in our wills, but the result of sin's enslavement. R1224:3

[NTC - Romans 7:24]

O wretched man— The Apostle's flesh inherited imperfections, which hindered him from fulfilling the desires of his mind and keeping the divine Law. Hence his cry. R4554:2 Sin has gained such a power over my body. R2721:1
That I am— As all by heredity are. R2048:6 That I am personifying. R1730:3 The Apostle represented not only himself but all sincere Israelites, groaning under the Law, when he cried out thusly. R3436:2, 1730:3
Who shall deliver me— Jesus Christ. R192:4 The deliverance comes through a full surrender to Christ. OV316:2; R4869:1
From the body— From my body. R2721:1 Which my will cannot fully control, and with which there is a constant battle. R2048:6, 411:1
Of this death— From the sin and death which has gotten possession of me. R411:1 This body of death. R411:1 Which is dead; incapable of keeping a perfect Law. R2721:1, 4869:1, 4554:2 I would like to live in newness of life, but am bound to the sinful condition by my physical frailties. NS671:3

[NTC - Romans 7:25]

I thank God— That a way of escape from the Law Covenant has been provided. R2721:2, 4554:2 For deliverance and life. R2121:4, 2719:4, 2048:6
Through Jesus Christ— Deliverance from condemnation comes through Jesus Christ. R4869:1, 2048:6 All who have made a consecration and come into Christ are reckoned dead to flesh, alive as new creatures. R4869:1
With the mind— My new mind, heart's desires, which God accepts. R2721:2, 5295:2 Paul describes his condition as a Jew and presumably the condition of other Jews. R4554:2 The Apostle Paul's mind was perfect and loyal to God. R4554:2 In this respect, we must not come short one jot or title. SM308:1 The will of God has become our will, our mind. R5303:6 The new mind as it develops in likeness to the mind of Christ, will relax no effort to keep the body under. R4810:5
The law of God— The slightest command of God is a law. R454:3 To the extent of her knowledge, the Church will be responsible to the law of God. R5071:4 We cannot keep the Law in our flesh, but in our hearts, our minds. R5295:5
But with the flesh— The flesh has inherited various weaknesses and fallen tendencies. R5303:6 Which God ignores and against which I am continually striving. R2721:2
Law of sin— The smallest violation of Law is sin. R454:3

[NTC - Romans 8:1]

Therefore— This word carries us back to the preceding argument, and shows us that our freedom from present condemnation is the result of our Lord's sacrifice on our behalf. R3201:1
No condemnation— Under the law given in Eden, or that given at Sinai. R1726:2, 4869:3 So long as they are in Christ, they are free. R1726:2Being justified by faith. R1438:1 The sins of the Church are forgiven. CR364:4; R5621:3, 5597:5, 3201:1, 2573:6, 689:1, 387:6; OV281:1 The new creature needs not to apologize for, nor remember, the weaknesses of the flesh, appertaining to the period preceding the sacrifice. CR97:1; R4642:6 The Church alone has escaped from the condemnation upon the world. R5621:3 The original condemnation passed upon all men through Adam's transgression is still upon all except the few. R1286:3 If we have pure and fervent love and walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit, the Law is reckoned fulfilled in us. R1188:1 Only those justified by faith have escaped condemnation, consequently only these could be again condemned. R387:6 If he should turn again to walk after the flesh he would incur condemnation as a new creature. R4656:1 Although a prisoner and outwardly restrained, Paul had gained great liberty and blessing, and also freedom from divine condemnation. R3201:1
In Christ Jesus— Under the precious blood. E121 Being begotten of his Spirit and members of his Body. R4657:4 Covered by the robe of his righteousness. F104; R5027:6; OV281:1 By faith in his blood. R1527:3 The law of life in Christ made such free from the condemnation of death. R332:5
Who walk not— These words, to the end of this verse, are not found in any of the oldest manuscripts, but are properly a part of verse 4. R3201:2 They are being judged according to their minds, their hearts, their intentions. R4799:6
After the flesh— If we are not walking after the Spirit, we are not hearkening to the Lord; and while we are in that condition, he does not take pleasure in what we do. R5431:4 The old man.R42:4* Down toward the flesh. R192:4*
After the Spirit— Walk in obedience to the new mind. T122 The new man. R42:4* According to the Spirit. R192:4*

[NTC - Romans 8:2]

Law of the Spirit— Not the law of "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not." R1729:4 The law of love; supreme love to God, and love to the neighbor as to self. R1498:3, 2684:6 The operation of this law accomplishes in man what the Law of Moses could never do. R1322:6* Restraints of the will of the flesh, under the law of love. R3018:1 A provisional law under which the Church is placed, whose conditions take cognizance both of our infirmities and also for our discipline. R1463:5
Hath made me free— So far as the original sin in concerned. SM721:2 Reckonedly. R1463:5* New creatures are not under any law of sin or death, nor have they any imperfections. R5006:5, 1463:5*
From the law— From the Law Covenant. E121
Of sin and death— Which convicted all imperfect ones as sinners and condemned them to death. E121

[NTC - Romans 8:3]

The law— The Law covenant. R4608:1, 4869:4, 3201:3, 2121:4, 1404:2, 542:5; E121 Strict justice, without mercy. R3201:3
Could not do— For us Jews. R2121:4 The Law could never justify them. (margin) R1458:6 The giving of a right to life. R455:4
In that it was weak— Greek, astheneo, used to denote moral or spiritual weakness. R4099:6* Powerless. E121; R4608:1, 3201:3, 2124:4, 998:6, 455:4 Because it had an insufficient Mediator who could not give a ransom to God for mankind. R4869:4 Not weak in the sense of being defective, but in the sense of being ineffective. R4608:1 Our flesh was too weak to withstand the tyranny of sin. R998:6 The Law given to Israel, could not give life because of the weaknesses or depravity of their fallen nature. R2611:5 The Law was perfect, but the Law Covenant was weak. R4869:4
Through the flesh— Because all flesh was depraved through the fall and incapable of perfect obedience to the Law. E121; R4608:1,2611:5, 2121:4, 1404:2, 455:4 Human nature. R998:5 Conscience is no exception to the other elements of the flesh, all are weak and all are sinful. R1323:1
God— Accomplished in another way. R2121:4; E121
His own Son— Jesus was a Son of God before he came. R316:1*
In the likeness— The human likeness, but in its perfection. A230; R454:3, 37:5 Simply means not angelic or divine, but the human form.R454:3
Of sinful flesh— Of the flesh of mankind. (That had come under the dominion of sin.) E121 Literally, "In the likeness of the flesh of sin," i.e., in the likeness of humanity, of which the tyrant, sin, possessed control. R4608:4, 1404:2, 998:6, 455:4; A230; E121 In the likeness of Adam, who voluntarily became sin's servant. R999:1, 3201:4 Jesus was as much a direct creation of God when born of Mary as Adam was when born in the womb of the earth. He no more partook of a sinful nature by association with Mary, than did Adam by his previous association with the earth. R104:6 All men bear the image of the earthy Adam. (1 Cor. 15:49) So Jesus, in taking the form of a perfect man, would, of necessity, be in likeness to sinful flesh. R104:6 Jesus experienced the woes and sufferings of humanity without sharing in the imperfections and sins. R454:3 "In him was no sin." "He knew no sin." (1 John 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:21) R104:6 Greek, hamartia, sin. This should not be translated sinful. (See Diaglott.) R998:4
And for sin— As an offering for sin. E121; R3201:4, 2121:5, 998:6 On account of the sin condition, sin in the flesh. R4608:4 Because of sin's power over us. R998:6 By a sacrifice. R429:6, 3201:4, 1336:6
Condemned sin— Greek, katakrino; sentenced to overthrow, by reason of the ransom. R999:2 The more we see of sin and its contaminating character the more we appreciate the divine justice which on account of sin condemns sin in humanity. R3729:4 Our tyrant, not humanity. R998:6 To an overthrow. R1404:2 By proving that perfect flesh could keep the Law. R4608:4; E121 Sentenced sin and made possible its overthrow. R4869:5
In the flesh— Through Christ's flesh, given as our ransom. R998:6

[NTC - Romans 8:4]

The righteousness— The full, whole, complete meaning. R3190:4, 5404:3, 4982:6 True import or spirit. R5287:4, 5947:2, 4597:2 The true keeping of the Law. R5071:4, 4982:6, 4597:2 The spirit. R4869:5, 315:2 The Church is not under the Law of Sinai, but looking at the spirit of it, she sees a perfect pattern.R5287:1, 5404:3, 5027:4 Jesus' life set the seal or mark of approval and righteousness to the Law. R455:4 God deals with us according to our mind, our will, our intentions. R4982:5, 3201:6 The meaning, the purport of the Law being in our hearts, God accepts this as instead of absolute fulfillment of the letter of the Law. R2684:3 Not righteous in the absolute sense of being perfect, but in a relative or accommodated sense of doing right to the best of their ability. R3947:3
Of the law— Of God's demands. R2304:3, 5947:2, 5465:5 As expressed in the golden rule. R2689:3 No Jew could keep the Law in its spirit, perfectly, neither could any of any other nationalities keep it. R5005:2 The same Law that once condemned us has not changed, but our position has changed. We have come into a place where we are able to comply with the requirements of the Law and to fulfill them. R3201:6 While the Church is not under the Law Covenant, we are under the general instruction of the Ten Commandments. R5404:3, 5027:4 The work of redemption and reconciliation effected, opened to every Jew an opportunity for release from bondage to the Law by becoming dead with Christ. R4504:6 The highest attainments under the Mosaic Law may be made by spiritual Israelites. R4052:4, 5887:5, 5027:4 Faith, good intentions and good efforts, by the grace of God, make good their deficiencies. R5005:2
Might be fulfilled— Reckonedly fulfilled. R2304:3, 3201:6, 193:6 As new creatures; God knows us not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Q602:2;R5887:5, 5295:5 God accounts us according to the intention of our minds; Christ's death makes good to us the difference. Q728:T; R3238:1 The fulfillment of the Law is love supreme for God and love for our neighbor as for ourselves. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." (Rom. 13:10) R5099:6, 2757:1 In his heart, his mind, his endeavor, he can, as a new creature, keep God's law perfectly. R5887:5 We are counted as fulfillers of the Law so long as our daily walk is in that direction to the extent of our ability. R3753:1 "Be ye perfect." (Matt. 5:48) "Conformed to the image of his Son." (Rom. 8:29) R2754:1
In us— Christians; footstep followers of Jesus. R5027:6; OV281:T Holiness people, complete in Christ. R3190:4; OV281:T Upon the new creature.R4869:5, 5885:5, 4580:1, 2440:4 To become new creatures we must become dead, not to the Law Covenant alone, but to all earthly interests, hopes and prospects. R5885:5The Law is very precious to the Church; for looking at its spirit of it she sees what she ought to be if perfect. R5287:1 Represented by the jewels imbedded in gold in the High Priest's breastplate, and upheld by the golden chain of divine promises. T36; R72:5 The work of redemption and reconciliation effected, opened to every Jew an opportunity for release from bondage to the Law by becoming dead with Christ. R4504:6 The Church is being measured by the divine law standard. R4442:1 The Church keeps the Law for it does not apply to our flesh, but to our spirit. R5073:4 Having the imputation of Christ's merit to cover our imperfections. R5465:5, 5885:6, 5756:1, 4157:3, 455:5 First, through the imputation of his merit to their mortal bodies, our Redeemer covers natural imperfections. Second, because that body is sacrificed, he reckons them dead as human beings. R5918:3 Those who are walking after the spirit of the Law, give evidence that if they had perfect ability, they would keep the divine law perfectly. R4442:5, 5005:2, 4869:5, 3201:6
Walk not after the flesh— Not seeking to please ourselves and our fallen tendencies. R3805:4, 5562:5, 5036:4, 2721:4; SM308:T As new creatures we merely inhabit these bodies for awhile. R5325:5 To walk after the flesh is to walk after sin; to knowingly, willingly, intentionally, do those things which we recognize to be contrary to the divine will, even though we should not go to the extreme of wickedness. R3237:5 Which leads more or less directly to death. R5100:5 To do so would imply that we had lost the new mind, the new disposition, the new will, that we had become dead to those hopes which had led to our consecration. R5036:4 In order to become new creatures, the Jews must become dead, not to the Law covenant alone, but to all earthly interests, hopes and prospects. R5885:5
But after— Even though unable to walk fully up to its perfect requirements. F411; R4982:6, 4869:5, 3237:6, 3202:2, 3060:1, 2721:4, 2440:4 According to. OV280:2; R5027:4, 4869:5
The Spirit— In obedience to the new mind. T122; R4869:5 Christians should look back to the Decalogue and note the spirit of its teachings. OV280:2 In accord with the spirit of the divine law. R3805:4, 5431:4, 3753:1, 2121:5, 455:5; SM308:T; OV281:T In harmony with the begetting of the holy Spirit. R5597:4Which leads to everlasting life with our Great Redeemer. R5100:5 As new creatures, judged, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit—according to the heart intentions. R5287:4, 5097:2 Doing more than the Law could require. The Law required no man to lay down his life for another, but merely to love his neighbor as himself. R5287:4Those walking to the best of their ability after the spirit of God's Law, are reckoned as though walking up to the spirit of the Law. NS283:4, 316:5; R2440:4 We are to distinguish closely between walking after the Spirit and walking up to the Spirit. R3060:1

[NTC - Romans 8:5]

For— The Apostle proceeds to give in this verse a thorough and satisfactory answer to the difficult and highly important question of how we can tell of ourselves, and of others, whether we are new creatures, begotten of the holy Spirit.R3202:2
Are after the flesh— Have no ambition to keep the law of God, but simply try to please the flesh. R1404:2, 3202:5 Who live in accord with their flesh, which is depraved. R1223:6, 2162:1
Do mind— Indicate their preference for. R1223:6, 3202:5, 1404:2
Things of the flesh— The things which can be attained in this present life. R3202:5
After the Spirit— Who desire and endeavor to cultivate in themselves the spirit of God. R1404:2
Things of the Spirit— Those who live in accord with the spirit show their preference. R1223:6 He who is in Christ has new ambitions, and aims, his affections are for things that are just, pure, good and righteous, and he will show his hearts desires through his conduct. R3202:3

[NTC - Romans 8:6]

Carnally— Greek, sarx; flesh, not necessarily sinful; but since Adam's disobedience, the human race has been under sin. R1223:2
Minded— To walk after the flesh after we have been begotten of the spirit. R2721:4, 1748:2 Guided by the flesh. R4628:2, 1223:6, 636:5 Rebellious, "not subject to the law of God." (Rom. 8:7) R4475:6, 4628:3, 636:5 To be controlled by any other will than God's will, brings misery trouble and eventually death, according to the perfect law of God. R636:5
Is death— "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 16:25) R1748:3 The just sentence of the Law. R1223:6, 3083:5 Brings distress, misery, trouble, and eventually death. R636:5 Serving our fallen fleshly natures is a course that leads toward, and, if persisted in would end in death. R2721:5, 5036:4, 4628:3, 1748:3 This scripture is equally true in its application to the unjustified; they are still in the death condition, not joined to the life-giver. R3202:5, 1404:2 An incorrect inference drawn is that the death which is the wages of sin consists solely and only in being carnally minded. R1223:2 Destruction; contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:5
Spiritually minded— Greek, pneuma; spirit; to have a mind controlled by God's holy Spirit or will. E313 Consecrated to the Lord, having the imputation of Christ's merit. R4628:2,4, 4968:1, 1223:6 Only such of mankind will be everlastingly saved as receive of Christ's spirit, mind or disposition. R1224:5
Spiritually minded— These are granted a spiritual insight into divine things. R4968:1
Is life and peace— God is now holding out a special prize to those who will live according to his will. R4628:1 The reward of obedience. R1223:6,3083:5 "He that hath the Son hath life." (1 John 5:12) R3202:5

[NTC - Romans 8:7]

The carnal mind— Sold under sin. R5117:1 The mind or will of the flesh. R1223:3 However polite or polished or well educated and decorous. R3202:2 Faith is not a matter of intellect alone, it is also a matter of the heart. R2162:1
Is enmity against— In opposition to God. R1223:6, 3202:5 It has its own ambitions and plans, and builds it hopes and aims chiefly upon what can be attained in this present life. R3202:5 Whoever is satisfactory to the Lord need not expect to be satisfactory to the world; for the fellowship of the world is enmity to God. R5738:1
Not subject to— Not in harmony with. R1223:6 The world is not subject to the divine standard. R5738:1 The inherited taint renders them unfit to live because with such a nature they cannot keep God's law. R527:2
The law of God— The divine standard. R5738:1
Neither indeed can be— For it is carnal, sold under sin. R5117:1

[NTC - Romans 8:8]

In the flesh— Living according to their own wills. R3203:1, 5036:4 Whose existence is fleshly. R1223:6 The Apostle likens the great transformation of the present life to a resurrection from the dead. NS670:3

[NTC - Romans 8:9]

Ye are not— The Church. R3203:1 The consecrated. R1223:6 Reckonedly, from God's standpoint. A227; F366; R4494:6, 157:5, 102:6* In every case the divine tests are not to prove our flesh, which is conceded to be imperfect, and ignored in this testing and counted dead. R4494:6
In the flesh— Human. T75 The old nature. R145:6*, 1981:5, 1223:6, 157:5* We are reckoned dead as a human body, having been sacrificed with Christ. R5932:4 God does not look upon our imperfect flesh. R5447:4 The natural body is no longer we. R154:4Reckoned dead, and daily dying to the fleshly human nature. R176:2 We must not mistake these new creatures and too closely identify them with the flesh. R5902:4"Henceforth know we no man after the flesh." (2 Cor. 5:16) R3832:1, 4494:6
But in the Spirit— New creatures in Christ Jesus. R4869:3, 3832:1, 3768:5, 3203:1, 273:4; T75 Things may happen disastrous to the fleshly interests of spirit begotten ones, but they remember that no outside influence can mar their real interests as new creatures. R4767:5 Those in whom the good work of the Spirit is ever begun are counted on the living side, "risen with Christ." (Col. 3:1) R97:6*
The Spirit of God— The mind, disposition or spirit of holiness. R5036:4, 3251:6, 2721:5, 1223:6 From God. R371:5 Pictured in the holy place of the tabernacle, representing the Church not in its fleshly phase, but in its spiritual state. R102:6* Plane M, on the Chart of the Ages, the plane of spirit begetting. R273:4
Dwell in you— God by his indwelling spirit works in us to will and to do his good pleasure. R3251:6 Bring every power of the body into subjection. Q506:3 The body is the servant of the new creature. R5325:4
If any man have not— In some measure. E188, 244 To whatever extent the Adversary may be able to inject into us an evil spirit, and to drive out the holy Spirit, to that extent he will be separating, alienating us from the Lord. R4388:2, 3985:5
Spirit of Christ— The same holy Spirit or disposition of the Father which operated in our Lord. E184; F367; R371:5, 2202:3 In sacrificing. R4536:4, 761:5, 759:4 The disposition of Christ, love. R2330:4, 3932:2; SM12:1 The spirit manifests itself in meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, love. OV367:4; R5829:5, 5224:2, 4377:3, 1114:1 The renewed mind. R455:5 The spirit of full surrender to the Father's will. SM351:1; R3894:4, 1141:2; CR229:6 Being one with the Lord; of one heart, of one will. R5348:4 Which would rejoice at the recovery of a wrongdoer at any step of the proceedings taught by Jesus in Matt. 18:15-18. F290 We cannot be in sympathetic accord with the fallen fleshly nature and its appetites and ambitions. R2721:5, 5036:4 The worldly may read the Gospel influence in the lives of professors before they give particular heed to the message. R5850:3 The warring kingdoms do not manifest this spirit, and are "none of his." R5829:5 The Holy Spirit or mind should not be confounded with the fruits of the spirit or the gifts of the spirit. R371:5 We look for evidences of the Lord's Spirit, disposition, character, in all those who profess to be his members. R4377:3 We will not find the Spirit of the master exactly duplicated in the members of the true Church; we will find at least a measure of that spirit in every member. R1103:2 In Christ, truth, humility, and love found an exponent, while at the same time he was bold as a lion in their true defense. R1103:2 This love may be of varying degrees, but it must be ours in some degree if we are the Lord's. R3932:1
He is none of his— And has not the parakletos (Greek), the divine aid. E203 Not of the Body of Christ. R2721:5 Being none of his he will surely not be permitted to share in the fruits and graces of the spirit of the present time, nor in the precious things of the divine provision which are yet future. R3836:4 And therefore will have no part in the Kingdom, whatever inferior blessing he may obtain under stripes and disciplines. R5346:2 None will be accounted worthy of everlasting life except he have the Spirit of Christ. R1673:3 Whoever has not given up his own will to the Lord is not his child. SM351:1 If the spirit of Christ were totally absent. F404 It rests with ourselves, largely with our use of the means which God has provided. D244 Because those things which the Lord loves are distasteful to the worldly, and those who love and practice such things lose his fellowship, they are not of his spirit. R2444:3

[NTC - Romans 8:10]

Christ be in you— Applies only to the Church. E305 The spirit of truth manifested in the Church. R160:2* The new nature. R237:2*
The body is dead— Reckoned dead as far as earthly rights and interests are concerned. E305; F675; R5036:2, 2231:6, 2029:4, 79:6 If you are fully consecrated, your own natural will and desire all resigned to the will of "the Head." R79:6 The words "dead" and "life" are used in a relative sense of those justified by faith who are at once absolutely freed from death condemnation. E305
Because of sin— As to sin; not reckoned of God in considering your case. R1223:6 Put to death by the Spirit. R145:6*
The Spirit is life— Is reckoned as a new creature, as having obtained a new spirit of life. E305, 306 The intention or new will has life reckoned to it. R1223:6 The new mind in us shall take control and actuate these mortal bodies and make of them servants of the new mind. R4041:1 The Spirit mortifies the deeds of the body, and gives new life.R146:1*
Of righteousness— Of its righteousness. R1223:6 Imputed righteousness. F675; R2231:6

[NTC - Romans 8:11]

But— Moreover. R1224:1
The Spirit of him— The power of God. R5748:6 It is the spirit that mortifies or puts to death the deeds of the body, and the same spirit that gives new life. R146:1; NS327:4 In proportion as the spirit of God is received in us the new nature triumphs and is able to bring the mortal body into subjection and quicken it. CR3:4 "Your Heavenly Father shall give the holy Spirit to them that ask him." (Luke 11:13) R2722:1,4
Raised up Jesus— Jesus could never have raised himself. R2795:2
Dwell in you— In sufficient measure, abounding. R2721:6
Shall also quicken— Energize, under the control of the new will; employ in God's service. A197; F487, 600; R4810:2, 4808:3, 3203:3, 2721:6, 2336:4, 2029:4, 1981:6, 1224:1, 1114:2-6, 962:5, 836:6, 385:5* Vivify. R4842:1 The energizing of the mortal body. Q593:4; R5060:5, 5035:3 Development of the new life in us as new creatures. SM598:1 While reckoned dead, this body has been revivified to serve the new creature.R5932:4 In proportion as the Spirit of God is received in us, the new nature triumphs to such an extent that it is able to bring the mortal body into subjection. CR3:4 Reckoned as alive, our bodies are energized in opposition to sin and in harmony with righteousness. R5035:3, 2029:4 Does not refer to physical healings, or the resurrection of our present identical bodies. R2029:4, 2593:4 Prepared for the fullness of the divine nature when the present body shall give place to a spiritual one. R805:4 The same spirit by which we crucify the flesh, is able to subdue and control the mortal body; make it alive and active with our new spiritual nature. R93:1 The dead and alive conditions need to continually be maintained by opposition of the new will to any life or activity of the old will. F600 Deadness to sin should not be satisfactory to us, we should by God's grace get alive to righteousness. R2029:4 Into active and diligent service and the bringing forth of all the fruits of holiness. R1981:6 "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1) R3756:5
Your mortal bodies— To the extent the new will gains control of our mortal bodies, it might not be improper to consider the mortal bodies as temporary substitutes for the spiritual body waited for. F487 This animal body is to be quickened by the Spirit of God that dwells in us; and by degrees this resurrection process in which the new creature is engaged becomes stronger and stronger. R5060:6 The flesh quickened by the new mind, will be the Lord's, aggressively and actively engaged in opposition to sin and error, and in the service of truth and righteousness. R2336:4 Man is not immortal. R1642:5 Not your immortal resurrection bodies. R2721:6
By his Spirit— The power of God which was sufficient to raise up Jesus is surely powerful enough to operate in our mortal bodies so as to permit us to use them in God's service. R4005:3,4041:1, 3913:6, 3203:3, 2721:6, 1224:1; Q506:3
Dwelleth in you— The same spirit by which we crucify the flesh is able to so subdue and control this mortal body that it will be active, in harmony with our new nature. R93:4 Permitting us to do more in his service than if not begotten. R5035:3 Take the spirit away from the Church, and they would be nothing but a company of mere natural men—men in the flesh. R120:5*

[NTC - Romans 8:12]

Not to the flesh— We do not owe anything to the flesh, it brings us no advantage, present or future. R1224:1
To live after— To follow its leadings and be its servants. R1224:1

[NTC - Romans 8:13]

For if ye— Saints, consecrated believers. R1748:1, 5805:6, 5233:6, Spirit-begotten ones. R1753:5 Ye who have solemnly covenanted to sacrifice your very life in the service of God, for the eradication of evil. R4809:5, 1115:1 The consecrated Christians living at Rome, and Christian people living all down through this age. R5269:3 Those who, in the present existence, are on trial for life. R1748:4 The warning is not at all applicable to the world. R1748:2
Live after the flesh— Returns to sin again, "Like a sow to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22) R5270:2 We mind the will of the flesh when we permit the fleshly desires, which we have given up, to become again the ruling influence of our minds. Take that course of life which would be pleasing to our old natures. R4830:1 In conformity to and in gratification of the inclinations and craving of the fallen human nature: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these," etc. (Gal. 5:19) R1748:3, 5270:4, 4809:5, 1753:5, 1224:1, 1115:1 Even after we have come into Christ. R1224:1 To live in gratification of even the legitimate cravings of the human mind and human body. R5807:1 We must train our minds to desire only those things which are true, pure, loving and good. R5124:2 A garment spotted with the flesh shows that the carnal or fleshly nature is not wholly subdued. R50:4*
Ye shall die— Lose your life as a new creature. A213; R5270:4, 4830:1, 1224:2, 279:5 Such have no provision made for them. They have gone clear back on their covenant. R5270:2 God has no use or place for willful covenant-breakers and covenant-despisers. R4809:5, 1115:1 Because they have already surrendered their human life-rights. R4828:3, 5269:3 Indicates the danger to which we are exposed if we neglect (spiritual) eating and working. R23:5* Second death.R5270:5, 5806:5, 1699:5 Not suffer endless torment. R5806:5
Through the Spirit— Through the power of God. R5931:3 Live according to the Spirit, the renewed mind, or Spirit of Christ. R1224:1 Whatever mortification is practiced by the child of God should be actuated by the Spirit of God, the mind of God. R5806:3
Do mortify— Put to death; refuse to gratify. A213; R5807:4, 4020:3, 1753:5, 1748:5, 279:5 Put to death natural practices not in harmony with the Spirit of God. Mortify every inclination of the body that is not indorsed by the new mind. R5584:3, 5932:3, 5806:4, 3203:5 First surrender your human will to death and adapt in fullest measure the mind of Christ. NS593:1 Essential to the attainment of everlasting life. R5931:2 Make our bodies a sacrifice. R157:2* It is not merely that we shall covenant at the beginning of our Christian course to do this, but we must carry out to its completion this mortification. R5805:6 There will be no mortification of the flesh in the Millennial age. R5806:4
Deeds of the body— Disposition of the human nature. A213; R1748:5, 279:5, 237:3 Represents all the human interests; not merely the weaknesses and infirmities of our fallen condition, and our sinful tendencies. R5805:6 But not the body itself, without a purpose. R5806:3, 5932:3 The new creature's closest and most persistent adversary is his own flesh. SM392:4
Deeds of the body— Mortification of his own flesh and natural preferences. SM393:3 The animal nature ruling should be put to death. R1699:2
Ye shall live— As new creatures. A213 Become strong as new creatures and be acceptable of the Lord to eternal life. R4020:3 If we succeed in faithfully laying down our earthly life, with all its hopes and prospects. R5805:6 And thus obtain actual fullness of unending life. R5931:2, 5806:5

[NTC - Romans 8:14]

As many as are led— Guided. R1224:1 Even unto death. R164:6, 418:4 To sacrifice themselves that they may serve the truth. R5447:2 If we willfully refuse the leading of God's Spirit, we forfeit the relationship of sons. R1748:5, 5807:4 Those who covenant with God are begotten of the Spirit of God and thenceforth led by it. R1841:2 That spirit takes hold of them, guiding them in various ways, sometimes by putting property into their hands, sometimes by taking it away, sometimes by permitting sickness. R5583:3
By the Spirit of God— Divine disposition—power or influence from God—also called holy Spirit, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of truth, Spirit of a sound mind, Spirit of sonship, Spirit of holiness. R5582:3, 5447:1, 418:4 Was made manifest at Pentecost. R5582:6 It comes to us as a seal of sonship, and to enable us as sons to understand our Father's will. R261:4, 418:4 As a seal of sonship, to enable us as sons to understand our Father's will. R261:4 As each man has a spirit or mind, so God has a spirit. R373:6 The spirit of the Law that was given to the Jew is upon the new creature, but not the Law Covenant. R4869:5 The people in the Millennial age will receive it in the sense of a blessing.R5583:4
Sons of God— Those begotten of the Spirit. R5582:6, 1841:2, 50:3* Spiritual Israel—a house of sons. B205 Begotten sons, waiting for the adoption, full sonship. R50:3* It is our business to grow, to cultivate in ourselves those dispositions which are worthy of us as spiritual sons of God. R4808:3,1114:2 As long as we have this Spirit of God, it is an evidence to us that we maintain relationship of sons. R5228:3 We cannot agree to the common fatherhood of God and the common brotherhood of men: for only those who have the Father's spirit are sons of God. R2323:6

[NTC - Romans 8:15]

Spirit of bondage— As members of the house of servants. B246
Spirit of adoption— As members of the house of Sons; brethren of Christ. B246; E143 A spirit of sonship. (Diaglott) Q7:3 The holy Spirit. R2405:4 Adopted by God into his family. R1227:2 The only evidence, at present, that we are spirit-begotten. R5093:4, 375:2 This spirit, more and more permeating our lives, will make us more and more like unto our Father in heaven. R5613:3 To be followed by full adoption at the establishment of the Kingdom. E109
We cry— The children of God in a sense peculiar to this age; consecrated and begotten of the holy Spirit. R5149:4
Abba, Father— Those who are regenerated, spirit-begotten children of God, can call him thus. R5838:2, 520:6, 91:1* God is not merely the controller of the universe, but our Father. R5149:4

[NTC - Romans 8:16]

The Spirit itself— Through the Word of God. E229
Beareth witness— The witness of repentance from sin and being drawn by the Heavenly Father to recognize Jesus as the Redeemer. E229 The witness of consecration of all we have to the service of God. E229; R374:1 The witness of chastisement, discipline. E231; R374:2 The witness of willing submission to God's will. E235; R374:3 The witness of separateness from the world and being hated and persecuted for letting our light shine. E235; R374:3 The witness of taking pleasure in acknowledging Jesus as your Redeemer and Master and faithfully presenting the Word of his testimony on every suitable occasion. E237; R374:4 The witness of prompt obedience and willing sacrifice. R759:5* The witness of overcoming the world, being out of harmony with its aims, its hopes, its ambitions; by faith in spiritual and eternal things. E237-238;R374:4 The witness of growth in graces (fruit) of the spirit and in knowledge of things to come. E238-239; R374:2,5 "All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. 3:12) R374:3; E235
With our Spirit— Some of the above witnesses in all the saints; all of them in the mature Christian. E261, 240 The first witness that the newly begotten may have is that they are accepted with the Lord. E240
The children of God— "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:14) E163; R3203:6

[NTC - Romans 8:17]

And if children— When begotten of the holy Spirit to be sons of God. R5830:6, 5207:4 Made so by a display of divine sovereignty, which contradicts all Evolution theories. E395 We are bound to accept all our experiences as being of his providence. R5418:5 The only one directly begotten was Jesus. R5439:2 Sons of God. R5739:5 The faithful of the Gospel age are not children of Christ, but children of his Father, begotten of the Father's spirit and the Father's nature. E143 From Pentecost onward they were sons of God. R5830:6, 5207:4
Then heirs— Jesus, the Head, and the Church, his Body, constitute the antitypical spiritual seed of Abraham. (Gal. 3:29) R5450:2, 5207:4, 3937:3, 1493:5, 398:6 The sons have a right to the things which the Father has provided for his children. R5163:6
Heirs of God— A crown of glory is set apart for each son of the Father. R5532:3; A19 God has in his possession to give away, the divine nature and the honors of the Kingdom. R4751:1, 274:4; CR464:2 The Abrahamic promise. R5205:4 There is nothing in all the novels and romances in the world that in any degree compares with the marvels of this glorious grace of God bestowed upon consecrated believers of this Gospel age. R3988:6 The Father's equality of love for us as for Christ Jesus is made manifest. R3161:6
And joint-heirs— Otherwise styled the Bride the Lamb's wife. R5919:6 The only call going out during the Gospel Age. CR470:6; R5173:4, 2581:1, 1574:1 The high calling of the Gospel Church. R1566:1, 1262:3 Adoption into the family of God as sons. OV425:5 Partakers with Jesus of the divine nature. (2 Pet. 1:4) SM67:1; A196; R5562:4, 4998:6, 2409:4, 1881:4, 1360:4, 274:4 We are to share or participate with him in all that he has. CR215:1 In every sense, in the sufferings, self-denials, persecutions and sacrifices of the present life, as well as in the glories, honor and immortality of the future life. R5003:3, 2405:4 Of all things. (Heb. 1:2) R1617:4, 4071:3, 3161:6 Receiving "glory, honor and immortality." (Rom. 2:7) R5080:2, 2773:1, 2761:6 In the rulership of the Millennial Kingdom. D618; R4997:1, 2652:3, 2505:4
If so be— And only if so be. E233; F88 Our reign with Christ being conditional on our faithfulness in his service. C208
That we suffer— Death. F445: R270:5, 140:4, 134:6 As a result of letting our light shine. E294 As living sacrifices. R2409:5 Thus being "made meet for the inheritance." E121; OV425:1; R2761:1 The measure of our self-sacrifice and suffering for Christ becomes a measure, from God's standpoint, of our faithfulness. E490 With this opportunity of so great an exaltation go also conditions, limitations, trials, testings of faith and loyalty. OV379:4; R1652:6 The Heavenly Father wishes to prove the degree of our love. CR214:5; R2409:5Show loyalty by faith and obedience to the divine law of love, even unto self-sacrifice, even unto death. R4799:2, 2074:5, 140:4 Lack of opportunity to suffer would mean the closing of the door, the barring of the narrow way to joint-heirship. C207 We are to go to him without the camp, bearing the reproach with him. (Heb. 13:13) R3917:4 Rejoice in tribulations and misrepresentations and whatever divine providence permits. R5008:2, 4398:5, 2000:3, 280:6 Only through great tribulation may they enter the Kingdom and be sharers with Christ in its glory. NS680:4 Those who suffer for the truth shall be esteemed worthy to share the throne. R832:2 If we reach the point of deadness to the world which will constitute us overcomers, we must die daily. R2123:2 In the narrow way of self denial and self sacrifice. R2074l The scorn, contempt, and opprobrium of the world. R1372:3 As members of the one loaf now being broken for others. R1787:5, 2773:1 We should bless God for an opportunity of sharing with Christ his "cup" of suffering and shame. R5192:6,2272:2, 1637:2, 840:4, 467:1 This thought should be in the minds of those who participate in the Memorial. R5643:1, 5341:6, 3962:1 In the close of this age the Lord may take away his people in a fiery trouble. R5677:4 Those who avoid the fiery trials, by a compromising course, miss the joint-heirship in glory. T61 The sufferings of the Church are not coincident with her reign, but precede it. R2413:3 The brethren of Christ, his Body, the Church, are filling up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ. (Col. 1:24) SM783:1; R2760:6 The Church class in the Heavenly Father's school of discipline, see the necessity of the trial of the present to prepare for the glorious future. OV425:2 The prophets may have suffered as witnesses for God, their sufferings were not like that of the Gospel Church, reckoned as part of the sufferings of the Christ. R218:2 Fleshly Israel lost the chief favor, the spiritual Kingdom, because not ready at heart to receive it on the conditions attached to it—to suffer with Christ. D624
With him— Experience death-baptism with him as his Body-members. F439 Until the Covenant is faithfully finished in actual death. F445Typified by the offering of the Lord's goat with the bullock. T61 In our Lord's case it was needful that he should suffer before entering into glory. R1782:6"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." (2 Cor. 4:10) "Rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." (1 Pet. 4:13) "That I may know him and the fellowship of his sufferings." (Phil. 3:10) T50; R80:3, 30:6* "Fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." (Col. 1:24) F632; T50; R5079:4, 4398:5, 2787:2, 2511:1, 2415:4, 840:4, 467:1; CR49:4
That we may be also— After the sufferings of the Gospel age are past. "After that ye have suffered awhile." (1 Pet. 5:10) T50 If we have not by a compromising course succeeded in avoiding the fiery trials. T61
Glorified together— Not at the same time, but with the same glory. R2156:4, 5838:1, 5822:2, 4973:3, 280:6 If the sufferings were of the whole body, so is the glory. R19:2, 579:5, 263:2, 218:2 They shall be a Kingdom of priests, or a Royal Priesthood. R5859:3 The saints shall reign and judge and bless the world in conjunction with their Lord, Jesus. D618 The glorification of all is to be the marriage of the Lamb. R169:3* "When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." (Col. 3:4) A86; R616:2* "If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him." (2 Tim. 2:12) T26,50; R2787:2, 623:6*, 80:3, 30:6* "If we be dead with him we shall also live with him." (Rom. 6:8) A212 "Knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." (2 Cor. 1:7) T50

[NTC - Romans 8:18]

For I reckon— "Neither count I my life dear unto me." (Acts 20:24) R3001:3
The sufferings— Trials. R569:4 Losses, deprivations, self-denials. R443:4 The new creature is to suffer with Jesus. Q679:4; R443:4 Now are the sufferings, then (future) is the glory. CR379:2 Any sufferings that we have because of our membership in his Body are a part of the sufferings of Christ. Q679:4 Trials, difficulties, self denials. NS105:1
Are not worthy— To be compared; this is the proper thought. At most they are "light afflictions." (2 Cor. 4:17) OV189:2; R569:4 "I count all things but loss." (Phil. 3:8) F467
The glory— As the wife is the glory of the husband, so the Bride is the glory of Christ. R19:2, 579:5, 263:2
Which shall be— The sufferings of the Church are not coincident with her reign, but precede it. R2413:3
Revealed— Greek, apokalupto, uncovered, unveiled. R2979:2 At this appearing. R569:4
In us— The overcomers; the faithful. CR80:4; R3001:5; OV189:2 Christ could not come in the glory of his Kingdom (Church), until he has first gathered it from the world. R19:2, 2209:5, 579:5, 263:2 The honors of heaven as well as of earth shall be laid at the feet of The Christ. A292

[NTC - Romans 8:19]

Earnest expectation— The eager outlook. R873:1, 1225:6 Vague hope of everlasting life. E384
Of the creature— Greek, ktisis, the whole creation. R33:6* Means man in the flesh, not cattle. HG31:1
Waiteth for— Waiting for the morning of the new and better day referred to by the angels, and by all the prophets, apostles, and the Redeemer. NS612:1; R4005:5 Waiting for the complete passing over of the Church of the first-born in the first resurrection. F460; NS74:2 Waiting for the High Priest, Head and Body, typified by the glorious garments of the Jewish high priest. R4428:2 Messiah's Kingdom and its long-promised blessings. OV179:1 The Kingdom which will crush out evil and bless and heal all nations. A306 "The times of restitution." (Acts 3:21) R1881:5, 675:1, 544:2, 257:4, 6:2 The world, the groaning creation, must wait until God's due time. SM143:2 The whole creation is not waiting intelligently, because the god of this world has blinded their minds. R2049:2 In ignorance. OV202:4; R2049:2, 1164:4, 1007:6, 675:1, 419:4, 165:6; T89
The manifestation— Greek, apokalupsis, uncovering, revealment. R2979:3 In their Kingdom power and glory, the Royal Priesthood. SM143:2; R5032:2,4005:5, 2129:4 The Church must enter into her reward before the blessing of mankind in general can proceed. SM154:2; R356:6, 238:4; F460; OV430:2 Revealing of the saints to the world. R5008:2 The coming into power of the spiritual Christ constitutes the second advent to mankind. R2563:3, 4512:5 In the glorious morning of Messiah's Kingdom. OV176:1; R2122:6; CR426:1 An appearing with Christ in glory. (Col. 3:4) R4512:5, 56:2*, 32:6* In Kingdom power, as kings and priests. D424, 637, 618; B210; E26; F78Their shining forth in truth and righteousness will scatter all the darkness of sin and error and awaken and revivify the world of mankind. R4644:2, 2122:6 "Then shall the righteous shine forth," (Matt. 13:43), be manifested. R6:2, 3749:5, 369:1, 257:4, 33:6* In Kingdom power for which we, the sons of God are to be manifest for the blessing of all the families of the earth. R1675:2; OV20:5; SM143:2 The appearing in glory, and the descent of the New Jerusalem. R56:2* As soon as it shall have been completed the glorious Redeemer with his exalted Bride class will inaugurate his glorious being of a thousand years, by binding Satan and ushering in the new dispensation. R5079:2
Of the sons of God— The Church in glory. OV202:4; R5576:3, 3749:5, 1226:1, 419:4, 165:6 The Little Flock, the elect, the saints. R873:1,1881:5 Comparatively little known, and considered "peculiar people," at present. OV176:1; R4892:1, 616:2* They shall bring life and liberty to the groaning creation, through the New covenant arrangement. R5909:5, 2972:1 The Head and Body complete. R60:2*; CR426:1 The Sun of Righteousness which arises with healing in his wings. (Mal. 4:2) R165:6, 2122:6, 419:4, 369:1 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." (1 John 3:2) CR250:4 These sons are not now manifest, but when in the harvest they are separated, then shall the righteous shine forth in the Kingdom. R257:4, 6:2 The promised seed of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth are to be blessed. A88; R1164:4 They are not waiting in hope that they may be found amongst those sons of God, but waiting for the blessings which those sons will bring to this earth. F78 At the same time the world shall have learned the need of the perfect government, which shall be established through these. R743:5

[NTC - Romans 8:20]

For the creature— This verse, except the last two words, is well shown in Rotherham's translation to be a parenthesis. R1225:6, 873:1 Mankind. R616:4*
Subject to vanity— Frailty—mental weakness, moral weakness, physical weakness; by heredity. CR429:3; E26, 189; R5576:3, 1226:1, 873:1, 616:4* Subject to an oppressive bondage. R780:3 Creation was made to submit to its present state of lifeless inability and impotency, frailty. R873:1 Individual sin, except in the first man, has nothing to do with hereditary death, it extends to all mankind. R1476:5 Contrary to the teachings of Evolutionists. A162
Not willingly— On account of sin. R780:3 God was responsible, he cut us off from fellowship with himself, and justly so. R429:3 Mankind did not voluntarily choose this dying. God put him under it. R616:5*, 1226:1; CR431:2 For both the taint of sin and the condemnation to death passed upon them all before they were born. R1781:1, 5066:6 The permission of evil. R873:1
By reason of him— Jehovah. R1781:1 By reason of Adam's transgression. SM613:1; R1226:1, 873:1
The same in hope— That many after having experienced would appreciate and shun sin and its wages. R724:1 God gave man a basis for hope for a future deliverance from bondage to sin and death.R1781:1 Hope is a quality which belongs to finite creatures. God never hopes, he knows. R1225:6, 1781:1 Connecting verses 18 and 21. R1226:1

[NTC - Romans 8:21]

The creature itself— The world of mankind, or as many of them as will accept the liberty. R2310:4 The groaning creation; mankind. CR431:1; SM613:2 True Christians are already set free, so far as their hearts are concerned. CR431:1; OV387:1 Does not refer to lower animals, nothing in the divine Word indicates redemption or restitution for lower creatures. NS434:5 Not the lower animals, as suggested by John Wesley. CR431:1
Also— Not the Church alone, but the entire groaning creation. R5018:6, 60:2
Shall be delivered— Liberated. R1316:2 Through Christ. R1781:1, 5706:4 To life; the grand work of the New Covenant. R5909:5 If willing and obedient under Messiah's reign. R4891:5, 5378:6, 5240:5, 5018:6, 4996:5, 816:6; OV388:3 Not only the living, but also those who have fallen asleep in death. R5706:4 Into that freedom from pain, sorrow, and dying which is the provision for all the Sons of God. R1176:4 The world's blessing tarries until the completion of the Church. OV387:2 After the Church is delivered, the groaning creation is also to be delivered. OV430:2
From the bondage— Everyone, not the world merely but also the Church, are bound in a certain way, by our own ignorance, mental weakness, moral weakness, physical weakness etc. CR427:2 All of God's creatures who will, may eventually experience this liberty. CR427:2 All will be delivered, through the second Adam. SM614:1; R816:5, 3749:4 When the whole world shall have been restored and brought back to perfection. CR431:1
Of corruption— Condemnation, sin, death, selfishness and the general power of the evil one. T84; D377; R5818:4, 5356:2, 4931:6, 2440:6, 1007:6, 873:1; OV373:3, 388:2; CR431:4;
Glorious liberty— The same that Adam enjoyed before he sinned. R5818:4, 5240:5, 816:3, 37:6 Perfection of life, and all the glorious privileges which belong to the perfect sons of God. R2310:4 Liberty to do good to themselves and others, in any and every way. A302; R616:4* Glory of the freedom.R1225:6 "No more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." (Rev. 21:4) R616:2* Freedom from death, with all its concomitants of pain, sickness and sorrow. R816:2, 2440:6, 2310:4, 1176:4, 873:1, 838:6, 616:2*, 333:1, 37:6 Only those who have been set free know what real liberty is. CR427:2 There is a true liberty which God has provided, and that liberty is coming. CR429:1 Our prayers and desires should go up for this kind of liberty. OV122:1 All the groaning race of mankind, who will be obedient, will be delivered from sin and death conditions. R5240:5 To release men from bondage of death is to restore to original perfection. R816:3 Compatible with the duty of submission on the part of the wife in the domestic relation. R1553:4 Fully attained, means everlasting life. HG235:1
Children of God— On every plane, whether divine, angelic or human. R2310:4, 816:3, 616:2* Though the race in general will not become sons of God, they may obtain, through the Sons of God, the liberty or freedom from death, pain, etc., the common heritage of all sons of God. R1007:6, 2440:6 Not spiritual sons, but earthly sons, human sons. CR328:3; R4931:6

[NTC - Romans 8:22]

The whole creation— Humanity; all of Adam's posterity. T84; R4552:2, 1881:5 Even including the animals, which have shared in the results of the catastrophe which came upon the earth in the flood; likewise they will be sharers with man, their king, in the great uplift. R2837:1
Groaneth— Comfort all that mourn. R1715:1 Under the curse. R2019:2 Ignorantly, for as yet they know not the righteous and merciful judge who redeemed them. R569:2, 413:1 Mankind's prayers and groans have been heard of Jehovah and he has permitted the Rock, Christ Jesus, to be smitten. R334:4 They would drown sorrows in pleasure, but cannot succeed. NS87:1 There are many of our race who do not sufficiently realize their condition to groan for themselves. NS188:2 Under the bondage of sin and death, during the 6000 years. B40; R4214:5, 2378:1 In the antitypical Atonement Day. PT389:2* Typified by the condition of the nation of Israel, covered with sackcloth and ashes on the Day of Atonement, while the priests were offering up the sacrifices. R3709:4,5, 4428:2, 2821:6 The world groans aloud without alleviation. OV202:4 Because man is a prisoner and under death sentence. SM610:2; R2310:3 Sin, the great monarch ruling the world, has enslaved the entire human family; they get disease, sorrow, disappointment, death. R5355:3, 3101:6, 1091:3 Even under the best of rulers, while Satan is at the helm. R3447:5 Without God and without hope; groans in doubt and despair. SM618:T It began with father Adam and has continued ever since as his posterity has become more and more depraved. SM612:2 It is the divine purpose that present trials and experiences shall prove useful as disciplines. R4552:3 The great thousand-year day is still future, and meantime the Apostle's words respecting mankind are still true. SM151:2
And travaileth— Waiting for the deliverance of the Body of Christ. C228 Its groaning and travailing must increase until the manifestation of the sons of God. D424 Waiting for the great Judge to deliver and bless the world. A147; R4269:3, 3053:4, 2049:2, 373:4 We see confusion, wars between nations, helplessness of statesmen, discontent of lower classes, excessive luxury, extreme poverty, lying, heathenism, decay of vital religion over the whole globe. R1072:3 No part of creation is subjected to more intense pain than is woman. "A woman in travail" has been a symbol of agony throughout all ages. R1476:5 After the Church is delivered, the groaning creation is also to be delivered. OV430:2
In pain together— With little to palliate the wounds, aches and smarts. F77 Mental, moral and physical imperfections are manifest everywhere. OV295:1 In slavery which was pictured by the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt under Pharaoh. R5355:6
Until now— The promised day of judgment, a glorious and desirable day. A147 The deliverance from selfishness and the power of the evil one is nigh at hand. D377 Not even with the inauguration of the Millennium will this prophecy be fulfilled: not until its close. R3702:2 The birth of Zion, the exaltation of the Body of Christ to Kingdom power, will be cause for rejoicing on the part of all people. R1649:4 Waiting for the Millennial morning, which shall accompany the shining forth of the seed of Abraham. R2122:6, 369:1: Waiting for the great fulfillment of the Oath Bound Covenant. HG389:1 "Waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God." (vs. 19) CR250:4; R1649:4

[NTC - Romans 8:23]

They— The world. R2049:2
But ourselves also— The faithful Church, the new creation. A197; E434; F160,664; R373:4, 2049:2 The Apostle distinctly marks as separate the salvation of the Church and the subsequent salvation of the world. E25
The firstfruits— The begetting. R200:4, 2064:6* The hand-payment, binding the covenant. E247
Groan— By reason of our surroundings. E27; R1759:2 For the deliverance into Christ's likeness. R373:4, 2064:6* Being burdened by weaknesses, by consciousness of wrong in ourselves, and by wrong-doings of others. CR462:5; R1738:3 Our physical, mental and moral weaknesses at times assert themselves so strongly that we cannot as new creatures do as we would. SM618:1; R2064:6* The Christian is not exempt from the conditions upon the world. R1759:2
Within ourselves— Not outwardly before the world. R2948:4; SM618:1 It is a subdued, modified groan, because of the offset of our glorious hopes. SM618:1; R4214:6, 2378:2 We cannot exult in tribulation even though in our hearts we may rejoice. SM618:1 We sorrow not as others who have no hope. (1 Thes. 4:13) OV202:4
Waiting— For the glorious epoch. R1164:4 For the Father's time and the Father's manner of bestowal. D516 The time for these blessings is now at hand, and will be introduced by scourging the world with an awful time of trouble. D516 Waiting for the deliverance of our Body, the Church as a whole. SM618:2; R3749:5, 369:1
For the adoption— We become new creatures not by adoption, but by the begetting of the Holy Spirit. Q7:2 God does not adopt us in the flesh, he only has to do with us as new creatures. Q7:2 Full introduction to the glories and honors of our Father. R1164:4, 2088:2 The full recognition of our sonship. R2049:2,69:4* "Ye have received the spirit of adoption." (Rom. 8:15) E109
The redemption— Greek, apolutrosis; deliverance, in the first resurrection, at the second advent. E434; F77, 160, 664; R2066:4, 2064:2, 60:1* The deliverance of the Church from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of full sonship. R2194:6, 2973:2 Being caught away to meet Christ and to be forever with him. Same as, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." (Cant. 2:10, 13) R127:5* We will not attain our redemption in full until then. F160 Nothing in this statement has the slightest reference to the redemption accomplished at Calvary, it refers solely to the deliverance of the Church. D434
Of our body— The Church, the Body of Christ. C228; E434; F77, 160, 664; R5802:2, 3053:4, 2926:5, 2028:5, 1164:4, 593:3, 361:2, 200:4, 69:4*; OV190:2, 202:3 The physical union of the Church, the entire Body of Christ, will be in glory, at the completion of the first resurrection. R2066:4 Of which Jesus is the Head or chief and we are symbolic members or an underpriesthood. OV202:5 According to Jehovah's arrangement, the new order of things cannot be established until the new ruler, Christ complete, Head and Body, has come fully into power. C228; R3053:4

[NTC - Romans 8:24]

For we are saved— From the thraldom of sin and the corruption of death. A107
By hope— We may, by faith, think of ourselves as new creatures, perfected. E289; R373:4 We now enjoy salvation by faith and hope. R1736:2, 603:6*, 373:4* We are not actually saved yet, but merely in an anticipatory sense. F664; R3701:4,1316:1, 364:1; Q603:2 Not merely of hope—our salvation begins to take hold on us mentally, morally and physically. R2932:6 We will not be actually delivered from the power of death until the resurrection. F697; R3165:5 The faithful of the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Gospel ages, are saved only partially, awaiting the Kingdom. R1316:1 The advantages which now accrue to believers are not actual, for they share the miseries of the curse, but they are by faith. R364:1;NS279:6 We have hope as an anchor which keeps us from drifting doubts of the world. R346:1 The special salvation which believers now enjoy in hope and the reality of which will, in the Millennial age, be revealed. A107; HG228:3, 344:5
Why doth he yet hope— When that which is perfect shall have come, when hope is lost in full fruition, we shall not need to hope as now. R5786:3

[NTC - Romans 8:26]

The Spirit— Our new, holy mind. E289; R373:5
Also helpeth— Maketh up for. E289; R373:5 God is developing in us by his providences the quality of firmness for righteousness. R2404:6
Our infirmities— Our bodily infirmities. E289; R373:5 Greek, astheneia; moral or spiritual sickness. R4099:6,3*
For we know not— Even so simple a thing as what to pray for. E289; R373:5
The Spirit itself— The spirit that maketh intercession for us is our own spirit, which supplicates God and often fails to express itself properly. E288; R373:4
Maketh intercession— Therefore, sometimes God answers very improper prayers in a very gracious manner, though not according to the asking. R202:4
For us— Omit these words; not in the oldest manuscripts. E289; R373:5
With groanings— "Even we ourselves groan within ourselves." (Rom. 8:23) E289
Cannot be uttered— Formulated by us in words. E289 If the spirit is a person, equal in power with the Father and the Son, why must he interpose for us with them, with unutterable groans? E287; R373:3

[NTC - Romans 8:27]

And he— God. E289; R373:5
What is the mind— Greek, phronema; inclination. E289; R373:5
Of the Spirit— Of our spirit. E289; R373:5
Because he— Because it, our spirit. E289; R373:5

[NTC - Romans 8:28]

And we know— God has promised that nothing can happen to us but what is for our highest good. R5403:1, 4628:5, 4219:6 We realize that all of life's experiences are under divine supervision.R5403:1, 5781:5, 5132:3, 2412:6, 2083:3 This is to the Christian a source of power, of strength. R5977:6 It constitutes for us the true "second blessing"—it ushers our hearts into a profound rest, into a full confidence in God. F134
That all things— Even the seeming delays, difficulties, troubles, persecutions, and seeming disasters. R2025:5, 5781:5, 5403:1, 5402:3, 5333:4, 5217:2, 5118:5, 4983:4, 4926:6, 2699:1, 2356:6, 798:2 Even financial disappointments. R5589:1, 2699:1 That come to us in the line of faithfulness. R5811:4 We may have tests of love for the brethren, for our own family, for our neighbors The Lord might even hide his face from us for a time to give us a test of love for him. OV422:2 It is our privilege to rejoice at all times and under all circumstances, and our pleasure always to give thanks to God for all things.R1489:6, 4200:5 The trials and difficulties of life are shaping and fitting us for glory, honor and immortality. R5713:6, 2083:3, 2061:1; CR307:4 As strength of character is developed, the tests applied serve only to develop more strength, beauty and grace, until it is finally fixed, perfected. R4767:5, 2465:6 The exceeding great and precious promises are briefly comprehended in this one promise. F134 All of the affairs of his truly consecrated spirit-begotten children are henceforth God's affairs and concerns. The world may be subject to accidents, but God's little ones are his peculiar care. HG294:6 Whatever may occur in their experience will be of divine knowledge and permission. R5781:5 This includes even the things that seem to be very contrary, very evil, very disadvantageous. R5118:5, 4219:2 Even the failures which, subsequently recognized, lead to greater fortification against the wiles of the Adversary, may be overruled by our Lord for our blessing. R4790:4 God is ordering all the affairs and interests of his Church and also those of the world. R5249:2
Work together— God loves us, and will make everything work out for our good as new creatures. CR461:2; R5561:6, 5402:3, 4660:2, 2699:4, 738:6 This promise is sure to all those who are his children according to the spirit. CR461:2; R5645:5 If we know this, we shall receive all that comes to us in the spirit of submission and trust. R5759:5, 3208:5 A seeming accident could not have occurred had God not seen a way to make it the channel of a needed lesson or blessing. R5425:5 The more faith we have, the more we appreciate this text. R5118:5 God's mercy and goodness follow us (Psa. 23:6) to accomplish this. R5654:6 As long as we abide faithful to God. R5645:5 The Lord will not permit us to be tempted, or tested, above what we are able to bear. (1 Cor. 10:13) R5569:6 Such as realize this providential supervision, are not only kept more humble and trustful, but are not vexed and soured by the vicissitudes of life and misconduct of others. R1646:4 Even the weaknesses of heredity may work out for the faithful that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. 4:17) R4712:4 Causing all things to work together for good. R5132:3 Through the agency of the "ministering spirits sent forth to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation." (Heb. 1:14) F76
For good— Developing in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness. F181; R1646:4 The interest, the good of the new creature. R5606:1, 5402:3 Nothing can harm us, aside from our Father's will. R5546:6 Whatever cannot be overruled for good must be hindered, must be stopped, cannot proceed.R4133:6 Each of God's children should be helped by his defeats as well as by his victories. R4307:6, 5811:4 The powers of evil cannot harm the elect, therefore let us put away fears as marks or evidences of lack of faith. R4736:3, 4069:5 Our Heavenly Father wishes to give us the good things. Sometimes he sees best that we wait before getting an answer to our prayers. R5480:4 Few lessons are harder to learn than this one—that God supervises the affairs of all who are truly his. R5264:4 The consecrated shall have all needful instruction, grace, comfort, discipline, training and care; and such measure of temporal good as will be most conducive to highest spiritual and everlasting blessing. R1396:3 Sometimes our Heavenly Father sees best that we wait a long time before getting the answer to our petitions; at other times he may give us a speedy answer to our prayer. R5480:4 "There shall no evil befall thee." (Psa. 91:10) R3332:2 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." (Psa. 23:1) R1396:3 It would be a mistake, however, to suppose that the Lord would in every case make things work together for our temporal advantage. R2130:3* Nothing can harm these, except as the Heavenly Father sees that the earthly injury or disadvantage would prove profitable to the individual new creature or the Lord's general cause. R4926:6 Even if God should permit him to use his judgment in a way that afterward appeared not have been the best, nevertheless the Father may use it to bring some profitable lesson. R5212:6 Our Heavenly Father would watch over their every interest, temporal and spiritual. NS654:6 However vexing or perplexing or trying they may be. R1489:6 Not (necessarily) for the best. R5118:5
To them— Who have become new creatures in Christ; not the world. CR149:1; R5403:2, 4386:1 One class is under special supervision and to these nothing out of God's order could happen. R738:6 God's special love and provision for his saints as distinguished from the world. R1254:5 The spirit-begotten ones have much advantage every way. R5681:5 He who has buried his own will completely in the will of the Lord can know no disappointment; but in every affair of his life he sees by faith divine appointment or supervision. R2412:6 Little does the world realize the important place in its affairs and interests occupied by this Little Flock. R4133:6
That love God— Love him supremely. R5633:5, 1911:2; F154 With loyal hearts. R4308:1 In proportion as we love God we get the good out of our experiences. R5759:5 These can be calm and serene in the midst of all the storms of life. OV200:5
Who are the called— "And chosen and faithful." (Rev. 17:14) C232 The Kingdom class. SM369:T To be the Bride, the Lamb's wife. R4784:2,5249:2 Who are promised a share in the First Resurrection. OV231:T This elect class will be God's instrumentality for the blessing of the non-elect. SM91:1; R2538:6 Applies to the Church of the Gospel age, but there is a sense in which it was applicable to the Hebrews, since the time of Abraham. R5217:2
According to his purpose— The glorious purpose of making them his agents for the blessing of all mankind. R2538:6, 25:2*

[NTC - Romans 8:29]

For whom— "A Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation." (1 Pet. 2:9) E30 Wholly respecting the Church; the new creatures. CR156:5; R4975:6,4213:6, 2377:2; OV35:4 Not the Great Company. R4401:1
He did foreknow— In the Abrahamic Covenant, God declared his purpose to find a seed of Abraham. R5301:4 This special class was foreknown from before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4)R4492:4, 4855:5, 4213:3, 2376:5; Q657:6 God foreknew us also by Jesus, not as individuals necessarily, but he foreknew a Church, a class. R4855:5 Nothing in any Scripture implies divine foreknowledge of the individuals. F179; Q657:6, R3282:1, 2652:3, 1141:2
He did predestinate— Determine or decide. R5900:6 Predetermine. OV35:4; R5900:6* As to qualifications of character. E137; F180; R5346:3, 3281:1, 2940:6, 2652:3; OV237:2; CR69:5; Q456:T God foreordained that he would have a Church. R5001:6, 5838:4, 5269:6, 5056:1; CR69:5 God's election of a saintly Kingdom class is the work of this age. The elect in glory will in the next age extend God's free grace to all. (Rev. 22:17) PD86/99 Not that some should go to heaven and others to eternal torment. R2376:6, 4213:4 God not only prearranged to have a Church as a Bride of Christ, but also fixed certain limitations of character. NS545:3; HG377:6
To be conformed— The golden rule is necessary in such formation of character, to develop in us not the principles of justice only, but also the spirit of love. R2689:3 The Church must each individually in character become copies of our Lord. R534:3 It is the new creature, the new mind, the new will, that is in the school of Christ, that is to be brought into full accord with the divine will, to become a copy or likeness of the Lord. R2439:5 We aid each other in the cultivation of those traits of character which the Lord has stipulated shall distinguish all who become his joint-heirs. R845:4 Whoever of the called ones fail to attain the character likeness of Christ, fails to make his calling and election sure. OV35:6 In purity of heart, purity of intention; sincerity of efforts toward God and men. R2587:5 The attainment of the character-likeness of Jesus. SM390:1; R5968:5, 5859:6, 4975:6, 4928:5, 4501:3, 3985:6, 3586:4, 3307:1, 2754:1, 1166:1; C210; F67, 180; CR69:5, 444:2; Q429:5 This implies, as its cost, the sacrifice of earthly interests. SM390:1 Whoever of the "called" ones fails to attain the character likeness of Christ will be rejected. OV35:4; R3586:1, 1802:2 The very object of the begetting of the new creature is to develop and crystallize character. R4975:6 It means the losing of the mental and moral likeness to the world. R1007:1 Not partly conformed, but fully conformed. R4975:6
To the image— A copy—not in the flesh, but in the spirit. R5902:6, 2439:5 Copies of the likeness of God's Son. (Diaglott) C210; F67, 180; R5056:1, 5002:1, 4213:4, 2737:5, 2538:6, 2439:5, 2376:6 The new creature, the new mind, the new will, is in the school of Christ; to be perfected, to be brought into full accord with the divine will, to become a copy or likeness of the Lord. R4810:4, 5003:3, 4975:6 Glorified character likeness. CR38:3; R5580:1God's message of grace once accepted must be considered either a message of life unto life, or of death unto death. R4647:3 "Holy, unblameable and unreprovable." (Col. 1:22) E395 Every member of the great Mediator must have the spirit of Jesus, the Head. CR49:6 All must have his likeness, be meek and lowly in heart, desiring only to know and do the will of God at any cost.R1141:1 In proportion as the likeness of our Lord is fixed in our hearts, upon the basis of truth and the divine nature, can a lasting likeness be hoped for. R2137:6Spiritual likeness. R1879:4 Heart-likeness. R3985:6 Their trials have made them more nearly, as new creatures, copies of God's dear Son. SM631:1 The epistle of Christ written in their hearts. Q429:4; R5968:5 Christ's likeness in heart, and as much as possible that likeness in outward living and in thinking. R5849:6 There is only one way to seek for this great prize successfully, and that is by patiently and perseveringly cultivating and developing in ourselves the character-likeness of our Redeemer. R4501:6
Of his Son— "We shall be like him." (1 John 3:2) T67 Heroes. R4533:3 "Who is the image of the invisible God." (Col. 1:15) R41:3*
That he might be— None could precede him; only by noting and following in his footsteps can we hope to share his glory. F181
The firstborn— "The firstborn from the dead." (Col. 1:18) The resurrection of our Lord was his birth from the dead, to the full perfection of spiritual being. B134; R3912:2, 3174:4, 2618:5, 2573:1, 2422:2 The heir. R134:3, 270:3 The raising of Jairus' daughter was not a resurrection, nor were any of the other cases of awakening from death recorded in the Scriptures. R2618:5 This is a progressive matter; first there is the beginning, then the period of gestation, then birth. R5580:2
Among many brethren— Who have received the spirit of adoption. E109 The faithful of this Gospel age are not the children of Christ; our relationship to our Lord Jesus is that of brethren. E143; R2652:3

[NTC - Romans 8:30]

Moreover whom— The Apostle here traces backward the development of the Church. F182
He did predestinate— As a class, not as individuals. A194
He also called— To obedience, to present their bodies living sacrifices. R2378:6, 5838:4, 4215:5, 1141:3 The glorious opportunity of the high calling. R5838:4, 1141:2 Accepted to the grand position of the glorious elect. F182 Invited to that honor through the Gospel. R3282:1, 810:3* No man takes this step of consecration unless he is called of God. R5134:1 Only the justified are called. R4783:5, 4214:2, 4213:6, 3282:1, 2377:1, 3, 1141:2
He also justified— Covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness. C198 Through the imputed righteousness of Christ. R1141:3 Those who accept the light by repentance and faith. R2377:5, 5838:5, 4214:3, 1141:3
He also glorified— Greek, doxazo; honored; it is more of an honor to hear of God's grace than many suppose. F182; A194 Honored by sending to them the Gospel message. R3282:1, 4213:5, 2377:1,3, 1141:2 By begetting them with the holy Spirit. R5838:5 After Pentecost it was not Africa and Asia that were chiefly honored with the Gospel, but Europe, and later America. R2377:3, 4214:1 No man, without being invited, could think of aspiring to the great honor of the position to which the Church is elected: "So, also, Christ glorified (honored) not himself to be made an High Priest." (Heb. 5:5) A194 Tracing the steps in the reverse order, this is the first step. R2377:1,3, 4213:5,6

[NTC - Romans 8:31]

What shall we then— In view of God's ignoring of our weaknesses and imperfections in conduct and in prayer, and blessing us according to the spirit of our minds. E290-291
Say to these things— Paul has been arguing justification as a basis or step to glory and heirship. R504:1
If— If I have proved that. R2378:2, 4214:6
God— The Lord of Hosts is with us, his promises and providences are walls of salvation and protection on every hand. R1653:5 With all of his infinite wisdom and power, and all of the heavenly powers. R2377:5, 4214:3
Be for us— If God be thus for our election. E291; F183; R4213:2, 2376:3 On our side. CR461:1 The Little Flock. R2377:5, 4214:3, 2378:1 In that he spared not his own Son, but redeemed us with his precious blood, and called us to his "elect" Church. R3052:4, 1141:4, 504:1, 393:4 If we have the peace of God ruling in our hearts, it is beyond all human comprehension. R4708:1 God being on our side, none of the oppositions need cause us fear or trepidation for he is absolutely abundantly able to carry us through them all. F183 It means almighty wisdom enlisted in our interest, almighty power exerted on our behalf, almighty love and infinite goodness watching over us and caring for and helping us. R4212:3 This blessed assurance gave the Master courage. R4708:1 For the people of Europe and North America, who accepted the Gospel message; and especially for those of the called ones who make their calling and election sure. R2377:4, 4214:2 Not for everybody, everywhere, as taught by Methodism, Universalism and Unitarianism. R2375:6, 4212:3
Who can be against us— Who can prosper against us. R3052:4 However numerous, however strong, whether demons or men. R4379:6, 5043:6, 4214:6, 2378:2-5 Within and without. R1985:2 To any avail, to thwart our hopes. R1956:2, 3155:6, 3052:4 Even adverse experiences are of divine permission. R4325:4, 1956:2 Notwithstanding all our adversaries, our assurance is that all wisdom, power and love shall be exerted on our behalf. R2378:5, 4215:4, 2880:5, 1141:4 All our adversaries must be resisted with the sword of the Spirit. In due time God will right present wrongs and falsehoods. R2378:4, 4215:2 Those who believe verses 31-39 teach "once in grace, always in grace" lose sight of numerous texts which declare that they must "abide in Christ." R2286:3

[NTC - Romans 8:32]

But delivered him up— To death. A155; E197 The ignominious and cruel death were at the expense of the fondest affection of him who loves as never man loved. R1696:5
Give us all things— Needful for us in our race for the prize. E197; F411 Abundant cause for thankfulness and rejoicing. R1911:2

[NTC - Romans 8:33]

To the charge— If God ignores the infirmities of our flesh, we should so regard one another, considering not and charging not against one another the infirmities of the flesh. R5802:5,3587:1; F184 So long as we are striving against sin. F369 Only as we are able to realize an obedient faith are we able to apply these gracious promises to ourselves or to rest therein. R3944:5, 2466:5 When the infirmities of the flesh are cultivated, without effort to correct them, then they are charged against us. R5802:5 Some may find fault with us for having imperfect judgments, and being sometimes imperfect in our conduct or words; but what will it matter if the Lord approves. R3052:4
Of God's elect— Who are to be associated with Messiah in his glorious Kingdom. OV146:1
It is God— The firmness of whose justice can no more condemn the redeemed than it could previously excuse the guilty. A295, 157 It was God who condemned. Q410:3
That justifieth— "Shall that God that justifieth." R5802:5, 1456:2* Young—"to make, or declare right"—not necessarily a state of perfection. PT390:5* Through the blood of Jesus. Q410:2; R5959:2; CR173:5 An imputation of righteousness. R5881:2, 193:4 Justification of the Church is an instantaneous work. R5959:2 Freed from the condemnation of all inherited weakness and sin. R504:2, 225:3 The One who "condemned sin in the flesh" has accepted us as new creatures, justified us, and has admitted us as members of the family (prospectively) of the Royal Priesthood. R4656:4 "The Father himself loveth you." (John 16:27) R3944:4, 1141:4; F184 "Their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isa. 54:17) R3052:4 God receives to everlasting life and to his family on any plane of existence only those who are perfect. R5959:6 Consequently, if God justifies, no one has a right to condemn us. R393:4 There is no appeal from this, the judge of the supreme court of heaven says that we are justified freely from all things. R193:2

[NTC - Romans 8:34]

He that condemneth— It is the Adversary. R1141:5 Who shall succeed in condemning? R3052:4 Dare anyone claim that I am still guilty. R504:2 God no longer condemns because Christ died. R485:2
It is Christ— Will that Anointed One?...Nay. R3280:1 "Shall Christ that died." R5802:5, 1456:2*, 1141:4
That died— Paying our penalty in full, making good all our deficiencies. E197; R5597:5, 225:3 The followers of Jesus know that their sins are forgiven, and that nothing in the past can stand against them. R4656:1 Jesus was man's substitute, in the sense that he met in his own person the penalty which God's broken law had charged against us. R485:2 It is the merit of his great sacrifice that speaks our justification. R3280:1
That is risen again— The glorified and highly exalted Christ. E197
At the right hand— In the position of favor and power. A92; R1141:4; CR451:5
Intercession for us— Applying on our behalf a sufficiency of his own merit to cover all our blemishes. F184 Not in the sense of pleading with the Father to do for us what he already planned and arranged to do. R1141:4 The Greek word signifies to deal or to show cause. R791:5 For us, Christ Jesus does not pray or entreat with the Father for our acceptance. R791:5

[NTC - Romans 8:35]

Who shall— The blessed assurance of faith. R2093:2, 1949:2,4 Only our loss of confidence in the Lord and our unfaithfulness. R3232:1
Separate us— The conduct of one could not send another into the second death without his cooperation. R4831:1 Neither should any of these things (poverty, sickness, loss of friends or other ill) separate God's children from one another. R657:4*
Love of Christ— Christ's special love of the Church, clearly distinguished from the world. R1254:5 Cease our love for the Lord, renounce his name and his cause and follow no longer in his footsteps. F184 "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace." (John 16:33) R1141:6

[NTC - Romans 8:36]

For thy sake— For Christ's sake. R212:1*
We are— A prophecy from Psa. 44:22 applicable to the entire Christ. R5173:4
Killed— We have no time for concerts, games, science, art, music, etc., because all our time, money and talents are consecrated to be sacrificed from self to the Lord's service. R443:4
All the day long— The Gospel age. R5173:2 The antitypical Day of Atonement. R5173:2

[NTC - Romans 8:37]

We— The Little Flock only. R3868:2, 5947:2, 5865:1; Q522:2 The glorified Bride class. R5439:4;CR17:3; SM126:2, 361:2, 727:T By knowledge. R5065:6 By more grace from the Lord. R2590:6, 2568:5
More than conquerors— "More than overcomers." R5584:5 Victors in the highest sense. R5285:2 Loyal in the highest degree; in thought, word and deed. R4325:2, 5865:2, 5439:4, 5359:1,4, 5094:6 The selected ones, the ones who stand the tests, and prove faithful. R4745:5, 4904:5 Those who put away all things contrary to the divine will—to the end. R5584:5, 5002:1 They must have that love which inspires to the willing, joyful sacrifice of every earthly hope and ambition and which gladly lays down even life itself for the brethren. R5757:6; Q522:2 Much more than merely refraining from sinful things. Q138:2 Those who go into this self-sacrifice voluntarily. R5371:3 Represented by the Lord's goat. R3868:1 Those who exercise faith, hold to the divine promises, walk to the best of their ability in the footsteps of the Lord, and trust in the covering of the merit of our Redeemer. SM763:1 To do something more, something greater, than to enter eternal life by the skin of the teeth. Q138:2 "The Little Flock"—and the conquerors, the "Great Company"—we recognize both of these as being of the Church of Christ, the Church of the first-born. R4654:1 All who now enter the narrow way are compelled to fight a good fight, to contend earnestly for the faith, to resist the devil, if they would secure the greater prize of our high calling. R2590:6 Instead of palm branches representing victory, they have crowns which represent victory on a higher, grander plane. SM727:T Perfect love can bear up under all circumstances and by God's grace, bring us off conquerors. R4919:1 Not all who love righteousness and hate iniquity would be so zealous for the service as to be esteemed worthy of the Little Flock. HG752:3 Different degrees of blessings have been promised to the faithful overcomers and special blessings to the still more sacrificing. CR11:3 The priestly tribe of Israel was divided into two classes, the priests and the Levites, and likewise the Church is composed of two classes. R5166:6, 3868:1
Through— In. R1007:3

[NTC - Romans 8:38]

That neither death— Which often consigns to forgetfulness the friendships of this life. R1820:3 Which to his loved ones will mean our blessed "change." R5862:5
Nor life— Which means further opportunities for suffering with him that we may also share his glory. R5862:5
Nor angels— With all the superior charms of their purity and glory. R1820:3
Nor principalities— These cannot harm us who are sheltered in Christ. R5862:5
Nor powers— The powers of darkness arrayed against us. R1820:3 We may not surely know how many grades of angels there are. SM487:1
Nor things to come— For "all things shall work together for our good." R5862:5

[NTC - Romans 8:39]

Nor height— Of temporary exaltation. R5862:5, 1820:3
Nor depth— Of trouble or sorrow. R5862:5, 1820:3
Any other creature— For he has promised to keep the feet of his saints. R5862:5
Separate us from— Each member is at liberty to go back wallowing in the mire, like the sow that was washed, yet if he choose to remain, none shall be able to pluck him out of the Father's hand. SM11:T
Love of God— Grace. SM11:T His love will not permit others to separate us from his favor contrary to our own will. R1458:3 Not only should we be inseparable from the love of God, but we should love those begotten by God. R31:5*
In Christ Jesus— All God's love and mercy and blessings come to the race in and through Jesus and his work. R687:2

[NTC - Romans 9:2]

Great heaviness— Because Israelites, Paul's brethren according to the flesh, were so foolish and blind as not to perceive the great favor offered to them. R1140:4

[NTC - Romans 9:3]

I— The Apostle Paul. R4692:1
Accursed from Christ— Cut off from membership in the Body of Christ. R4692:1, 4278:4, 3182:6 Put down on the plane of the "Great Company." R4692:2Have my share with the earthly restitution class. R4278:4 Not that he would wish to suffer eternal torture for them, nor that he would wish to be cut off in the second death for them. R3182:6 "Absalom, would God that I had died for thee." (2 Sam. 18:33) This finds two parallels in the Scriptures, Moses' expression when the people came under divine displeasure, and Paul's similar sentiment. R4278:2
For my brethren— If I could thereby bring that glorious position to my brethren. R3182:6, 4892:1, 1696:3 So that as a whole nation the Israelites would constitute the Royal Priesthood and become Israel on a spiritual plane. R4692:1 The Apostle loved the Jewish nation with an intense love. R3182:5 It would be well for each of us to cultivate that trait (unselfishness) to a greater degree. R4692:2 This is not an example for us, that if we could bring some of our children or friends into the truth we would be willing to be cut off for the benefit of these. R4692:2
Kinsmen— The Jews. R4692:1

[NTC - Romans 9:4]

Who are Israelites— Representatives of the whole twelve tribes. C252 Members of the household of faith, heirs of the promises. R2730:1
To whom pertaineth— Adoption as sons was primarily the inheritance of Israel. E177 All of God's arrangements seem to have been to the Jew first, and then also to the Gentile. PT383:2* The blessings of the Law Covenant and its promises of life were only to the one nation. R1725:1, 5046:1
The adoption— As sons, joint-heirs with Christ. E177
And the glory— Paul's brethren, according to the flesh, were so foolish and blind as not to perceive the great favor offered to them first, as another and last mark of special favor. R1140:4
Giving of the law— The Law Covenant, its blessings and curses. R1725:1
And the promises— The elect Church, in the prophecies, was counted in the Messianic promises—as members of the Body of Messiah. R2996:2 The blessings of the Covenant and its promises of life were to one nation, Israel. R5046:2

[NTC - Romans 9:5]

Who is over all— Jesus was the forerunner; none could precede him, all who would be associated must be followers and under his control. R3192:5 Head over the entire Church. R3192:5, 2996:2, 1855:1, 557:1; OV28:3 The Church will never be on an equality of position with Christ. R5359:4
Blessed for ever— The death of Christ in itself is not the medium of blessedness, but the death of Christ prepared the way for untainted life, which is the cardinal element of blessedness. R1436:4 Christ is the Root of the medium of blessedness for all nations of the earth. R1436:4 In the complete medium of blessedness there are natures both human and divine, in those natures there are many ranks and from the lowest to the highest of them Christ is over all. R1436:5

[NTC - Romans 9:6]

Taken none effect— Their failure as a nation to obtain the chief favor implied in the Abrahamic promise does not make the promise of God a failure. R1140:4
Not all Israel— Not all Israelites indeed, children of God. C62; B86; R5338:6,821:2 Our Lord recognized this same distinction between natural and true Israelites: when receiving Nathanael he declared, "Behold, an Israelite indeed. (John 1:47) R2443:1 "He is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart." (Rom. 2:29) R2443:1 Children of Abraham according to the spirit, such as share the Abrahamic disposition of faith and obedience. B86 Some children of Jacob were really of their father, the Devil. (John 8:44) R4781:3 "I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan." (Rev. 2:9) R2443:1 In harvest time of their respective ages, the truth then due accomplishes the separation, and makes manifest which are real and which of the merely nominal Israel. B205
Which are of Israel— Nominal fleshly Israel. B86, 205; R1009:1, 821:2 Of the whole twelve tribes. C293; R1341:1

[NTC - Romans 9:7]

Abraham— A type of God. R161:1, 1140:6, 905:2; F170
Isaac— A type of Christ. F170; R2857:2, 1140:6, 905:2, 161:2

[NTC - Romans 9:8]

That is— Ishmael and Isaac, illustrated the fact that the natural seed of Abraham would not inherit the chief blessings. R1140:5
Of the flesh— Nominal fleshly Israel, the Jews. D23; R1140:5, 201:2, 184:5 "Israel after the flesh." (1 Cor. 10:18) R184:5 The twelve tribes of Israel, typed by Ishmael. R201:2, 1140:5
Children— Not one child. R22:5*
Children of God— God is the father of the spiritual seed, the spiritual Isaac, which is Christ, Head and Body. R905:2
Of the promise— Nominal spiritual Israel. D23 The Gospel Church, as the spiritual seed of Abraham, are the chief inheritors. R1850:2,1140:6, 99:4*, 22:5* Of faith; typed by Isaac. R201:2, 1140:5 "We brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise." (Gal. 4:28) R99:4*, 22:5*
Counted for the seed— "If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:29) R201:2, 161:2

[NTC - Romans 9:11]

Being not yet born— Paul states this divine decision was made before either Jacob or Esau had done anything bearing upon the choice. PD28/41; R612:4 So that it might be evident that the election was not because of merit or demerit of either, but of God's unconditional choice. R612:4
Purpose of God— All the results were foreknown to God. R5198:4
To election— Not that one go to heaven, and the other to hell. R257:1, 532:6 Jacob and Esau typically show how the natural seed, though the first developed, failed to receive the choicest blessing. R184:3

[NTC - Romans 9:12]

It was said— At the birth of the two men. (Gen. 25:23) R5198:4, 3954:2
The younger— Illustrating that spiritual Israel would be developed after natural Israel. R2443:1, 1140:5 The Gospel Church, though younger, is to take precedence to the Jewish house. R1624:6 This is an indication of God's foreknowledge of the difference in the characters of the two. R3954:2

[NTC - Romans 9:13]

Jacob— A later-born granted the more honorable place—heir of the Abrahamic promises. R1140:5; F172 Representing spiritual Israel. F172 It was Jacob that suffered tribulation; so the present is the time of discipline to the chosen ones. R1141:6
Have I loved— Because of his reverential love for God and the great oath-bound promise. R5198:4 Favored. F172
Esau— Set aside as unworthy. R1140:5 Representing natural Israel. F172
Have I hated— Loved less. R5240:6, 532:6, 257:1, 5:5; F172 Fleshly Israel have I favored less. F172

[NTC - Romans 9:15]

Mercy on whom I will— Not predestination as taught by Calvin. R403:1*, 220:6 It being entirely proper to discontinue favors to those who would not use them, and to extend them to others. F171

[NTC - Romans 9:16]

It is not of him— But it is to him, when called. A195; R613:5
That sheweth mercy— In imputing to us the merits of Christ, as the covering of our inherited weaknesses. R1458:4, 2001:1 Kindness or favor, that God gave them the invitation to the divine nature. A190; R1225:4, 612:4 It is by our running that we obtain the prize, but of God's mercy. R2001:1 God is the originator of our salvation upon whom all depended, yet in his plan it lies with us to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2:12) R2001:1 Not because these chosen ones were better than others that God selected them, but because God had a right to do as he pleased with his own. R612:4

[NTC - Romans 9:17]

I raised thee up— By removing other heirs to the throne so that this obstinate one might rule. F175; R2911:2, 1652:4, 1651:2; PD33/44 Pharaoh thus was given an opportunity of illustrating certain great principles along the lines of which God was dealing. R5305:3 A stubborn ruler; one whose heart was hardened by God's mercy, in lifting one plague after another. Illustrating the principle that God's great blessing to man—a free will—may be perverted by Satan to work great injury. R5263:3,1652:4 God set him there at that time, not that he might influence Pharaoh to evil, but that he might show the influence of an unregenerate heart. R5305:3 God permitted the world to have a variety of governments. R5305:2
Shew my power— Show forth his power in connection with the deliverance of his typical people Israel. F174 Manifest God's power of deliverance against all opposition; a type of the ultimate deliverance of all his people from sin. R1225:5, 2911:2

[NTC - Romans 9:18]

On whom he will— Executing suzerain authority amongst his convicted creatures in such time or manner as he chooses, but never coercing or violating the human will. F174
He hardeneth— By exhibitions of mercy for which they are unappreciative. R2911:2

[NTC - Romans 9:20]

Who art thou— From nothingness all were created by the same divine power; none has a right to dictate to God. R612:4; A191
Repliest against God— Some mistakenly think God should make no difference in bestowing favors among his creatures; thus all should eventually have divine nature. A187; R612:1 We would not question Jehovah's absolute right to do what he will with his own. R244:4
Made me thus?— God had a right, if he chose, to make us merely the creatures of a brief space of time. A189; R612:2 Whatever the potter shall do to the clay, will be an honor to the clay. SM712:2 All were created by the same divine power, some to have higher nature and greater honor, and some to have lower nature and less honor. A190
Him that formed it— The sovereign right of the Creator to elect whom he will to certain offices, or to perform a particular work, is undeniable. R623:5

[NTC - Romans 9:21]

The potter— Knowing him, as he reveals himself in his Word, we have the assurance that his work is perfect; that the variety of vessels in his creation will all be to his praise. SM708:2 In some sense of the word his great work began with our Lord and the apostles. SM710:T The choice of which shall be which is with the Potter. SM708:1
Power over the clay— God has a right to do as he pleases with his own. A190; R623:5, 612:4, 422:4; SM708:2 Adam and his race are the clay in the hands of the Potter. SM709:2 The clay is the same for all of these vessels. SM708:1 God has begun the good work in us, if we submit ourselves to him properly, he will complete the good work unto the day of Jesus Christ. SM708:1 Though God's promises were handed to Israel, he had a perfect right to make such selection as he saw fit, for the high calling. R1225:3; F171 Without the exercise of his power and skill, the clay would never be anything more than clay. So if he makes of mankind, in the Millennium, vessels of more or less honor, it will be a blessing indeed and none will have cause to complain. SM712:2 The application of this text, as a proof that God caused any man to sin, is wholly wrong. R1225:6
Of the same lump— Of the Adamic family, God made choice of the nation of Israel. They were specially prepared for the moulding influence of the holy Spirit at Pentecost. SM709:3
One vessel— Some will have more honor, some less. SM709:1 But none evil, devilish, or bad. SM709:1
Unto honour— The elect company. R1872:2 Artistic vessels; represented in the Scriptures as the Body of Christ, the Lamb's wife. SM710:T Graceful ornaments; a vase for the mantel, a loving cup, or a ewer for carrying water. SM708:1 Each vessel of the class now being developed, has his own special fitting and preparation, for his place in the Kingdom. SM711:1 Vessels of a certain kind, quite honorable, too, were formed during the Jewish age; those whose lives were shaped by their faith in God and his promises—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets. SM710:T; R1225:5
Unto dishonor— Unto less honor. A190; R1872:2 Lesser honor; however, of great usefulness in his plan and purpose—He will proceed during the coming age to prepare these other vessels. SM710:1 Without honor. R612:4 As Esau and Ishmael. R1225:4

[NTC - Romans 9:22]

What if God— The fact that God has refrained from manifesting outwardly either his love for the Church, or his wrath against evil-doers, is no argument against the lesson he is teaching. SM714:2
To shew his wrath— The "wrath to come" (Matt. 3:7), did come upon the nation because of its rejection of Messiah. R2564:1, 2236:6
Longsuffering— Greek, makrothunia, patience. R2790:6 God has endured or permitted a continuance of sin and sinners in apparent contradiction to his law, manifesting longsuffering toward subjects of destruction. R3433:6
Vessels of wrath— The Jewish nation. R3433:5, 2564:1 "Wrath to the uttermost against this people." (1 Thes. 2:16) R3433:6 Earthly kingdoms, having served their purpose, are vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction. (Rom. 9:22) R470:6 Vessels which, after experiencing the potter's care and skill, prove defective, blemished, unfit for use. These represent such as receive the grace of God in vain. (2 Cor. 6:1) SM715:T Some vessels that resist the moulding and shaping influences of the great Potter will be vessels for destruction, unfit for his service in any capacity. R1872:2 Those who sin willfully after coming to a knowledge of God's gracious plan in Christ. R1225:6 At the close of this age, when the vessels fitted for destruction will be recognized as having gone to the second death. SM716:1
To destruction— The collapse of their (Jewish) national polity in 69-70 AD. R2564:1, 3433:6 The vessels fitted for destruction met with their destruction, the chaff was consumed in that fire.R3433:6 Because unwilling to grasp the Lord's proffered favors. F171 Death, not eternal torment. R3433:5

[NTC - Romans 9:23]

Vessels of mercy— "Israelites indeed" to be the nucleus of the Gospel Church. R3433:6 Fit for glory; joint-heirs with their dear Redeemer. SM716:1

[NTC - Romans 9:25]

I will call them— Those from among the Gentiles who formerly had not been recognized by the Lord. C296, 297; R1341:5
My people— "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." (Rom. 9:6) C62 Eventually, the name "Israel," meaning "People of God," will apply to all who are God's people. D654

[NTC - Romans 9:27]

Concerning Israel— Showing that God foreknew how his favors to natural Israel would result. F171
Children of Israel— Representatives of the whole twelve tribes. B206; C252, 293; R1341:1, 862:5 As the sand of the sea—The mass of Israel professed to be the Lord's people, but piety was little more than profession. R2674:2
A remnant— A comparatively small proportion of the whole. R2948:1; B205 From the remnant of both houses, a new house is formed. R518:5*, 862:5 The apostles, the early Church, etc. R1341:2 Probably constituted not above 20,000, during our Lord's ministry, and the ensuing 37 years of the Jewish harvest. R4298:2 Although the apostles filled Jerusalem with their doctrine, a comparatively small number were ready to receive the good messages. R2948:1 These became the nucleus of spiritual Israel. R4298:2 The Apostles and early disciples, received the increase of knowledge and privileges then due to the Gospel age, while all the rest of Israel were blind. R599:6 Only the remnant of that nation, which make peace quickly, in the way to judgment, were delivered. R1713:2 The work is great here, as it was in the end of the Jewish age; yet only a Little Flock will be gathered. R2674:2 As favor continued to individual Israelites, after national rejection, so after rejection of the Gospel house, favor to individual saints is still continued. R599:6 Israelites are still God's people, it is still his purpose to use them as a light to the Gentiles. R752:5
Shall be saved— From the predicted blindness. R1696:3, 1795:1, 1713:2 The blindness which happened unto all Israel except the elect remnant, after they as a nation and individually rejected Christ. R1769:5 As respects their relationship to the Kingdom class. R4298:2

[NTC - Romans 9:28]

For he will— In the harvest of the Jewish age. B70; R116:4*
Finish the work— Of testing the Hebrew nation. B70
And cut it short— In the midst of the seventieth week of favor. (Dan. 9:26) B70; R116:4* It gave that remnant three and a half years of exclusive attention and ministration, under the increased advantages of the spirit dispensation. B70
In righteousness— Justly, by confining the favor to the faithful Israelites indeed for the balance of the seventieth week. B70 God did them no injustice, but a great favor by casting off the nation there and completing the ministry in the midst of the week. Q108:T
A short work— The period of time in which the present institutions will be ousted, and the present order of things be condemned. R5567:1, 5569:1 The work of crushing will steadily continue until its full accomplishment. R5632:2 Just how short the work will be would be conjectural. R5567:1 "For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matt. 24:22) R5569:2 The gathering of the nations will make the great tribulation a short, as well as a decisive conflict. D272 It must, however, last long enough to teach humanity a lesson never to be forgotten. OV321:3

[NTC - Romans 9:29]

Had left us— Israel, representatives of the twelve tribes. C252
A seed— A remnant; a few ready to receive the spirit of adoption. E177; R116:5* "Even so then, at the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Rom. 11:5) R116:5*

[NTC - Romans 9:30]

Gentiles— Heathen nations. R1970:1
Of faith— The selected ones are not entitled to the honor by reason of ability but by their faith and obedience, according to favor (grace). R1225:5 Rebekah accepted the call of God in humble faith, but Israel from the outset, quarreled with grace. R752:4*

[NTC - Romans 9:31]

But Israel— Representatives of the whole twelve tribes. C293, 252; R1341:1
After the law— Almost all of the fleshly seed are so blinded by the fleshly promises that they do not see the greater spiritual prize. R201:2
Righteousness— Justification. R863:1, 681:6

[NTC - Romans 9:32]

Because they— Professedly Israelites, but not Israelites indeed. R175:6
Works of the law— Proud of their own supposed holiness, attainments, and ability, in keeping God's Law, the Jews saw no necessity for a sacrifice for their sins. R863:1, 681:6
For they stumbled— Through pride and hardness of heart. B215 Through unbelief and lack of consecration. R2086:4 They did not recognize his presence among them, and rejected his sacrifice as the basis of justification holding instead to their own righteousness. R681:6 Israel as a nation, is really hindered because they expect to be justified by works. R1970:2 So also the nominal spiritual Israel is likewise stumbling. R1255:2 The stumbling is the same for the Gospel church who expect the second coming of Christ; they are expecting an outward display, which will appeal to the natural eye, ear and human senses. R176:1
That stumblingstone— Israel, feeling so confident that she can approve herself to God by works of obedience, stumbles at the simplicity of the Gospel and cannot believe that "Jesus died and paid it all." R1970:2

[NTC - Romans 9:33]

As it is written— In Isaiah 28:16 and 8:14. R3962:3, 5817:1
A stumblingstone— Christ. D557; R1922:4 To both the houses of Israel. R5817:1, 681:6 Many of the weaker children of God, now stumbling with nominal Zion, will be recovered and saved so as by fire, born through great tribulation. (1 Cor. 3:15; Rev. 7:14) R1649:4 The "cross" has been the great stumbling stone now, as in the days of our Redeemer's first advent. R5801:6, 1255:2, 863:1 Israel, instead of accepting of Christ's ransom, they stumbled over and rejected the only way to God. R1970:2 The Scriptures indicate, that the great stumbling and falling away from this all important doctrine is only beginning. R1255:2
Rock of offence— The doctrine of redemption through the precious blood of Christ. R1970:2, 1649:3 Christ, the foundation stone. R1760:3 To the Jews, Christ crucified for our redemption was, as Paul testifies, a cause of offence. R1255:2
Whosoever believeth— The promise of a new heart carries forward more than 1800 years and becomes applicable at the second advent. R2503:6 The elect Little Flock of overcomers do not so stumble, but recognize this as the chief corner-stone of the true Zion. R1649:3
Not be ashamed— Shall never be put to shame, stumble. R682:1

[NTC - Romans 10:1]

To God for Israel— The whole twelve tribes. B206; C252; R2085:6
Might be saved— None will ever be saved by ignorance. R5575:4 I do not rejoice in their fall. R1970:2

[NTC - Romans 10:2]

I bear them record— I do not accuse them of indifference and willful unbelief. R1970:2
They have a zeal— The fault lay not in the zeal, which prompted labor and expense for others, but their fault was in the false ideas by which their zeal was inspired. R1071:3 With commendable zeal, but not according to knowledge, missionaries have gone to the heathen from Christian lands, in a spirit of devotion and self-sacrifice. CR19:5; R1071:3; NS19:5 They have great zeal for God, but they have a plan and way of their own, and are thus blinded and cannot see God's way and plan of justifying through ransom. R1970:2
To knowledge— There can be no salvation without knowledge. R5575:4

[NTC - Romans 10:3]

Being ignorant— They cannot see God's way and plan of justifying through a ransom. R1970:2
To establish— Through a keeping of the Law in every particular. R1970:2
Themselves— The energetic and ambitious among the worldly, whose motive power was not love, loyalty and humility, but selfish pride, vain-glory. R2368:3
Own righteousness— Which is impossible in their degenerate condition. R1970:2 Believing their saviors to be such as Socrates, Confucius, Zoroaster, Moses, Mahomet, etc., teaching acceptance before God not upon the merits of Christ, but upon their own merit and righteousness. R864:3, 761:2 The apostles of Satan are not saloon-keepers and white-slave traffickers, but for the most part "ordained" ministers. R5848:5* Some are active in planting "roots of bitterness." It is necessary that the Church be sifted—tested. R2368:6

[NTC - Romans 10:4]

Christ is the end— Or fulfillment. R1729:6, 5047:1, 1970:2, 972:1. Fulfilled the claims of the Law against all under it. R542:3 Blotting out the Law, "nailing it to his cross." (Col. 2:14) R1724:6, 3752:3, 2121:5 Rightly terminated its dominion. R542:3 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity of the law of commandments contained in ordinances." (Eph. 2:15) R5047:2 Only to those who have recognized the Lord Jesus as their Redeemer. PT377:2* Jesus kept all the requirements of the Law and thereby became heir and inheritor of all the blessings which that Law had promised, and thus he made an end of those blessings, so far as others were concerned. Q432:T; R2121:5 The Law Covenant being abolished in the sense that its passing away is arranged for. R4619:4 End of the Covenant based upon God's Law. He will never put an end to God's Law. Q432:T This does not mean that the divine law of the universe, forbidding sin, ceased at the cross. R1724:6
Of the law— The Law Covenant. F226, 380; R5047:1, 2268:6, 1729:6, 1725:5
For righteousness— Justification. R2268:6, 5047:1, 1725:5 We, in him, are just before the Law. R411:6, 3062:2 Christ righteously fulfilled the Law's requirements, and we in him are just before the Law. R411:6 Rightly terminated its dominion. R542:3 Every Jew; no others were ever under the Law Covenant. R3062:2, 5047:2, 2121:5, 1984:3, 1729:6, 1727:6, 1725:5
That believeth— But not to others. R5047:1, 3062:2, 1729:6 Who become Christ's followers. Q729:2; R4619:4, 4505:1 To the extent of becoming a follower of Christ and consecrating his restitution rights in death a living sacrifice, following the example of his Redeemer. R4505:2 To all such, love is the fulfilling of the Law. R315:2, 542:6 To this class, the Law Covenant was as dead. PT375:2* The Lord arranged for these to share in the distribution of the blessings of the New Covenant. PT375:2* To the remainder of the Jews that Law Covenant is as binding as it ever was. PT377:2*; Q167:2 It is not surprising when we remember their early prejudices in favor of the Law, that the spirit of truth was able to guide them but slowly into the full truth on this subject of the Law. R972:1

[NTC - Romans 10:5]

Moses describeth— In Lev. 18:5. R282:3, 5072:5, 1970:2, 1724:5, 789:1, 454:6
The law— The Law given to Israel at Sinai. R682:3
That the man— Christ Jesus only. R1725:2
Doeth those things— Does right according to the Law shall continue to live, and not die. R1970:2, 5465:3 Applies to all Israelites under the Law, even to this day. Q174:4; R4696:2 These were the conditions of the Law Covenant. R4330:3 They could not keep the Law. R410:6 The Law Covenant proposed everlasting life upon the terms of keeping the Law. R5072:5, 5128:1 In the Old Testament, there is no promise of eternal life, except in the Law given to Israel. SM43:4 The New (Law) Covenant, like the old one, will require obedience to the letter of the Law of God. R4442:2, 4760:6; CR326:4 It will be a gradual work: as they come into the terms of the New Covenant they will be blessed with life. R4760:6 The promise is a conditional one, the promise is that we shall abide in his love, his favor, whoever accepts of Christ's death. R4911:1
Shall live by them— Have the right to everlasting life. R5128:1, 4869:4, 1725:3, 573:2; Q197:T By reason of their obedience would never die.R454:6, 573:2 The favor under the Law Covenant was, that if any Jew could keep the Law he should have a right to life, and should never die. R503:2 The same law which guarantees that the disobedient shall die, guarantees also that the obedient will live. R573:2 Since Moses thus wrote, none have succeeded in meriting life. R1970:2,887:1* Israel's hopes were soon blighted, for one after another died, giving evidence that none of them kept their part of the Covenant fully. R789:1 The right to live was secured by Jesus by obedience to the Law. R4905:4, 5342:4 God gave this Law to the Jewish nation, whose typical sacrifices foreshadowed the real sin-offering. R4765:5 By faith the Church now begins to enjoy this conditional promise, which depends upon their faithfulness to the end—their patient endurance. R4911:1

[NTC - Romans 10:6]

Of faith— The Christian exercises faith in the Gospel message. R5409:5 This thing is not hidden from them, neither is it afar off—difficult to understand. R1970:3
Speaketh on this wise— As Moses also said. (Deut. 30:11-14) R1970:3
Say not— Those who banish prejudice and exercise faith will not say. R1970:3 A Christian does not ask how any one could go to heaven to bring Jesus down to earth, or go to the grave to bring him up, a Christian will accept the facts as they are. R5409:5
In thine heart— Some were doubting that Jesus was the Messiah and was put to death and then rose again. R5409:5
Who shall ascend— Who ascended. R1970:3
Into heaven— Jesus came from above; holy, harmless, undefiled. R5409:5
To bring Christ down— To be our Redeemer. R1970:3,4 Such, having the ear of faith, already have their declaration of the divine will in the person of Christ. R3071:5

[NTC - Romans 10:7]

Or, Who shall descend— Or who descended, into the grave to bring Christ back from the dead. R1970:3
To bring up Christ— To instruct us. R3071:5
From the dead— God recognized the merit of Jesus' work and raised him from the dead. R5409:5 Faith accepts the coming of Christ from above, his death, his resurrection and ascension. R1970:3

[NTC - Romans 10:8]

The word— The truth which we preach. R1970:3
Is nigh thee— Not far off, not pertaining to another age, but obtainable now by faith. R3071:5
And in thy heart— Reasonable and plain to be understood, finding abundant foundation in the words of Jesus and the prophets and apostles. R1970:3

[NTC - Romans 10:9]

With thy mouth— Confession with the mouth is the first outward evidence of faith in the heart. R3071:6
The Lord Jesus— You must openly and publicly confess that Jesus is Lord—your Master. R1970:3, 2164:3*
In thine heart— No matter how much one's mind is convinced of the truth, if his heart be stubborn he will not believe. R1970:4

[NTC - Romans 10:10]

For with the heart— Not merely with the head. R5433:6, 2651:5, 2038:2 That it would thoroughly enter into us, that we be thoroughly convinced by it; to have no doubt. CR155:3 Brethren, get your hearts right, and then you will be able both to believe on and confess Jesus as your Lord. R1970:4 It affects anything and everything; it affects all the affairs of life. CR155:5 Heart reliance is faith in its concrete form. R1822:3 One can believe nothing in his heart that he does not to some extent comprehend. R2966:4 There is a way to many a heart if we seek to find it, blunt coarse ways are repellant. The heart must be won before the soul can be saved. R1784:1
Believeth— Both the head and the heart, the intellect and the affections are necessary to faith. R1822:3 With some it is all emotion, with others it is all intellectuality, but neither of these can stand the tests of the fiery ordeal, they must abide together to endure. R1822:3
Unto righteousness— To a change of heart which aspires to righteousness. R2651:5 To live righteously is one of the best ways of proving our obedience to the Lord. R5436:1, 5476:1
With the mouth— Following faith comes confession, it is indispensable; those who do not tell others the joy that they have found are not of the kind worthy of a share in the Little Flock. SM763:2 We exercise faith in the heart before we make an outward profession, before we confess the Lord with our mouth. R5497:2 It is not enough that we shall be loyal in our hearts; but the Lord desires a public confession, a witness before men. R5539:4 We have no right to confess him with our mouth until we have believed unto righteousness. R5497:2
Confession is made— To witness—showing forth the praises of him who called us out of darkness. R5476:1 There are two reasons for the blessing we receive by confession; a witness to the world and a good effect on ourselves. R5436:4, 5476:1 And all the witnesses for the truth must be martyrs for the truth, they must be willing to suffer for it. R5539:4,5476:4 Our Master said that whoever would not confess him before men, he would not confess before the Father and before the holy angels. R5539:4; 5497:2 Those who are laying down their present life in his service, should be devoted to his praise, the showing forth the glorious character and lovingkindess of our God. R5476:4, 5436:4
Unto salvation— Whoever thinks that the light he has received in his heart can be maintained without a public confession of it is deceived. R3071:6 Many are weak, puny, sickly, because of their failure to courageously, wisely, lovingly, declare the great things God has done for them. R3072:1 There is no salvation without a confession of the Lord; the two are inseparable. R5497:2 Those who can exercise the faith, but are restrained from telling to others the joy they have found, are not of the kind whom the Lord will count worthy of a share in the Little Flock. SM763:2

[NTC - Romans 10:11]

The scripture saith— Isaiah 28:16. R3962:3
Whosoever— These words apply not only to Israel but to all mankind. R1970:4
Ashamed— Whoever is ashamed of Jesus, and especially of his doctrine of the resurrection is not in a saved condition. R1970:3,4 Whosoever shall call for mercy and reconciliation, on the basis of faith in the ransom, shall not be ashamed. R923:5

[NTC - Romans 10:12]

No difference— Shown under the Gospel. R1970:4 When both have come into Christ. R3356:6 First offered to the Jews, then to the Gentiles—on the same terms. R1141:1
Between the Jew and the Greek— This shows that no matter how much preference was shown the Jew under the Law, there is to be no difference shown under the Gospel. R1970:4
All— All who are in Christ Jesus are one. R1696:6
That call upon him— "When prayer delights thee least, Then learn to say, Now is the greatest need That I should pray." R5382:4

[NTC - Romans 10:13]

Whosoever— The first blessing of the Kingdom will come to spiritual Israel, the second or earthly blessing shall begin with Israel, yet it will not stop there, for all mankind may become Israelites indeed. D654
Shall call upon— For mercy and reconciliation, on the basis of faith in the ransom. R923:5
The name— "There is none other name given under heaven or among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) A100-101
Of the Lord— It is not only unscriptural, but unreasonable, to say that ignorance is a ground of salvation. R858:4
Shall be saved— Recovered, to that which was lost. R923:5

[NTC - Romans 10:14]

Shall they believe— No one can be a Christian without first having a knowledge of Christ. Not merely a historic knowledge that such a person lived and died and rose, but a knowledge of the object and result of these. R761:4 Knowledge of Jesus and a grateful mental acceptance of the results of his work, constitutes believing in Jesus, as our ransom. R761:4 The world has not had divine approval; the heathen have not had the divine approval. R4989:4
Have not heard— Sonship has been extended to only a comparatively few during this Gospel age. R1007:6, 2375:2 None can call upon the Lord without knowing of him; hence the necessity not only that Christ should give "himself a ransom for all," but also that it should be "testified to all in due time." (1 Tim. 2:6) R923:6, 3025:6, 2122:3, 690:6*, 76:6* Every member of Adam's race will be brought to a necessary knowledge, All shall come to the knowledge of the truth. R2122:3 There can be no salvation without knowledge. R2375:2 The call comes through the proclamation of the Gospel, each must hear for himself before he can accept. R5134:1; A101
Without a preacher— It is the privilege of all who come into God's family to proclaim these truths to others. R5134:1, 923:5 It is entirely proper to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles as well as to Israel. R1970:4 That which Christian people sometimes attempt to do in prayer should be done in preaching. It has not pleased God to save by prayer but by preaching. R5834:1 This does not mean necessarily public speaking, but includes also more private proclamation of the truth and also preaching by the printed page. R5834:1 Our loving Father has provided a preacher in that glorious anointed One, Head and Body. R290:5*, 405:6* God has never left himself without a living witness in the world. R715:5* It was necessary that the Church be honored with the Gospel message, in advance of the Millennial age. R3282:4 It was because Paul believed that faith in Jesus was the only way of salvation that he labored and sacrificed to spread that name. R761:4 How beautiful the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace (reconciliation through his blood, the remission of sins) and bring good tidings of good things. R1970:5 "The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying: In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Gal. 3:8) R405:6*

[NTC - Romans 10:15]

They be sent— The message of salvation thus far is to mankind only; we are not to try to reach the fallen angels. R2185:3
As it is written— In Isa. 52:7. R287:2, 757:2
The gospel of peace— Reconciliation through his blood, the remission of sins. R1970:5
Of good things— To come as a result. R1970:5 Paul quotes only a part of Isa. 52:7; the proclamation of many of the sweetest notes of restitution are reserved until now, during the sounding of the seventh trumpet. R287:2, 757:2

[NTC - Romans 10:16]

Have not all obeyed— Will not all at first receive. R1970:5 Faith is the result of hearing God's truth. R1970:5

[NTC - Romans 10:17]

Faith— In Christ's redemptive work. R1709:6 No man can come into harmony with the divine will without faith. R556:1*, 555:3* Faith is a necessity to harmony with the mind of God. R555:3
Cometh by hearing— Not by mental impression; God honors and uses his faithful ones as his mouthpieces. R4345:1 The hearing of the message of the Lord. SM307:2 We must hear this Gospel of the Kingdom in such a way as to commend it to our judgment before we can have faith in it. R1581:6 None can believe except they hear, and none but the believing will have part in the Church's salvation now being effected. R4617:3 Instructing by word of mouth was the mode at first; the transition from oral to written teaching was gradual. R434:5* Rebekah left the home to go to one she had never seen, to go to one of whom she had heard. R752:2*
By the word of God— The Scriptures. R1584:3 The good tidings originate with God only. R1581:6 In order to have faith one must study the Word of God and believe it. Q752:4; R69:4* There is no intimation in Scripture that there is salvation to any without faith in the promises of God's Word. R1582:5, 555:3*; HG421:4 And hearing depends upon the message of God. CR19:6

[NTC - Romans 10:18]

Have they not heard?— Shall they not hear? R1970:1,5
Yes, verily— The Apostle quotes again from the prophet. (Psa. 19:4) R1970:5
Their sound went— Their sound shall go. R1970:1,5 The prophets seldom speak of things as future, but as though they were accomplished in the past. R1970:1
Into all the earth— "All men shall come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4) R2375:2
Ends of the world— When Paul wrote this, the Gospel could not have reached the vast countries then undiscovered and unknown. R1969:3,6

[NTC - Romans 10:19]

Did not Israel— The whole twelve tribes. C293; R2125:3, 1341:1
Know— Shall they not come to know, understand and appreciate the glad tidings? Yes! But not for a long time. R1970:5
I will provoke— I will have to provoke. R1970:6

[NTC - Romans 10:20]

Sought me not— Isaiah speaks pointedly of Israel's rejection of the message. R1970:6

[NTC - Romans 10:21]

Gainsaying— Self-willed. R1970:6

[NTC - Romans 11:1]

I say then— In view of the declarations of Moses and Isaiah, showing that Israel will have to be thus dealt with and disciplined. R1970:6
Hath God cast away— Then comes the reply in verses 23-24; and proof in verses 25-27; grand climax in verses 28-29. R793:4 God did have great indignation against Israel. OV80:3 Deut. 32:26 means that a pleasant remembrance or scent of Israel—"Jews"—has very generally ceased (except with themselves and true spiritual Israel), driving them into their own land as predicted. R2125:2 Trust in the Lord and wait patiently for him, and he will bring to pass all that he has promised. But do not expect it before his time, his fixed time. R1769:5
God forbid— God hath not utterly cast away his people. R1970:6
An Israelite— "Salvation is of the Jews" in the sense that a remnant of Jews (the apostles, the early Church, etc.) became ministers of reconciliation to bear the message to the Gentiles. C293; R1341:2 Paul, "of the tribe of Benjamin," speaks of "all the house of Israel" living in his day—not lost, but well known, called "Jews"—living at Jerusalem and scattered throughout the world. R2125:3, C252
Of the tribe of Benjamin— Probably more of those at Pentecost were of the tribe of Judah. Q172:2

[NTC - Romans 11:2]

Hath not cast away— Forever. R2212:6 He has merely turned them aside temporarily during this Gospel age. R4453:1 God will yet open their eyes to see Christ. R1729:6 God will remember his Covenant and fulfill all of its gracious provisions. OV80:3 Israel was cast off from God's favor while the Bride of Christ was being selected, but will be reinstated when that work is accomplished. A108; R545:4; OV226:3; HG345:1 Israel is still outcast from God's favor, showing that the Body of Christ is not yet completely sacrificed. R4453:3 John the Baptist and his disciples and Jesus and his disciples announced that the foreordained time when the offer of the Kingdom would be made unto the Jewish nation had arrived.R4969:1 The coming blessings will be abundant to the blessing of all mankind, but to the Jew first. OV66:3
His people— The children of Israel were under the Abrahamic Covenant long before they entered into the Law Covenant. They are still under those Covenants. R5162:5, 4452:5 Pictured by the rich man in the parable of Lazarus; although the parable does not go on to tell of the release of the rich man (Israel) from his condition of torment, and his blessings which God promised. HG161:6
Which he foreknew— Formerly recognized and favored. R1970:6 God foreknew and foretold the rejection of Israel for a time, but not forever. OV80:5 The coming blessings will be to the Jew first. OV66:3
Wot ye not— Call to mind Elijah's prayer against Israel. (1 Kings 9:10) R1970:6
Against Israel— The same Israel that was blinded because of rejecting Christ; the same Israel that is to be saved from that blindness at the second coming of Christ. R2085:6

[NTC - Romans 11:3]

They seek my life— Greek, psuche, being. E338

[NTC - Romans 11:4]

Seven thousand— This probably does not mean there were exactly seven thousand Jews whom Paul considered to be a faithful remnant in his day. Q380:3

[NTC - Romans 11:5]

Even so— The nation was given up to desolation, but the remnant were to be saved out of the fire. R116:5*
There is a remnant— A comparatively small proportion of the whole; the great majority being stumbled through pride and hardness of heart. B215 Even as God reserved seven thousand men who did not bow the knee to Baal in Elijah's day, at Paul's time there was a remnant who through God's favor accepted the glad tidings and would not stumble. R1970:6 "He came unto his own, and his own (as a nation) received him not, but as many as received him (individually) to them gave he liberty to become sons of God." (John 1:11, 12) F461; Q172:2 Isaiah spoke of a stock or stump or substance remaining although many Jews would be scattered (Isa. 6:13); Jesus gave power (to the few who received him) to be sons of God; and Paul speaks of those few here. R2371:6All the true Jews who continued to be recognized of the Lord—all the Israelites indeed—were the Christians who from Pentecost onward have been known as spiritual Israelites. R3194:6 There were several thousand at Pentecost, and each one belonged to one of the twelve tribes. These were transferred into Christ before the host of Israel was cast off. Q172:2 There would not have been so large a number in Israel ready to receive the Messiah had they not been passing through disciplinary experiences, which tended to keep them separate from the Gentiles. Q357:T God went to the Jews to find enough to enlist under the banner of the Great Physician, showing them that they must be touched with the feelings of mankind's infirmities. However, he found but a remnant. CR209:4* The remnant was the nucleus of the Bride class. R4969:2 Those Jews who were desirous of doing God's will in the fullest sense of the word were allowed to remain as branches of the olive tree. Those who accepted Christ were made members of the spiritual seed. R5837:5 Only the "remnant" of that nation, which quickly made peace with their adversary (their accuser, the Law) in the way to judgment, (Matt. 5:25), were delivered by God's gracious provision, "the Lamb of God." R1713:2 "Salvation is of the Jews" or covenant-keeping Israelities in that the the early Church became ministers of reconciliation to the Gentiles. C293; R1341:2, 25:1* The Jews ready to receive the Kingdom favor were fewer than the predetermined number. R2622:4 God proceeded as though he had not known the course the Israelites would take: The gospel was preached to them; all the saintly ones were found before a move was made to open the door to the Gentiles. R4969:2 In both the Jewish and Christian dispensations there have been a nominal Israel and a real Israel, chaff and tares undistinguishable from wheat until the harvest time of the respective ages. B205 It is from the remnant of both houses that the new house is formed. R518:5* A remnant only of nominal fleshly and spiritual Israel stands the test, while the great mass stumble. R862:5, 2371:6
Election of grace— Who through God's favor will accept the glad tidings and will not stumble. R1970:6 "An election according to grace." The Apostle is speaking of the elect Church, particularly referring to the Jewish remnant out of all the tribes with which this elect Church was started. R3586:4

[NTC - Romans 11:6]

By grace— Favor. R542:3 This remnant is not saved by the works of the Law, nor because they almost kept it, but by accepting of God's favor through Christ. R1970:6
No more of works— Not on account of our own merit. R3166:4

[NTC - Romans 11:7]

Israel— The whole twelve tribes. B206; C297, 293, 252; R2380:3, 1696:3 The natural seed of Abraham was the holy nation; had they been in a right condition of heart to receive the Lord, he would have received them and they would have been the spiritual Israel. Q172:2 Paul is not confining this word to mean only the ten tribes which revolted from Rehoboam. R2085:6
Hath not obtained— "The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you." (Matt. 21:34) B119 Because unable, through the weakness of heredity, to keep the spirit of God's perfect Law. R5003:3 The stumbling of Israel, their temporary rejection as a nation. R4969:2 Through unbelief and lack of consecration. R2086:4 Israel failed because they sought the blessing not by faith but by works, this fall being foreknown of God and declared by him through the prophets. R2212:6, 1970:6 According to God's Covenant with their fathers (Acts 3:25, 26), the gospel of the Kingdom was to be to the Jew first. Yet God knew beforehand that, as a nation, they would not appreciate nor accept it. R1795:1 Fleshly Israel lost this, the cream or choicest part of the covenant—the spiritual. R4370:3 Messiah's Bride will be only partly Jewish. PD65/77 The Kingdom heirship was taken from "Israel," the "Jews," and transferred to the nation (the holy nation, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood) bringing forth proper fruits. R2125:5 But the losing of this better part does not cut them off entirely from having a part in that Covenant. R4370:3
Which he seeketh for— The best God had to give. D625 To have the best position. R5837:2 The chief blessing through Abraham. R201:2 A share in Messiah's Kingdom. OV342:5, 193:4; R5227:1, 4958:3 The chief place in divine favor and service. A298; B215; R2072:6 The destination sought by the Jews was fellowship with and relationship to God. R5029:1 The best of God's gifts, the privilege of becoming members of the spiritual Israel. R4958:3 The Israelites were seeking for the spiritual, whether they understood it or not. R5295:6 The plan was laid out on the Israelitish basis, even though God knew in advance that Israel would reject the Lord and crucify him and thus not obtain that which it sought (the chief blessing). R5231:6 Although we see yet to be fulfilled certain gracious earthly promises to the natural seed of Abraham, they nevertheless have missed, have lost, as a nation, as a people, the great prize. R2442:6
But the election— Those of the Jews who came into Christ became of the elect. R5837:4 The Little Flock selected from both Jews and Gentiles. D625; R3026:1 Only the faithful will constitute God's elect. R5345:5 Jesus began his work of selecting spiritual Israel, the spiritual seed of Abraham. He accepted first the loyal Jews. PD35/46 The first opportunity to be Abraham's seed was granted to his natural seed, Israel. An elect company was gathered. This accomplished, God set the Jewish nation aside to select elect from other nations. R5302:1 A remnant of them (Israel) would be the nucleus of the Bride class; the remainder would be made up of Gentiles. R4969:2 During the forty days after Jesus' resurrection, he doubtless showed them that natural Israel was not worthy to constitute the Kingdom class, that therefore only those accepting him had been chosen. R3910:6 Paul points us to the elect "remnant" selected from the nation before its complete disintegration; this remnant being less than the number which God predetermined, is to be completed from amongst the Gentiles. R2615:3,4 Not a sufficient number of Jews were found worthy to complete the Kingdom class; the entire work of the Gospel age has been the calling of this "elect" company from the Gentiles. OV342:6; SM90:1; PD35/46, 58/70 The special invitation went forth to the Gentiles, to "take out of them a people for his name" (Acts 15:14), to complete the predestinated number of the elect 144,000 (twelve thousand accredited to each of the tribes). R3586:4 In Rev. 14:1, the number of these very elect overcomers is given as 144,000; and in chapter 7:4 the same ones are shown as filling up the special election first opened to fleshly Israel. R3026:1 A remnant of the Jews (the apostles, the early Church, etc.), called a remnant of Israel, became ministers of reconciliation to bear the message to the Gentiles. R1341:2 The remnant, the few, in connection with the Gentiles. R201:2, 3586:4, 1970:6 The "Lazarus" class died, ceased from their former condition, and were received into God's favor. Accepting of Christ, they were received to Abraham's bosom—esteemed the true children of believing Abraham. R1087:1 The carrying of Lazarus to "Abraham's bosom" symbolically said that the outcasts of Israel and the worthy Gentiles became children of God and heirs of Abraham, who typified God. R5005:1 Luke 16:23-31—the Gentile nation ceased to be a beggar, and was brought into a place of favor (Abraham's bosom); the Jews as a nation are dead and tormented in the flame of persecution. R802:3* The Gospel Church is the higher, spiritual Israel, which gets blessings which natural Israel never possessed, though she was given the first opportunity, but failed through lack of consecration. R2086:4 Rom. 9:23-26, quoting Hos. 2:23 and 1:10, explains that the spiritual class is selected during the time when fleshly Israel has been cast off. C297; R1341:6 Christ is the glory of the Church, the true Israel of God, of which Simeon said, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of thy people Israel." (Luke 2:30-32) R2126:1
Hath obtained it— "As many as received him." (John 1:12) F177; R3910:6 Became heirs or inheritors of the glorious promise made to Abraham. OV193:5; R793:5 As many from the different tribes of Israel as were worthy at the first advent were received and given the begetting of the holy Spirit at Pentecost. But the full number was not found in natural Israel. R5371:5 Gentiles are invited to fill up the deficiency in the elect number of Israel, and will be, so to speak, divided amongst the twelve tribes; according to what rule of distinction the Scriptures do not show. R3586:4 The remnant of Israel and those heathen who receive the glad tidings, being justified, not by works, but by faith in Christ, thereby gain the privilege of becoming sons of God on the divine plane. R1970:6 What the nation of Israel rejected was accepted by a remnant of that people, and the foreordained number is being completed from among the Gentiles—the Bride and joint-heir of the King of Glory. R1373:3 On a chart, the plane of human perfection is designated "the prize won by the Christ and sacrificed." R4538:2
Rest were blinded— Supposing the chief favor to be the earthly blessings, and in pride of heart claiming that as their natural birthright, merited by their works, they blindly rejected the greater favor. B215 To "them that are without," outside the pale of believing disciples, these parables of truth were as dark as the truths themselves, to which the unworthy allowed prejudice to blind their eyes. R1742:4 The nation, through its representatives, the rulers, instead of receiving Jesus, rejected him, and thus identified themselves for the time with the Adversary. F461 In due time, Jesus came, the promised Messiah, not in glory as they had expected, but in a lowly condition, to die for sin. "He came unto his own (nation) and his own received him not"—they crucified him. (John 1:11) PD35/46 Christ offered himself to this nation of Israel, and (in harmony with the divine foreknowledge) had been rejected. R3139:5 The blind ignorance of crucifying the Messiah was referred to by Paul who pointed out that Israel was blinded and did stumble and fall into the ditch and did not attain the great prize which it was seeking. R2615:3 Stumbled; turned aside from divine favor. R4942:5 The entire Jewish race was blinded and turned aside; fell into confusion, darkness, and separation from God. R5029:1 God was agreeable to their being blinded. R4781:6 Those who discerned not the time of their visitation were blinded, and were forced to pay the "uttermost farthing." Only the "remnant," which made peace in the way to judgment (Luke 12:58, 59) were delivered. R1713:2 The blissful condition of the early Church was calculated to draw the attention of Israelites indeed; thus did the Lord draw some out of the unfit, blinded, rejected nation into the Gospel Church's blessings. R1421:5 By his prophet Isaiah, God foretold that only a remnant of the nation would prove worthy of the Covenant favor, and that the rest would be blinded (as they were by their prejudices and hardness of heart). R1795:1 Israel had declared that they would be all that God wished them to be, if only they might have the promise made to Abraham their father. What it was they did not know, although they thought they knew. R5837:2 Those not of the remnant were blinded and broken off from the Covenant promises until after the Gospel age shall have selected the "elect," spiritual Israel. R2380:3 The remainder would be made up of Gentiles. R4969:2 The god of this world will blind both Israel and all nations to the gospel glories.R1971:1 The Law Covenant lives in the sense that its blessings and curses still cling to Israel, as so many assets and liabilities. They are still bound to it, blinded, unless they have died to it. R5047:1 Modern Judaism attempts to neutralize Christianity by claiming that Jesus' teachings (and Peter's, James' and John's) were Jewish teachings which preceded him; all anti-Jewish teachings are of Paul. R2419:2 The Apostle Paul was in some sense of the word a likeness of his race, and the opening of their eyes now shortly due to take place. Amongst the Jews are many who seem to be Israelites indeed, merely blinded. R2118:5 The blinded Israelites are still cast aside, but not forever. OV342:5, 193:4 Not forever, but until the election of the spiritual seed, the Kingdom proper, is completed. D625 Until the completion of the spiritual class. R4958:3, 5302:1 Until the end of the Gospel age. R1729:6,5047:3; D625 Until Jesus' second coming. SM90:1

[NTC - Romans 11:8]

As it is written— In Isa. 29:10. R3962:3 This change in the divine operation was foreknown to the Lord, and was a part of his plan, as revealed through the prophets—that the Gentiles also should be fellow-heirs of the same promise. R2615:4 Isaiah's vision (Isa. 6:10) is somewhat comparable: now again, after the first advent, the nation as a whole was rejected of the Lord and scattered and only a "remnant" were received into the gospel's favor. R2371:6
Spirit of slumber— Carelessness in heavenly things and carefulness for earthly things. E199

[NTC - Romans 11:9]

And David saith— In Psa. 69:22. R4287:6
Their table— So bountifully spread with the rich promises and blessings offered them through Christ. B215; R5444:3, 4782:1 Of divine mercies and promises. HG440:2 Table of divine favors and truths. R2150:2, 4782:2; OV163:3 The table of divine truth, which God spread for them from the Law and the prophecies. R4288:2 The "rich man's" bountiful table (Luke 16:21) represented the divine promises given, up to that time, exclusively to the Jew. OV163:3 To them alone God had committed the oracles of truth, the prophecies and the types which shadowed forth the sacrifice for sin, and the blessings following that atoning sacrifice. R1971:1 The special promises of God to his Chosen People, who concluded that God must keep his promises to Abraham, and that they would be the Kingdom to bless the world. R4782:1 God's prediction, that Israel would be blinded by their Law, was fulfilled in a natural way. They study Rabbinical fables instead of the Bible, lamenting that they have no Temple, High Priest, altar. C256 Israel has been without spiritual food or drink since its encounter with Jesus three (1,000-year) days ago; Saul neither ate nor drank for three days following his encounter with the glorious risen Christ. R2118:5
A snare, and a trap— Israel stumbled over Jesus, failing to recognize him as the Sent of God. Of the nation in general the prophet Isaiah declared, "They shall fall backward and be snared and taken." (Isa. 28:13) R4942:6 It was God's goodness and favor toward them that stumbled and entrapped them and prejudiced their unconsecrated hearts; they presumed upon God's favor. R4782:1Making them proud and arrogant instead of humble, and thus showing their unfitness for a share with Messiah in the spiritual part of the Kingdom. HG440:2 The stumbling, trapping, snaring in the harvest of the Jewish age foreshadowed a similar sifting out of all except a faithful remnant here. R4782:3
Stumblingblock— The Israelites became proud and vain and imagined that God's favor would not pass them by, and thus they stumbled as a people. R4288:2, 1971:1 They stumbled over the very graciousness of God's plan shown to them in types. R1971:1
And a recompence— Because of their hardness of heart. B215 The "rich man" class was cast out of favor, into trouble. From then till now, the Jews as a people have been in torment; hindered by their Law prejudices (as a great gulf) from accepting Christ. R1087:1

[NTC - Romans 11:10]

Let their eyes be darkened— Jews are still proud, their words still stout against Jesus as the Messiah; it is merely their race-pride perhaps which now leads them to acknowledge the great Teacher's greatness, because he was a Jew. R2420:5
Bow down their back— They were bowed down to see only the earthly promises. R1971:1 They trusted in themselves and despised others; they became arrogant, haughty and self-confident, and hence that much the less the humble-spirited, that the Lord sought, for his spiritual Israel. R4782:1

[NTC - Romans 11:11]

Have they— The fleshly seed. R1696:3
Stumbled— The prophets foretold the stumbling of Israel. R4969:2 Admitting that Israel will stumble and is stumbling as foretold. R1971:1
Should fall— Irrevocably. R1971:1 Utterly. R1696:3
God forbid— That they should forever remain cast off. R1971:1
Through their fall— Their failure as a nation to become members of the new creation. F461 Their temporary fall from favor. R1971:1 As the natural seed to which the promise first was made. R1696:3 If all the Jews living in Jesus' day had loved God with all their heart, with all their being, and had made a full consecration, we understand that God would have accepted that sacrifice on their part. R5837:5 The stumbling and fall of both the houses of Israel should be regarded rather as a blessing than otherwise. The rejection of the nominal house was necessary before the call could go to the Gentiles. R177:6
Salvation— The significance of their fall is rather to be a blessing to the Gentiles than a permanent injury to Israel. R1971:1 The great Covenant blessing would be accepted and realized by some from among the Gentiles, who should be accounted the seed of Abraham to whom pertain the promises—children according to the Spirit. R1795:1 As soon as the elect class shall have been completed from amongst all nations (for probably only ten or fifteen thousand of Israel became Jesus' disciples), the Jews will arise again to divine favor. R4942:6 All the unready of Israel were broken off from divine favor for a time, while the call to the Kingdom was sent to the Gentiles, to take out of them a people to complete the foreordained "Body of Christ." PD58/70
To jealousy— It has had, and will have, this effect. Since the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, Israel no longer goes after idolatries. They seem to be growing jealous of Christianity, claiming Jesus as a Jew. R1696:5

[NTC - Romans 11:12]

The fall of them— Israel. R3685:1 Paul does not mention Judah separately, but quotes prophecies against Israel, applying them without qualification or limitation to "all the house of Israel" living in his day. R2125:3
Be— Is. R1696:6 Results in. R1971:1 Becomes a channel for. R3685:1
Riches of the world— The enlightenment and blessing of the world. R3685:1 Riches to the Gentiles. R1971:2 It resulted in throwing open to the world in general the opportunity of the high calling. R177:6, 3685:1
The diminishing— The selecting of only a few, a remnant. R1696:6
The riches— Bringing in Gentiles to be joint-heirs in the Abrahamic promise and Covenant. R2196:1 The Kingdom was taken from Israel to be given to a people bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matt. 21:43) R107:3* The proportionate enrichment. R1696:6
Of the Gentiles— Jesus said (Matt. 3:8, 9) "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Because the Gentiles had the faith of Abraham, they were raised up. R1795:1 God assured childless Abraham that his children would yet be multitudinous as the stars of heaven, a promise evidently applying to the spiritual seed—The Christ, the elect of God, Head and Body. R2854:1
Their fullness— The blessing which begins with the return of fleshly Israel to divine favor, will not end with them; through the seed of Abraham all the families of the earth are to be blessed. R2196:1 Israel, like Paul, is soon to be the "chosen vessel in the Lord's hand," as connected with the earthly agencies in bearing the message which shall bless the Gentiles and all the families of the earth. R2118:5 Their restoration to favor, which God's promises guarantee, will imply an abundance of divine favor both to Jew and Gentile. R1971:2 If the cutting off of that people resulted in such blessings to others, how much greater blessings may we expect as a result of Israel's ultimate full regathering to God. R1696:6 The Apostle is pointing down to the end of this age, when God will give to Israel the fullness of his promise under the New Covenant. Q355:2; R2196:1 The Jews will recognize the great Messiah in God's due time—yea, all nations shall recognize him—"The desire of all nations shall come," (Hag. 2:7), after his completion—after the last saint shall have been glorified. OV157:3 By God's grace, the blood of the New Covenant is efficacious for the house of Jacob also, and upon all who desire harmony with God. F461 In the Song of Moses and his blessing of the nation (Deut. 32, 33), he prophesied of Israel's final victories, which shall ultimately be attained by the Jew first and also the Gentile, during the Millennium. R3078:2 "Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap." (Jer. 30:18) HG336:2 The removal of the Jewish ban from the New Testament will mean the reading of it, and the reading of it will mean the gradual turning away of their blindness. R2420:4 If AD 1915 should pass with the world's affairs serene and without the restoration of natural Israel to favor, we could still worship a God so great and grand that none other could compare with him. R5368:4, 4067:6 That Israel's fullness will finally embrace the dead as well as the living is intimated in verse 15. R107:3*

[NTC - Romans 11:13]

Of the Gentiles— The twelfth apostle. R2823:2 Although Paul was a Jew. R179:3*
Magnify mine office— Being the Apostle to the Gentiles, I desire to show the importance of the Gentiles in God's plan. R1971:2

[NTC - Romans 11:14]

Provoke— Stimulate. R1971:2
Save some of them— Recover some of them from blindness. R1971:2

[NTC - Romans 11:15]

Casting away— After 1845 years of favor, their rejection of Messiah demonstrated their unworthiness, and so they were given over to blindness until their double, 1845 years, of disfavor should be accomplished. R5533:1 Thus is seen the breadth of God's plans. We know that there are certain promises made to Israel, which must yet be fulfilled; they are being temporarily postponed. R1971:2 Just as soon as the last few of the "fullness of the Gentiles" (verse 25) have finished their training and qualified, the blindness upon the Jews will be removed and that will mean the resurrection of the dead. CR209:5* In God's providence the Jews have continued to have such tribulations throughout this Gospel age as to have kept them separate from the rest of the world. Q357:1
Of them— The bitter prejudice and blindness of natural Israel (rejecting Jesus as Messiah) have acted as a great gulf to separate them as a people from the Gospel message. R5533:2 Paul's comprehensive statement of the entire plan of God in this wonderful and logical epistle to the Romans ignores "another Israel" (the ten lost tribes) because all Jews were "men of Israel." R2085:6
Reconciling of the world— Receiving the Gentile "wild olive branches" (all nations received the opportunity, not necessarily all people of all nations) into the "olive tree," from which the majority of the Jews were broken off. R5533:3 This blessing (opening the door of favor) unexpectedly given to the Gentiles, argues that God's plans, as we now see them, are broader than we had at first supposed, and include Gentiles as well as Jews.R1971:2 Breaking down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile. R1374:1, 2086:5
Receiving of them— Back to divine favor. R1374:1, 5533:3, 177:6 Regathering of Israel. R3938:1 "Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." (Jer. 31:8, 9) HG336:2 The restoration of natural Israel is to be brought about through the New Covenant, when their "double" is fulfilled, "their appointed time is accomplished, their iniquity is pardoned." (Isa. 40:2) R5533:3 Though the fleshly house fell, they are to rise again to all that was promised them as a fleshly seed of Abraham (in the Millennial age). R177:6 The true conversion of Israel to the Lord and the truth, will be the start of the world's conversion, when "Many peoples shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." (Mic. 4:2) R3249:5 "As the dust of the earth" represents the human family who, under the blessing of the spiritual seed, during the Millennium, shall attain Abraham's faith and its reward—life. R2854:1 Some believe that the prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel were fulfilled at the close of the Babylonian captivity; but the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah and Jesus were all after that. R107:1
Be— Imply. R1374:1
But life— For all humanity. R3664:2, 2854:1, 2196:1 To the whole world of mankind. Q165:2; R5533:4,3938:1; 1365:2 During the Millennial age. R3078:2 Israel's true conversion to the Lord will be the start of the world's conversion. R3249:5 The blessing of Israel under the New Covenant means, not only an opportunity of life from the dead to them, but also a similar blessing of opportunity for all the families of the earth. R2196:1
From the dead— By a resurrection of the dead. R1374:1, 177:6 To the Jew it will mean the resurrection from the dead—both nationally and individually, both symbolically and literally. R5533:3 The promises are to be fulfilled which were made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and the prophets. R5533:4, 1365:2 In order for the seed of Abraham according to the flesh to realize the blessings God has promised, an awakening from the sleep of death will be necessary, since God is no respecter of persons. R3938:2 God's promises to Israel imply their resurrection from death; and the world in general being reconciled to God and their sin atoned for by the ransom, we conclude that "life from the dead" will come to all. R1971:2

[NTC - Romans 11:16]

The firstfruit— A faithful remnant of the Jewish nation was the first-fruit class of the Church of Christ. R5533:1 The firstfruit of the Abrahamic promise would be The Christ, Head and Body.R5533:5 Israel. R1374:1 Israel is merely a first-fruit of the world, the first-favor; and if God has a blessing for them as promised, it follows that he has the same blessing for other nations. R1971:2 The "first fruits" are not the "lump," nor is the "earnest" the "inheritance." The "first fruits" and the "earnest" are indications of the nature of the "lump" and of the "inheritance." R1324:4* There must be other fruits—other creatures—to follow. R33:6*
Be holy— Acceptable and blessed of God. R1971:2
The lump— All of the race of Adam who will return to harmony with God. R5533:6 The mass, the world in general. R1971:2, 5533:5 The "first fruits" and the "earnest" are pledges that the "lump" and the "inheritance" will follow. R1324:4*
Is also holy— As the firstfruit growing out of the root of the Abrahamic covenant is holy, so is the entire fruitage. R5533:5 God will see that all the crop is holy. CR340:4
The root— The promise to Abraham (covenant). R5963:6, 5837:2, 5533:5, 3194:5, 2931:4, 793:5; CR48:2; HG440:2; Q172:2 All of God's blessings were in the Abrahamic Covenant which as a root had developed Israel as a nation—the seed of Abraham according to the flesh. R4497:4 The root of these promises is Abrahamic and Israelitish. R1971:2 The root promise bears both seeds of Abraham, but both are not developed at once. R793:5
Be holy— If the root or original promise of God made to Abraham and Israel retain its life, it must bring forth the promised fruit—the blessing of all the families of the earth. R1971:2
The branches— The Israelites had been the natural branches. R5963:6, 5837:2; CR48:2 The living Israelites were branches of that olive tree. Had they been in the right heart condition, "Israelites indeed," they would as a whole have been accepted by Christ as his members. R4497:4 John did not baptize into Christ, but merely unto repentance, bringing Jews back to a condition of harmony with Moses, who typified Christ; then, as natural branches they would not need ingrafting into Christ. F432 At Pentecost, Peter wished his hearers to wash away their sin against the Law Covenant and their sin of rejecting Messiah. Then they would be true Israelites, the natural branches in the root of the promise. R2931:4 Christianity, instead of being a split-off from Judaism, was the proper development of it.R3194:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches." (John 15:5) R3157:4

[NTC - Romans 11:17]

If some— Because of unfaithfulness many branches were broken off; the time that they were broken off was during that forty-year period which began with our Lord's ministry and ended with the destruction of Jerusalem. R5023:3; Q403:4 Nearly all of these branches were broken off because of unbelief, because of failure to accept the invitation to the great feast (of Luke 14:16), because of lack of appreciation of spiritual blessings. R3834:1 Nearly all the branches were broken off because of unbelief; and the unbelief was because of an improper condition of heart. HG440:2 Not all—our Lord, the apostles, and many others were not broken off. R2125:4, 793:5
Branches— The Jews. HG440:2 Natural Israel. R5837:2 The living Israelites. R4497:4 The people of Israel. R3194:5, 2931:4 Fleshly Israel grew naturally out of the root of the Abrahamic Covenant. A292 As branches already in that root they would not need to be grafted in, only to repent of their sins. R2931:4 Every individual Jew claimed to be connected with the Abrahamic Covenant. R5023:3; Q403:4Representing the 144,000, but they were broken off and their places made vacant, and you and I were grafted in. Q607:T A time of "fire" or tribulation came upon the chaff portion of the nation, and as a nation, burned them up. R704:3 None of the savages living at that time in Britain and Ireland (without knowledge of God or of Moses or of the Law, or of Abraham or of the promise, or of circumcision) could be here referred to. R2125:4
Be broken off— Natural Israel proven unworthy to become heirs of the Abrahamic promise. R5837:4 Because of lack of faith in the promised spiritual blessings. R3834:1, 3937:6; Q607:T, 403:5 All Jews refusing to progress and to accept of Christ are represented as branches that were broken off. R3194:6God spared not the natural branches, but broke off the unfit ones. R2301:3 These branches had already been broken off when Paul wrote this epistle. Hence, any Jew coming into Christ would have to be grafted in the same as a Gentile. He would have no precedence. R5963:6 The olive tree existed complete in the Apostle's day—then some were broken off and cast away, in order that the wild branches from the Gentiles might be grafted in. R2125:4 When Jesus came to earth, the end of special favor to the nation had about come. If during his ministry they should fail to bring forth good fruit, they would be cut off from the root of promise. R704:3 During that forty-year period which began with our Lord's ministry and ended with the destruction of Jerusalem. Q403:5; R5023:3, 2931:5, 704:3
And thou— A Gentile, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel. F433
Wild olive tree— Gentiles. R5837:4 Now God was seeking a spiritual seed of Abraham—spiritual Israelites—to take the place of the broken-off branches of the fleshly house. R3139:5 Our baptism signifies or emblemizes our introduction into the body of Christ as wild olive branches grafted into the approved stock, to be partakers of the richness of the promises through the root. R2931:4
Wert graffed in— To take the place of natural Israel, the natural branches that were broken off. R5837:4 Believers from the Gentiles would be grafted in. R704:3 The Gentile believers were grafted into the root of the Abrahamic Covenant when the natural branches were cut off because of unbelief. A292 During this age, God has been grafting Gentiles into the places formerly reserved for Israelites according to the flesh. R2301:3 A Gentile may come into covenant relationship with God by being engrafted into the good olive tree. R5776:2 Only spiritual branches are grafted in. R5023:3; Q403:3 To the Gentiles, baptism meant more than to the Jews; it meant all the radical change that is pictured by the ingrafting of the wild olive branches into the good olive tree—a complete transformation. F434 The Apostle shows that the call of us Gentiles to joint-heirship is because those of the Jews ready to receive the Kingdom favor upon the Lord's terms were fewer than the predetermined number. R2622:4 Rev. 7:4 tells of 144,000 who fill up the special election first opened to fleshly Israel. R3026:1; Q172:2 The call of the Gentiles to be sharers in the Kingdom is merely the continuation of the original call. R2702:4 We were all Gentiles by nature, all grafted into the same spiritual seed, so that we make the antitypical spiritual Israel mentioned in Rev. 7, the 144,000, 12,000 out of each of the twelve tribes. Q172:2
Among them— When Jesus was present, it was the harvest time; their age had reached its full. He selected with his "fan" of truth the wheat and "garnered" it in the Gospel age. R704:3 Those Jews that were fit to stay in were "cleansed by the washing of water through the Word," and transferred from Moses into Christ, and begotten of the holy Spirit. R5023:3; Q404:1
Partakest of— Ever since the Jewish branches were broken off, God has been gathering us who were by nature children of wrath, aliens, grafting us Gentile branches into the real tree through which the blessing is to come. R5023:3; Q404:1 Christianity, instead of being split off from Judaism, was the natural outcome and fuller, proper development of it—the fulfillment of the promises of God upon which the hopes of Judaism were built. R3194:5 The call of the Gentiles to be sharers in the Kingdom is merely the continuation of the original call, and we are called in to take the places of those who neglected so great salvation and privilege. R2702:4 Our call is to fill the places of those "natural branches" of the Abrahamic stock, by being grafted into and made partakers of the original root of divine favor—the Abrahamic promise. R2622:4 The work of this Gospel age has been the grafting into the original root of promise Gentile believers, through Christ united with the Abrahamic root of promise, and inheritors of its richness and fatness. R2442:5
The root— The promise to Abraham. Q403:5; R5963:6, 5837:2, 5776:2, 5023:3, 3194:5, 2622:4, 2086:5 Paul speaks of the Abrahamic Covenant as a root. This root-covenant bears two kinds of branches (earthly and heavenly); each will bear its own fruitage—the human and spiritual classes in Kingdom power. A292 The root of the tree is in the promise of God—the Abrahamic promise, that the seed of Abraham should eventually bless all the families of the earth. D651
Fatness— Their long period of disfavor and casting off is about ended, and they will soon be re-engrafted into the olive tree, again share the fatness thereof, and bring blessings to all the families of the earth. R4656:4 To the ransom, a "great salvation" was added; all who by faith lay hold upon it are reckoned of God as already partakers, as having received of the "fatness" of the new sources of life. R875:5*
Of the olive tree— The Jewish nation. R3194:5, 5023:3; Q403:4 Fleshly Israel; "A green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit." (Jer. 11:16)D651 Our Lord and John the Baptist spoke of the Jewish polity, comparing it to a tree at whose root lay an ax. R704:3 The tree as a whole, then, represents spiritual Israel—a few natural branches (the apostles and all Jews who received Christ in sincerity) and the remainder the branches grafted in from the Gentiles. HG440:2

[NTC - Romans 11:18]

Boast not— Be not puffed up, but humbly and thankfully remember we are occupying the place originally belonging to the natural descendants. R1971:3
Against the branches— Israel. R5837:2
Bearest not the root— The Abrahamic promise. R5837:2

[NTC - Romans 11:19]

The branches were broken off— The test was upon the Jews: Will you accept Jesus of Nazareth as your Messiah, and take up your cross and follow him? The great majority failed in the testing. Proven unworthy, they were broken off. R5837:4 Before they were broken off, the Jew had an advantage over the Gentile; he has no advantage over the Gentile since they were broken off. Q172:2 Though the parable of The rich man and Lazarus mentions no bridging of the "great gulf," other portions of Scripture indicate that it was to be "fixed" only throughout the Gospel age. R2605:1
Might be graffed in— God through Peter used the second key to the Kingdom three and a half years after Pentecost. Cornelius and his family accepted the terms of discipleship, the first Gentiles to be grafted into the "olive tree." PD75/89 When the call went to the Gentiles, several at Ephesus were baptized by John's baptism, as though they had been Jews. This was a mistake. Gentiles needed to be baptized directly into Christ's death. PD56/69 During this Gospel age the places of the broken off branches have been filled by called and chosen ones of every nation. R4497:4

[NTC - Romans 11:20]

Because of unbelief— All except the few who became spiritual Israelites were broken off. R4497:4 God broke off from his favor only such of the natural branches as were out of harmony with the root of promise. F177 The promise was primarily spiritual. When the point was reached of making a positive decision as to whether they would accept God's conditions, few were ready. The cost was too much! R5837:4 Had they been in the right heart condition, they would have been allowed to remain branches in the olive tree, Abraham's spiritual seed. But they were not ready, and hence were broken off. R4497:4 The "rich man" class was cast out of favor. From then till now, the Jews as a people have been in torment, in trouble; they were hindered by their Law prejudices (as a great gulf) from accepting Christ.R1087:1; HG387:5 Israel was invited to be the Royal Priesthood. At Pentecost a few from the tribes responded, and became the nucleus of the Church. The door of opportunity was opened to the Gentiles to fill up the vacancies. R5532:6 Walk humbly, for if because of pride and unbelief they failed and were cast off, God would be as likely to cut off the wild branches under similar circumstances. R1971:3 How careful we should be lest we lose sight of the great value of this favor, and so fall after the same example of unbelief. R1422:3
Thou standest by faith— The natural seed of Abraham could not be considered his seed without faith, since Abraham was to be the father of the faithful. Some from amongst the Gentiles possessed the faith of Abraham. R2442:3 The "Lazarus" class died, or ceased from their former condition, and were received into the favor of God. Accepting of Christ, these were received to Abraham's bosom—heirs of the promise made to him. R1087:1
Be not highminded— Humility is the first of the graces. Allow no feeling of self-righteousness to spring up in the heart. R4524:6 The great time of trouble near at hand will include "Jacob's trouble" as well as "Babylon's fall." R2420:5
But fear— Perfect love casts out slavish, but not reverential fear. R2986:6, 2289:4,5 Many sheep from among the Gentiles may lose their high privileges, if they walk not by faith. R2072:6* It is not strange that the present harvest witnesses the separation of true Christians from mere professors, as God's Word shows the rejection of the mass, as Babylon. C180

[NTC - Romans 11:21]

Spared not the natural branches— The Lord rejected, cut off and cast away from favor, into a fire of trouble, many of the "natural branches" of the olive tree, preserving only the Israelites indeed as branches. C180 They were partakers of the merits of the Lamb—yet they refused to eat of the antitypical Lamb; so they lost the opportunity of becoming as a nation the peculiar people of Messiah, the firstborn ones.F461 For centuries the Jews have been bitterly persecuted by pagans, Mohammedans and professed Christians; and much of "Jacob's trouble" is just as hand. R2605:2
Lest he also spare not thee— In the harvest of this age, God's wisdom tests the "wild branches," and cuts off from favor and fatness of the root (the Abrahamic promise) this great mass of professed branches. C180 Our Lord likened his followers to the branches in a vine, and pointed out that "every branch in me" that bears not fruit, the Father, the husbandman, taketh it away—it becomes refuse, to be destroyed. (John 15:2) R3157:5 We see this fulfilled in the breaking off of the Gentile branches—the nominal church—now blinded and cast out and only the elect few branches, the Little Flock, remaining. R1971:3

[NTC - Romans 11:22]

Behold— Greek, eidon, consider, understand. R837:3 Know or be acquainted with. A278
Goodness— Love. R1971:3 The same merit which has all through the present age been efficacious for the Church class is to be efficacious for the whole world, those in their graves as well as those now having a measure of life. R5777:4,5
And severity— Justice. R1971:3 God is abundant in mercy and goodness, but will by no means clear the guilty. R1971:3 Thus far the world in general has seen only this side of our Heavenly Father's character. R3321:3
Which fell— From their high privileges. R2036:2 They lost the opportunity of passing over and becoming the Royal Priesthood, the holy nation, members of the new creation, with life more abundant in glory, honor and immortality. F462
Severity— In the cutting off from those favors of all the unfaithful. R1971:3
Toward thee— You Gentiles. R2036:2
Goodness— We get the choicest portion of blessing proffered to fleshly Israel. R2086:5 Manifest by the promise and the blessings it contains. R1971:3
If thou continue— If you heed and continue to walk in the light. R2036:2 In the harvest of this age, the same wisdom tests the "wild branches" and cuts off from favor the great mass of professed branches whose character and aims and dispositions are different from the root. C180
Shalt be cut off— From the divine favor and left to stumble in darkness. R2036:2 "So, then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:16)C180; R1971:3

[NTC - Romans 11:23]

And they also— Verses 23 and 24 answer the question in verse 1. R793:4
Not still in unbelief— An acceptance of Christ. R5837:5, 953:2
Shall be graffed in— Any Jew, seeking to come into Christ since the day of wrath upon his nation, AD 70, could be re-engrafted only under the same terms and conditions as a Gentile. R2931:5
Graff them in again— During the Gospel age the Jew has had the same privilege of coming into the Body of Christ as the Gentile. R5964:1, 2931:5, 953:2; A299; Q172:2 "The middle wall of partition" between Jew and Gentile was broken down. (Eph. 2:14) Jews could not now come into relationship with Christ on any other terms than could Gentiles.R3356:3 Even in cutting Israel off, God is merciful and kind; even though cut off, they may be re-engrafted if they exercise the needful faith. R1971:3 If a Jew accepts the real Lamb of God, in season—during the "call"—an acceptance of Christ would bring him fully into every favor enjoyed by Gentiles; the broken-off branches may be grafted in again. R953:2 As a nation they lost those spiritual promises and were cut off from them; but believing Israelites, as well as Gentiles, may be grafted into the spiritual vine by faith. R201:2 If broken off, Jews would have just the same process of engrafting as if they were Gentiles. They have no patent or inside way. Q172:2 They will soon be re-engrafted into the olive tree, under The Christ glorified. R4656:4

[NTC - Romans 11:24]

Tree which is wild by nature— Gentile converts are compared to wild olive branches grafted in where the natural branches had been broken off. D651
Good olive tree— Fleshly Israel is compared to the original cultivated olive tree. D651 The good olive tree was in existence long before Jesus came into the world. It was not the new covenant arrangement, but represented God's favor to Israel as the seed of Abraham. Q172:2
Be graffed into their own olive tree— After the close of their 70th week (36 AD) there was no difference in the way by which a natural branch could be restored than that by which a wild branch could be ingrafted. R5963:6, 2931:5 God's favor toward Israel as a nation ended at the time of Christ's rejection, 33 AD. A personal favor continued with true Israelites for a further 3 years to the end of their 70 weeks (36 AD). Possibly some sort of special favor continued with them until the end of the Jewish harvest, 69 AD, but certainly no longer. R3356:2 Eventually the same root will bear two kinds of branches—the ingrafted wild olive branches, and the re-ingrafted natural branches: when fleshly Israel shall have his blindness turned away. D651

[NTC - Romans 11:25]

Would not, brethren— Brethren of the Church, spiritual Israel. B210; R201:2
This mystery— This secret. (Diaglott) R4370:3 The mystery is this: The blindness and breaking off of Israel will not continue forever. It will only last until the choicest, fittest branches from the Gentiles have been properly engrafted on the root. R1971:3 The selection of the Church, the Body of Christ; the carrying out of a part of that plan not previously revealed. R4625:4 Gathering out a special few of the Jews, and of all nations, to constitute spiritual Israel. R4624:3 God is not now trying to save the world, but he is finding the seed of Abraham. CR48:4
In your own conceits— "That you may not be conceited with yourselves" (Diaglott), thinking all of God's favor and covenant are taken from them and given to you. R4370:3 God's plan is more comprehensive than you have yet appreciated. By showing you that you have not all wisdom, it will enable you to keep humble and to search for the further unfoldings of God's plans. R1971:3
Blindness in part— To the larger part. R201:2 "Hardness in some measure." (Diaglott) R4370:3 Temporary blindness. R1696:6, 5231:6, 3685:1 The blindness which God sent upon them at the beginning of this age. R4464:2 The Jewish nation was blinded and rejected until spiritual Israel's selection. (A part of a chart entitled "God's Everlasting Law Covenant—Perfection and Obedience Rewarded with Everlasting Life.") R4538:5 In their blindness, the Lord allowed the Jews to stumble, which stumbling would continue until the full election of spiritual Israel. R3962:5 No doubt many Jews are now faithless and unbelieving because of the long period of blindness upon them. R4624:5Pride, on the part of the learned and wealthy, the religious leaders and theologians, led them to consider the humble Nazarene and his unlearned followers, as impostors. R5926:3 Israel, not having zealously inquired for the new heart and the right spirit, not having sought if of the Lord, was unprepared in heart to receive Messiah, and as a result stumbled into blindness. R2503:4 Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50) was like the prejudiced nation, blinded with false traditions of men; the woman sinner with the ointment was like the nation will be, receiving forgiveness, mercy. R2626:6 They failed to attain the glorious hopes of participating with Messiah in the promise made to Abraham. R4537:3 God declared and reiterated that the period of Israel's rejection would be seven times. OV80:6 The Jews of our Lord's day who rejected him did not have a full chance because "they were blinded" and "through ignorance" they crucified him. R2116:5 They will leave their national death and come, the first of the nations to be blessed by the true seed of Abraham, which is Christ, Head and Body. R2605:4 The "veil" of prejudice still exists, but it will be gradually taken away as the light of the Millennial morning dawns. R2605:2 The Jews, blinded, prejudiced, with hardness of heart, rejected Christ as Lord and Redeemer, but the Lord will open their eyes and give them a heart of flesh so they may believe and live. (Ezek. 37:12-14)R1467:1 Israel's attempt to keep the Law brought them great uplift of heart, so that when Jesus came a considerable number of them were ready to receive him. But the rest were blinded. OV342:5, 193:4 At his first advent, our Lord awakened faith in those who had the eye of faith to see. In due time, all the families of the earth shall be saved from this blindness, "All the blind eyes shall be opened." R3501:2When Peter cured the cripple at the Temple gate, his sermon about the "fathers" and Israel's hope and Jehovah's promise drew devout Israelites, "wheat," before the blinding of the nation. R2096:4 The Lord added to the early Church daily such as were in a condition to be saved from the blindness of their nation, the "wheat" ready to be separated from the "chaff" and gathered into the "garner." R2090:4 That the Law Covenant with Israel is still binding upon that nation is evident from the fact that upon their national rejection of Christ they were nationally blinded until the end of the Gospel age. R5047:2 When this Gospel age is completed, the Lord's favor will turn again to Israel, and blindness shall be turned away from them, not for anything of merit on their part, but because of God's mercy and compassion. R3348:5Israel's cause is hopeless from a human standpoint; but it is in the will and plan of God that "Jacob" will be favored with Millennial blessings as the first-fruits of the nations, saved from blindness. R2076:5God shut Israel's door to their only hope, but he will open their blind eyes and cause them to see Christ as their Redeemer from sin and their Deliverer from death and their covenant of death. R1725:5 The heart-blindness to the truth which led to the rejection of Israel, and which has ever since stood more or less related to their trouble, is to pass away, shortly, during the second presence of our Lord. HG303:3 The blindness which happened unto all Israel except the elect remnant (after the nations and individuals rejected Christ) began to be turned away in 1878 when the time to favor Zion began. R1769:5 Gradually, as the full number of "the Lamb's wife" is nearly completed, the "blindness" which has rested upon "Israel after the flesh," according to divine prediction, begins to pass away. R1819:5 When their blinded eyes shall be opened, they will fear. It may require time for them to become fully persuaded that the One feared is their best friend who will free them from sin-slavery. SM425:2 Were it not that the Lord has favored us with a share in the work of gathering out the Bride and helping to make her ready, we would be in Jerusalem turning away blindness from Jacob. R1395:5 This is the gospel that must open the eyes of the "blind": that in Christ the sin-offering types of the Jewish Law have their fulfillment and in Christ the promises to Abraham must all be fulfilled. R1786:4
Happened to Israel— Natural Israel, the whole twelve tribes. B206, 210; C252, 293; R2124:3, 2085:6 Except the remnant which accepted Christ. R1696:6 The majority of the people of Judea were of the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Few of the ten tribes returned from Babylon under Cyrus' general permission. But all of the tribes were represented. HG387:1
Until the fullness— Not at the end of a literal "seven times," not at the end of the seventy years in Babylon, but when the elect Gospel Church, the Body of Christ, has been perfected as their deliverer. B92 The full number to be selected from among the Gentiles to complete the Body or Bride of Christ. B77, 210; A108, 300; C283; R5836:5, 5832:4, 4969:2, 4593:6, 4537:3, 3685:1, 2605:4, 748:5, 384:4, 284:4, 258:6; OV226:3; Q756:2 The full predestined number of the Church to be gathered from the Gentile nations. R5721:4, 3685:1; Q357:3Blindness will last until the elect Church is complete. R1696:6, 2237:2; C278; CR50:1; PT367:1* The full number to complete the elect Kingdom class must be first found, and then, these being glorified in the first resurrection, natural Israel will obtain their great earthly blessings. R5101:5 If faithful and obedient to the Lord, the Israelites would have been the Royal Priesthood, made up from the twelve tribes, twelve thousand from each tribe, but they lost the privilege to the Gentiles. Q756:2 In their blindness the Lord allowed the Jews to stumble, and the Apostle Paul assures us that this stumbling would continue until the full election of spiritual Israel. R3962:5 We are now at the dawning of the new dispensation, the Church class will soon be completed and glorified with the Savior in his Kingdom, and then God's mercy will begin to operate toward the Jews again. R5832:4 The time is now about here; the Gospel Church is about complete. R5533:3, 5964:2 Who can doubt that God still loves his people whom he foreknew and whom he has promised shall be regathered back to their own land and back to his favor under the New Covenant! R4931:4 While the Jews were cast off as a people for 1845 years, from AD 33 to AD 1878, was the time appointed for the selecting of the Bride of Christ. This is the Gospel dispensation. R599:6In proving that Israel's "double" is completed, that her blindness is about to be taken away, and that her exaltation is near, we are also proving that the full number of the Gentiles will soon be completed. SM403:2 We now see that their long period of disfavor is about ended, and they will soon be re-engrafted into the olive tree. R4656:4 The Gospel age is to be seen as a parenthesis. As soon as it shall be finished, God's dealings with natural Israel will again be resumed. R4646:3, 1729:6; CR98:6 Israel's rejection from divine favor is not perpetual except in respect to this high calling to the spiritual seed of Abraham which will be complete in the end of this age. R4497:5 As soon as God shall have a sufficient number to fill up the 144,000, all the work of this Gospel age will terminate quickly. There will never be another one added to the spiritual seed of Abraham.Q629:T Israel is merely disfavored of God for a limited period—during the time of the calling and approving and acceptance of the elect number of spiritual Israel. R4453:6 Divine blessing shall come to natural Israel just as soon as spiritual Israel is completed. OV342:5; R3854:6 As soon as the great Mediator shall be completed, his work will begin—the New Covenant will be sealed between God and Israel. OV80:2 When the work of selecting the spiritual Church is complete, God's favor will again cover Israel as a people. Now, favor is beginning to come to them, a proof that we are in the lapping time of two ages. R400:2 A Jewish State cannot be restored until the gathering of spiritual Israel beyond the veil. R3855:4, 2237:2 That the Law Covenant with Israel is still binding upon that nation is further evident from the fact that upon their national rejection of Christ, they were nationally blinded until the end of the Gospel age. R1729:6 After the long period of Israel's punishment (2520 years, the period of Gentile dominion), the blessings will be fulfilled. God will remember and fulfil to Israel the covenant made with their fathers. B90
Of the Gentiles— From among the Gentiles. B77, 210; C283; R5721:4, 3469:1, 2072:6, 1696:6, 599:6; Q642:2, 357:3 Until the Bride selected from the Gentiles has been completed. R4370:5 The Gospel Church. R4624:3, 545:4 The elect company, the Gospel Church. R258:6 The elect company, the Bride of Christ. HG345:1; OV226:3 Until we spiritual Israelites shall first have been sought and found, polished and fitted and brought to perfection. R4464:2 The first members of spiritual Israel were gathered from among the Jewish nation, and the completeness is to be made up from amongst the Gentiles. R4453:6 These have been taken out of every nation: Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Japanese, Indians—in order that no person will be able to state that his condition is such that none can understand it. CR209:4* Let no one mistake the "Times of the Gentiles" of Luke 21:24 (when the four Gentile kingdoms are to rule over and tread down Jerusalem) with the "fullness of the Gentiles" of this text. They are not the same. HG20:1
Be come in— To the spiritual blessings. R201:3 Have come into the chief place of favor. R2072:6 Has been selected. A300; B77, 210; R1696:6, 748:5, 599:6 Until the completion of the gathering of the elect. R5231:6 When the elect class is complete, all Israel shall be saved from its blindness. R2213:1 Until the Bride selected from the Gentiles has been completed. R4370:3, 2124:3 As soon as the Gospel Church is completed, God's favor will return to the Jews in the full sense. R5721:4 As soon as the Gospel age is completed. R3348:5, 5047:2 When the new creation shall have been completed and the Millennial age ushered in, God's special favor will pass again to natural Israel, from whom it was taken at the beginning of this Gospel age.F119 After the spiritual Israel will have been completed by the change from earthly nature to heavenly nature, God's blessings will begin to come once more to the natural seed of Abraham. R5273:4 Israel is to be recovered to the divine favor lost eighteen centuries ago. R4958:3; Q642:2 All but the elect were blinded until the members of spiritual Israel—the antitypical Moses and his house—should be delivered by the power of God in the first resurrection. R4537:3 Generations after. Blinded Israel is still in hell (the grave), where there is no consciousness; but their blindness will be removed and their sins forgiven, with their living descendants in the Kingdom. R4781:2 The Head, our Lord Jesus, was brought to the birth more than eighteen centuries ago. His Body, the Church, is now being born in the end of this Gospel age by having a share in "his resurrection." R4464:2; CR59:2 Israel was blinded until all of the elect members of spiritual Israel—the antitypical Moses and his house—should first be delivered by the power of God in the first resurrection. R4537:3 The Gospel age and its call might be viewed as an interruption in the divine plan and purpose for Israel and the world. As soon as it shall be finished, God's dealings with natural Israel will again be resumed. R4646:3 As soon as the Gospel age is finished, God's dealings with natural Israel will again be resumed, only on a higher and loftier plane, through the antitypical Mediator, The Christ, replacing Moses. CR98:6 As Isaac was provided a bride before God's people (Israel) were called, so the nation will be blessed, but not until the Bride takes her place with the heavenly Bridegroom. R752:1* The time of returning favor to fleshly Israel will indicate the fullness of the Gentiles has been gathered in. R599:1, 2831:6, 2361:5 The Gospel Church must be fully come—filled up—before the trouble can begin, seeing that they assist in pouring out the plagues. R389:2* The time when Israel will bear fruit will be after the fullness of the Gentiles have come in. R127:2* When the requisite number have been selected from among the Gentiles to constitute the Kingdom class, as promised, then God's favor will again be shown to the Jews as a people. Q793:T; HG387:5 Present indications point to this as a matter of speedy accomplishment. OV364:3 At God's appointed time, a Jew was Premier of England, the famous Berlin conference took place allowing the Jew to own land, and persecuted Jews are returning to Palestine. R357:1 The time is evidently not far distant when their national hope will be rehabilitated and they shall rejoice again as a people. PD53/65

[NTC - Romans 11:26]

And so— "And then." (Diaglott) R4370:3 Thus, or, then. R1696:6, 384:4, 201:3
All Israel— Living and dead. A113; HG346:2; OV228:1 The whole twelve tribes. C252 Note in Young's Concordance where the word Israel is used in the New Testament; the House of Israel was no longer regarded by our Lord and the apostles as the "ten tribes" merely, but "All Israel." C293; R1341:1 "This is the whole house of Israel. I will bring you up out of your graves and bring you into your own land." (Ezek. 37:11,12) R258:6 The decree of Cyrus permitting return from captivity ignored any division and was to all Israel: it was the remnant of Israel and not merely of Judah that was gathered into the Gospel age. R2380:3 Paul specially addressed some living at Rome, but he quotes prophecies against "all the house of Israel" living in his day, without qualification or limitation; not lost, but well-known as "Jews." R2125:3 "The promise might be sure to both the seeds," not only that which is according to the spirit, but also that which is according to the Law. There is a double allotment of divine mercy and provision. R3937:5 Two Israels, of the flesh and of the spirit, were typified in Isaac and Ishmael, and in Jacob and Esau. The inheritor of the promise was the younger; spiritual Israel would be developed after natural Israel. R2443:1 After spiritual Israel has been developed as the true seed of Abraham, through Christ, then divine favor shall return to natural Israel, and she shall obtain mercy, according to the terms of the divine Covenant. R2357:6 Means every creature in the outcome. Q505:T The root contains a double set of branches: first, the select branches (natural and engrafted)—The Christ which is to bless all nations; and secondly, a lower order of re-engrafted branches (Israel restored). R1971:4
Shall be saved— Recovered from their blindness. A113; R5269:4, 3539:3, 3348:5, 3249:5, 2882:5, 2213:1, 2212:6, 1696:6, 1615:5; HG346:2; OV228:1 Recovered from the blindness and stumbling which came upon them when God thrust them aside. R4453:6 Recovered from the blindness into which they are now going—the blindness in which they have been for nearly nineteen centuries. R3685:1 Delivered from blindness. R2882:5 From their blindness, their ignorance, their misunderstanding at his presentation of himself at his first advent. R5269:4 Recovered to favor. A300; B217; R4820:4, 4593:6, 3854:6; Q756:2 Brought back from their cast-off condition. OV226:3; A108; R545:4, 258:6; HG345:1 God's favor will return after the remaining members of the elect class have been found. R5302:1, 5837:5, 4497:5 They were cut off from his favor while the Bride of Christ was being selected, but will return to favor when that work is accomplished. R258:6 Not to heavenly glory, or to eternal life. Israel will be saved from the blindness and rejection of God which came on them as a nation when they rejected Messiah. HG440:3,4 They shall yet share in the very blessings they expected when they were broken off, viz.: the natural or earthly part of the blessings. R1971:4 Receive the things promised them as the natural seed. R201:3 After the spiritual Kingdom of God shall have been exalted, God's favor will return to natural Israel and they will be the first nation to be blessed under the new order of things that will then prevail. R4594:1 All Hebews condemned to death under the Law Covenant may be released from it as soon as the elect, the Body of the great Deliverer, the great Mediator, the great Priest, shall have been completed. R4512:1 The "great gulf fixed" will remain unbridged until spiritual Israel has been "sealed" and "garnered." Then Israel will be first to receive the blessing of the "latter rain." R2800:5 We are not to expect their blessing and enlightenment except through the great trouble in which they will share with all others, and out of which they shall be saved and blest by the glorified spiritual Israel. R2631:2 The fact that favor is now beginning to come to Israel is an incidental proof that we are in the lapping time of the two ages. R400:2 The Parable of the rich man and Lazarus only tells that the rich man (Israel) would pass away as a nation (although it remained as a people); it does not tell of the release from that torment. HG161:6, 387:5; R1000:5, 284:4 The rejection of Israel is not permanent. R5495:3 Hosea 6:2 refers to one-thousand-year days. The first thousand of the text began when the Jews experienced their judgments. The third will be when they will be raised to favor in Messiah's reign. Q795:2 Hosea 6:2 refers to the early morning of the third day—the thousand years of Messiah's reign, when the seasons of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, with rain (Hos. 6:3). Q789:T The thought in this passage is not that all Israel shall be saved eternally, but merely that all Israel shall be saved from their blindness which came upon them as a people when they rejected Messiah. E469
As it is written— In Psalm 14:7. R107:3*
Come out of Sion— The Gospel Church. R4497:2 Spiritual Israel—the Church. R4370:3 The spiritual Church. T33 The glorified Gospel Church, spiritual Zion. R5721:4, 4370:3, 2605:5, 1000:6, 284:4; HG387:5; Q357:3 Mount Zion, the glorified Church or Kingdom, to some extent began in 1878, when our King took to himself his great power to reign, although the "feet" class were not yet fully developed and glorified. C278 "And the Deliverer shall come to Zion (the Church, 'the body of Christ') and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord." (Isa. 59:20) D558 Before the New (Law) covenant could become effective, the Deliverer must come out of Zion (the new Jerusalem; Sarah, mother of Isaac; Rachel, mother of the child of promise and the child of tribulation). R4454:1 Zion is another name for the New Jerusalem, of which the Apostle says, She is the mother of us all. (Gal. 4:26) Zion was typically represented in Sarah, Abraham's wife, who was the mother of Isaac. R4454:1 The term "Zion" is sometimes applied to Jerusalem, also to its inhabitants; in the Gospel age, it is applied to the entire body of professed Christians, on probation for membership in the true Zion. R1648:3 The man-child of Isa. 66:7 is the Little Flock—the true Zion in God's estimation, the ripe wheat of the Gospel Church separated from the tares in the nominal church here referred to. R1649:1 The firstborn of Zion's offspring—the overcomer and heir of all things. Before the promised blessings come to Jacob (fleshly Israel) the heir of the spiritual blessings must first be developed. R1971:5 "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion." (Psa. 53:6) R238:4* In this great day of the Lord, nominal Zion will bring forth the man-child and these later children (Great Company). Following the birth of these two classes, will come the birth of the Jewish nation. R5574:5,6 Thus the spiritual children of Zion will be complete, and the blessing will turn to natural Israel. R4454:2 Spiritual Israel has not taken the place of fleshly Israel: her hopes ("better promises") are spiritual, not earthly. She rejoices that fleshly Israel shall inherit the chief earthly blessing. R2086:2
The Deliverer— The spiritual seed. R201:3, 1615:5 The spiritual Son of Zion and his Body, composed of overcomers. HG440:4 The Messiah, The Christ, Jesus, the Head, and the Church, his Body.Q642:2, 357:3; R5721:4, 5608:3, 5371:5, 4625:5, 2882:5, 1971:5, 1696:6, 384:5, 102:4; A300 The Lord and his faithful brethren. F462 Christ and his Bride. R3916:5 Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King. R4497:2 This great High Priest, the servant of the Covenant—Jesus, the Head, and the Little Flock, his Body. T33 Taken from Jew and Gentile. R4624:4, 384:5; B210 Christ the Head and the Church his Body will be the ones who will bless all who become Israelites. R5371:5, 2882:5, 1649:1, 102:4 The 85th Psalm applies to Israel's deliverance by Cyrus from the Babylonian captivity, and to the great Messiah who is about to give full liberty for the return of God's ancient people to divine favor. R4892:2 Their experience under the Law Covenant taught them that nothing they could themselves do would deliver them from the power of sin and death; Messiah would be their Deliverer. R5608:2 It is the Messiah that Israel needs. Thank God that the set time to remember and bless Israel is nigh. R1764:2 All Hebrews condemned to death under the Law Covenant may be released from it as soon as the elect, the Body of the great Deliverer, Mediator, Priest, shall have been completed. R4512:1 Christ, the Great Deliverer whom Moses promised, shall deliver from all evil, from death, from pain and sickness, from ignorance and blindness, from every oppression of the Devil. R1971:5 Israel and the world have been waiting for the development of this great Deliverer, the great antitypical Mediator like unto Moses. CR59:2, 98:6 The Deliverer, The Christ, born out of Zion, shall begin the work of blessing "Jacob"—natural Israel. R4454:2
Turn away ungodliness— Ungodliness will be turned away from Jacob first. R384:5, 5273:4, 3834:1, 2037:4, 1373:3 But not until God himself shall "take away," or "put away," or "blot out" their sins. R1971:5 In the favored and protected valley of Zech. 14:4, ungodliness shall be turned from Israel; and they shall come to the inheritance of the land, and promises vouchsafed to Abraham. R286:6 With the true Priest and the offering of the "better sacrifices," the types were obliterated. By and by fleshly Israel will recognize "him whom they pierced" as the great priest who "offered up himself."R3454:1,2 The prophesied restoration of God's people to divine favor is to be at the end of seven times. OV80:3
From Jacob— Referred to as a representative of natural Israel. R3965:3 Natural Israel. R4497:2 Fleshly Israel. R4370:4, 5721:4, 4454:2, 1971:5, 1696:6, 1649:1, 1000:6, 286:6, 284:4, 201:3; Q357:3 The natural seed of Abraham. B217; C278; D558; F355; T33; R2605:5 My people. R5371:5 Spiritual Israel is never called Jacob. A300 They will have a glorious opportunity of accepting the Lamb of God, of eating, appropriating, his flesh, his sacrifice, and of thus escaping the bondage of sin and death under the leadership of spiritual Israel. F462 The spiritual seed will principally operate in blessing all nations through the natural seed of Abraham. R1971:4 In Gen. 28:15, the Lord told Jacob, "I will bring thee again unto this land," signifying the regathering of Israel to the land of promise, a blessed assurance which is even now beginning to be fulfilled. R1630:2

[NTC - Romans 11:27]

This is my covenant— Agreement. R102:4, 1696:6 "The covenant with them from me." (Diaglott) R4370:3 The natural seed of Abraham are still heirs of a certain promise of God, which in due time will come to them—the great privilege of being the foremost nation amongst men during Messiah's glorious reign. R5101:5 Abraham will be "a father of many nations," who will be blessed by the Mediator of the New (Law) Covenant, under which they will come back into harmony with God and obtain eternal life through obedience to it. R4436:6 The New (Law) Covenant. R4758:4, 4612:6, 4575:4, 4505:1, 4464:4, 4453:6, 4371:3, 4322:2, 4319:5 The New Covenant with Israel, which will operate more favorably than the Law Covenant. R4497:1God declares that he has not cast away his people of that Covenant, but that under the New Covenant he will open their eyes to see Christ as the only door of hope of a new life, purchased with his own blood. R5047:3 Paul taught that some blessings of God yet remained for the Jew, but, instead of looking for God's favor through the types and shadows, they should look to Christ and his antitypical fulfillments of the Law. R4484:6 The earthly phase of the Kingdom of God when set up will be Israelitish; for such is God's engagement or Covenant with Abraham and his natural seed. D624Who lost his higher, spiritual promises, but are still the possessers of certain earthly promises, to become the chief nation of earth, etc. R2605:4, 1000:6, 284:4 Israel as a nation had certain inalienable promises yet to be inherited as a nation. R1365:1 A future favor for Israel according to the original covenants. R868:3; CR47:2 His promise made to the fathers. SM533:1 Israelites still have this earthly promise of becoming the chief nation of earth. R284:4, 2605:4, 1000:6 "I will build again the tabernacle of David, and the ruins thereof, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called." (Acts 15:16, 17) HG336:4 I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. (Ezek. 16:60; Jer. 32:40, 31:31) OV43:3: R259:3, 8:1 Compare Jer. 31:29-34 and Ezek. 18:2,4, 20. The New Covenant, the everlasting covenant, is to be confirmed to Israel and Judah, under which they will obtain their long-looked-for portion.E332 Israel has suffered torments since the rejection of Messiah, and will so continue until she shall be restored to divine favor, according to the conditions of the divine covenant. E377 A New Covenant is due to be introduced "after those days"—after the interim of this Gospel age specially set apart for the development of the antitypical Isaac. R4682:6 The New (Law) Covenant promised to Israel, in which their sins will be cancelled and remembered no more, comes at the close of the Gospel age and not at its beginning. R4453:6 This cannot go into effect with Israel until the end of the Gospel age. R4659:2 The promises wait until the multitudinous Mediator shall be finished (in sacrifice and in resurrection glory); then Israel will receive the inheritance for which they have waited thirty-five centuries. R4548:6 Israel and the world shall obtain mercy under the provision of the New Covenant put into operation as soon as the Royal Priesthood shall have completed the appointed work of sacrifice. R4681:2 As soon as the spiritual seed shall be completed, the blessing of the Lord shall proceed from and through the spiritual seed to the natural seed, fulfilling God's promises of an earthly kind so long deferred. R4543:2 God makes no covenants with sinners. After Christ shall have purchased the world by the satisfaction of justice on their behalf, he will have the right to open to them the blessed privileges of the New Covenant. R4520:5 "The time of Jacob's trouble" will soon be over—the time when they will enter into the New Covenant relationship with God will soon be at hand. R4670:1 Messiah will inaugurate this Covenant at the establishment of his Kingdom. R5533:3 Jesus is the Mediator of the New (Law) Covenant, under the terms of which he will shortly establish his Mediatorial Kingdom for the blessings of Israel and the world. R4476:1 We surely have a very joyful restitution message for them—to be attained under their New Covenant. R4523:4 When the sacrificing finishes, the blessed fellowship with God and Covenant privileges will then be given to Israel again, by a Law Covenant which the Lord will make with them at that time. R4354:6 It is the New Covenant which is to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. R3916:5 He cannot mean the Abrahamic Covenant because the spiritual seed inherited it and took the place of the natural seed. R3916:6 He cannot mean the Law Covenant for it passed away—the bond woman and her son were cast out at the end of the Jewish age. R3916:6 With Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau, the inheritor of the promise was the younger; so spiritual Israel, heir of the chief blessings (not the only blessing) is developed after natural Israel. R2443:1,2 Their "double" being ended, the recovery of Israel is due and is in progress, and as soon as the spiritual Israel is complete and glorified the light will begin to shine upon fleshly Israel. R2526:1 There are earthly features of the promises reserved for the natural seed of Abraham, and through them to extend to all the families of the earth, that "whosoever will" may become "the sand of the seashore." R2522:5 The prospects of all the unsaintly are entirely earthly—the very same blessings that are promised to the Jews, only these blessings will come "to the Jew first." OV157:1 God's Covenant is in two parts: One, he will write his law again in the heart of flesh, fully realized under the New Covenant; Two, the Abrahamic Covenant shows that the seed of Abraham will bless all. R792:6 The Jews had every reason to expect that God had honored their nation as the seed of Abraham with especial relationship to his Kingdom. Nor will that expectation prove false. The Lord has not changed his plan. HG439:3 Persecutions in various lands are the prods, the "staff" of their Shepherd, to awaken Israel and direct their hearts toward the promises of which they are the heirs. R2946:5 As the Jews begin to really appreciate the land of promise, the rich promises in connection with that land must become theirs, and the inspiration of those promises' end will lead them back to the land. CR157:6 There will be ample space and abundant provision made for the Israelites in the promised land—promised for an everlasting possession to Abraham and his descendants. Q792:2 Israel will have a share in that work of blessing the world, but on a lower plane than that of the spiritual seed. As the natural seed of Abraham, they will be the first to receive those blessings. R4497:5 The losing of the better part does not cut off fleshly Israel entirely from having a part in the covenant. R4370:2; HG387:5 The blessed opportunities of the New Covenant will be opened to Israel, as God promised. Then they will gladly accept the Mediator of the New Covenant and begin at once to share that Covenant's blessings. R4505:1All nations will be privileged to become Israelites and share in the blessings of Israel's New Covenant. OV72:T; R4436:3 Israel is the nation which God has foreknown to be the one he will use in connection with his work of blessing all the families of the earth. R4624:3 Shortly, Abraham's natural seed will be saved from their blindness and become the beneficiaries of the New Covenant and share the work of dispensing divine mercy to all the families of the earth. R4478:4
Unto them— With them. R4624:3, 4370:3, 2605:4, 1000:6, 284:4 The nation of Israel, not Gentiles. R4497:5, 4319:5, 2605:4, 284:4; SM368:T As a prodigal returning to the Father's house. R3361:2 As soon as the Gospel age work shall be finished, God's dealings with natural Israel will again be resumed, through the antitypical Mediator. R4646:3 The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the Law and the prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the new age. R5721:5 With the second presentation of the blood of atonement in the Most Holy, at the end of this age, the New Covenant with Israel will be sealed and the blessing of the Lord will begin to Israel. R4320:4
When I shall— When God will. R4625:5 After divine wrath has burned out their national transgression. E357; R2526:1 The Apostle was referring to the New Covenant promised to that nation, and the fact that their sin should be taken away at the time when that Covenant is sealed—made operative. R4464:4The time has not yet come. Israel is still under divine condemnation, though we are now privileged to speak comfortably unto them and to assure them that the time for their deliverance is nigh. R4322:4 It is after the Gospel age, when they are pardoned freely for Christ's sake, and restored to the condition of sinless perfect manhood, that the New Covenant comes into force. R4371:3 The Redeemer and his associates will be the Mediator of the New Covenant. R4354:6, 4476:1 The promises are sure as God's word. They merely wait until the "mystery" of a multitudinous Mediator shall be finished (in sacrifice and in resurrection glory). Q179:1 As the great High Priest appeared in the presence of God "on our behalf," so, in the dawn of the Millennium, he will, with his Body, present the ransom-price "on behalf of all the people." R4520:5 As soon as the Church is completed, God's Covenant with Israel, the New Covenant, will be instituted. R4646:5, 4612:6, 102:4; CR99:4 "Until that day ye shall see me no more." Then they shall look upon whom they have pierced; then the Lord will pour upon them the spirit of prayer and supplication; then their blindness will be turned away. (Zech. 12:10) R2438:1 Whoever touched Israel was dealt with by the Lord while they were in covenant relationship with him. Today, the nation is cut off from the divine protection which was with them, but it shall return. R5626:6
Take away their sins— Israel is still in its sins and will not be recovered until after the Church shall have been glorified. R4634:4, 4612:3, 4322:4 The time has not yet come, when he (the great Mediator of the New Covenant between God and mankind) will satisfy the demands of divine justice on behalf of the world. R4322:4 Then all Israel will be recovered from their blindness and their alienation from God. R5626:6 Their sins will be cancelled and remembered no more. R4453:6 Their sins will be forgiven, their iniquities pardoned and they will be received back into divine fellowship. CR99:4 To the Jews this will mean their "double" is fulfilled, "their appointed time is accomplished." (Isa. 40:2) R5533:3 Their sins will then be atoned for by the same precious blood which now atones for ours. R4575:4 The sins of the world are not put away until the close of the Gospel age, until the sufferings of the Body of Christ are ended. He who now justifies believers will then justify them—believers in the ransom. R1971:5 Our Lord became the sin offering for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him—channels through whom his merit would be applied for the propitiation of the world's sins. R4542:6 With the end of this age the great High Priest will antitypically offer the blood of "the Lord's goat" "for the sins of all the people"; and this will include the sins of Israel. (Lev. 16:15) R4505:1 The first part of the taking away of Israel's sins is the satisfaction of justice on their behalf. Their condemnation must be cancelled from the divine standpoint. Then their sins will be put away gradually. R4520:5 The individual sins of the Jew, similar to those which are upon all humanity, not their national sin; it will be a gradual matter. R4612:3,6 "That your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ." (Acts 3:19,20) Israel's return of favor will be at the second advent. B211 God will open their blind eyes and cause them to see Christ in his true character—as their Redeemer from sin and their Deliverer from death and their covenant of death. R5047:4 The blotting out of sins for the world during the Millennial age will begin with fleshly Israel. R2196:1 The taking away of their sins is a necessity for them, before they can receive this New Covenant. R4497:5 "I will pour upon the house of David the spirit of grace and supplication." (Zech. 12:10) R2800:5, 5234:5, 3361:2, 3249:5, 2438:1 One of the lessons from the book of Hosea is that all "Israelites indeed" must be repentant: "Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously: so shall we render the calves of our lips." (Hosea 14:2) R2491:4 "In that day (when the Gospel age of sacrifice is ended) there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 13:1) R102:4 He has not taken away their sins yet. They are still in blindness; but the sins of the whole world are to be blotted out. The new dispensation will be ushered in, and the Lord will favor the nation. HG275:6 The Lord purposed to take away all sins—the sins of Israel, the sins of those who were to constitute the Gospel Church, and the sins of the whole world. For this cause Christ was manifested and died. Q357:4 God will forgive the sins of those coming into harmony with the New Covenant arrangements and remember their iniquities no more and will graciously deal with them as if they had not crucified the Son of God. Q171:3 "I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them a heart of flesh." (Ezek. 11:19) SM368:T

[NTC - Romans 11:28]

Concerning the gospel— The high calling of this age. B211; R2605:5, 1000:6, 284:4; HG387:6 The spiritual part of the Covenant. T33 The remnant who returned from Babylon were separated from idolatry; had they continued to seek the divine will, they might have been ready to receive the new heart required for the spiritual seed. R2503:6 The special favor of the Christian age—a few have received it (verse 5)—but the nation as a whole have been cut off from it. R793:4
They are enemies— The natural seed is cast off. B211; R2605:5, 1000:6, 284:4; HG387:6 They, the literal seed. T33 Treated as enemies of God. R793:4, 2086:2 For the present. R1971:4 For 1800 years they have been counted as enemies and blinded to the gospel. R4370:3 In the year AD 70, the "rich man," as a nation, died at the hands of Titus and the Roman army. Nationally, the "rich man" is buried, but as people the Jews have been alive, ostracised, persecuted, tormented. R5004:5
For your sakes— The Church's sake. R5721:5; HG162:1; Q357:5 That you Gentiles might become inheritors in the Abrahamic promise. R793:4; B211 For your exaltation—the better or spiritual part of the Abrahamic blessing being conferred upon the chosen, who through much tribulation are counted worthy of the chief honor. R1971:4 They were cast off from his favor while the Bride of Christ was being selected. A108; HG345:1; OV226:3
The election— The natural election. R5721:5; Q357:5 The original promises of earthly favor to Israel. HG162:1 By which they were promised, through Abraham, together with other earthly promises, that their nation should become the chief nation of earth. B211; E332; R2605:4 They will be reinstated when the Bride of Christ has been selected. A108; HG345:1; OV226:3 They shall become the "princes" of the spiritual Kingdom through all the earth during the Millennium, which will be to the advantage of many natural Israelites who are now in alienation and darkness. F178 They are to be first blessed by the spiritual or true Seed and may later become associate laborers. T33 Israel according to the flesh will again take first rank in divine favor. R5839:5 God promised that Israel should bless all the nations of the earth. The spiritual seed was not mentioned; the natural seed were right in line for that which was specified—to be blessers of the world. R5836:2
They are beloved— They are still beloved. T33; R793:4 Even though Israel (except a few) made a failure respecting the election. R5302:1 They are soon to return fully to God's favor. R5470:6 In the Millennial age, God's special favor will pass again to natural Israel, from whom it was taken at the beginning of this Gospel age. F118; R5000:5, 1971:4 When the feast of fat things (Isa. 25:6) for all nations shall be spread, Israel will have the first opportunity of participating in it. R3834:1 They are still beloved because whenever God gives a gift he means it; he would not have promised the Abrahamic Seed anything according to the flesh that he was not able to give them in his own due time. CR48:3 Preeminence in the Messianic Kingdom will not be granted to all who are Jews by blood, but only to those who prove loyal to the Law and the prophets. R5964:3
The fathers' sakes— The fathers of Israel are the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Jews are under the Abrahamic Covenant. R5162:5 The Lord will bless fleshly Israel, not because of their worthiness, but because of his promise made to the fathers. HG390:4 The "fathers" were the patriarchs of old—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc. They are referred to in Psalm 45:16 and Heb. 11. Q750:4The first returning prodigal under the new dispensation will be the poor Jew. R3361:2 Moses, father of the nation, admonished the Israelites with warnings and encouragements, and foretold their final victories, which shall be attained by all who will become by faith the children of Abraham. R3078:2 They are now gradually rising to political freedom and influence; and as a people, they will be very prominent among the nations in the beginning of the Millennium. R2605:2 God has blessings yet in store for natural branches, as promised to their fathers. R1971:4 The tried prophets and patriarchs of past dispensations will take first rank in the blessings of the repentant world under the Millennial reign of Christ. R1365:2 s^The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the Law and the prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the New Age. Q357:5

[NTC - Romans 11:29]

The gifts— The gracious gifts. HG346:3
Calling of God— God having called the Jewish nation to be his peculiar people, having made them definite promises respecting the blessing of all nations, has no thought or intention of abrogating those promises. R4624:3 Paul specifies that God's gifts and callings from the remote past included the restoration of the Jews to divine favor at the close of the Gospel age, which blessing must come through the spiritual seed.R3937:6 The promise is sure to both the earthly seed and the heavenly, the sand of the sea and the stars of heaven, its proper part to each. R3259:5 The natural seed of Abraham had been selected as the line through which divine blessings were to be carried eventually to all the families of the earth. R3139:5
Without repentance— Cannot fail. R1919:1 Not things he will repent of. T33; R5964:2, 4624:3, 3685:1; OV228:1, 66:3 These earthly blessings are just as sure to them as our spiritual ones are to us, because God so promised or covenanted, and never changes. R4370:3 He who knew the end from the beginning knew exactly what Israel would be and do, and was not disappointed, and all of the plans and promises to that nation were made from the standpoint of this knowledge. R4320:3 Any free gift and promise which God makes is sure of fulfillment. He knew all about this temporary lopping off, knowing the end from the beginning, before he made his promises concerning Israel. R1971:5 God has no thought or intention of abrogating his promises. Every promise he has ever made, he has foreknown its full import and its results, and he has done nothing hastily. R4624:3 It is on this unchangeableness of the divine character that the Apostle predicates all of his hopes respecting the restoration of Israel to divine favor and blessing through the glorified Church. R3685:1 At the inauguration of the new age of blessing, natural Israel will be granted a special place and privilege. R5964:2 Tribulations have kept the Jewish minds in that condition of humility in which they will be best prepared for the Lord's service when the time of their complete restoration to favor shall come. Q357:1 As the punishments predicted had been meted out to Israel as a people, so assuredly the promises of the regathering could be relied upon implicitly. R2525:6 Compare Deuteronomy 30:1-9. R1729:6 Favor will return to Israel after the Bride of Christ is selected. R258:6,545:4, 7:4 As soon as the elect are glorified, the present age and its objects will have ended. Then the restitution work will begin, and Israel according to the flesh will again take first rank in divine favor. R5839:5 When the Mediator will have sealed Israel's New Covenant by his death as its Testator, then the "called" nation of Israel will "receive the eternal inheritance" for which they have waited. (Heb. 9:15) Q179:1 The Jews are waking to the voice of the prophets calling them to Palestine and to fresh hope in God and in the promises to which they still are heirs as the natural seed of Abraham! (Matt. 24:32). R4706:1 Ezek. 16:63—The promised restitution is not based on the merits of the Jews, Samaritans or Sodomites. "That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more." R259:4, 8:1 The gracious promises to Israel in the flesh must yet be fulfilled. OV81:2; R4706:1, 793:4, 107:4*; CR48:3

[NTC - Romans 11:30]

For as ye— Gentiles. A300; R1971:6
Not believed— Not obeyed. R107:4*
Have now obtained mercy— For a long time you were strangers and aliens from God, seemingly unloved and uncared for, yet now you have obtained favor. R1971:6

[NTC - Romans 11:31]

So have these also— Fleshly Israel. C299; R2605:4
Not believed— No favor could have come to "the ten lost tribes," as the Anglo-Israelites believe, because those Israelites deserted the Israelitish Covenant and became idolaters, unbelievers. C252 God would allow "a great gulf" to be fixed by their prejudices between them and spiritual Israel. R4781:6 The "veil" of prejudice still exists, but it will be gradually taken away as the light of the Millennial morning dawns. R2605:2
Through your mercy— The mercy of the complete and glorified Church of Christ. A300; C299; F355; R5964:2, 5101:6, 4942:5, 4820:5, 4498:2, 4475:1, 3658:5, 2605:4, 2209:6, 1000:5, 284:4; CR49:5; HG387:5 The mercy of The Christ, the spiritual seed of Abraham. R4436:6, 4592:5, 3938:1, 201:3 The mercy of God operating through Jesus, and the mercy of Jesus operating through the Church. R4625:5, 4646:6, 4464:5, 4454:3 Both Jew and Gentile shall obtain mercy through your mercy. R126:6 When the Church is complete, the sacrifice will be finished, the merit of which is to go to Israel and the world under the terms of the New Covenant.R5000:1; Q435:1 Israel is to be the beneficiary of the testament, the legacy, the will, because we laid down our restitution right in sacrifice; this is like the dying of the Testator's Body. R4498:2 As soon as "the elect," the Church of Christ, shall have been completed by the power of the first resurrection. R4942:5 It is a high honor conferred upon the Church to become members of the Body of the great Mediator of the New Covenant, sharers with our Redeemer in his great work of sealing and executing the New Covenant. R4457:1The King is the Head of the "seed," to which is committed the work of blessing. Israel, natural seed of Abraham, supposed that they would inherit the privilege; but when the King came, they received him not. R2128:6The Church will be first in the Kingdom, natural Israel with the Ancient Worthies at their head will be the second. R5721:5 Through the Ancient Worthies of Heb. 11, under the New Covenant, Israel and all the nations will receive their intended share of the same divine mercy, passed through Christ and then through the Church. R4513:3 When the Church shall have attained the prize as spiritual Israel, the gulf separating natural Israel from God's favor will have been passed. Favor returning to natural Israel will extend to all nations. R5444:6 No "drop" of refreshment will be afforded the "rich man" in his misery until the Messianic Kingdom shall be established, when Israel (both dead and living) shall obtain mercy through the elect. R5005:4 God will destroy the "great gulf," turning away the blindness of fleshly Israel. He will receive back to favor all of them who will then come—showing mercy through the glorified spiritual Israel. R4781:6; HG387:2 They shall obtain divine forgiveness shortly, after Messiah's Kingdom is established. Theirs will be a true sorrow, and the Lord "will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication." (Zech. 12:10) R5234:3 The 144,000 are blessed now with the fellowship of God, even in stormy times; and through their instrumentality (as joint-heirs of the Lord) their companions in these storms of life will ultimately be saved. R4506:4 The nation has passed through severe ordeals. Ere long the famine for the word of the Lord will reach them and cause them to come to the great Governor Joseph (Jesus and his followers) for the bread of life. R3982:2 Israel shall obtain the Father's mercy through Christ and through the Church; his mercy will proceed until all the families of the earth have received his blessing. Q435:1 Jacob and Esau were twins, and so were the Jewish and Gospel dispensations. The elder (Esau, the Jewish church) should serve the younger (Jacob, the Gospel Church) and receive mercy from the younger. R1624:6 Messiah, Head and Body, will be the Mediator of the New Covenant. OV44:2 The whole world of mankind (all who have ever lived) shall be blessed with an opportunity of return to divine favor and everlasting life by God's grace, operating through the elect Church, Head and Body. R2398:4 We are glad that our acceptance will not mean their everlasting loss, but they will be profited through the blessing of spiritual Israel, "qualified servants of the New Covenant." (2 Cor. 3:6) R4592:5 During the Gospel age, we have been privileged or invited to become members of that spiritual seed of him whom Abraham typified (Jehovah), and as such to be the cause or instruments of the coming blessing. R345:1 We have a lot of blessings and mercies to give away. Now you and I individually have no right to give anything away; our Lord has all the right. When we will be glorified, they will get God's mercy from us. CR49:5 Through the saintly few who, during this age, become identified with the glorified Messiah as his Bride. It was not the divine intention that the Jew should be amalgamated in the Christian systems of today. OV116:2
They also— Israel, both dead and living. R5005:4, 5234:3, 4942:5, 1000:6 Restitution rights will be made available to natural Israel and to the world under the New Covenant arrangement. R4492:5, 2209:6, 127:1, 126:6; C299; HG387:5 Divine mercy shall go forth from the Church to bless the world and shall rest first of all upon Israel according to the flesh. R3469:1 They will be the foremost nation amongst men during Messiah's glorious reign. R5101:5, 284:4 Jesus secured earthly life-rights by his obedience; during this age he has made them available to his Body, and soon he will be ready to give them as a legacy to natural Israel and the world. R4497:1 Even though our sacrifice includes laying down our lives for the brethren, the merit of our sacrifice and its application at the end of this age is "for the sins of all the people." R4492:5 The blessing will extend to all nations, in that all nations will be welcome to become "Israelites indeed" and sharers in the blessings of that New (Law) Covennant. OV80:2
May obtain mercy— Divine mercy. R4478:4 God's promised blessings. R201:3 The mercy of God and Christ through the Church to natural Israel, and to all the families of the earth. R4646:6, 2931:5 God is blessing them at the very time he is cutting them off, for in blessing you and preparing the Deliverer, he is making ready to bless them through you, when you as the Body of Christ are complete. R1971:6 When the great Deliverer will be complete, then will be the time when we will apply our earthly rights to Israel; then will be fulfilled God's promise to Abraham, "I will make thee father of many nations." CR50:4 If we be accepted as members in his Body through consecration unto death, we then shall be members of the spiritual seed of Abraham, through whose mercy natural Israel shall obtain mercy. R4475:1 The Son of Sarah secured earthly life rights, laid them down at Calvary; during this age has made them available to his Body, and soon will give them as a legacy to natural Israel and the world. R4497:1 This mercy will go to the Jews through the death of the testator, Christ, the Head, and the Church, the Body. R4625:5, 4528:6, 545:4 The Lord will yet have mercy upon them, and his favor will return to them after the full number from among the Gentiles shall have come into the chief place of favor which Israel failed to obtain. R2072:6* Israelites according to the flesh will be the first of the restitution class to be blessed by spiritual Israel. C299; R1342:5 The condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel age has really been a favor from God, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah's Kingdom. R5721:5 They are waiting for the New Covenant—for the blessed arrangement of the Millennial age, under which the Lord declares he will be merciful to them and remember no more their past sins and iniquities. R3916:5 Moses prophesied to Israel that as a result of disobedience they would be scattered throughout the earth, but God, in infinite mercy, would remember them and bring them back to himself. R3071:2 The Book of Hebrews is not addressed to Jews with the intention of converting them, but to Hebrew Christians. It may be a presentation of the gospel specially suitable to prepare Jews for future mercy. R2821:3 Bishop Ryle's Millennial Creed: I believe that the Jews shall ultimately be regathered, as a separate nation, restored to their own land, and converted to the faith of Christ. (2 Cor. 3:16) R2798:6* The "rich man," having received the measurement of punishment for his sins, will walk out of his fiery troubles over the bridge of God's promises yet unfulfilled to that nation. R2605:1 "Ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) When the Gospel Church is completed, the Lord's blessings shall be extended through spiritual and reclaimed natural Israel. R2402:5 Soon there will be the union of Bridegroom and Bride, and then the Kingdom of God will come in power and great glory; and fleshly Israel will be first of the nations to realize its Millennial blessings. R1373:3 As the spiritual blessings were offered to the Jew first, so, in the coming blessing to the families of the earth, the natural seed of Abraham are to be given a place or preference, a priority. R2209:6 After spiritual Zion has been glorified to shine as the sun, that true light will shine first upon the house of Jacob, to whom the call will come, "Arise, shine, thy light is come!" (Isa. 60:1) R2037:4 At the end of this age the re-engrafting of the original branches will take place. R793:5 "I will bring you up out of your graves, and bring you into your own land." God will "plant them again, and they shall be no more plucked up." R258:6, 7:4 With the end of this Gospel age, Israel will be delivered from the torments of these centuries and experience a national resuscitation under the glorious privileges and advantages of the New Covenant. HG429:6 Through our mercy (the spiritual seed of Abraham), natural Israel shall obtain mercy and become the earthly seed of Abraham under the New Covenant arrangement, dispensing the blessings of God to all. R4475:1 The spiritual Messiah, Head and Body, will be able to do for Israel and all who come under that New (Law) Covenant far better things than Moses, mediator of the old Law Covenant, could do. R4453:6 They had no hope; then came Zionism, hope for relief from suffering, but no faith in the Abrahamic promise. Later, we see the Jews growing in trust, strength, wealth, faith. The time for joy is not far off. PD53/65 Do you know that the driving of the Jews out of all nations and the resettlement of many of them in Palestine, now in progress, is another sign of the close of the Gospel age and the dawn of the Millennium? HG315:4

[NTC - Romans 11:32]

Concluded them all— He would make of them a spectacle before the world, and although outcasts from his favor for a time, they should, as a dead nation, be witnesses to his Word throughout the world. R4781:6 Cast Israel aside nationally, that he might bring them as a people to inherit the earthly promises made to them. R1971:6 The ten-tribe nation of Israel fell seven centuries before the time for the beginning of the mercy given at the hands of spiritual Israel (when Jesus came to die, the Just for the unjust). R4820:5 Shut up by Law. R556:4*
That he might— In the Millennial age. R3078:2, 1270:2
Have mercy upon all— All mankind. R1778:6, 1583:1, 1270:2 God will first bless Israel; through those of Israel who are in harmony with him, the blessing will extend to every nation. R4594:1, 3078:2 The rejection of Israel is not permanent—only until the complete number of faithful saints be gathered out from the Gentiles. Then God's favor will return to natural Israel and all the earth.R5495:3 Israel will come more readily into accord with their own leaders of the past than will others; and thus they will again take the most prominent place amongst the nations in the beginning of the Millennium.F178 Recovering every one of them from blindness, bringing them to that full knowledge which will render each without excuse, responsible for his choice of life through obedience to Christ, or "second death." R4781:3 Israel shall be saved from the blindness into which they stumbled in the rejection of Christ; and their recovery then will be the signal for blessings upon the whole world. R2213:1 After Elisha crossed Jordan, he may typify the ancient worthies, showing the New Covenant blessings to come to the world of mankind through the Jews from the glorified Church. R4758:4 The resurrection of "Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the holy prophets" will be to perfect earthly conditions. They will indeed rule the world, and bless it, and Israel will be first to respond. R2983:1 The mercy of God and Christ through the Church to natural Israel and through natural Israel for the blessing of whosoever wills of all the families of the earth. R4646:6 Our Heavenly Father's plan provides not only the special heavenly salvation of the elect Church of this age, but also a general salvation—which, beginning with fleshly Israel, shall extend to all. R3066:2 Israel will become the leading nation of earth, representative of the spiritual Kingdom of God; the Gentiles will come and cooperate; a blessing shall proceed to all the families of the earth. R2996:2 The divine power will operate in and with Messiah's Kingdom, take hold of "Jacob," and lift up that people using them as beacon-lights for the world. R2882:5 One of our exceeding great and precious promises is that Israel according to the flesh shall yet obtain mercy and blessing through our mercy (the kings and priests of the Gospel age). R2138:1 We are to be sharers with Christ in the work of making the Covenant which will go to Israel and through Israel to the world. R4625:4 The New Covenant will be made directly with that nation, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah (31:31)—"after those days" of the sealing of that Covenant by the great Mediator with his blood. R4497:5 His first work will be to pass to the credit of the New Covenant that same "precious blood" which, during this Gospel age, has blessed and comforted the Church. CR59:2 "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by name." (Amos 9:11, 12) HG336:4 This condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel age has been a favor from God, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah's Kingdom. Q357:5 "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more." SM368:T God's mercy extends to the natural Israelites, whom he declares to have been stiff-necked, hard-hearted and rebellious, and also to all who have not had the favors and privileges of that nation. SM533:2 The Lord will assume the guidance and control and blessing and uplifting and restitution of all the willing and obedient—to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. OV88:3 Jerusalem has gates in every direction, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed thereon. Israel is the gateway through which may come the blessings of mankind. R334:1 Through the one man, Christ Jesus. R770:5, 429:3, 363:6 The only begotten Son of God took our human nature that he might be raised with all power in heaven and earth to accomplish the complete deliverance of all by the sacrifice of his humanity. R1583:1 "As the sands of the sea" represents the whole number of the human family who shall ultimately attain the obedience of Abraham, and full human restitution and the Lord's reward of life everlasting. R2854:1 The justice and wisdom of God institutes a law for the propagation of the race that involves all in the Adamic fall and penalty, and the redemption of all by the one offering of Christ. R1565:6 It was a merciful providence that the propagating of the race did not begin until after the fall, so that every member of the race might share the blessings of redemption through Christ. R1552:1 One Savior could not give a ransom for all except that in the case of Adam, there was but one perfect person tried; one only sinned willfully; and hence one perfect being was the corresponding price. R770:4 All die as a result of Adam's unrighteousness. "By God's grace (unmerited favor) we are saved." While we were enemies and sinners, God so loved us that he gave his Son, who tasted "death for every man." R429:6 God condemned all through, or on account of one man's sin, in order that he might have mercy upon all and redeem all by one sacrifice. R363:6

[NTC - Romans 11:33]

Depth of the riches— The lessons in the plan of salvation are not merely for humanity, but also for all the intelligent creatures of God, on every plane of being; and not only for a few centuries, but for all eternity. E486 How grandly systematic and reasonable and just is the divine plan of the ages. R4781:6 Such depths of wisdom and knowledge and grace prove that the plan of God is superhuman. R4455:4 The prophecy of Moses in Deut. 18:15-22 and the fulfillment of that prophecy ("the prophet like unto Moses") in Acts 3 is an example. R1324:5* The boundless unsearchable riches of God's wisdom and favor will be manifested from the Church to Israel, then to the world in general. R793:5 The world was left in ignorance of God's plan until the Gospel age. God gives light and knowledge just as it is due. No wonder that people will be confounded (Ezek. 16:63) when they see how "God so loved the world." R546:1 These verses show that Paul is the clearest eye the Church ever had. What he saw deepened his knowledge of God's plan so that his writings have a fullness possessed by no other New Testament writer. R365:1 God's plan (bed) is longer and wider and higher than the creeds of men, and a man may stretch himself on it and rest, fully covered with the amplitude of God's mercy, love and grace. R207:6
Both of the wisdom— Oh, glorious covenant! luminous with divine love and wisdom. R2209:6
How unsearchable— How useless for us to try to discover his dealings except as he is pleased to reveal his plans to us. R5533:6, 1971:6
Are his judgments— His decisions. E486 His righteous acts. HG303:4
And his ways— His plans. HG303:4
Past finding out— Freedom and sympathy not begotten by the teachings of God's Word, and good desire for the heathen not inspired by God's revelation of his plan, get us far from the true plan of the ages. R1717:1 Past man's conception. HG303:4

[NTC - Romans 11:34]

Who hath known— We are coming to appreciate something about how great our Heavenly Father is. CR87:3 First, in prayer and communion by going into fellowship with God; second, noting what he has to say in his Word. CR88:2 The Heavenly Father kept to himself his great plan and purpose. When our Lord Jesus was discussing some matters pertaining to the setting up of the Kingdom, he said that the Father alone knew his own plans. CR53:2 Those who have no ear to hear are not called. CR88:1
The mind of the Lord— The divine plan is outlined in the Scriptures. R4461:3 God has chosen the plan which most fully exemplifies his unalterable justice, and exhibits the exceeding riches of his grace—his love; his power will be forcibly illustrated in the restoration of man. R1681:5 Who knew that God's plan was so comprehensive? R12:4, 1972:1; CR92:3 He will take us into his banquet house and supply our needs and bring forth that which will strengthen and refresh us. CR87:6 No one ever knew God's mind or character or plan; God had not made a confidant of anybody. Our great Teacher (Acts 1:7) taught his disciples to wait for the Father to make known his plan. CR53:2 How wonderful is our God, infinite in all his qualities! How came all these wonderful things which are written in his book, unless by his own knowledge? SM474:3
His counsellor— Who suggested to the Almighty such infinitely wise arrangements? OV24:2 In this wonderful, economical, judicial, loving and generous arrangement by which we are permitted to share with our Lord in his great work of blessing the world of mankind? CR59:1 God needed no counsellor. R1747:4 God's plan is not of human device, nor assistance. R1778:6, 1270:2 No one had counselled God or directed him or given him the wisdom to make the great plan which he is carrying out. He permitted it and endured it to manifest his character and to test his creation. CR53:2

[NTC - Romans 11:36]

Of him— The whole plan is of God. R324:2, 1778:6, 1270:2 The Almighty has favors to dispense, and it is a matter purely of his own business to whom he shall give them. F171 Only God could be the author of this plan. A Jew would not have planned to graft in Gentiles! A Gentile never would have arranged the original stock and branches to be Jewish and himself a graft. R1972:1 Let us build our faith on the rock foundation which God himself has laid, Jesus Christ, "The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world"—who "died for our sins," not on the sands of men's opinions. (John 1:29) R429:6
Are all things— Certain blessings and favors yet to come upon Israel. R1778:5, 1270:2

[NTC - Romans 12:1]

I beseech you— This exhortation is based upon the preceding statements of the 11th chapter. R5422:2 I entreat you. (Diaglott) R328:2*Addressing the consecrated and believers only. R5422:2; A198; F122, 447; CR1:6, 407:1; OV316:3 Would apply equally to both classes, those who had presented their bodies, and those contemplating doing so. R5422:2 To you who have justification, "peace with God," and have come into harmony with the principles of righteousness, we rejoice; and we do urge you to abide in God's favor by going on to full obedience. F116 The antitypical priests are invited to join with the High Priest in the work of sacrificing necessary to the inauguration of the Mediatorial Kingdom. R4537:5 This is not calling sinners to repentance, but repentant sinners who have already accepted Jesus as their Savior. SM509:2 Nowhere does God command anyone to make a consecration. R5422:3 The divine commands end at the line of justice, righteousness. Sacrifice, self-denial, taking up the cross to follow Jesus, are away beyond the divine law. R4835:3 "Now is the acceptable time." (2 Cor. 6:2) F444 As Isaiah's lips were touched with a live coal from the altar, it illustrated how the saintly ones during this Gospel age have had the required blessing upon their lips to proclaim this divine invitation. R4787:6 It is proper that each one should decide for himself positively, whether or not he has ever accepted the divine invitation to give himself: "My son give me thine heart." (Prov. 23:26) R4783:6 We urge the Vow (as we advised the original consecration vow of this scripture), as in full accord with our original covenant to be dead to sin and self, but the vow is not a test of brotherhood. R4326:6, 4312:1, 4265:5
Therefore, brethren— Therefore, because of the preceding eleven chapters of argumentative, logical, beautiful, instructive, blessed reasoning. R2213:1, 1586:2, 328:2* Those of class "p" in the Gospel age fail to use their justification to go on and present themselves acceptable sacrifices, but they are called "brethren" in the same sense as all in harmony with the Father. A237 Brethren, because justified and thus brought into fellowship with God. F122 Believers—justified by faith in Christ—Levites. T118:T All who have accepted the redemption that is in Christ. R5837:1 An exhortation to those already justified by faith in Christ, and who are therefore brethren of the household of faith. R1586:2;A237; T117 Those addressed are "brethren" of the household of faith, justified believers. Otherwise, being still under condemnation to death, they would have nothing acceptable to offer in sacrifice to God. R1585:3 No one is "called," or invited into this "Body of Christ" except those who already are believers. The blemished of the flock were not acceptable on the Lord's altar under the Law. R1542:2 Believers in Jesus as their Savior, already reckoned restored or justified through faith. R742:2 Because of believing on him who "taketh away the sin of the world," "the propitiation for our sins," they desire to be perfect, and are so reckoned on his account; Paul invites these "brethren" to consecrate. (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2) R469:2* Paul was exhorting those who were "brethren" in Christ, having been "planted together in the likeness of his death" and yet not having made a complete sacrifice. (Rom. 6:5) R99:3* The Apostle was here urging progress on the part of the believers (already brethren, partakers through Christ of divine grace), advancement from "justification by faith" to full consecration. R2285:6, 1586:2 The epistle was written to those already consecrated. But some connected with the Church at Rome had not yet made a consecration. So these words apply to both kinds of believers. R5422:2 These words are properly applicable to two classes: (1) those who are no longer opponents, but sympathetically in harmony with the consecrated; (2) those who have made their consecration. R5031:2; Q156:5 Brethren are: (1) Those who have pledged themselves to the Lord for a reformation (typified in the Levites), and (2) those who have consecrated their lives even unto death (typified in the priests). R3219:5 Who hope to be of the Bride class and to attain the spirit nature. R4629:6 Christ becomes endorser for these who have turned from sin, believed on the Lord Jesus, consecrated themselves. He covers their Adamic sin and guarantees his continued merit if they are faithful. R4634:1 The Lord has pledged to these who have consecrated their lives to him, even unto death, that he will hear them and give to them, according to his wisdom, the experiences and blessings most helpful. R5692:5 Paul is addressing the "elect" body of Christ, Jews and Gentiles, who should know what are the terms and conditions upon which God hath "called" them: suffer and reign. R2213:1 In the strictest sense of the word, the household of faith is the family of God; those who have offered their bodies to God in sacrifice and have been accepted by him and begotten of his holy spirit. SM638:1
By the mercies— Which have been discussed in the preceding eleven chapters. R2213:1, 1586:1 In reviewing God's plan of salvation, Paul had told in Romans 10 of the mercies of God toward all his creatures. The eleventh chapter told of the mercies of God toward both natural Israel and spiritual Israel. R5422:2 The forgiveness of sins already experienced. F122 In the covering of your sins through faith in Christ. F486 Already received. R2486:4 A share of which you have already received in your justification. F448 Justifying you by faith. R4537:5, 4494:4, 4390:2; SM140:T; Q457:T; CR1:6 Paul urges consecration to God on account of the mercies of God as displayed in their justification. Truth relative to the high calling is unfolded to the consecrated later, by degree. R657:6 For centuries granted only to the Jews. R5423:3 Your reconciliation, already accepted. R3918:3 No longer aliens, strangers, foreigners, but redeemed and accepted of the Father. R3265:4 In making provision for our sins, our redemption, and for our restitution as a race. CR406:6, 402:4 These mercies that you have been enjoying while you have been drawing near to God. Q400:T God sent us an invitation to become associates with his Son. R4631:1 Overwhelmed with an appreciation of God's goodness to us, we are ready to hear and obey Paul's exhortation. R4455:2 The individual is typically represented as being a goat that comes and goes clear up to the door of the Tabernacle, and there the High Priest accepts it and kills it as a sacrifice. CR386:6
Of God— In covering your sins through your faith in Christ. F486; R2734:4; Q457:T;CR1:6 Manifest through Christ in our justification. T118:T God's mercies are to a certain extent over all. He sends his sunshine and his rain upon the evil as well as upon the good. (Matt. 5:45) R5423:3
That ye present— Any consecrating after the heavenly class is complete, will find that the Lord has plenty of blessings of some other kind still to give. F157; R4836:4 Do your best. It may be that there is an opening. Consecrate your time, your talents, all that you have, to the service of God. He is a good paymaster; whatever reward he may give you will be a prize. R5168:6 God always gives large rewards to those who manifest their faith and loyalty towards him and his cause. R4836:4, 4574:6 Mal. 3:3 speaks of the "offering in righteousness." The offering now being made to God is the offering of the Church. R4709:4 None but justified believers are thus privileged to present themselves or to be sacrifices upon the Lord's altar. OV316:3 His invitation to become members of the Body of Christ. R4614:3, 2772:5 By consecration. OV242:T; R5775:5, 5035:2; Q609:4 On the basis of faith in the Redeemer's work, the believer may consecrate himself to the divine service, in acceptance of the divine invitation. R5284:3 We hear God's message that he is now selecting a class for the purpose of blessing all the earth. This message reaches our hearts, so we take the Apostle's advice and present our body a living sacrifice. OV403:1 It is not the new creature who does the presenting; there is no new creature at the time the body is presented. R5423:5 Present your body every day. CR407:2; R5532:3, 5422:6 Laying down our lives daily, and hour by hour. R5422:6, 5423:2, 4632:5; CR407:2; Q147:3 Includes not only the primary presentation but a continuation. R5126:3, 5532:3; CR295:6 As our High Priest "offered up himself to God" (Heb 7:27; 9:14), so the under-priesthood must all offer up themselves to God, also. F122 The priestly class are specially devoted to God and his service. This class is sometimes pictured by Aaron's sons and sometimes by the body of Aaron, Christ being the Head. R5873:4 Our Lord has been offering sacrifices for sins as the antitypical High Priest. All of the antitypical priesthood must offer up sacrifices, else they cannot be of the Royal Priesthood. R4354:4 Our Lord Jesus Christ first offered himself up, and then the Church. He as the High Priest first killed his human nature, represented by the bullock in the type. Then he kills the human nature of his Church. CR486:6 On the Day of Atonement, the two goats represented the household of faith, all of God's people who have offered their bodies living sacrifices: (1) willing sacrificers; (2) unwilling sacrificers. R4855:1, 5196:5 There was enough merit in the antitypical bullock to have been applied for the sins of the world. But God's arrangement permitted the Church to share in the sacrifice in order to share in the glory. R5622:2 Only the High Priest had the authority to sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. We should give ourselves to the Lord, as the goat was tied to the door of the Tabernacle for the High Priest to sacrifice. Q576:4 Should not be confounded with the Lord's presentation of us. R4966:1 You can merely do the presenting; the High Priest has to do the offering. CR408:1; R4998:2; Q614:T, 489:6 Since Pentecost Jesus has been accepting and offering as his members such as present their bodies living sacrifices.PD47/59 While we are in a justified attitude, God waits for Christ to present us, our sins forgiven; and this happens when we are ready to be his disciple. Then Christ says, I am ready to be your advocate. Q408:T The Father accepted the gift of Jesus' consecrated life, and permitted that gift to constitute a sin-offering for others. Through this age, the brethren are invited to give themselves to God.R4915:2 We are not making a sin-offering to God, for this we could not do. The divine arrangement accepts our gift through the merit of Christ. Later those gifts will constitute the great sin-offering for the world. Q609:5; R5423:6 Now is the time appointed of the Father as the "acceptable year of the Lord" (Isa. 61:2) when God is willing to receive first the sacrifice of Jesus and then the sacrificing of those justified by his blood. R4505:2 We have entered at this strait gate and upon this narrow way, and have made this covenant of complete sacrifice to the Lord, giving our wills and all earthly rights to him, that his will may be done in us. R5055:3 Be our sacrifice ever so lame and imperfect, it is reckoned holy and without blemish; but it must be a free-will offering, and it must be a whole burnt-offering—not the smallest piece can be kept back. R1133:1 When Paul requested money for the poor at Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8), he wished to inculcate giving from the heart, resulting in giving themselves more completely than ever to the Lord. R4526:4 "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it": "Present your bodies," "Love as brethren," "Run the race set before you," "Add to your moderation, God-likeness," "Let your light shine before men." (John 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:8; Heb. 12:1; 2 Pet. 1:6; Matt. 5:16) R3163:6 "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40) by having all the desires of the flesh (those proper and right, as well as the sinful ones) under subjection and laid daily on God's altar. R1151:4* We consecrate our body (Rom. 12:1), mind (Rom. 8-9), influence (Phil. 3:7), reputation (Luke 6:22), time (1 Pet. 4:2), talents (Rom. 12:6), and substance (1 Cor. 16:2). R465:4* To present our bodies a living sacrifice means to be crucified with Christ, baptized into his death, dead with him as men but alive unto God as new creatures. R328:5* "I lay down my life. No man taketh it from me." (Men might seem to take his life by crucifying him, but they did not.) The believer also sacrifices voluntarily. "And I will raise him up at the last day." (John 10:17, 18; 6:40) R198:3* We are responsible to be immersed if we understand baptism. If we hold back, understanding, we are not fully dead to our own will. If we never understood the symbol, we have no obligation for water baptism. CR412:1 May apply to us from two standpoints, either before we become consecrated (the initial step of consecration), or afterwards (continuing to present our body every day). CR407:1; R5423:1 After an individual has made the presentation of his body for sacrifice, and he has been begotten of the holy Spirit, he is reckoned as a new creature, and God accepts him as a son. R5035:2 It may be that some circumstances awaken them to the need of consecration before taking the step that will enable them to become sons of God. But they must be called of God. R5134:1 Many would rejoice to present their bodies living sacrifices in God's service if a leader would rise and break in pieces the great creed idols of Christendom and liberate the people from bondage to them. R5734:1
Your bodies— Each is to present his own body: "I beseech all ye brethren that you all present your bodies." Q155:4 It is your mortal bodies which you are to sacrifice in the Lord's service. R5422:6, 5423:5 We begin laying down luxuries and worldly advantages and end the service with the actual death of our human self. R942:3 To become members of the Royal Priesthood means a participation with Jesus in the sacrifice of earthly life. PD25/36 Consecrating to God's service every power and talent you possess, thus becoming priests. A226; T118; Q614:3; R4634:1 Includes all you have, your thoughts, words and doings. Q614:3; R5423:6 Full surrender of the flesh and its interests. R4980:1 We have bodies which we are willing to coerce into submission. Q489:T; R4797:6 Their sins that are past are all cleansed; but attaching to the flesh are certain imperfections, which from time to time crop out; the new will must regulate the mortal body. SM430:2 The term "bodies" seems to include all there is of our earthly existence. Jesus gave his life (Matt. 20:28), his body (Heb. 10:10). His all was given as ransom (1 Tim. 2:6). R328:3* If you by faith will present your body a living sacrifice, even if that body is not worth the full value of human perfection, God will impute enough of Christ's merit to supply your deficiency. R5196:2 Such a one gives up all hope or right in a future restitution. R5423:6, 4535:5 Additionally, we forego our share of restitution privileges. However, it is not necessary for one to have an appreciation of the coming restitution blessings in order to sacrifice these. R4900:1 In "the times of restitution," our title to life would have been made good, but we have consecrated that life (reckoned as restored). R914:3 The step which will enable them to become sons of God. R5134:1 According to the flesh, we are no more. We are in the spirit. We have ceased to be, from a human standpoint. We sacrificed our humanity. Q457:T The death of Christ releases us from the Adamic penalty. We die to complete the sacrifice. Not only dead to the world, but really dead. If we have been planted in his death, we shall so be resurrected. R128:2* The Redeemer and Restorer is spiritual, having given up the human a sacrifice for all, and from this spiritual class when highly exalted all blessings must proceed. A294 The Prince of Peace is followed by an army of saints walking in his footsteps, not having slain nor wounded others but having conquered by dying themselves, sacrificing self. R5495:4 Jesus permitted sinful men to take his perfect earthly life without resistance, although he had the power to call for legions of angels for protection. His life, not sinful weaknesses, was his sacrifice. R4835:3 If we would be so honored by a share of his resurrection, we must be faithful now and make our calling and election sure by walking in his steps and finishing the sacrificing of our flesh. R4108:6 Our stewardship is over what we have and not over what we have not. Many let talents they do possess lie idle, while they make unprofitable endeavors to create and use others not given them. R1047:2 Each who has presented himself to God must consider how he can most fully use his all in the service to which he has consecrated it; and he cannot decide by likes, fears, preference or convenience. R1029:2 If your first love has begun to cool a little, thank God for his special message of meat in due season which wonderfully awakens and encourages. Take for your examples Jesus and Paul. R946:3 The goat which was slain represented the bodies of the saints, which they are called upon to sacrifice. The Gospel age is an age of suffering, beginning with the personal sufferings of Christ the Head. R157:2* Pictured by the goat that goes all the way through the court to the door of the Tabernacle, and there the priest accepts it and kills it as a sacrifice. CR386:6; R5423:5 They had not yet apprehended that for which Christ had apprehended them. (Phil. 3:12) That is the "mark"—the winning post—"for the prize of the high calling." Sacrifice is demanded for that. R99:3* The Lord cares for our joy and comfort. He asks only what is for our good—"reasonable service"; and yet he asks all—"your bodies." Self denial, under the Lord's direction, is the surest means of happiness. R21:4* We have been called of God to be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ in all the things that the Father has given him. But if we would share those things we must be faithful unto death; the flesh is to be sacrificed. CR248:3 Thus we are reckoned dead with Christ. CR2:1 Whereas Mormons believe that if they do not at least take one wife they will not be counted worthy, Jesus and Paul commended these sacrifices of earthly rights and privileges. HG732:2* The Apostle asks, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this dead body?" He answers himself by saying that the deliverance comes through a full surrender to Christ, "Present your bodies." (Rom. 7:24, 25) OV316:2
A living sacrifice— The term "sacrifice" is translated from the Greek word, thusia, and means a slaughter, or an animal slaughtered. R328:2* Not merely abstaining from sin; nobody ever had a right to sin. F158 The Scriptures draw a sharp distinction between the natural man and the new creature. Some natural men have very fine characters. A new creature has presented his justified life a living sacrifice. R3913:3 However contrary the desires of the flesh may be to "the law of the Spirit of life," this law must have supreme jurisdiction, and they that are Christ's must crucify the flesh with its passions. R814:2* When we get the scriptural measure of a Christian, it compels us to recognize the fact that there are not many in the world. He not only walks in the way of righteousness, but presents his body a sacrifice. CR62:2 To understand God's dealing in the present time, nominal Christians or mere professors must not be confounded with the Little Flock who have responded to the Gospel call for self-sacrificing saints. OV344:1 You cannot be members of the Body unless you sacrifice. CR49:4; R5465:5; SM140:T; Q610:4 Human sacrifice. PT391:2*; R5086:5 Paul, as well as the Master, intimates that there is a more difficult sacrifice than the offering of praise (Heb. 13:15) and thanksgiving (Psa. 116:17) when we forsake all and take up our cross. R4535:2 The "elect" are to be dead with him, "immersed into his death." OV242:T Dead to the flesh, to self, and everything worldly. R5837:1, 1586:2 "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). The "high calling" costs all we have, though it is also worth all it costs. Some are not willing to pay the price, obedience. R1802:2 A constant surrender of self-will. R5423:2; SM273:1; OV344:1 You shall consecrate and give every power which you possess to God's service; then you shall live not for self, nor for anything but for and in the service of him who bought you with his own precious blood. A226; R273:3 The Little Flock walk in the steps of our Savior and present their bodies living sacrifices in the service of truth and righteousness. SM42:2 Loyal, faithful covenanters consecrate their little all of time, talent, influence, prospects, and maintain this attitude of consecration daily, hourly. R5947:4, 5423:1 Not that you are to commit suicide and destroy your body, but day by day using your strength and life in the Lord's service. R5423:1 The present call of the Church is for those who have the "same mind which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5)—a call for sacrificers. This sacrificing is to forward his cause, to minister, not just to suffer. R5324:1,2, 1586:2 Presenting your bodies includes not only the primary presentation but the continuation of the living sacrifice to the completion of the work. R5126:3 We lose forever all right to life on the human plane, and all right in earthly interests. R5197:1,2, 5423:5 These will not be included in the restoration to Adam's original perfection because they are called out of the world and invited to become new creatures in Christ, sharers in the divine nature. R5318:4 We have been called of the Lord not to restitution, but to sacrifice, and the healing of Paul's eyes would have been a restitution blessing. R4433:4 The only exceptions to the rule of restoration to Adam's original perfection will be those who are now justified by faith in Christ and given the opportunity to present themselves as living sacrifices. Q682:4 It is not necessary to have an appreciation of restitution blessings in order to sacrifice them. Some in the past did not have a full knowledge of the ransom; but they gave up everything. R4900:2 The call was first to a justifying faith in Christ. Then the privilege was offered to these to present themselves as living sacrifices and thus go forward to battle. That is more than weak faith can endure. R1876:4 Not all of the justified have responded to this call or invitation of the Gospel age. The great majority have been satisfied to simply have a measure of reconciliation, and have ignored Paul's exhortation. HG378:4 A Christian goes beyond faith in the precious blood and righteous endeavors and striving against sin to a voluntary surrender of the will and all we possess to the service of God. SM273:1 Our sacrificing does not make us brethren, for all who are freed from sin are brethren; justification, reckoned purity, is on account of Jesus' sacrifice. But the heavenly prize requires our sacrifice. R742:3 Full justification can come to us only after we have made a complete consecration to the Lord. R5775:6 Only by sacrifice could any come into the spirit-begotten relationship with God as "new creatures in Christ Jesus." R4646:2 The only way to obtain justification in God's sight is by the acceptance of Christ and by a full consecration to be his disciples and to join with him in his covenant of sacrifice. (Psa. 50:5) R5027:4; OV280:1 Sinning against the blood that justifies (justified by faith in the blood of Jesus) does not merit second death. Sinning against the blood that sanctifies (sanctified by consecration) merits second death. R4321:4 The call of this age is for sacrificers only—to follow our Redeemer's footsteps of self-denial even unto death. (Matt. 10:39, 2 Tim. 2:12) R4920:3 When we sacrifice ourselves wholly and unreservedly, it includes not merely our hearts, our wills, our intentions, but all they control: our mortal bodies, health, strength, time, talent, influence, money. R3844:5 As the Shepherd (the King's Son) himself was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, the sheep of the Little Flock now being called are to suffer with Christ—with the Lamb of God—are all to be "living sacrifices." R2442:4 A sharer of the sufferings of Christ. E487 The Gospel age call has been, Who will take up the cross and follow me? Who is willing to ignore himself and suffer with Christ? Who will present this human nature a living sacrifice and become dead with him? R442:5 It is our privilege "to be dead with him" and "suffer with him" (2 Tim. 2:11, 12), "to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Col. 1:24). R3683:3 Those begotten of the truth, who hear and obey this call to become joint-sacrificers with Christ Jesus, thus become heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant, joint-heirs with Christ, members of the "seed." R905:5 Our Lord having provided a ransom for Adam's race with his own life, can justly give a new offer of life to all. This offer to the Church is under the covenant of sacrifice. A141 The spiritual nature and reward can be attained only by faithfulness to our covenant of sacrifice even unto death. R5806:6, 4646:2 In view of the sacrifice of the human nature, the gift of God in exchange is, a spiritual nature, and hence the term "new creatures." R2980:4, 4784:3 The Father invites us to come in and be living sacrifices with Christ, partakers of his sufferings (even though Christ is sufficient as a ransom-price for the sins of the whole world) so we may be glorified. R4855:5 Because we are promised to be glorified with Christ, our way is "narrow," difficult, in contrast to the "high way" to eternal life in the Millennium. R4434:4 We are to take up the cross and follow him. We are to suffer with him if we would reign with him. We are to join with him in his covenant of sacrifice. R4807:2 We are assured that if we suffer with him, and be dead in his sacrificial death, we shall also live with him and reign with him in his Mediatorial Kingdom. R4497:6, 5638:4, 4855:5, 2616:6 Those are truly wise have sought the divinely appointed King and bring to him the incense of their devotion, and as gifts all their talents and powers. They lay their very lives at the Savior's feet. R4534:6 The Church is honored in that she is permitted to suffer with her Lord. R4630:1,1586:2 You consecrate wholly, thus becoming priests. T118:T Those called to be members of the Body of Christ, the under priesthood, of which Christ is the High Priest, could consecrate to their office only by sacrifice. R5299:3 The Apostle did not mean that the brethren were to present all their bodies as one sacrifice, but each to present his own body. Q155:4 Jesus has, since Calvary, been completing his "better sacrifices" by presenting the bodies of his saints acceptable to God. R5285:6 Typified by the sacrifice of the Lord's goat. R4035:1 The "better sacrifices" are the antitypical ones begun by our Lord Jesus when he consecrated himself to death at baptism, and participated in by his faithful footstep-followers. R3318:6 The Body of Christ is joined with our Lord in the atonement sacrifice; their sacrifice could not have been acceptable without Jesus' merit. When it is complete, the work of suffering for sin ends. R3000:1, 1262:5 We do not do our own killing, sacrificing ourselves. He does all the sacrificing. Q410:T, 552:3 Keep in sight the intimate relationship and close resemblance between the bullock and the Lord's goat; it should continually stir us up to see that we are being crucified with him if we would reign with him. R245:6 "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins"; God provided the sacrifices of the Law as foreshadowings of the "better sacrifices" of Christ and his followers. (Heb. 9:22, 23) HG418:4 The sacrifice of the antitypical goat class has been in process from the Day of Pentecost. This Gospel age has been the antitypical Day of Atonement in which "the better sacrifices" have been offered. OV106:5 The two goats of the Atonement Day represent God's people who have offered their bodies living sacrifices. Only one of them became a follower of the bullock and had experiences exactly the same as his. Q659:1 Let us lay aside everything precious to us of an earthly kind, that we may run with patience the race set before us (Heb. 12:1). R2702:5 By faithfully exercising your ambassadorship.E490 When God accepts our consecration, he sanctifies or sets us apart to whatever work or office he pleases. R441:3 If you are willing to give time in the Lord's service as part of your "living sacrifice," labor in the vineyard through love of the brethren still in Babylon. They are in danger, but do not realize it. R2456:3 "Love less" your family, your own life; bear your cross; forsake all you have. The terms are plain. No one failing to do this is recognized of the Lord as his disciple or can enjoy the privileges of being one. R2072:1 Keep a sharp lookout on how you can sacrifice your own interests wisely in the competitive business world, even to making a change to some less competitive means of livelihood. R2033:1 Present your bodies. Seek to do all things to the glory of God, that you may glorify him in spirit and mind which are his. Ask the Lord to permit you to be used in his service. Write letters, send tracts. Q614:1 "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." (Psa. 50:5) None are saints without sacrifice. Rev. 11:18 makes a distinction between those who fear God's name and the saints. R156:3* Water baptism is the symbol of joining Christ in his death. It is a witness before the brethren that one has already repented, been justified, and consecrated. HG284:4 Abel's blood cried to God for justice. But Jesus' blood cried to God for mercy on the sinner. By a special covenant, Jesus and his elect Church lay down their lives sacrificially for Adam and his race. PD12/21 This is the only way that we could be with him on the spirit plane. If we retain the human nature, we can never get to heaven. Those not begotten from above may get an earthly blessing, but not the heavenly. Q610:4 "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life." (Matt. 7:14) Now there is just one way. No one has the right to make the terms one whit less than God shows: deny self, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Q399:T Those who accept this invitation are privileged to sacrifice their all of earthly time, talent, wealth, etc. SM430:1; R3870:1 The Great Company neglected opportunities for laying down their lives, their time, influence, money, in the Lord's service. R5423:3 Every member must finish the work of presenting his body a living sacrifice before the epiphania or apokalupsis of the Lord in power and great glory, but not before the parousia. R4543:6In the end of this acceptable day will come the end of all opportunity to sacrifice the human nature and become partakers of the heavenly nature. SM49:T The High Priest of the Melchizedek order does no sacrificing, but is a blessing priest. He had sacrificed in the days of his flesh. SM140:T Few have heeded this message to the Church or the message to the world to live a good life; because the depraved or carnal mind is opposed to the law of God, as a natural consequence, the trouble will come. A309
Holy, acceptable— Whole or complete. Q457:T Justified (reckoned perfect) by faith in Christ's redemptive sacrifice. R5318:4, 1262:5 Counted as holy, justified freely from sin through the merit of the blood of Jesus. R4464:1, 5836:6, 4966:4, 4759:2, 4640:5, 2987:5, 1586:2; Q69:2; CR58:6; SM430:1 Ransomed, justified, and therefore acceptable; otherwise we would have nothing to offer God. A196; F152 We must be justified by faith in Christ before we would have anything acceptable to lay upon God's altar; it must be accepted of God at the hand of our great High Priest before we are his Royal Priesthood. F122 Since God is unwilling to receive as a sacrifice anything that is blemished, we, as members of the blemished and condemned race, could not be acceptable until first we were reckoned justified from all sin. F116; R1586:2 The Church has her Redeemer's merit imputed to her by (because of) faith—to cover the weaknesses and blemishes of her flesh, so that her flesh may be presented holy and acceptable to the Father. R5079:4 Our sacrifice must be without blemish, not filthy nor sinful; we must be justified freely from all things, "holy" through the cleansing that is in the blood of Christ, if we would be acceptable to God. R882:5 The Church must first be "justified freely from all things" before they could in any degree come within the limitations of the high calling. R2629:6, 1262:5 The consecration of our all puts us in the way to be eligible to apply the merit of Jesus, put over us as the wedding garment covering our imperfection. His merit makes us acceptable to God. R5559:6 Our human nature having been redeemed by our Lord's death, must in the sight of Jehovah, be just as pure and perfect as was the human nature of Jesus, for his perfectness was imputed to us. R297:6 To those already consecrated, complete the good work which you have begun. R5423:1, 5031:5 To one who has not completed his consecration, God is willing to accept you through Christ's imputed merit, if you take this step of consecration. R5423:1,4854:6, 4634:1, 4632:4; Q658:4 If they fall into line with the divine provision and present their bodies a living sacrifice, they are met half way by the Lord. R4629:2 The Master appeared in the presence of God, after finishing his sacrificial work, to impute to the believers his covering for their imperfections, and to give them a standing with the Father. R5003:5 Pentecost was the proof that the Church had been ransomed—that justice was satisfied, and that our sins were cancelled. Thereupon the High Priest began at once his secondary offering of his members. R4518:6 Jesus stands as the great Advocate for all those who desire to come in as members of his Body. Through the merit of the Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, the Father justifies us freely. CR173:4 Justification by faith is necessary because nothing unholy or unclean may come to the Lord's altar. R4398:2 Our Lord Jesus, as our great Advocate, makes us acceptable sacrifices; it is only upon our becoming acceptable sacrifices that we can present our bodies; this being done, the Father accepts them. R4764:3 Only because of our relationship to the great Advocate. R4632:4 We do not come to God directly, but through the great High Priest, who imputes his merit, and includes our sacrifice as a part of his own. We have been presented in God's way and have been accepted. R5423:6 Our offerings to Jehovah, our little all, would be unacceptable, because we were children of wrath; but our great High Priest's merit makes them acceptable. "Thanks be to God." (2 Cor. 9:15) HG595:4 When the High Priest presents us to God, covered with his own merit as a robe, we are assured that our sacrifices are acceptable. R5006:5 We are participants in sacrifice, our sacrifice being counted holy by God because of our faith in and relationship to the Great High Priest. R4390:2 Both sacrifices were made by the priest, not by the bullock nor by the goat; when our Lord shall present the blood of his secondary sacrifice (the blood of his Church), he will be presenting "his own blood." R4546:6 Our Lord's death, represented by that of the bullock, applied on behalf of the household of faith, justifies them freely from all sin and permits them to become acceptable sacrifices. R4340:4, 1262:5 Since our Lord sacrificed himself at Calvary (the basis of the New Covenant), he has been completing his "better sacrifices" by presenting the bodies of his saints, holy and acceptable, to God.R5285:6 The Redeemer imputes the merit of his sacrifice to the Church's and makes it acceptable as a part of his own sacrifice. Q376:3 Because Christ becomes endorser for these. R4634:1 Jesus needs his own righteousness, but he no longer needs his right to human life and the righteousness which goes with that right; and so he imputes that to the Church, sufficient to make holy their sacrifice. Q339:1 We have no right to everlasting life—merely a little unexpired scrap of life received from Father Adam. Jesus is empowered by his sacrifice to give the restitution life to us to present in sacrifice. Q141:T Our wills are renewed, but we must bring every thought into harmony with God's will: first learning to follow righteousness; then that which is wholly acceptable to him; and, thirdly, his perfect will. R4830:6 The cleansing of justification by faith is for the very purpose of cleansing us that we might be acceptable sacrifices on his altar. R4493:4 Justification by faith is granted to us for a purpose and for a time—to furnish us the opportunity for sacrificing the earthly restitution rights which Jesus tendered to us. CR58:6 We are justified through faith in Jesus' blood. Thence we have a standing of justification, imputed to us for the purpose of permitting us to sacrifice our human rights. We are "immersed into his death." CR75:6 There is one standard which must be attained before any can be accepted of the Father as members of the Body of Christ. That step is consecration even unto death. Then the Redeemer imputes his merit. CR88:5 "He restoreth my soul" (Psalm 23:3) corresponds with our justification to life. By faith, a complete restoration of soul is granted to the believer, that he might have something to offer in sacrifice to God. R3269:5 "In Christ shall all be made alive." All who by faith lay hold upon this new source of life are reckoned of God as partakers of it so that they can have access to the gospel which began with our Lord. R875:6* Our sacrifices are considered holy because of the imputation of Jesus' merit, which sacrifices God has accepted, begetting the offerer to the new nature as a new creature.R4591:6 Our willing services and sacrifices as new creatures. R4495:1 It is the spirit of the Head coming upon these that produces the sacrifice of the justified flesh. R4398:5 Being graciously reckoned of God as holy through Christ, from the hour of our entire consecration to his will, because our will and effort are to be so, we are to go on striving against our imperfections. R1739:2, 1262:5 Every day, Christians should keep their accounts squared with the Lord. If they come short, they should lose no time in obtaining forgiveness through the merit of the Savior's sacrifice. R5420:5 All members of the Body of Messiah came by way of the cross—through a recognition of their own imperfection, and of Jesus and his sacrifice as the satisfaction for their sins. SM186:T Our sins are graciously covered through the merit of his sacrifice. Our chastisements, therefore, are not penalties for our imperfect flesh, but disciplinary to the intent that we may be complete in him. R3133:4Many seem to think that all that is required is to give a certain portion of our time and substance. Cain came with such a sacrifice, and it was not received. Abel's better sacrifice was accepted. R328:6*Learning from Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, let us seek to bring to the Lord such sacrifices as he is pleased to receive, in the proper spirit, as did our Head. He is our perfect Pattern. R2778:5 Not a tithe, but all that we have (Luke 14:33). So Christ magnified the Law. We are to give all that we can in as direct a way as we can, and the remainder is to be given him in a more indirect way. HG583:1 Sacrifice is not an obligation or requirement. The Father never forces sacrifices; but he accepts them, and now is the acceptable time to present them, and these are the terms of fellowship with him. R5422:3 The 144,000 are justified through faith in Jesus' blood, making their sacrifices acceptable. Their sacrifices are not compelled by justice, and they receive a high reward. R4262:5 As sons and heirs. R1008:4 The Ancient Worthies presented their bodies, their lives, but God was unwilling to accept imperfect creatures at his altar. Jesus' followers have been acceptable because they are made perfect by the Redeemer. R4836:1 Three and a half years after the cross, when God sent the Gospel message to Cornelius, his favors became as open to the Gentile as to the Jew—"the middle wall of partition" was "broken down." (Eph. 2:14)R5101:1 Now is the time that God will accept us. It will not always be an acceptable time. It will cease when the last member of the Bride class has been gathered, and there will be no more sacrifice. CR55:4 Our High Priest will not make application of his ransom-merit for the world until the end of this age when he has finished the use of it for the Church—enabling those drawn of the Father to present themselves. R4832:2 At the end of this age the blood, "holy and acceptable" through Jesus' merit, will be applied "for all the people." R4537:6
Unto God— To whom the price was paid. E450; R685:4 Because our Lord's sacrifice was every way acceptable to the Father. R4546:3, 4965:2, 4390:2; Q489:6
Reasonable service— Faith in the Redeemer, accompanied by a consecration to follow righteousness, brings justification—but does not imply sacrifice. Sacrifice is a voluntary act—not demanded. F152 Every other course is unreasonable, irrational, unwise. R3326:4 To refuse to accept this offer would show a puerility of judgment, a weakness of mind. R5424:1,4 If it was a reasonable service for Jesus, then surely ours is most reasonable. R5423:2 It would be very unreasonable to accept God's marvelous favor and then neglect to live up to the conditions attached. R5423:4 Consecration is the normal attitude for all of God's intelligent creatures. R5134:2, 5477:3, 5423:1 The thankful leper was an example of the character God is seeking. If we have been justified, cleansed, covered, blessed and favored, we should return and prostrate ourselves before him, living sacrifices. R2723:1 Anyone possessed of a sound mind, able to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the present life compared with eternal life in God's Kingdom, must confess that it is reasonable to lay down our lives. R2659:4 Our surrender to the Lord was "the answer of a good conscience toward God." (1 Pet. 3:21) SM345:1 If it was proper that the Israelite should give one-tenth of all his income to benevolent purposes, it is much more proper that we, who have been still more highly favored, should render all unto our God. R2486:4 Would be so if no reward were promised. R1586:2 The only safe course for any of the justified lies in consecration; i.e., in a voluntary and full surrender to Christ. All who realize freedom through Christ's pardon should submit themselves to him. R1066:5 The Lord does not invite us to sacrifice ourselves (now) without any reward.R5423:2 The prize which he attaches makes it unspeakably desirable and precious. R5423:4 Having surrendered our will to the Lord and having started out in the narrow way, we should seek to know what our reasonable service to him would include, what things are approved and disapproved. R5745:1 We should endeavor to find out what the Bible calls "reasonable"—an earnest desire to render thanks to the Lord for his great mercy and love, and to know what is the Lord's will for us that we may do it. R5677:6 Having come to the place where we are recipients of the blessings from heaven and the privilege of this association, we should consider it a reasonable service to present our bodies living sacrifices to him. R3966:2 Thank God that we are not any longer outsiders, that we have heard the Master's voice, and have accepted the Lord's grace provided for us in our Redeemer's sacrifice, and entered into the holy place. CR35:1 This chapter is linked with Psa. 121 and Matt 6:33 as readings for "Happy conclusions." HG474:5 After we have responded to the divine "call" and entered into a covenant of sacrifice with Christ (Psalm 50:5) to be dead with him, then works, self-denials, sufferings, are required. R4494:4 The entire Church is pouring out its soul unto death, a sharer in all of the Lord's sufferings, and she will be a participator in all of his joys and blessings. SM783:1 Reason is continually appealed to and satisfied with reference to divine truth: God expects his people to exercise a reasonable faith, drawn by logical deductions from established premises. R1566:1 Only a new mind, secured through a consecration of one's being to God, will transform the depraved heart. In relying on a burnishing of the intellect only, the world is leaning on a broken staff. R1189:6 People who claim to be Christian have not been taught how to approach God in the right way. They have never passed from condemnation to justification, through faith in Jesus and consecration to God. CR494:5 If some should present themselves after the acceptable time, they would be honored with the Ancient Worthies. Sacrifice is a reasonable service, and God gives large rewards. R4836:2

[NTC - Romans 12:2]

Be not conformed to— Patterned after. R1586:2 Fashioned after. R1096:5* Or bent down to this world. CR4:2 Do not be entangled with the things of this world. The chief duty of the Christian is to devote himself to preparing for the Kingdom of the Lord. Q850:1 Paul does not say, "Do not conform yourselves," but "Be not conformed." We do not conform ourselves; we submit ourselves. R627:1
This world— Our Lord said of his disciples, "They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." (John 17:16) A269 Its ideas, hopes and aims. R1586:2
Be ye transformed— Formed over again. R5325:2, 3674:2; SM431:1, 229:2; CR394:3 Remodeled, changed. R1586:2 Turned upward. CR4:2 We do not transform ourselves; we submit ourselves to the will of God to be transformed by heavenly influences through the Word of God. A203; R5482:4, 627:4 Into his glorious image in our hearts. R5641:3 This does not signify a perfection in the flesh, which is an impossibility, but a perfection of heart, intention, will, endeavor. R5902:1 The Word of Christ has entered into our hearts. Our minds, our aims, our ambitions—everything—are being transformed, are being set on heavenly things. OV429:3 Reach the mental attitude in which divine regulations are not grievous, but really joyous. R4346:1 Our minds are to be filled with holy thoughts of the Lord and his service. R5739:1, 5246:6, 4808:2 The renewing of the mind, not a work in the flesh; although it will affect the flesh to some extent. SM431:1 All who are slaves of the Lord Jesus are voluntary slaves; you can renounce this bondage if you please. But you will find that every time you had to give up your own will you had a greater blessing in return. R5726:4 Divine assurances make strong the weak and give courage not only in respect to the future life but also in the affairs of the present. R5114:4 So that eventually we come to hate the things we once loved and to love the things we once despised. CR475:1; R5739:1, 5726:3 Thereafter matters are to be decided not according to their preferences, but according to principles of justice and love. SM431:1; R5482:4, 4909:4 A second privileged step of faith, beyond the hope of human restitution, is the access into a still higher position of favor, the privilege of being transformed to a higher nature. R1585:3 Made new creatures by the holy Spirit of God. R371:1 To the heavenly nature. A198 There is a transformation of character (from sin to righteousness); but the transformation in this text is a transformation of nature (promised to believers during the Gospel age, on conditions). R626:1 "Mind-cure" teachers realize the power of the mind over the body, thinking this is something new. Satan assists these theories by granting blessings of health, but these are occult powers. SM322:1
By the renewing— The gradual bending heavenward of that which naturally bends earthward. A198 Having it made over. R5246:6 Through faith.R4982:5 It is not until the old creature submits and we are transformed, so far as the will is concerned, that we become new creatures. R4810:2 Through a sanctified will the mind is renewed, transformed; and the desires, hopes and aims begin to gravitate toward the spiritual and unseen things promised, while the human hopes die. R626:2 The process of mortifying the deeds of the body involves a separation from the world. "Though the outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16) R100:1*
Of your mind— Will. R2505:4 "We have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:16) R2130:6; CR4:2 The new mind is the new creature that is being raised out of the dead body. CR469:5 New hopes, aims, ambitions, desires, affections. OV379:1; CR394:3 The Christian's most important life-work. R2123:6 Particularly in the development of benevolence, veneration and spirituality. R2540:6 God wishes to appeal to our reason, because we are thus better developed than in any other way. We are learning to do his will from the teachings of our Lord Jesus and the writings of the apostles. R5482:5 "Sanctify them through thy truth." (John 17:17) It is an error to presume that the sanctifying work can go on better without the truth. R1628:5Endeavoring to think as Christ thought and to do as he did or would do in your circumstances. R1586:2 The spirit of the Lord God is the power or influence exerted upon the minds and hearts of those who have surrendered their own wills and are obedient to the divine will. Q808:4 God is dealing with our spirits, our minds. Through the transforming influence of his Word, he is giving us a new mind; and it is this new mind which he receives into his family. This becomes the new creature. SM350:1 The change of mind from human to spiritual which we experience here is the beginning of the change of nature. It is a very small beginning, but the begetting is always a small beginning. R626:5 We must show the Lord that our mind is continually striving for those things which are good, kind, loving and generous. SM229:3
Prove— Know. R4909:4, 2131:1 An exhortation to study. R1273:1, 1781:5 Come to a knowledge of his will. SM350:4
Good— What is God's will as to our following righteousness. R4830:6
And acceptable— What is wholly acceptable to God. R4830:6
And perfect— He leads us, not contrary to our wills, but in harmony therewith; to prove what is the good, next the acceptable, and finally, the perfect will of God. R5654:3 Those who have thoroughly learned the lessons of this school will be those who have been obedient children. R5482:5 This gradual development is to proceed with those who are spirit-begotten. R4830:6
Will of God— As expressed in his Word. R5489:4 Through the fall, we have lost appreciation of God's will, and hence are exhorted to study to prove what it is. R1781:5, 1273:1 All his ways are perfect, righteous. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness." (Psa. 23:3) He causes me to learn to appreciate the desirableness of his ways and the undesirableness of every other way. R5654:3 It is all-important that our will be entirely consecrated to God and righteousness; and that it strengthen itself in the Lord as it determines the will of God, as expressed in his Word. R5489:4 The divine will now having become our will, we begin to reason, to judge, to think, from the divine standpoint: God's plan is our plan, and God's purposes and ways are ours. R626:2 If, in the very beginning, we have a desire to do God's will and to go on unto perfection, we shall understand it better and be more and more able to perform it. Q53:T Since God expects every member of his family to have a perfect will, it becomes a personal question as to what is the will of God for us. We seek diligently to prove what it is. SM350:3

[NTC - Romans 12:3]

Grace given unto me— Paul foresaw that one of the greatest temptations would be ambition to be highly esteemed. R1586:3
More highly— The truth of God is in accord with the highest development of human reason; but human reason cannot attain full development except under divine instruction. R1566:6 Some may be proud of having the truth or of their ability to serve the truth. R5842:3 The quality of self-conceit is dangerous to Christians. Many of the Lord's people have stumbled into evils by thinking the Lord was giving them private lessons and information not vouchsafed to others. R2461:2 Some overestimate their talents, and waste valuable opportunities in trying to do things for which they have little or no talent, and neglect the exercise of other talents which they do possess. R1628:3
Than he ought— In endeavoring to decide what gifts we possess, the Apostle suggests modesty. R733:3
To think soberly— Not according to the flesh, but according to the new nature. E255 To seek to justly estimate actual talents of ourselves and others, and hence the measure of stewardship and responsibility. F243 A sober estimate of self is a humiliating, not an exalting, exercise; yet it is healthful and beneficial. R2094:3*Such must be the spirit of all who will be permitted to enter into the Kingdom of heaven, on the philosophical principle that humility leads to greatness, and is of itself a great achievement. R1767:2 God's Word and providences bring all followers of Christ to oneness of heart and mind: one is humbled, another exalted. Both learn not to trust in self, but in him who is able to do for them exceedingly. R5114:1 Think of himself soberly. Some are inclined to undervalue their own abilities, and hence fail to be as useful servants of the truth as they might be. R1628:6 Take a sober estimate of one's talents, neither overrating nor underrating them. R1586:3, 1566:6 It is the intoxication that comes from imbibing the spirit of the world that leads to foolish boasting which a man in his sober senses would be ashamed; such intoxication is an abomination in God's sight. R1972:2
As God hath dealt— Through his Word and by his providences. R2811:3 Each of the Lord's servants should seek to use the talent which God has given him. R1638:2 It is the height of presumption for a steward to seek to use talents which the Master has not given him to use. R1047:2 If any man has received much of God's grace, it was because he needed it. R5114:1
To every man— The consecrated ones. R2811:3
The measure— The capacity for faithfulness. R733:4 "God gave not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34) but his followers receive it by measure, or limitedly. E185
Of faith— Greek, pistis, otherwise translated fidelity, assurance. R2811:2 After we have received of the Lord's Spirit our faith may grow exceedingly, so that we will be able to walk by faith and not by sight. R2811:2

[NTC - Romans 12:4]

Not the same office— Each should seek faithfully to use the talents which he possesses. R5225:1 Each should fill his own appointment in the Church, remembering that these gifts are of God who hath set the various members in the Body. R733:3

[NTC - Romans 12:5]

One body in Christ— The Head of the Body, Jesus, controls the Body, thinks for it, plans for it, and uses the various members to assist each other. F73; R5227:3, 1574:5, 295:3 Jesus is Head and ruler of the entire living Church. Where two or three meet in his name he is the Head, ruler and teacher. R295:4, 1574:6 This one body of many members is viewed by the world as inglorious, but Paul anxiously sought membership in the body even at great cost, especially the chief resurrection it will enjoy. R827:6 There must be no schism in the Body of Christ.R4241:2* The mind dwells with delight upon the necessary difference between the individuals constituting the members, and the differences between the members themselves, and yet the beautiful oneness of the whole. R437:4* Every body except one must be spurious and an imitation of the true; yet some deem it wise to unite with "other Christian bodies," and they forget that Papacy is a false "body" under a false "head." R3458:6
One of another— All are useful and needful one to another and each should seek to know his place and to do his part in it for the edification of the Body. R1586:3

[NTC - Romans 12:6]

Gifts differing— While certain servants are chosen by the Lord for special services, yet others are permitted to serve as did Mark, and still others may serve the Church at home, as did Simeon and Lucius and Manaen. R2141:6 Each of the Lord's servants should seek to use the talent which God has given him, and study how best to use his talents for the edification of his hearers. R1638:2 Consecration includes: body (Rom. 12:1), mind (Rom. 8-9), influence (Phil.3:7), reputation (Luke 6:22), time (1 Pet. 4:2), talents (Rom. 12:6), substance (1 Cor. 16:2). R465:4*

[NTC - Romans 12:7]

Or ministry— Serving. R1628:6
Or he that teacheth— He who has a talent for exposition, for making the truth plain. F251

[NTC - Romans 12:8]

On exhortation— He who finds himself possessed of a good talent of exhorting should exercise that talent rather than let it lie dormant while endeavoring to exercise a talent which he does not possess in any special degree. F250
He that giveth— Giving of means. R1628:6 Jehovah is not impoverished, and his cause shall not suffer from lack of funds, but the blessing will be to those who are faithful stewards. R450:5
With simplicity— Without ostentation, but with wisdom. It should not go to assisting error. Know what you are assisting to promulgate as truth. R1629:1
He that ruleth— Presiding. R1628:6
He that sheweth mercy— There are honest people who are mean, truthful people who tell the truth in a combative and repellant manner; in the true Christian, love should produce so generous a sentiment as would ennoble every virtue. R2196:6
With cheerfulness— "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. 9:7) R450:4*

[NTC - Romans 12:9]

Let love— Toward God and toward all, in proportion as they are godlike, or striving to be so. R2213:1 Hypocrisy can be a profession of love which fails to warn of immediate or approaching danger. R416:4*, 664:4
Without dissimulation— Obeying the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren; love one another with a pure heart fervently. (1 Pet. 1:22) R3603:3, 1586:5 Paul puts us on guard against a merely feigned love (hypocritical) which would only outwardly appear kind and polite. R2213:2, 4895:1 Without pretense. R3830:2
Abhor— Not merely to avoid that which is evil. R4895:1, 2213:2 We should intensely oppose the untrue, the impure, the sinful. Sin and selfishness and "the spirit of the world" should be distressing and repugnant to us. The intense hatred of impurity should be cultivated. R2213:2
That which is evil— Shams and pretense. R3830:2
Cleave— Resolutely adhere at all hazards. By the Lord's grace, be cemented to that which is good and pure and noble—the truth, the way, the life. R2213:2

[NTC - Romans 12:10]

Kindly affectioned— Cultivate among yourselves that kind of affection which properly belongs in a family, where the blessing or honor of one member signifies the blessing, honor and advancement of all. R2213:3 Make due allowance for inherited weaknesses; deal patiently and helpfully as wisdom may dictate. R4809:2 We must have love and sympathy, and not merely justice. SM433:2 With increasing light and knowledge and privilege, make progress in all the fruits of the spirit. R3112:4 It is a privilege to entertain brethren. Prepare for "pilgrim" brethren to serve, for they are fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Arrange meetings, and invite your friends and neighbors. R2093:1
With brotherly love— "Love as brethren; be pitiful, be courteous" (1 Pet. 3:8,9). "He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). "Let us not love in word (merely), but in truth (sincerely)" (1 John 3:18). R1845:1 Gratefully remembering the love of Jonathan, David lavished affection and kindness on Jonathan's only survivor, loving him "in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) R2010:6 God's love pervades our hearts so that selfishness has no room there; we should emulate our Lord who, instead of feeling jealous that others should be exalted to the divine nature, expressed joy to have it so. R3553:1 Express your affection with only such manifestations as would be proper between brethren. (1 Pet. 3:8) R2213:3 Dignified, simple, pure, maintaining a proper reserve towards the opposite sex. R1586:5
In honour preferring— Cultivate in yourselves the spirit of humility and loving service. R1987:3 By such kindness as is entirely consistent with the most refined modesty and purity. R1586:5 The apostles would strive amongst themselves before their begetting of the holy Spirit; but that spirit disappeared after Pentecost, and then they loyally supported and upheld and encouraged one another.R5959:1 So long as teachers were recognized as having been God-provided, and so long as they approved themselves by conduct and the Word of God, to the congregation, they had more honor than others. R1848:5
One another— "Let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3). R2011:4 Rejoicing more if honor comes to another than if it came to self. Take pleasure in seeing prosperity come to another. R2213:3, 5959:1

[NTC - Romans 12:11]

Not slothful— Not indifferent to the duties and responsibilities of the present life, such as providing for the family, etc. R1533:4, 2488:1, 873:3 "If any provide not for his own...he hath denied the faith." (1 Tim. 5:8) R2488:1, 873:3 Adjust your temporal affairs as not to be overcharged with the cares of this life. It is right to be charged with them to the extent of diligence. R1865:6 Not overcharged, "But of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7) E259 Not careless, lazy, nor indolent; but prosecute faithfully your duties. Any matter proper to be done should have the intelligent and active attention of him whose duty or privilege it is. R4871:2, 5167:3 It is necessary for us to engage in some kind of occupation in order to secure a livelihood. But we have a nobler business. We devote to the Lord our time and talent and energy. R5335:1 "Do all things as unto the Lord"; and nothing done for the Lord should be done in a slovenly manner. Knowing that few are on the side of God and righteousness, we should battle error and darkness energetically. R2213:3,4 Serving the truth in any and every manner open to us. R2990:1
In business— A very broad signification; any occupation approved of the Lord. R4871:1 Every affair—eating, drinking, and all of this present life. R2213:3 "Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give." (1 Cor. 4:12) R873:3 Especially the Lord's business. R2241:5, 2213:3
Fervent— Greek, "Hot," "Boiling." "I would thou wert cold or hot." (Rev. 3:15) R2213:4, 4871:2 Not nervous, giddy, childish, letting trivial things excite us, but a well-balanced composure which we study and attain in our endeavor to bring ourselves into harmony with the divine arrangement. R5167:3 Immediately at Pentecost, the brethren were privileged to begin a service for the Lord; and the Father allows opposition so that none but those who are fervent in spirit will stand the tests. R5334:5 Only by the exercise of much fervency of spirit, much zeal for the Lord, for the truth and for the brethren, can we hope to stand faithfully and be of assistance to others. R4930:4
In spirit— Greek, pneuma, mind, disposition, character. E318
Serving the Lord— Doing with our might what our hands find to do. R5875:4 The Lord is to be served, and on this account we are to be careful to learn what kind of service is acceptable. R5334:2 Those who have more opportunities for service are less liable to be led into temptation than are those who have fewer. R5201:6 To those who are the Lord's consecrated people it is the greatest privilege imaginable to serve the Lord. R4871:6 Let us use to our best ability the gift or gifts possessed, rather than fail by trying to use other gifts not granted to us. R1628:6 "Fear God, and keep his commandments." (Eccl. 12:13) Solomon had all the selfish comforts that wealth could bestow upon him, but he perceived that there is no comfort except in the thought that God is above all. R1533:1

[NTC - Romans 12:12]

Rejoicing in hope— The trial will not continue forever. R3830:2 We are not to expect to have much in the present life to rejoice in, but our rejoicing is in looking ahead into the future. Doctrinal knowledge is necessary to inspire such hope. R2213:5
In tribulation— Greek, tribulum, a machine used for threshing and cleaning wheat. R2213:5, 4910:5 Paul gloried in physical disasters as parts of the sacrifice he was permitted to make, part of the sufferings he was permitted to endure for the Lord's sake, for the truth's sake. F633 In order that the wheat may be made properly ready for the garner, it is necessary that each grain shall pass through the tribulation necessary to remove those qualities which would render us unfit. R4910:6, 2213:5 Some will continue to walk with the Lord; some will not be driven from him by any of the arts and wiles of the evil one. They are such as are at heart fully the Lord's, not their own. R2258:4
Instant in prayer— God wishes us to be persistent, and our persistence measures and indicates the depth of our desires. R2865:6 Patiently waiting for the Lord's due time, in an attitude of entire sweet submission to his will, assured that if the answer be delayed, the Father has a reason for it. R5481:3 "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers." (1 Pet. 3:12) R1865:2 For grace which is promised according to our needs. R3830:3 We should have stated seasons of prayer and should be continually in the spirit of prayer. R917:1* The degree of our appreciation of the privilege of prayer indicates very well the degree of our love for the Lord. R2213:6 Whoever loses the desire to thank and worship and commune with the Father of mercies may rest assured that he is losing the very spirit of sonship. R2004:6 There is a difference between the "vain repetitions" of the heathen, which our Lord condemned and "in everything giving thanks," and "praying and not fainting," which our Lord and the Apostle enjoined. (Matt. 6:7; 1 Thes. 5:18; Luke 18:1) R5020:1; Q539

[NTC - Romans 12:13]

Distributing to— The Greek signifies, "To make common." R2214:1 Those who have more than they need should share with their brethren in necessity. R917:1*
Necessity— Distresses. R2214:1
Of saints— The truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1 The greatest necessities of the saints are spiritual ones; the truth, therefore, is the greatest gift to such. R917:2* In ministering to our brethren in Christ, we minister to Christ himself. R917:2*
Given to— Going out after, seeking opportunities for. R2214:1
Hospitality— It is toward the brethren of Christ that we should be particularly careful to exercise hospitality. R3432:1 If what we have is plain or common, the hospitable use of it will show our heart-intentions as though it were the best; and some are inclined to entertain lavishly, cultivating pride and going into debt. R2214:1 The reception and entertainment of strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and gracious liberality. R917:4* We lose nothing by the practice of hospitality. The Lord enriches us with his grace. Our hearts are made better. R917:4* "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb. 13:2) R909:6

[NTC - Romans 12:14]

Bless them— The mark of perfect love. R2879:5 Only a heart full of love, sympathy and pity could truly bless its persecutors. R2214:2 It requires grace to bless those who persecute us, but grace shall be given if we seek it. Nothing will so break down those who ill treat us as to manifest a Christian spirit toward them. R917:4*
Persecute you— For the truth's sake. R2214:2
And curse not— Greek, kataraomai, speak evil of. R2443:3, 701:5 To curse our fellow mortals does not become us. R917:5* Signifying the very opposite of blessing. Webster defines "cursed" thus: "Deserving a curse; execrable, hateful, detestable; abominable." Apply any of these synonyms in the place of "cursed." R701:5

[NTC - Romans 12:16]

Be of the same mind— The same disposition. Be sympathetic toward the very humblest brother, as well as the most refined. R2214:2 The oneness of thought, mind and action required of the Church of God. R1130:6*
Mind not high things— Of the world; they exalt themselves against the things which are truly high, which are of God. R5889:5 Do not allow your affections and sentiments merely to go out along ecstatic lines. R2214:2 Popular ideas, methods, etc. R1783:5
But condescend— Come down to them in speech and conduct, for the uplifting and enlightening influence of the truth. R4085:5 As illustrated by our Lord Jesus in preaching to the woman by the well. R2574:4 Like our Master, regard with highest esteem and Christian love those who do the will of our Heavenly Father. R1956:4 Not in a condescending patronizing way, but with true sympathy and love. R1104:3*
Men of low estate— Financially and intellectually. R2214:2 The despised, poor and unpopular. R1783:5 For the privilege of helping them up. R1104:3*
In your own conceits— There is no more dangerous thing than a high opinion of one's own wisdom. This is one of the greatest stumbling-blocks of the ministers of the nominal church. R2214:3Compare with Prov. 3:7. We may well esteem the proverbs to have been supernaturally prepared inasmuch as Solomon was granted a supernatural wisdom in order that he might represent Christ Jesus. R2053:2

[NTC - Romans 12:17]

To no man— Not merely to your brethren, but to all mankind. R5897:5
Evil for evil— Do not follow your natural inclinations to vindicate justice and punish evil-doers. R2214:3 The natural, fallen, unbalanced tendency of all is to render evil for evil, to give as good as we get—and a little more if possible. R5172:3 Seeing that the Lord will equitably adjust human affairs, we can well afford to endure hardness for the present and resist evil with good. R2613:5, 723:1
Provide things— "He that provideth not for his own...hath denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim. 5:8) F578, 488 We are not to rob our families of things needful for their proper care. F577 A reasonable provision should be made for a steward's household, but a faithful steward does not hoard and accumulate so that he can hand down selfishly to his own posterity.R2762:2 Under present conditions, the new creature cannot in all matters do as it would prefer, but must in certain affairs be governed by the obligations of the flesh. F488 We are to "Owe no man anything" (Rom. 13:8). F564; R2214:5 God's people should provide for their own their necessities and such provision shall be honestly made or not at all. R5572:1, 2214:4; OV357:6 In serving an earthly master, we are not to think of this service as conflicting with the service of our Heavenly Father. We are to see that we have been directed to provide things decent. R5313:5
Honest— Few things bring more dishonor upon God's people than dishonesty. God never authorized anyone to go into debt for him. R2214:4

[NTC - Romans 12:18]

Live peaceably— It is not possible to live peaceably with all and still be true to the principles of righteousness, but the interests of peace should be conserved in every proper way by the Lord's representatives. R5980:2, 2214:5, 1068:3; F601 Paul shows in the previous verses the effort we should make for peace; but it is not always possible to secure peace with those about us, even with the most careful manifestation of such a disposition. R1068:3 Though we find things we cannot endorse, we may avoid denunciation of them—especially things having no bearing on the Lord's Word. R4978:6, 2621:6 If we must contend, let us contend for only such things as our Redeemer would have contended for. R4900:4 The children of God should be peacemakers and not peace disturbers. R3348:1 We can in the interests of peace sacrifice our preferences to the wishes of others if we see some good can be gained by such a course. R3266:5 The influence of every word and act should be in accord with law and order and peace. R3242:2 "God's Message on Peace" includes a list of 28 helpful scriptures. R2946:3 If circumstances have placed you among contentious and disagreeable people, here is a good opportunity to show them in your actions, and without the least ostentation, your spirit of self-sacrifice. R756:2 The ambassadors of the Prince of Light are cautioned by him that they must not use carnal methods, but must in meekness correct those who oppose them. They must be subject to "the powers that be." (Rom. 13:1) SM184:3

[NTC - Romans 12:19]

Avenge not— The object of our actions is to secure the repentance and reform of an erring one of an ecclesia—to reclaim the transgressor. Punishment is not ours, but God's. F290Instead of judging in an avenging spirit, the new mind will try to cover the fault. R4241:3* Even if you must treat a critic as a heathen and a publican, outside of your religious and social company, do not cast him outside of your love and care and desire to help. R3801:3*
Place unto wrath— Get out of the way of your opponents and their wrath. R2214:6
Vengeance— God will take care of the vindication of his own justice. R2214:6 We cannot ignore nor deny the wrath of God against sin and sinners which necessitates Christ's role as mediator for man's sin toward God. R787:5 In the Day of Vengeance, that generation will be held responsible for the transgressions of preceding times because, instead of using their advantages to denounce "Dark Ages" doctrines, they re-endorse them. OV58:5
Is mine— The Church has no authority to punish. F290 Instead of attempting to take vengeance upon our adversaries, we should commit our way and theirs to the Lord's keeping. R4488:3, 3798:2
I will repay— Jehovah is the Supreme Judge, and his Law the supreme standard, according to which all decisions must be made respecting life eternal. F396 Many professed Christian ministers ignore the plain teaching of this text and resort to slander, misrepresentation and vilification, even disregarding truth and honesty in making their charges. HG712:4 Feed all enemies and trust to the Lord who will in his due time render vengeance to his enemies. (Deut. 32:41) R1176:2 While the Lord declares himself to be a God of peace, order and love, he also declares himself to be a God of justice, and shows that sin shall not forever triumph in the world, but that it shall be punished. D549 The swelling waves of social and political commotion will spread and involve and engulf all; thus the whole earth will be swept with the besom of destruction, and the haughtiness of man will be brought low. D73 The second advent of our Lord will be a time of tribulation to the world. R3841:5 In the time of trouble, the Day of Vengeance, beginning in 1874. R247:5 "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Eccl. 12:14) R1653:3

[NTC - Romans 12:20]

Feed him— "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee." (Prov. 25:21, 22) R2053:2 Not to show how badly you can make him feel, but because love is the principle of your nature. R2214:6 Illustrated by Elisha's feast to the Syrians who came to take him captive. R3441:5 Whoever are our Lord's enemies must be our enemies, because enemies of the light, the truth, the way; although if they are destitute, we should feed them. R1861:4In time of war, Christians try to starve their "enemy" Christians. Wrong is perpetrated in every direction, divine laws entirely set aside by so-called Christian nations. R5825:2
Thou shalt— When the Millennial age brings everything to light. R1655:1
Fire on his head— We shall by and by do this to those who now persecute us, by blessing them, opening the eyes of their understanding, and helping them onward and upward to a greater knowledge of God. R5145:3 Make him ashamed of his conduct in contrast with yours. R3830:3 When all that are in their graves shall come forth, criminal and victim must face each other, and the heaping of coals of fire on the head will accompany the shame and confusion. R1655:2

[NTC - Romans 12:21]

Overcome of evil— Do not allow the trials of life to make you sour, vindictive, cold or unsympathetic. R3830:3
But overcome evil— Our preparation for our future work will be gained by experiences which touch us with the infirmities of the groaning creation; we must resist evil—not with evil, but with good. R5779:6 Root out; destroy evil by good. R4241:3* Joseph exemplified this advice (Gen. 45:1-15). He took God's view of matters: that it is proper that a certain amount of retribution shall come upon evil-doers, but pity and love should be back of all. R2895:1
With good— Love is the principal thing. R4241:3* It is practicable, and it is preferable. R2215:1 Evil can be overcome with good, in many instances. R2215:4 Keep on doing good, whether it melts the opposition or not. R2215:4

[NTC - Romans 13:1]

Be subject— To earthly powers as respects earthly things. R4317:4 Neither Jesus nor the apostles interfered with earthly rulers in any way. A266 Paul as well as Jesus used argument in his own defense, not only with the mobs, but also before judges; but they never resisted the law. R5005:5 If any commission be given to the Lord's people to execute judgment this side of the veil it would be so explicit as to leave no room for doubt. R5451:4 The spirit of submission, rather than of contention, is enjoined upon the Church in its relationship to the civil ordinances of men. R1553:2 God has not commissioned us to strike the image. The Heavenly Father will do the smiting. Q82:2 To resist all such laws would be to array one's self in violent and fruitless opposition to the whole present order of things. R1464:1* The Lord's people are to be subject to the worldly governments and dominions; but then these are turned over to Jesus and his joint-heirs and God's Kingdom is to be established, never to be removed. Q797:4 Among those things "written aforetime for our edification" is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its divine interpretation through Daniel, illustrating the true Church and the governments of this world. A252 God leaves his Church and all men for a time under the control of earthly governments, assuring us that shortly the kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdom of our Lord and his anointed. R362:5
The higher powers— Except when they conflict with God's laws. A266, F591; R5840:4It is comparatively easy to be subject to the higher powers in civilized lands today. There is at least an endeavor to render a show of justice. R3179:3 It is when we get before our minds a view of the atrocious government which prevailed in the Apostle's day that we get the full scope of this injunction. R3179:3 The people of God should pre-eminently stand for law and order. R4486:3, 5952:5
There is no power but of God— The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence now, but the time of her deliverance is at hand. R1464:1*
The powers that be— The present order of things. R1461:1, 1464:1* God permits them; yet he has full power to make changes. It is not for us to seek to overthrow them. R5526:5, 5466:3, 3179:3 Evil as these Gentile governments have been, they were permitted for a wise purpose. A250 The Lord Jesus and the apostles and the early Church were all law-abiding, though they were separate from and took no share in the governments of this world. A266 During the Gospel age, the Kingdom of Christ has existed only in its incipient stage—without the crown, possessing only the scepter of promise: subject to the "powers that be"—the Gentile kingdoms. B81
Are ordained— Are permitted to rule during the Times of the Gentiles. B81; D77; R5513:1,2685:2, 1464:1* God during the present evil world not only permits Satan to be its prince but also permits the earthly governments of his appointing. R362:5 God gave power to the Gentile governments; we are to recognize them, not fight against them. Q82:2 Jesus and the apostles taught the Church to obey the laws and to respect those in authority because of their office even if they were not personally worthy of their esteem. A266; R1555:5 It is his will that we should suffer injustice rather than expend our strength to interrupt the present order of things. R1464:1* Nebuchadnezzar, the kings of Israel, Pharaoh, and Cyrus of Persia show God's vital interest as to who shall come forward and who shall be retarded when matters affect his plan. Q501:6
Of God— So as to prove the inability of fallen men to govern themselves. A250; D77 The Lord guides in the affairs of nations now, only in so far as such oversight will promote the fulfillment of his own purposes. R5466:5; Q501:7 God decreed that the time of Gentile rule should continue until the appointed time for Christ to reign in righteousness. The powers that be are imperfect but ordained to continue for a time. R1464:1* They are not God's kingdoms; "Gentiles" (as used in Scripture) are "heathen," outsiders, not God's people. But God gave them power, and we are not to seek to disrupt that power. Q82:2

[NTC - Romans 13:2]

Resisteth the power— The follower of Jesus may flee from an adversary, or he may resist him to the extent of proper expostulation, but he is to be thoroughly responsive to all government. R5005:5
Ordinance of God— God has not authorized kings to represent him nor is he responsible for their deeds and acts, but he is so controlling matters as to cause them to outwork his arrangements. Q502:1 We have nothing to do with the making of the social laws which prohibit labor on the first day of the week, but we obey them as civil laws, and find it to be to our profit as well as to our pleasure. R1732:2

[NTC - Romans 13:4]

He is the minister of God— The governments of the earth have a lease of power which carries a certain responsibility; they are to be ministers of justice. R1912:5

[NTC - Romans 13:7]

To all their dues— Custom, fear, honor. R3180:1 Men and rulers; in financial as well as political matters. R3179:6 We owe a real debt to our parents, to our community and government, and to our Creator; for life and many blessings and privileges. R3029:3 We are to be in the world, not as citizens but as aliens—law-abiding aliens, rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. R2002:4; F594 As the Church is to esteem and honor its members according to their ability and usefulness as servants to the whole body, so it should honor mankind in general. R1163:2 The new creature, freed from the rivalries of the flesh, and inspired by the generous impulses of the holy Spirit, has no occasion for rivalry which would hinder the proper appreciation of others. F590 No one has a right to render another less than his due, nor to do injury to another. Discipleship means something more than merely rendering to every man his due. R5005:3 The new creation should be found amongst the most law-abiding of the present time—not agitators, not quarrelsome, not faultfinders. F591 We do not owe it to others to vote or participate in political strifes. R3180:1; F593 We suggest that the followers of Christ seek by every proper means to avoid participation in war. To become a member of the army and to put on a military uniform implies the duties and obligations of a soldier. R5755:4,5928:2 There could be nothing against our conscience in going into the army if unable in any legal and proper manner to obtain exemption. We have no fear of death, but we could not fire upon a fellow creature. R3180:1; F594
Tribute— The tax payable by a subject nation to the principal power. R3180:1 The Church is to pay appointed taxes and to offer no resistance to any established law. A266
Custom— A tariff duty, or tax, levied for the support of the government. R3180:1
Fear— Respectful deference or submission. R3830:5 Reverence, in saluting a representative of the government, in the sense of obedience and duty, regardless of his personal character; different from honor or respect. R3180:2
Honour to whom honour— The new creation sees grounds for faultfinding in the present imperfect arrangements; but they also see that human agitation and revolution is powerless to bring about the perfection of the Kingdom. F591 It is as a help to the right course that Paul points to justice as a consideration for rendering honor, respect and service to whom it is due. R1556:1Kings are not always personally worthy of honor; but honor is always due to the office, which is "ordained of God." (Rom. 13:1) R1555:5, 1163:2 There is danger that some might render too much honor to human instruments. R2079:5

[NTC - Romans 13:8]

Owe no man anything— Habitual petty borrowing indicates improper neglect and troublous annoyance. F569 "Let your moderation be known unto all men." (Phil. 4:5) All expenditures should be curtailed and brought, not only down to the income, but a little less—leaving some for our future, for the Lord, or for the poor. F565 Even to natural Israel, the house of servants, the Lord laid down the injunction that if faithful to him they should be lenders, not borrowers. (Deut. 15:6) F564 The new creature should be glad to acknowledge fully the earthly rights and claims of others—his own rights and claims of an earthly kind having been renounced in favor of the spiritual, the heavenly. F590 New creatures should realize that they are debtors to the Lord to an untold amount, and thus they are to have so generous a feeling toward all mankind that they will desire to pay off every obligation. R3029:3 The Apostle declared that he was a debtor to the Jews and the Greeks. We likewise owe a debt to our parents, to the community in which we live, and to our nation. R3029:3 It is simple justice that our lives shall testify to our appreciation of all, and be a help toward the best interests of each with whom we have to do. R3029:6 Brotherly love could lend or even give, to assist a brother in necessity. F567 Be generous, tender-hearted, err on the side of too great generosity rather than to be hard-hearted, selfish. R5005:6 An obligation of friendship is a lifelong debt—a loan of money or credit on which the friend expected and received no gain or profit. Endeavors to make it good should always remain with the debtor. F566 Families are not responsible for their deceased's debts. F567 Each should be very careful how he goes into debt. If obliged to borrow he should give some security; otherwise, he had better wait until the Lord arranges things some other way. Q61:2 Unless you can give security and pay the debt when it becomes due. R3180:2 The placing of a mortgage on one's property is acceptable. F567 Never jeopardize your own credit, nor risk your own business, nor impoverish your own family in order to help others. F569 The laws concerning bankruptcy may be used in business debts, as the Jubilee canceled Israel's debts. F566
To love one another— We should by love serve one another. R31:6 We can never discharge this obligation, to love. It is upon us every hour of life, and enters into all of life's interests. Other obligations we may meet and be through with, but not this debt. R4401:2 Love may go beyond the law and do more than justice could require—in self-sacrifice—but it cannot do less. R5006:4 This is our obligation toward God, the Church, our families, and all men, even our enemies. R4401:2, 3180:3, 1789:1 God so loved the world, even while they were yet sinners, that he redeemed them at great cost. We also should love them with the same tender compassion; if we love God, we will delight to do so. R1789:2 If we have the spirit of the Lord, we will make every allowance for the infirmities of the flesh, the strength of temptation and the imperfections of knowledge, and know we also are short of perfection. R1712:5 "Let us love, not in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) R32:2 It does not seem necessary or prudent to alarm the world respecting coming distress, but be full of mercy. "None of the wicked shall understand." "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Dan. 12:10; Matt. 6:34) F592
That loveth another— He that loveth all others so that he is constantly seeking to do them good is following the holy law, the perfect will of God. R3029:6 When we thus love, we will watch every word and action, lest we should offend our brother, for we would not hurt the feelings of any one whom we love. R31:6
Hath fulfilled the law— Particular about little parts of the Law, Pharisees were careless with its spirit of love. Jesus declared that his followers must be more right in heart than the Pharisees or they could not be begotten. R5007:4 "The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." (Rom. 8:4) R5005:2 The Ten Commandments were not given to the Church, but the spirit of them is comprehended in the word love, which is the law of the new creation. R4856:5

[NTC - Romans 13:9]

For this— If any follower of Jesus should violate the Ten Commandments and teach men so to do, it would be done through ignorance and misunderstanding, and would mark him as weak, a follower of Jesus on a low plane. R5007:2 We (the followers of Jesus) are not under the Law Covenant, but under Grace. We are to keep the divine law as nearly as we possibly can and to accept by faith God's arrangement—"by his stripes we are healed." (1 Pet. 2:24) R5005:2 The commands of the Decalogue were merely attempts to bring down to the natural man's comprehension the real spirit of the divine Law. R3030:1
Thou shalt not— All of these commands presuppose a fallen condition of mind. R4401:3 These were proper enough for the house of servants, but when the house of sons was instituted, the law of love was substituted. R3030:1
Commit adultery— Self-love and self-gratification lie back of adultery. R4401:3
Kill— Self-love and self-gratification lie back of murder. R4401:3
Steal— A result of selfishness, the opposite of love. R4401:3 Whoever loves his brother would not wish to steal from him either his property or his good name. R5266:1 It would be rather incongruous for the Lord to say this to the Church, for they would have passed from every such condition of mind before they could become his. R4856:5
Bear false witness— The opposite of love. R4401:3
Covet— Selfishness, the opposite of love, leads to coveting the things belonging to another. R4401:3
Other commandment— If there be any other thing that should be prohibited, any other thing contrary to the law of God. R3030:2
Love— Greek, agape, disinterested charity, benevolence. R2807:4 Meets all the requirements of the "shalt nots" of the Ten Commandments, and much more. R3180:4, 3030:2 To love another because he loved us, to give to another in the hope that he would equally befriend us, to do any good act with a hope to have as good or better return, would be selfish. R5005:6 All the commandments are covered in the covenant of love. Those who are in Christ would not injure their neighbor's interests nor in any manner encroach upon his rights. R5006:4
Thy neighbour— In so doing we will be fulfilling the law toward him to the best of our ability. R5006:4 Loving our neighbor would be only a part of the fulfilling of the entire love to God.R3180:4
As thyself— Not as he loves us. R3030:2 The same love to our neighbor that we have for ourselves, the same desire for his welfare, his prosperity, his happiness, his health, reputation, property, feelings. R4401:3 It does not say "Better than thyself:" Christ's course of self-sacrifice in our behalf went beyond this requirement. R3804:6, 3805:1

[NTC - Romans 13:10]

Love— Greek, agape, disinterested love. R2807:5 The mark of Christian character. R2754:1, 4153:6, 2807:4 Without which no other grace of character would be truly beautiful. R2202:2 God is pleased to give his holy Spirit, the spirit of love. Love does not see the faults of others nor is it blind to its own. It is not a general critic or fault-finder. It is sympathetic, helpful. R2590:2 Love delights to bless. Against its pure and benevolent instincts there is no law. It is noble, generous, free, frank, unselfish, kind, tender-hearted, pitiful, helpful and true. R1789:1 None will ever have full divine approval without the full establishment in the heart and character of this divine quality. R4443:2Supreme love to God and the neighbor is that disposition of heart that will make us victorious in every trial and temptation. R3830:5; SM163:T There is a danger of manifesting a brotherly love where it should be withheld, and that in the interest of the brother. R3033:3 "God is love." So when man is restored again to the image of God—"very good"—man also will be a living expression of love. R2607:4 Inherited sin is in strong opposition to this law of love. R5123:4
Worketh no ill— Nor does it wish ill. R5687:5 No injury of any sort. R4401:3 It rejoices not to find flaws; it does not seek for them. R5274:2 But delights itself rather in deeds of kindness and benevolence. R1738:1, 3030:2 Love for all the brethren is a sure indication that we love as new creatures. This love means we will do them no injury, that we will speak no evil respecting them, that we will not even surmise evil. R5348:4 If one willfully injures another, he has to the same extent injured himself.Q798:4 Whoever would work ill to his neighbor, with full knowledge, would not have love. Ignorance, superstition, misunderstanding, and imperfection of the flesh might work ill unintentionally. R4850:1 If we injure our neighbor in word, act or thought, it must have been from a bad motive—unless we did it ignorantly. R4524:1 Some of our Catholic and Protestant friends have worked ill to their neighbors. We cannot say that they had no love, but that they did not have it to the degree required by the Law. R4850:1 "Speak evil of no man." (Titus 3:2) R3030:4 The true soldier starts a campaign against the well-intrenched evils and weaknesses of his fallen flesh. His drill recognizes that perfect love must rule, and that evil speaking comes from evil thinking.R3275:4 The Lord receives us into his school, which means instruction. God purposes that all in this school shall come to the place where their hearts will approve only that which is approved of the Lord. R3275:4
Therefore— This gives us the thought that the Apostle had in mind the Jewish Law and not the law of the New Creation. R4850:2
Love is— Greek, agape, disinterested love. R2807:5 Noble, generous, free, frank, unselfish, kind, tender, pitiful and true. R1789:1 Love expresses the full measure of the Law's requirements. R5287:2 The spirit of God's Law. R614:6; SM11:1 The kind of love epitomized in our Lord's command, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself." (Matt. 22:37, 39) A246 Love might go much further than would justice. And the Church shall love on the highest plane of life. R5072:2 If we have pure, fervent love, and walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. R1188:1 Our warmest affections, our profoundest gratitude, and our implicit faith and obedience should be manifested in our conduct toward our heavenly Father in an effort to learn and do his will. R1117:5* Love for the Lord would prompt one to be obedient to his just commands. Q799:T A loving spirit affects our health and strength, spiritual and physical; our faces will show that we by faith grasp the promises and daily strive to live so as to maintain our relationship with the Lord. SM338:2 Supreme love to God (laying hold upon his mighty power, trusting his wisdom) and then to the neighbor as to self (pure, peaceable, kind) is that disposition of heart that will make us victorious in trial. R3830:5 When we speak of embroidering our robes for the inspection of the Lord or for the marriage, embroidery represents love. SM259:1 The superiority of love is that it will endure throughout eternity. R4042:6 In their endeavor to measure up to the divine standards, some are in danger of erring in an opposite direction—of manifesting a brotherly love where it should be withheld in the interest of the brother. R3033:3 The reward of the "sheep" will be granted because they cultivated love. The Lord will consider their loving deeds as done unto him, counting them his brethren, though they will be human and he divine. R2606:5 When man is restored again to the image of God—"very good"—man also will be love. R195:6, 2607:4, 655:5 Selfishness, the work of the Devil, displaces love. Selfish ambitions have a distracting influence and remove us from the Lord. Anger, malice, hatred, and envy are branches from this root of selfishness. R5099:6
The fulfilling— The "thou shalt nots" might be multiplied indefinitely to fit the thousands of occurrences in daily life, but the one "thou shalt" covers the entire situation. R5287:2 Love to God would lead us to do all those things which are inculcated in his Word; and love for our neighbor would lead us to fulfill all our obligations toward them. R5359:6 Love delights to bless, and against its pure and benevolent instincts there is no law. R1789:1 This text is speaking to "everyone that believeth," for whom "Christ is the end of the Law"; those whose love to God produces a spirit of obedience. "The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us." (Rom. 10:4; 8:4) R315:2 We who are in Christ Jesus have the righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us. R5099:6, 2757:1 Filled full, completely met; requires that the heart shall be full of love. R4850:1, 3030:4 Love shall be the test, not only of his deeds; but also of his words and thoughts. SM11:1 "The end or purpose of the divine commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience." (1 Tim. 1:5) R4153:6 When we were sinners, aliens from God, Christ died for us. Can we not in part repay him by loving in return? If we have his spirit, we will love him; for love begets love. R31:5 Merely abstaining from evil and loving our neighbor as ourselves would not fulfill the law as given to the new creature, but it would fill the Law of justice given to the Jews. R4850:2 The divine law which the Apostle had specially before his mind was the Law given to Israel (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). All the mind and soul and strength are required to fulfill this Law. R4850:1 To be a member of the Royal Priesthood who covenant to lay down their lives as a sacrifice, requires more than mere fulfilling the demands of the Law. It requires love to a self-sacrificing degree. R5644:4 Love for God controls life as respects holiness; and love for the neighbor, as respects earthly justice. R4374:4 If we cultivate and possess the heart quality of love (God-likeness) it will be acceptable—because Jesus' sacrifice makes good all deficiency. R5369:6, 4567:6 Whoever comes short of this law of love in heart intention is unfit for the Kingdom, and will not be of the Little Flock or Great Company. During the Millennial age, all must attain perfect love actually. R4401:2 Whoever has most of it will come nearest to the standard.R3754:4 Jesus told the rich young ruler, "One thing thou lackest." You have not apprehended the spirit of the law. You have been getting the shell, but have overlooked the essence—love. (Mark 10:21) R2728:2 With the world, at the beginning of the new age, it would be a law quite over their heads to say, You should love everybody. They would need to have some simple statements, such as the Decalogue. R4856:5
Of the law— The divine law; especially the Law given to Israel. R4850:1, 5359:6, 2269:4; SM469:1 The law of love is the real law of God. It was written in the perfect nature of the first perfect man, when he was created in God's likeness and image. R1499:2 We have been freed from the letter of the Law by the death of Christ. If we walk after the spirit of the Law (love), there is no condemnation. We may thus have life through Christ. R614:6 The dominion of earth conferred upon man was to be exercised in harmony with the law of love. A246The Ten Commandments were not given to the Church, but the spirit of them is comprehended in the word love, which is the law of the new creation. R4856:5, 4850:1 When man is restored again to the image of God—"very good"—man will be love, as "God is love." R655:5 Those who have made a consecration to the Lord constitute the pure in heart. But the purity of their hearts and wills does not remove the battle they wage. The law of their depraved members is of selfishness. R5123:5 Godlikeness is love-likeness. Our great Creator, the only living and true God, is thus seen in contrast with all the gods of the heathen, who are pitiless, merciless, vengeful, devilish. SM469:2 Human reasoning can be earthly and selfish; while the wisdom from above, reasoning on the basis of a proved divine revelation, is pure, peaceable, gentle. R1567:4 If we have pure and fervent love, and if we walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, the law is reckoned as fulfilled in us. R1188:1

[NTC - Romans 13:11]

And that— Having considered our duty to rulers and neighbors the Apostle next turns to the Christian's duty toward himself. R3180:5
Knowing the time— Knowing that the time is short in which to build up this godlike and Christlike character. R3830:5 The time for the establishment of the Kingdom is very nigh. R5450:3 The near approach of the day of Christ when virtue will meet its just reward. R1789:4 The chronology is the basis of nearly all the suggestions of prophetic interpretations set forth, but the chronology of the Bible is not stated with great clearness: fractions ignored—breaks are in it. R5450:5 Our acceptance of chronology is based on faith that God wished that we might have some knowledge of the times and seasons, and yet wished that it might be so obscure and indefinite as to require our faith. R5450:5 All readers should use their own judgment along the lines of chronology. R5450:6 We look for the Church Federation to reach its climax of organization and power prior to the full ending of the Gospel age and the glorification of the last members of the Church. R5450:6
High time to awake— Greek, egeiro, to arouse, stir. R1512:2 To a closer walk and intimate fellowship with God. R3830:6 Time for earnest searching and self-examination, not allowing things of this present evil world to absorb our thoughts and energies to the imperiling of our heavenly hopes. R5770:3 Each day, week, month and year should find us more awake and more zealous and more appreciative of our wonderful privileges. R4401:6 Let us assist in awakening all the wise virgins from the lethargy which misunderstandings of God's Word have induced. HG264:1 The Apostle was addressing Christians in whom the new life had been begun. But after the early Christian experience of turning from sin to righteousness, there comes later to some a measure of carelessness. R4401:5
Out of sleep— Drowsiness, a spirit of the world, when the beautiful truths lose some of their freshness. R4401:5 Out of ignorance, superstition, blindness, sordidness. R3180:5 Some, surrounded by the cares of this life, or weary in the struggle against sin, have become drowsy, so stand in need of this stirring exhortation. R3830:6
Our salvation— We do not know exactly how many days still remain before that glorious consummation. R5450:2 Only "believers" (in a reckoned sense) grasp "the hope of salvation" and anticipate it by faith. We are "heirs of salvation," and are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." (1 Thes. 5:8; Heb. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:5) R2051:2
Nearer than— We do not know exactly how many days remain before the change of first resurrection; we cannot say positively just what day or hour the Messianic blessings will begin. But they are nearing. R5450:2 This should increase our zeal. R3295:2 As we review the leadings of divine providence, let God's goodness and mercy stimulate our confidence in him. Let us render thanks for the past and lift up our heads, realizing that our deliverance is near. R2738:4 The consummation of this Gospel age is now at the door. It will end in a great time of trouble. The great crisis, the great clash that will consume the ecclesiastical heavens and the earth is very near. R5450:3 The greater nearness should make many features of that salvation much more conspicuous. Thus we see that the foundation has been laid for God's return of favor to humanity—a sin- offering and atonement. HG670:4 Nearer than when the first members of the Body of Christ walked in this narrow way of self-sacrifice. R4513:4 The Apostle wrote after four thousand years had passed and when the fifth was under way. We live when the entire six thousand-year days are in the past and the Millennium is chronologically already begun. R4401:6 The early Church could only speak of time from a general standpoint. They knew that time was passing, the day of deliverance was drawing near, and it was closer at hand than when they had first believed. R3030:5
When we believed— When we first believed. R4513:4 Nothing could shake our faith in the divine plan of the ages—that all the families of the earth will be blessed, that God sent his Son to be man's Redeemer, that the Church has been called to share with Jesus. R5450:2 "Faithful is he who called us, who also will do it." (1 Thes. 5:24) R5450:2

[NTC - Romans 13:12]

The night— That period of darkness which set in after Adam fell. R5097:2 The six days preceding the Millennial age constitute the night time, in which sin abounds, in which "darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people." (Isa. 60:2) R3030:5 The Jewish people had the light of the moon, the Law Covenant and its promises, which shines with a light reflected from the sun. But they often went from the light of their Law and walked in the shadows. R5338:5 This is the time mentioned by the prophet in which "weeping endures for the night." (Psa. 30:5) R3030:5; HG415:4
Is far spent— More than two-thirds gone at the time the Apostle wrote. R3030:5, 5768:3, 3180:6; HG415:4 From whatever standpoint we view the matter, it must be that the night-time of sin is far spent. It must be that the morning of the new dispensation is near. R4401:6 A short time from God's standpoint, and even from the human standpoint it would be a short time to each individual. R3180:6
The day— The Millennial age is reckoned as the seventh day—the Sabbath or rest day. R3030:5 The Millennial age has already begun; the day of the Lord is now at hand, now present. R5769:4, 5770:5, 3830:6, 1155:5 The glorious Sabbath day. R5768:3 The last day, the great seventh day. R5339:4 From different perspectives, the Gospel age may be called day, or the first advent of our Lord, or the Reformation following the Dark Ages, or the present time. But now the Sun of Righteousness will rise. R5097:3We are living in the early dawn of a new dispensation, and as soon as the harvest of the Gospel age shall have been garnered, "the kingdoms of this world" shall "become the Kingdom of our Lord." (Rev. 11:15) R5097:3When virtue will meet its just reward, and when sin and selfishness will be exposed in all their horrid deformity. R1789:4
Is at hand— The apostles and early Church were living in the fifth day. There was only one more day to intervene before the seventh. R5339:5 How much more appropriate is this exhortation to us who are now living—to us who already see with the eye of faith the Day Star, and the first rays of the Millennial morning's light. R3030:5 We are living in the early dawn of a new dispensation. R5097:3, 3180:6 Even now the gray streaks of dawn appear. R3830:6 The Lord designed that the second coming should be constantly an incentive throughout the age. R3180:6 In the great revolutions of thought in this wonderful "Day of Jehovah," it is refreshing to observe that the dim outlines of God's purpose are beginning to dawn upon the minds of sincere thinkers. R1154:2
Cast off— Live in accordance with our citizenship and our responsibilities toward the Prince of Light and in opposition to the prince of darkness, his works and his ways. R5339:6 Because we are no longer in sympathy with the things of darkness. R3030:6
Works of darkness— "Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people." Satan is called the prince of darkness, and he is working in the children of disobedience. (Isa. 60:2; Eph. 2:2) R5338:2 The darkness is the result of ignorance, superstition and misunderstanding—the whole heathen world is in gross darkness. R5769:5 Those things done in the dark; works of sin. These are not done in the open, as a rule. R5769:6 Evil has brought sorrow and the darkness of ignorance and superstition among mankind until human affairs have become demoralized. R5097:2 Injustice. R3030:6 Superstition and ignorance. R5098:1, 5769:5 Everything that is selfish and sinful. R5339:6, 5768:3 Everything pertaining to sin and error. R4401:6 Any works that will not stand the fullest approval in the light of the new dispensation. R3181:1 Things occult, things not in fullest harmony with the Lord. R4402:2 "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thes. 5:22) It would not be consistent with righteousness to do otherwise, as well as abstaining from the evil itself, because we love purity and delight in moral excellence. R1789:4 God's power overrules the wrath of man and makes it to praise him; the remainder, which will not accomplish good, but which would be subversive of the divine arrangements, he will restrain. (Psa. 76:10) R3179:6 The Jews were in darkness in respect to God's plan and the meaning of the promise to Abraham and his seed respecting the blessing of the world. R5769:5
Let us— Who are of the day. R5098:1 The majority of the world would doubtless prefer right rather than wrong if all the conditions were favorable. But the Lord is now calling the ones who say, I will devote my all to do what is right. R5338:3
Put on— That we may stand approved in that day. R1789:4 As our necessary preparation for the trials of this particular time. R3181:1, 4401:6 We have enlisted with Christ, and we will fight against the enemies of our new nature. We will strive earnestly, that we may be associated with the Lord in his Kingdom of righteousness. R5339:6 We change our will and also our outward appearance and habits of life, enabling us to represent our Lord as his ambassadors—changed into our Lord's likeness, as we get clearer views of his glorious character. R3030:6
The armour of light— The armor of righteousness and truth. R3831:1 To protect you, not as a robe, but as an armor over the robe—put on the breastplate of righteousness and take the sword of the spirit. (Eph. 6:14, 17) R5770:1, 3030:6 The armor which protects from the darts of the Adversary, and includes the helmet of salvation. R5339:6 Light is made the Christian's shield, whose beams search into every nook and cranny of earth's impurity. R135:6 The whole armor of God; not a useless weight, but a necessary protection in battle. R5098:1 That we may stand approved in that day. R1789:4 The Christian is learning of his own weaknesses and of God's mercy, and growing strong in battling for the right day by day. R5638:6 Those who will be joint-heirs with Messiah must learn obedience. They must not only be outwardly obedient, but inwardly obedient to the spirit or intent of the Lord's law. R5638:3 The Jews had stars—Abraham, David and the prophets. These were luminaries that shed more or less light upon their pathway. R5338:5 When Jesus came, he was the one chosen of God to be the Light of the world. But he was not this light to all. His light was very local, and sometimes obscure because of the ignorance and blindness prevalent. R5338:6 Wherever the true light of Jesus comes it reproves these works of darkness. R5770:1 The true children of God as candles are to set themselves upon the candlestick (and not to put their light under a bushel) to give light to all in darkness about them.R3030:5

[NTC - Romans 13:13]

Let us walk— Let us daily progress. R5340:4 Live. R4402:2
Honestly— Honest with God, honest with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with the brethren. R3031:2 Not only in money matters, but also in the treatment of neighbors and the brethren, and above all in confessions respecting God and our faith. R5098:3, 3181:3, 3031:2 In the sense of conscientiously, openly, having nothing that we would need to secrete from the whole world, if they were able to understand our motives. R5340:1 Becomingly; in harmony with our faith, our hope, our appreciation of the Lord, our appreciation of the morning light. R4402:1 A pastoral exhortation to be on guard against the sins and principles which generally prevailed. R5770:4
As in the day— As though we were living in the broad daylight. R5098:5 Works of darkness thrive at night. R5770:5 Live as those will be living when the Millennial day shall have fully come. R5770:5, 3181:2 The shadows of night still linger. It is much more difficult now than if the day had fully come and all the allurements of darkness were banished by the bright shining of the Sun of Righteousness. R3031:1 Joy cometh in the morning of the (seventh) Millennium when "the sun of righteousness" shall chase the darkness away, and cause the earth to be filled with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. (Psa. 30:5; Mal. 4:2; 2 Cor. 4:6) R3030:5
Not in rioting— A spirit of anarchy, a lack of orderly behavior. R5341:1 Worldly revelries, time-killing pleasures. R3181:4 Of the grossest sinners nor in the refined figurative reveling of worldliness, fashion and ostentation. R3031:2
And drunkenness— The Spirit of the Lord gives a sober mind, a thoughtful mind, a reasonable mind. Some may become careless in their walk. The only proper course is to avoid all excess and worldliness. R5340:5 Babylon made drunk the inhabitants of the earth with a stupefaction of the mind, a crazed condition. (Rev. 17:2) R5340:5 No saint should ever be intoxicated; no drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of God. "They that tarry long at the wine" reached that condition through habit, expecting that they could be moderate. (Prov. 23:30) R5098:6 One can become intoxicated with pleasure of any kind.R4402:1 Intoxication with the spirit of the world, as respects wealth, business, dress, music, art. R3181:4, 5340:4, 5098:6
Not in chambering— Unlawful intercourse or fellowship—including things of darkness, sins, the occult, things that are not in fullest harmony with the Lord. R4402:2 Inordinateness in sexual matters. R3181:5 We are betrothed to the Lord Jesus, as his Bride and are to be separate from the world, pure in heart, undefiled by wrong union with Babylon. (Rev. 14:4) R3031:4 Improper associations. R3031:4, 5098:5
And wantonness— Selfishness; may apply to refined kinds of self-gratification; pampering of appetites and failure to sacrifice earthly pleasures in the service of the Lord or in doing good to all we contact. R4402:2 In worldliness or sectarianism. R3031:4
Strife— Contention, willfulness, arousing jealousy and ambition on behalf of self or others, for prominence in the Body. R5098:6, 3181:6 We should follow peace, seek to promote the interests of peace in our home, our neighborhood, and amongst the Lord's people. R4402:2 We are not to indulge in strife of the national sort, leading to wars; nor of the commercial sort, leading to injustice and unkind competition; nor amongst the brethren. R3031:4
And envying— Indicating a wrong condition of heart on the part of the transgressor that would eventually bar him from the Kingdom. R5098:6, 3181:5 Jealousy is a fruitful source of much injury in the Church. No other evil quality can lead to more harm to ourselves and others. R4402:3

[NTC - Romans 13:14]

Put ye on— Put on his character. R5641:3, 3181:6 Substitute our garment of the old nature with new clothing, the livery of heaven, so others may know us outwardly as children of God. R4402:3,4 "Your citizenship is in heaven." (Phil. 3:20, Revised Version) R3179:6 Implies a change of will. R3031:4 Put on his loving, generous, noble, pure spirit: study and copy his life, which was an illustration of the perfect law of God. R1789:4
Lord Jesus Christ— The mind or disposition, the spirit of love and loyalty, which characterized him. R5770:4, 3831:1, 1789:4 The work of a life-time. R4402:4 To stop trying to be good, and only give your attention to gaining a knowledge of God's plan, would not lead men to a higher and purer life, as the apostles exhort. R121:1*
Make not provision— The "Vow unto the Lord" is helpful to many along this line. R4402:5 In proportion as we yield to the improper desires of the flesh, in that same proportion the flesh will prosper and the spiritual new nature will languish. R3031:5 We should not shape our affairs so as to yield to any of the demands of the flesh, which are contrary to the will of the Lord. R3031:5, 3181:6; CR455:4 The mind, and the desires, of the flesh are to be considered as mortal enemies. R2336:3 Completely ignore the desires of the old nature, thus manifesting the singleness and fixedness of your purpose to follow him. R1789:4
For the flesh— The flesh generally has its own way; for that reason the overcoming self-sacrificers will be but a Little Flock. R4402:5 For a list of the works of the flesh see Gal. 5:19-21.R121:1*

[NTC - Romans 14:1]

Weak in the faith— "Weak" is the Greek word astheneo, and here denotes moral or spiritual sickness. R4099:2* Faith, in its beginning, is always comparatively weak; but God does not despise the day of small things. "A bruised reed shall he not break." The strong in the faith are taught to bear with the weak. R2163:4* Not fully committed to Christ. R1868:2In bondage. R1734:6 We are not all alike strong in the faith. Some weak in the faith can see that Christ is our Redeemer, but cannot as yet realize the liberty we have in Christ. R974:5, 1734:3
Receive ye— The weaker brethren must be left to the liberty of their conscience and should be received as brethren, and the truth alone must gradually educate them. R974:6, 1734:5
But not to— Do not meet to discuss the unbeliever's doubts, but to confirm the believer's faith. R1868:2, 3019:1
Doubtful disputations— It would be unwise for us to shut and lock the door of interrogation and contrary expressions as thoroughly to exclude all that might be considered error. F318The consideration of secular subjects, worldly sciences and philosophies should be excluded, and only the study of the divine revelation be discussed. F318 The congregation should recognize the difference between the foundation principles of the doctrines of Christ and the discussion of advanced doctrines. F318 The discussion of non-fundamentals should at all times have full, free opportunities to be heard, and there should be meetings at which they can be heard. F318 Controversies should not be heard over and over, and an individual should not be permitted to confuse and distract every meeting and every topic with some particular hobby. F318 Let a hobby be given a fair discussion at an appropriate time, with some well versed in the Truth; if ruled out as unscriptural, let the promoter refrain from intruding the subject for a year. F318 If it is not permitted to express a contrary thought, there is the danger of falling into the condition of Christendom, in which it is impossible to find access to their ears, every approach being guarded. F318 An individual having a theory would not feel satisfied unless it should have a hearing; after having been heard reasonably, he would respect the impropriety of intruding the matter again. F318 Trust that discipline and experience and growth in grace and knowledge will gradually bring him to the liberty which others might reach more quickly. R974:6, 1734:5

[NTC - Romans 14:2]

All things— Used by way of contrast with "herbs only." R1778:2, 1269:4 As we would say, "ate anything and everything." R1778:2, 1269:4
Who is weak— Greek, astheneo, without strength; as in, "Is any sick?" (James 5:14) R4099:2,6* Under bondage to some law under which he thinks himself. R1734:3, 974:5
Eateth herbs— Vegetables only. R974:5, 1734:3, 1269:4
God hath received him— Each should learn to grant the other full liberty of conscience. It should be sufficient for us to know that God accepts even of the weakest ones. R1734:3, 974:5

[NTC - Romans 14:4]

Judgest— Neither the world nor the brethren were capable of judging Paul; only the Lord, who could read the heart, could properly judge him. And we are not to condemn others who claim to be walking as God's children. R2480:2 No one has the right to judge his fellow man in regard to which day he should observe the Sabbath. If anyone presumes to so judge, he is violating a direct command of the Lord. (Col. 2:16) Q824:T
Another man's servant— Temptation to meddle in matters the Lord has put into the hands of another. R4305:3
To his own master— The Lord. R4305:3, 2480:2 It is not ours to judge, but to help the brethren by word, by example, every way. CR38:4
Standeth or falleth— It is for the Lord to approve or disapprove. We are not to grasp management or control, or in any degree to force our views upon others. R4305:3
To make him stand— In their testing or judgment. R3052:5 Because his imperfections are covered by the robe of Christ's righteousness. R3052:514:5
One day above another— It would be well for us to keep Sunday more particularly than any other people in the world; we very likely do. We have a day full of spiritual enjoyment, preaching the Gospel, enjoying its message. R4920:1, 5412:5 Let us reverentially keep Sunday, not as under the bondage of the Law, but as a great privilege and opportunity for fellowship in spiritual things, better than any we could ourselves devise. R4085:1 Some claim that the first day Sabbath was introduced by an edict of one of the popes. But this is a mistake: it had its start in the fact that it was on the first day that our Lord arose and met with the disciples. R1727:4, 1446:5 We have learned to esteem every day as holy unto the Lord, but we shall not offend the conscience of other Christians who regard the first day as holier than the rest; we delight in such a day. R1580:5, 5412:5, 4085:1 Since Jesus has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was contrary to us, and nailed it to his cross, no man should judge us in respect of an holy day, a part of the shadow of things to come. R543:4 The question of Sabbath-keeping is one that depends on the intent of the observer. If he keeps the seventh day as under "Moses' Law," in hope of gaining its blessings, then Christ is profiting them nothing. R543:5 We cannot gain life by keeping the Law, for none can keep it perfectly; to keep the third commandment and to fail in any other point, deprives of life and condemns to death under the Law Covenant. R543:5 Failing to realize that they are all to be counted as days in which his glory is to be sought. HG583:6* The seventh day was commanded in the Law given to the Israelites to be a holy day. That Law is still binding upon the Jews. Q823:4; R5412:5 A Seventh Day Adventist or a Protestant or a Catholic should observe the day that he believes is commanded; it would not be right for him to violate his conscience by doing otherwise. Q823:4
Every day alike— All the days of the week are consecrated to the service of the Lord, and all of the labors of the week are done with an eye single to God's glory. R1557:3, 1727:3, 1446:4 Holy unto the Lord, a sabbath or rest of faith. (Heb. 4:10) R1580:4, 5412:5 A proper time and occasion may occur for explaining our higher thought respecting the significance of the Sabbath. R4084:6 Paul was the Lord's agency in leading the Church in general into true liberty; sometimes he met with the Church on the first day, and sometimes went into the synagogues on the seventh day. R543:5 The Apostle used the opportunities of the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) in the Jewish synagogues, not as a Jew under the Law, but as a Christian free from the Law, esteeming every day alike. R1557:3 Under the Law the seventh day was commanded for rest. He who trusts in Jesus as his justifier rests from attempting to do the work and accepts it as a finished work—a gift of God through Jesus. R543:5 The time for entering by faith into the real rest came at Pentecost. The time for entering actually into the real rest is just at hand, at the ushering in of the new dispensation. R1446:3 The Law was never given to the Gospel Church, but its righteousness (right-meaning) is fulfilled in us. There can be no bondage to the observance of any day. R543:3
Fully persuaded— Each should carry out fully the conviction of his own mind, but not make up his mind and stick to it right or wrong. R1734:4, 974:5 At the same time having patience and consideration for the weaker brethren. R5556:1 We are not to make up our mind what is the will of God for others. R5556:1 The Lord's people must grasp the fundamentals—that all were sinners; that Jesus redeemed us by his sacrifice; that we are being taught and fitted in the school of Christ; and full consecration. F327 Though realizing his liberties in Christ, the Apostle was not anxious to use his liberty except as between the Lord and himself, and such of the brethren as could appreciate the matter. R2118:6
In his own mind— It is a common mistake to attempt to force all to decide on exactly the same conclusion respecting the meaning of the Lord's Word. F326 If he shall make up his mind on this subject, from the foregoing statements of the Apostle, he will be persuaded that there is no law except love. R543:3

[NTC - Romans 14:6]

Regardeth it unto the Lord— We do not consider it wrong to do on Sunday whatever might be done on other days, but our conduct might have an injurious effect upon others and so discount all that we could say to them along religious lines.R4920:1, 5412:4 We should so conduct ourselves in the observance of Sunday as would bring no disrespect to the Lord nor to his Word. R4084:6, 5412:3 What wonder that, without any command to do so, they loved to meet together on that first day, giving thanks, breaking bread, recounting the gracious promises of God and the Lord's explanations of them. R1727:4

[NTC - Romans 14:7]

None of us— Only Christ and the Church have entered in to such a covenant of self-renunciation. R5324:2
Liveth to himself— As for the world, they do live to themselves. Their own personal interests stand first with them. R5324:2

[NTC - Romans 14:8]

Live unto the Lord— To do his will and not our own will, to serve him and not to serve self. R5324:2
Die unto the Lord— In the sense that they are counted as members of the Body of Christ. R5324:2
We are the Lord's— Love is the principal thing. Whoever has love and sympathy most highly developed, the Lord will esteem as highly developed along the lines most essential for a place in his mediatorial Kingdom. R5324:4 One viewpoint of the Lord's will is not as right as the other, and we are to grow to be strong; but we are not to rail at the weak, nor make light of him, nor force him to violate his conscience. R974:6, 1734:5

[NTC - Romans 14:9]

To this end— From the moment that Jesus said, "It is finished," and died, the "crisis" was past. That was the great turning point, the decisive act which legally released man from the bondage of death. R669:2 Jesus, by reason of his "purchase" (a full transfer of man's account, his indebtedness, etc.) with his own precious blood, is now in consequence the owner, master, "Lord, of all." E18 When risen from the dead, he no longer said, "I can of mine own self do nothing"; he then declared, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Him hath God raised up to be prince and Saviour. (John 5:30; Matt. 28:18; Acts 5:31) R745:4Christ became David's Lord and the root from which David must receive life at his resurrection, by virtue of Christ's death. The authority was recognized of God, and declared to men, by Christ's resurrection. R810:1 Jesus is not David's Lord by reason of anything that he was as a spirit being. He became David's superior, "Lord of all," by reason of the great work which he accomplished as the Mediator of the Atonement. E134 Adam was lord of the earth; Jesus died to be lord of the dead, the living, the uttermost parts of the earth. Christ took the natural to redeem the natural; possesses the spiritual to impart the spiritual. R483:6*, 43:5* The work of redeeming by death is not to be confounded with the work of the second Adam, which is to impart spiritual life. Christ did not become the second Adam until he was made a "quickening spirit." (1 Cor. 15:45) R43:5* The penalty of our sin was death. The question was, "Who shall deliver me
from the body of this death?" And the answer points out, "[He] bare our sins in his own body on the tree." (Rom. 7:24; 1 Pet. 2:24) R641:6, 464:1 When the Lord occupies his throne, the Church reigns with him—over all nations, dead and living, else their title "Seed of Abraham" is a misnomer. (Col. 3:4; Gal. 3:29) HG336:5
Christ— This completed Christ, including all who present their bodies a living sacrifice, having suffered and died and lived again glorified, becomes Lord or age-lasting Father of the human family restored. R316:5*
Died— He died that he might thereby have the right to control all who have gone into death. R5612:1, 709:5
Rose, and revived— Our Lord's death, raising and revival were necessary features of the redemptive work. R4633:3 Died and revived—Oldest Greek manuscripts. R1853:6
That he might be— By his death and resurrection. HG359:5 After his resurrection. B133 It was by virtue of our Lord's death that he became the master, ruler, father of the race, and obtained power to deal with the race as with his own children, freed from the curse of the divine sentence. E453 This text very appropriately states the valuable transaction accomplished by our Lord. His death was a necessary feature of the redemptive work; his raising and revival were also necessary. R4633:3 In his resurrection he became the heavenly Lord. A133 Ruler, controller. A149; E18; R726:3*, 709:5, 43:5 Master, owner. R1286:4, 1970:3, 726:3*, 641:6, 464:1, 61:2* Governor. "Lordship" signifies dominion, power, authority. R726:3*, 61:2* David's Lord; Lord of all. E134 Lord of the Sabbath, Lord and Christ, Lord of glory, Lord from heaven, One Lord Jesus Christ, One Lord, one faith, Lord of Jew and Gentile, Lord of angels. R61:2* The Anglo-Saxon word, Hlaford, signifies Breadkeeper, and is applied to one who has the care and control of a family. The title of Lord thus applied to Jesus expresses a glorious fullness of power and love. R61:2* Our Lord, having provided a ransom for Adam's race with his own life, can justly give a new offer of life to them all. A141 With the right and power to deal with the race as with his own children. E453 If you would lay hold of the great salvation of Rom. 10:10, you must publicly and openly confess that Jesus is Lord—your Master; that by his death he purchased you and thus became your owner. R1970:3 1 Cor. 15:21 agrees with this scripture, that the right or authority to awaken the dead, and to bring some or all to perfection, was gained by our Lord by his death as a ransom for all. R1854:6 He could not have been Lord in any other way than by the Father's proclamation. R4633:3 This scripture is cited with others and questions for a model study on the first paragraph of The Divine Plan of the Ages: Upon what sure ground can we hope for the "morning" and its "joy"? R1900:5 Though still speaking of Christ as Lord, some despise and deny the importance and efficacy of the very transaction by which he became Lord. They boldly claim to need no Redeemer. C202 Part of Christ's role as Lord will be that of Judge. Whoever will fail in the new trial of the Millennial judgment day will be sentenced to the second death. R1452:6 "Ye are not your own—ye are bought with a price." "The man Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom." (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6) He did not release all. He arranged that there should be one way to get free—by faith in his sacrifice. R1286:4 Our Lord Jesus Christ, as Jehovah's representative, secured this privilege of reconciliation of sinners with his own precious blood. R1316:5 By virtue of his obedience to death. R810:1, 726:3* No one can escape, either in this age, or the next, of standing a probationary trial for his life at Christ's tribunal. HG41:2
Both of the dead— The dead and dying world of mankind. A150; R1853:6, 1680:4 Christ lived as a man, and died that he might thereby have the right to control all those who have gone into the prisonhouse of death. R5612:1 God commanded Israel to destroy nations. Those people who were slain are in an unconscious sleep, not in any anguish. They will be called from their sleep, and receive all the blessings of everlasting life. R5706:4 It is his voice that shall awaken the dead, and his wisdom and grace that shall lead all the willing and obedient to the realization of full resurrection. R1816:3 The second resurrection will be Christ's work and will take place during his Millennial reign; to restore, or raise up, or give life will be his special work during his reign. R1118:2* The first resurrection will be that of the saints immediately at Christ's coming. R1118:2* "Restitution of all things" implies a restoration of all things, both dead and living, to their original condition or state of perfection lost by Adam's transgression. (Acts 3:21) R1118:5*
And living— The living fallen angels, not condemned to death. A150; R1853:6, 1680:4 Messiah's Kingdom will bless not only the living, but also those who have fallen asleep in death. R5706:4, 5324:2; A149

[NTC - Romans 14:10]

Judge— Greek, krino, judgment or trial. (Not final decision) R2430:2, 2431:5 The word "judgment" signifies more than simply sentencing, or the execution of a sentence. It includes the idea of trial, and a righteous decision based on that trial. R568:6 New creatures are exhorted not to judge the brethren in the sense of condemning them, but rather to judge themselves, and thus help the brethren and set a noble example before the world. R4517:4 Each is to remember that God is the Judge, and to make sure that he himself has a conscience void of offense toward God and man. R4084:4 The Apostle is stringent in his condemnation of judging one another, which so often leads to roots of bitterness, misunderstanding and disfellowship, and which, as old leaven, should be purged out. R3034:6
Thy brother— If we should see blemishes in the flesh of the brethren, disapproved and striven against, we should remember that the evil which we see is our brother's enemy and not the brother himself, the new creature. R4810:5
Set at nought— By ridiculing him, and getting him to violate his conscience. R2167:4
Shall all stand— Either while living, or after death. HG41:2 Each one now accepted as a member of the Church must ultimately stand the inspection of the Head of the Church; for our present membership in his Body is a probationary one.R5324:6 The Church is on trial, and Jesus representing the Father criticizes and examines the members of his Body, not to cut them off, but to aid, encourage, assist, instruct and prepare for the Kingdom. R4084:4 Both the quick and the dead will have their case tried before Christ, the great judge, in due time. R569:1
Before the judgment seat— As we are now before the judgment-seat of Christ, so during the Millennial age the whole world of mankind will be before his judgment-seat and be separated into two classes, sheep and goats. R4084:4 The "judgment of this world," which Christ said began with himself, has, thus far, been a probationary trial for life. The great judgment day is designed expressly for the purpose of placing the world on a probation or trial for life. HG41:2
Of Christ— Who, as the Father's representative throughout the age, has been examining the members of his Body, and in the end of the age renders to each one according as his work has been. R4084:4 Of God—Tischendorf, Rotherham, Revised Version, and all the best authorities. R2425:3* Christ's commandments are our daily rules of life. The Church's judgment is committed to the Son by Jehovah. (John 5:22) The judgment is of the Father and by the Son. R2426:3,4,5 For us to judge others is unnecessary. If we have criticized each other in the past, we should avoid this in the future. R4517:5 The mass of mankind have not had probation in Christ, the only name given under heaven whereby they must be saved. (Acts 4:12) HG41:2

[NTC - Romans 14:11]

Saith the Lord— It is Jehovah's power that will bring about the Millennial victory of The Christ. R3079:5,6
Every knee shall bow— During Messiah's Kingdom of righteousness. CR131:5 To the power then in control. D520 Bowing before the King of kings. SM172:2 When Christ comes to set up his Kingdom in power and great glory for the blessing and salvation of the world. CR131:4 Rev. 21:3-5 is a picture of God's dealings with the children of men on earth, after the glorification of the Church, when all men shall have a full opportunity of coming back to all that was lost by Father Adam. HG234:2 All who were willing to come into harmony will have bowed the knee. R5303:1 The passage to the "Queen's Chamber" is low; the traveler must bow his head. The path of right-doing has always been one of humility. In the Millennium, all will be required to bow to Christ's Kingdom. C369 The Millennial age will break many stony and proud hearts, bringing mankind to a condition to be able to appreciate the grace of God. R1466:1 None could stand before Joshua, the Lord's representative; none of the forces of evil nor the obstructions in the pathway of the fulfillment of God's promises shall stand before the antitypical Joshua. R3079:6 The Redeemer and his followers shall be the kings and priests, clothed with glory, honor and immortality. The King shall rule in righteousness and princes shall execute judgments in the earth. R4331:5 All who refuse shall be destroyed in the second death. R4956:6
And every tongue— Including the fallen angels. R1679:6; HG729:5
Shall confess— To the justice of the arrangement. D520 God's object in providing the Kingdom of Messiah and causing the knowledge of God's glory to fill the earth is to give mankind a better opportunity for repentance and reconciliation with himself. HG647:3,4 Then there will be a downpour of truth and grace which will produce a flood of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord world-wide and ocean-deep. HG432:2 All will be brought to this good confession in the Millennial age, even though they have not all been brought to the knowledge of the truth in this world and some have committed the unpardonable sin. HG15:1

[NTC - Romans 14:12]

Every one— As a consecrated member of the Body of Christ. R2167:2
Shall give account— In due time. R2735:5, 2613:5, 723:4 We are now living in the very time when, preparatory to his reign, the Lord is reckoning with his servants now living, with a view to their appointment to places in the Kingdom he is about to inaugurate. R2736:3 The Lord expects his consecrated people to use the talents they have in their possession, and he will not hold guiltless even those who have the smallest ability to serve him and and who neglect to use it. R2765:1 It is from this standpoint that we interpret the testings and siftings now in progress amongst the consecrated ones in and out of all the sects of Christendom: "The Lord your God proveth you." (Deut. 13:3) R2736:3 In a study of St. Paul's expressions concerning what weapons and in what spirit Christians should gain the victory, this text is listed under the subheading, "Keep your conscience pure." R4479:1* Those of this class who have died in the past of this age would be dealt with first; those accounted worthy have a share in the first resurrection preceding those who are alive and remain at this time. R2736:3 The living must give an account; judgment must pass respecting them; they must either be gathered, as "wheat" into the barn or be left to the field where the "tares" are shortly to be burned. (Matt. 13:30) R2736:4 Elders assume a weighty responsibility. The Lord purchased this flock with the precious blood of the Lamb of God. R4459:1,2 The reckoning is not of an instant; time is granted. Blessed is he who, finding he has not been as faithful as he might have been, now puts forth redoubled energies. Our King is willing to show favor.R2736:4 It will require all of the thousand years to demonstrate who are the friends of righteousness. This is Scripturally represented as the separating of the "goats" from the "sheep." (Matt. 25:32, 33) R2736:6 Some of the citizens misunderstood the King's character; but, perceiving how grossly the "Prince of this World" misrepresented the Prince of Peace, they will become his supporters and rejoice greatly. R2736:5 The punishment which the Lord prescribes for the enemies of righteousness is the second death. R2736:5
To God— The weaker brethren are not to judge and censure others, nor are the stronger brethren to judge and censure the weaker. God is the judge. R4084:4 We are not to gauge ourselves entirely by what our fellow-men might think, but to have special respect to the Lord and his judgment of us. R4084:5 God's people are amenable only to God with respect to their views of his will on minor matters respecting which he has not given positive instructions. R2167:2 The law of love left much more to the judgment of the individual than did the Law given at Sinai. With the law of love, responsibility for decision rests largely with the individual and his own conscience. R4084:2

[NTC - Romans 14:13]

Let us not— None should endeavor to interfere with the proper liberties of conscience and conduct. R3034:6
Therefore judge— Condemn. R4084:5, 5324:3 The Apostle did not mean that the brethren should be watching for an occasion of fault-finding in every word and act; but that they should be so full of love that trivial matters would be passed over. R3034:5,6 The Lord is not establishing a low standard, nor wishing his people to think lightly of their own weaknesses and failures nor that of others. He is setting up a high standard of love, sympathy and kindness. R5324:4 It is not the province of anybody to forbid marriage, directly or indirectly. It is for each of the Lord's people to decide this matter in harmony with his or her own judgment and convictions. R4717:4; Q461:1
One another— Examine yourselves. R845:4 If you wish to measure others up to the full standard of perfection, you are thus recognizing a high standard, and that will make it proper for the Lord to measure you by that high standard. R5324:4 The Apostle had no intention of cultivating a spirit of fault-finding as respects private affairs—use of time or money, etc. These belong to our individual stewardship and proper liberties of conscience. R3034:5
But judge— Greek, krino, judgment, or trial. R2430:1, 2431:5 Examine yourselves. As messengers of God, serve, strengthen, bear up the "feet" of Christ, each member assisting one another, preparing the Bride for the Bridegroom. R845;4
That no man put— It is men in the flesh who cast stumbling-blocks in the way of the saints, and they who remove them. "He shall give his messengers charge over thee, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psa. 91:11, 12) R844:6
A stumblingblock— Wound or injure or cause a stumbling of conscience. R4084:6 To pride or vanity or any other evil thing. R1895:2 No badges of distinction or flattering homage may be tolerated in the Body; many indeed have been the prominent ones in the Church who have been overcome by flatteries—undue praise, worshipful reverence. R1895:2 We should avoid condemning one another—avoid doing anything that would discourage a brother or cause him to fall away from the faith—and content ourselves with encouraging each other in the way. R5324:3 Our liberty in Christ must take care that others are not injured by our use of liberty; for this would be condemned by our law of love. R1734:3 Some, specially prizing the liberty from the Law, used it thoughtlessly to the injury of weaker brethren who had not yet learned of this freedom. R1580:1 We have noticed the force of temptations at the time of the Passover, the liability to "be offended." Let us watch and pray for ourselves and others, and not cast a stumbling-block before our brother. R3178:6 Those who scatter the pestilence, and shoot out the arrows of error, and cast stumbling-blocks in the way, are men in the flesh; and those whom God will use to bear up the "feet" are also human agents. R844:6
An occasion to fall— In a study of St. Paul's expressions concerning weapons and in what spirit Christians should gain the victory, this text is listed under "Consider the Effect upon the Consciences of Others." R4478:1*
In his brother's way— It is a very serious crime against the law of love and against the Lord's injunction, to cause one of his brethren to stumble, but it would also be a crime in his sight for us to stumble others. R3145:6

[NTC - Romans 14:14]

Is nothing unclean— Legally unclean, forbidden as food. R4084:6 The restrictions of the Jewish Law were imposed as tests of their loyalty and obedience. R5324:5 As the mind expanded and grew, it was realized the idols were not gods at all; and hence that the custom of the people to offer the meat to idols before it was sold for consumption had done the meat no harm. R4084:2
Of itself— The Greek word heautou is here translated "itself." Yet the same word is translated "himself" in scriptures where trinitarians want to refer to the holy Spirit as the third person of the trinity. E171 It was not that swine, rabbits and oysters would make the Jew impure in God's sight, but that the restrictions were imposed as tests of his loyalty and obedience to God. R5324:5
To him— If one thought himself under obligations, he would be responsible according to his mind or judgment on the subject. R5324:5 There should be permitted the greatest liberty of conscience. However, we need to discriminate between liberty in the matter of conscience, and liberty in the matter of faith. R2166:2
It is unclean— Unholy. R5324:4 Let us not use our liberty if it cause brethren who do not yet realize it to stumble and violate their consciences. A285

[NTC - Romans 14:15]

If thy brother be grieved— A brother less well-informed on the subject than ourselves. R4517:5 The new creature is his brother's keeper in the sense that he must consider his brother's interests as well as his own. R4006:2 The Roman Jews had experienced trials in their endeavor to observe the Law. When they accepted Christ, they had difficulty realizing that the Covenant under which they had sought to please God was at an end. R4084:2 Paul agreed with the few that an idol was only a piece of handiwork, but he realized that it might require time for some to surmount their prejudices and give their consciences a sure footing on the subject. R4084:3, 5412:2, 4478:3
Destroy not him— By ridiculing his conscientiousness, getting him to violate his conscience, and thus starting him on the downward course which would lead to his destruction. R2167:4 For him to violate his conscience would mean that he had willingly committed sin. R5324:5 The thought that our Heavenly Father has favored and called anyone should make us extremely careful how we would cooperate with the Lord in respect to the call, and be as helpful as possible to them. R3136:3
Control your liberty by the law of love. R4478:6 For whom— We should have special patience with the brethren. R3136:3
Christ died— If Christ loved the world so much as to die for sinners, we should be glad to lay down our lives for the brethren, ready to abstain from the use of trifling liberties for the sake of the weaker. R5324:6 If Christ so loved them that his death was made available to their salvation, we should so love them as to be willing to cooperate for their assistance. R4084:6 The one of broader comprehension should be willing to refrain from eating such meat rather than run the risk of injuring his brother, whom Christ so loved that he died for him. R4006:3

[NTC - Romans 14:16]

Your good— The knowledge and appreciation of your liberties. R5325:1 Your right view of the matter. R2167:4
Be evil spoken of— Through any careless or imprudent conduct. R1586:6 The Apostle urges to more carefulness. R1580:1 Do nothing that to others would seem to be unrighteous. R4084:6 Do not allow your clearer understanding of the meaning of the Sabbath to bring disrespect to the Lord or his Word. R4084:6Do not live in such a way that your good intentions may not exhibit to others your real sentiments. R3305:5 We should deny self, if need be, that others be not caused to stumble. R756:3*

[NTC - Romans 14:17]

The kingdom of God— The Kingdom of God is prominent in the Scriptures; it constitutes the sum and substance of the gospel theme. R1579:3 Parables represent the same Kingdom from different standpoints—the grain of mustard seed, leaven hidden in the meal, treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great value, the net gathered of every kind. R4636:2 The Jews of the early Church were translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, in the sense that they had certain liberties which they did not have under the Law. A285 We are, in embryo, the Kingdom of God. R2167:4, 4085:2 The precious privileges of the Kingdom even in this time of its humiliation—righteousness, peace, joy—are such as the world cannot appreciate. R1580:4 There is a difference between the Kingdom established in glory and power, and the Kingdom in its incipient or formative stage, in its humiliation as it at present exists. R1579:3 To the Kingdom of God in its humiliation belong those prophecies which tell how the Kingdom of heaven must suffer violence and how its members would be despised and counted as offscouring of the world. R1579:6 To the Kingdom established (at the second presence of Christ) belong all the precious promises of its glory. R1579:3 The glorious reign of Messiah for a thousand years. R5097:1
Not meat and drink— Consists of much greater blessings than liberty as to food. A285 Not merely liberty in those things forbidden under the Law. R5918:5, 4517:5, 1580:1 The Pharisees of eighteen centuries ago and the Jews today gradually got away from God's Word and became followers of human tradition. R5096:2 The customs of the Pharisees, of wonderful washings of their persons and vessels, consumed much of their time and were burdensome upon the poor, who had no servants to do these things for them. R5096:5 The Talmud made God's commandment to honor your father and mother null and void, when it said that a man might be free from his parents by consecrating himself and substance to God and religious uses. R5096:6 This statement is misconstrued by some to mean that the Kingdom is not real, and is only a rule of righteousness, joy, and peace in the hearts of believers. R4085:1, 5097:1 Although the Bible is the recognized authority and standard of Christians today, when it is read the gloss or interpretation of the accepted creed is before the mind and veils it. R5096:2
But righteousness— Justification through Christ. R2167:5 The imputed righteousness of Christ, making us acceptable to God as his sons. R1580:1With the righteousness of God always goes divine blessings. CR425:1 Liberty to do right. A285 The advantage of our relationship to the Lord does not consist chiefly in liberty to eat and drink what we please; our chief blessing consists in our "justification and peace and joy in the holy Spirit." R4517:5 Transformed by the renewing of their minds, they had come to appreciate and love righteousness and truth. R5097:4 Christians have all questions left in their own hands with merely the general guidance that they must conscientiously seek to honor God and to do good unto all men in their bodies and spirits which are his. HG368:1
And peace— Toward God through Christ. A285 One of the grand blessings enjoyed as members of the embryo Kingdom class. R5097:4 In the holy Spirit, resulting from our justification. R2167:5, 1580:2, 4517:5 There being now "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8:1) R1580:2 This verse and "Seek peace and pursue it" and "Follow peace with all men" and "God is the author of peace" and "God has called us to peace" are listed with many under "God's Message on Peace." (Psa. 34:14; Heb. 12:14; 1 Cor. 14:33; 7:15) R2946:3 Its blessings of peace and joy and justice will be realized by all the families of the earth. R1579:6
And joy— The joy that comes from the possession of the mind of Christ. R1580:2 The fruits of our new relationship to Christ. R2119:1, 4085:2 These do not constitute the Kingdom, but are blessed results of membership in the Kingdom class. R5918:5 It is Satan's misinterpretation that the Kingdom of God is merely righteousness and holiness of life.R5918:1
In the Holy Ghost— In participating in the holy Spirit of God. A285 Fellowship with the Father and with the Son and with all who possess the spirit of righteousness. R5097:4

[NTC - Romans 14:18]

In these things— Under the heading "God's Message on Peace," scriptures are quoted ("The meek shall delight themselves in abundance of peace," "To the counsellors of peace is joy"), and this closes the article. (Psa. 37:11; Prov. 12:20)R2947:4
Serveth Christ— Surrendering his own rights and liberties. R2167:5 The Apostle did not always choose to exercise his liberties in Christ if he found better opportunities for usefulness by simply neglecting to claim or use liberty. R2119:2
Approved of men— Have the approval of right-thinking men. R4085:4 So far as possible in line with his conscience, Paul sought to be pleasing to all men, disregarding his own advantage and considering chiefly the profit of the many for their salvation. R4007:6 Fellow-men will appreciate such little sacrifices on their behalf. R2167:5

[NTC - Romans 14:19]

Let us— All who have become new creatures in Christ. R3146:5
Therefore— Instead of contending about our rights and privileges and battling to have these. R2167:5
Make for peace— Instead of judging fellow-members of the consecrated Body, we should be full of sympathy for them, realizing that we do not know thoroughly their trials, difficulties, environments, heredities. R5324:3 Consider the motives and endeavors of the new creature, and not the frailties or mistakes of the earthen vessel. R1841:5 By presenting the truth in so kind and gentle a manner that all who are of the truth would appreciate it and be strengthened thereby. R4085:5 This verse and many others, including "Lead a peaceable life," "The wisdom from above is peaceable," and "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace" are included in a list entitled "God's Message on Peace." (1 Tim. 2:2; Jas. 3:17; Isa. 26:3) R2946:6 Amongst those who have accepted Christ as their Savior there should be permitted the greatest liberty of conscience, discriminating between liberty of conscience and liberty of faith. R2166:2 The liberty wherewith Christ makes free allows us to eat without restraint and also the liberty to abstain. The spirit of Christ uses liberty lovingly, to self-sacrifice in the interest of others. R3145:5 Principles may never be abandoned for any consideration, but liberties and personal rights may be ignored in the interest of others, frequently and to divine pleasing. R2119:2 We refuse to use our personal liberties to stumble others, but we should not bow to people in each mental crotchet or superstition. We might attend a nominal church, but not partake of the Mass. R3146:1
One may edify another— In meetings, seek to do good and to get good. R1867:1 Whatever is not to edification is not profitable, and is not to be entertained or practiced regardless of law on the subject. R4006:1 There is great advantage in measuring one's self by growth in love rather than by growth merely in knowledge, though to be great in both knowledge and love would be the ideal condition.R4920:2 A person of feebler reasoning powers may be weaker in every respect, susceptible to others' leadings—into paths which his conscience could not approve, a step toward willful sin—leading even to second death. R3145:5

[NTC - Romans 14:20]

Destroy not— Overthrow not. R4478:6 Do not jeopardize the interests of another merely for the sake of preserving a non-essential. R4085:5,2167:5 Do not even risk injury to the work of God's grace in others by using liberty contrary to their welfare. Count it a privilege to void your rights, to glorify God and bless your fellows. R4517:5, 4478:5
The work of God— The work of grace in your own heart; or, by breaking down the conscience of a weaker brother destroy the work of grace begun in him. R2167:5
All things indeed— All kinds of meat. R4085:3, 2167:5 Now that we are free from the Mosaic Law. R2167:5
Are pure— Clean. R4478:6
Eateth with offence— Eats what he believes is forbidden by God's command. R2167:6

[NTC - Romans 14:21]

It is good— Christian liberty gives us liberty to eat without restraint and it gives us liberty also to abstain—in self-sacrifice, following in the footsteps of the Master, seeking to lay down our life for brethren. R4920:2 No other religious system teaches personal liberty to the degree that it is taught in the Bible. The difficulty is in knowing how to balance our liberties as new creatures with the blemishes of the old nature. R4005:2
Neither to eat flesh— Where there may be a difference of opinion concerning a meat or vegetable diet, each should decide for himself as to which is most beneficial. Paul is not discussing that. R4919:2 Animal sacrifices were offered to idols and the carcasses given to the priests, who sold them through butchers in the markets. It was difficult to avoid eating this meat in the heathen world. R4006:2, 5412:2, 4478:3 The early Christian was not bound to suppose that his meat had been offered to idols; he need not refuse it. He might give thanks for it—unless a fearful brother was stumbled by his eating it. R4006:6 As with Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, fearlessly upholding the principles of righteousness will best serve the Lord and best influence others about us. R4873:6
Nor to drink wine— While there is nothing in Scripture to forbid wine, our liberties should be limited by the surroundings: it was used more then than now, is used in Europe more than here, and the race is weaker now. R4919:5 We should not leave the more important work of preaching the good tidings of the Kingdom to engage in a temperance work; but it is a better cause than almost any other in the world. R4007:1 In the Memorial it would not be wrong to use something that will not tempt any, as a substitute for the wine. R1101:5
Nor any thing— We should not use our liberty in any way that would stumble a brother in any sense of the word, or cause him to violate his conscience. R5324:5, 2167:2 It is part of our privilege and of our contract with the Lord to abstain from anything which would be injurious to others. R4919:2
Whereby— If the interests of the brethren should ever require foregoing of liberties in respect to food or drink, such self-denials would be counted as sacrifices made with joy. R5097:5 The new creature is his brother's keeper in the sense that he must consider his brother's interests as well as his own. R4006:2
Brother stumbleth— By eating meat and causing a weaker brother to violate his conscience. R4919:3, 5556:1, 5324:3, 4873:6 Control your liberty by the law of love. R4478:6 The new creature should allow the spirit of love to so thoroughly fill his own heart that he would be a helper and not a stumbling-block to the brethren. R4006:2 It would also be a crime in the Lord's sight for us to stumble others—those not our brethren—to hinder them from becoming brethren, and of the household of faith. R3145:6
Is made weak— The conscience is the most important thing we have to deal with, and should always be obeyed. We should not seek to break down another's conscience, nor permit our influence to break it down. R4919:3 The brother who cannot conscientiously partake of such meat might have pride or lack courage to follow his convictions, and violate his conscience in trying to keep pace with one who understands liberty. R4006:3

[NTC - Romans 14:22]

Hast thou faith?— Confidence that all kinds of meat are proper to eat, and that, since an idol is really nothing, the meat has really not been injured by being first offered to an idol. R4084:3,2167:3 In the truths of the new dispensation, which enabled the Jewish converts to realize their release from the bondage of the Law Covenant. R1581:2
Have it to thyself— Do not declare all your liberties at times and places which might prove injurious to others. R4084:6, 1581:3 If we advertise our faith and needs, eliciting the sympathies and assistance of men, it is not resting in God to a very great extent. R1159:1*, 2163:2* "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet and pray to thy Father which is in secret. When thou fastest anoint thy head and wash thy face that thou appear not unto men to fast." (Matt. 6:6) R865:1
That condemneth not— Others have the right to commend or advise, but not to command or condemn. R2167:2
Which he alloweth— Does not violate his conscience, whether that conscience is enlightened or not. R1581:5

[NTC - Romans 14:23]

He that doubteth— That is unsettled as to what is right or wrong in any matters. R1581:5
Is damned— Not consigned to eternal torment, but under condemnation, alienation from the Lord, for violating his conscience. Such alienation, if persisted in, might ultimately lead to the second death. R4086:1
If he eat— If in eating he does that which he believes to be wrong. R1581:5
Eateth not of faith— Because his eating, and thereby repudiating the claims of the Law, was not on account of the newly received faith which set him free from the Law. R1581:5
Is not of faith— But a violation of conscience. R1734:5
Is sin— To follow the example of a stronger brother, but feeling that such a course was wrong, the act would be a sin to him. R4920:5, 1994:5 Hypocrisy. R2005:4 If a brother is using reasonable energy to reach a decision, he is not a doubter. His mind is merely in a quandary. He is merely questioning the subject with a view to doing whatever is the Lord's will. R1994:5

[NTC - Romans 15:1]

That are strong— Intellectually, physically and spiritually. R4927:3, 1954:6, 216:5 The elders, older in years, older and more developed in the truth. R4927:6 There are not so many strong; it behooves each of us to become strong and helpful to the weak brethren in the Church. R4995:1 All are not alike strong in the faith, but the stronger should not despise the weaker. Paul approves the stronger, but counsels patience and consideration on their part. R1734:3 Some Corinthian Christians felt that it made no difference whether they partook of meat offered to idols or not, since the meat suffered no change, and since they had no sympathy with the idolatrous worship. R1586:6 All of this world are not equally endowed with perceptive and reasoning powers and judgment and acquisitive propensities. Forceful, intellectual power makes natural leaders. R1954:6
Ought to bear— Stronger ones should not rail at, or make light of, a brother's conscientious weakness, but receive him as a brother, trusting that experience will bring him to the liberty which others reached quickly. R1734:4 If the stronger brethren by sarcasm should try to force the weaker ones to use a liberty which they do not realize, it would be forcing them into sin. R5556:2This does not imply that we should not expostulate with such a one and endeavor to help him to get rid of his infirmity. R5557:4, 4767:1, 3647:2 Weaker brethren should be left to the liberty of their own consciences. Love and truth may be used in hope of educating them to an appreciation of their full privileges as free men in Christ. R5556:2 Be peacemakers amongst the brethren. R4995:1 Because the Lord's people have "this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7) all of which are imperfect through the fall, true love ought to produce in our deportment great self-restraint lest we injure their weakness. R4263:5 As a matter of equity, laws should compensate for inequalities of the fallen race; but the only hope for this is the glorious Millennium; and many will then begin to search for true riches. R1954:6 The great principle set forth is the principle of love, the essence of the divine spirit. R4927:2
The infirmities— In the Body of Christ, the various members have inherited weaknesses, against which they must wage a lifelong warfare; these sometimes interfere with the rights and comforts of others and themselves. R3647:1 The stronger should bear with them in their difficulties as well as bear some of their blunders. R5557:4, 4927:3, 3647:2 They seek the welfare of others as well as of themselves, especially the welfare of the household of faith. R4927:2 The mission of the stronger would be so to call the attention of others to their weaknesses as not to offend or stumble them.R4927:3, 5557:4 All men were not enlightened by the gospel and so relieved from superstition; and the eating of meats offered to idols seemed to them to be an indorsement of idol-worship. R1587:1 The Apostle urges growth to the brother who thinks himself under bondage regarding meat or Sabbath days, and does not teach that this bondage is right considering the liberty we have in Christ. R1734:4
The weak— Intellectually, physically and spiritually. R4927:3 The younger. R4927:6 The weaker ones of the household of faith are to be cared for and loved and helped that they may grow strong in the Lord. R4767:1 Faith, in its beginning, is always comparatively weak: but God does not despise the day of small things. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench." (Matt. 12:20) R2163:4* It should be sufficient to know that God accepts even the weakest one—weak in the faith, under bondage to fast days—who thinks that our Redeemer wishes him to be bound by such ordinances. R1734:4
Please ourselves— Principles may never be abandoned for any consideration; but liberties and personal rights may be ignored in the interest of others frequently and to divine pleasing. R4928:4,5557:2, 5412:2, 4927:6 Use care that others are not injured by our liberty in Christ. R5555:3 We should look beyond our own preferences, seeking to arrange our own affairs so as to be most helpful to the brethren. R4928:1 Too often the Lord's people fellowship with those of the brethren most congenial to them in cultivation or in advancement. Rather, we are to "cover the blemishes" of those who are weak and out of the way. R4269:5 The Apostle does not teach that each should make up his mind and stick to it, whether right or wrong. R1734:4 We are not merely to please ourselves in respect to time and place of meetings. R4928:1 The elders and deacons should seek to arrange their meetings so as to assist all the congregation who have time and ability, etc., that all will feel that there is no class separation. R4928:4

[NTC - Romans 15:2]

Every one of us— Not "The younger" nor "The older" but every one of us. R5412:1 We should deny self rather than injure another's conscience. R5412:2While the new creature should have his own upbuilding prominent in his mind, he should also remember that he has a responsibility in being a member of Christ and be willing to serve others. R4927:6 He who does not learn to sacrifice his own preferences in the interests of others, will never have that character which the Lord demands of those who shall be joint-heirs with himself in the Kingdom. R4479:4
Please— It is not possible for us to please all people. The direction of our energies should be for their good as we have opportunity. We should rouse them to love and good works as far as possible. R5556:4 According to right principles. R5413:4 Even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1 Cor. 10:33) R4479:1 If every Christian could apply these words to himself, the effect upon the world would be magical—energizing. They would see in Christians a renouncement of their own preferences in the interests of others. R4479:4
His neighbor— Those closest to us: the brethren, our families, and then others. No amount of zeal for the service of the truth will excuse us from the duties which we owe to our families. R5557:1His brother; patiently submitting to the discomfort his errors entail. R4767:4, 3647:2 We have a responsibility towards those who are not so strong or not so clearly informed as ourselves—a responsibility that we will not wish to pass by if our hearts are in tune with the spirit of divine love. R4479:4
For his good— Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good. (1 Cor. 10:24) R4478:6 This does not mean that we should necessarily please them according to the flesh. Rather, "Stir up their pure minds," their spiritual minds, to love and faith and zeal, to good works. R5556:4 Should all those now enjoying present truth resolve to live up to the standard of the Lord, what an influence it would bring, what an influence would extend from their words, their thoughts, their deeds! R4479:4
To edification— To assist, uplift, upbuild, primarily in spiritual things. R5412:6 Not by ignoring his fault, but by kindly urging him to strive against it. R4767:4, 3647:2 All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1 Cor. 10:23) R4478:6 Our general conduct, conversation, manners, dress, etc., should all be to the glory of God. R1587:4 We are not to descend to the world's methods. If we cannot please them by that which is good, we are to avoid unnecessary contact. R5556:5

[NTC - Romans 15:3]

For even Christ— Those who deny themselves what their consciences permit, have the greater blessing. They can realize in an additional degree that they are following in the Master's steps. R5556:2, 1734:4 We are enlisted under the banner of Christ, which is the banner of love. We are to look well to the rules which belong to this new order of things of which we have become members. R5556:3
Pleased not himself— Christ sacrificed his own spirit, and was filled with the spirit of God. "The words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63) They express the mind of God, in giving heed to which is life.R371:5 He was not in the world to seek to do the things pleasing to his own flesh. He renounced his own fleshly interests and gratification for the benefit of mankind. R5556:3 So we are to give thought and time to pleasing others where this will not conflict with our consecration. R5656:5, 1734:4 Lev. 2:11 forbade honey, to teach that whatever is sweet to nature must be disowned, if we would walk after the example of Christ who pleased not himself. R84:5* Jonah was more interested in himself and his own reputation than in the Ninevites and their interests. The Lord's servants must not be so! R4785:6
Reproaches— The reproaches of the Scribes and Pharisees were evidently the most cutting of all. R2316:4, 1964:4 "Let us go to him without the camp bearing the reproach with him." (Heb. 13:13)R3776:5
Fell on me— Whoever will faithfully exercise his ambassadorship, can so say. E490; R1964:5 This does not mean that the disciples of Christ are to seek their own misery, but they are to give their thought and time to pleasing others rather than themselves. R5556:6

[NTC - Romans 15:4]

Written aforetime— In the Old Testament. R5607:2 It is a great mistake to affirm that the Bible is the product of the Church. The Old Testament Scriptures were written before the Church came into being—before Christ, the head and forerunner of the Church. R1584:3 The Old Testament Scriptures abound in significant types, one of which is the nation of Israel, a picture of what he is now doing and what he purposes to do through Christ and the Church to the world. CR485:1 "Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit," in various times and places, uttering words not knowing what they meant, words constituting a harmonious whole. (2 Pet. 1:21) OV407:4
For our— Prophecies of the past were written for the special instruction of the Church. PD37/48 Even those things in Jeremiah's prophecy which were applicable in some measure to his day were of two-fold significance—applying also to the mystic Babylon of this Gospel age. R3614:3
Learning— Instruction. R3435:2 Not for the learning of those who uttered them. B23 The holy Spirit of God is exerted in directing those now begotten through the pathway of their humanity, and upholds them by unfolding the exceeding great and precious promises of God's Word. R385:4* An example of spiritual lessons to spiritual Israel, found in the Old Testament's account of experiences of the past: Gideon's call resembles the Gospel call for volunteers on the side of righteousness. R5607:2
That we— Prophecies, though recorded aforetime, and made to bear witness to the divine foreknowledge and arrangement, were for the learning of those living in the due time for their fulfillment. B23 The sanctified in Christ Jesus, not for the unregenerate world. R3646:3 Jeremiah and his scribe prepared another statement of the prophecy destroyed by King Jehoiakim; and this larger and fuller book was designed for the instruction of the Gospel Church. R3614:3
And comfort— "The Comforter, which is the holy Spirit." (John 14:26) E268, 267 To the "new creature in Christ" who seeks to know the Father's will, comfort and peace and joy and contentment are found in the instruction of the divine Word, even in the midst of tribulation and persecution. E268 The holy Spirit comforts the Church through the Scriptures, and through the promises of God, the truth. R3435:1 The Scriptures are the medium through which the knowledge of God's grace and the comfort of all knowledge reach us. R2665:1, 3435:1, 385:3*, 372:3
Of the scriptures— The Word of God, as the channel of the truth, is to comfort us in proportion as the holy Spirit guides us into an understanding of it. R3435:1 The Word of the Lord through the apostles is not the product of the Church but of divine revelation. R1584:4
Might have hope— Because we are commanded to be subject to the powers that be, we receive comfort and hope through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its divine interpretation. A252The hope of the Gospel. R1584:4

[NTC - Romans 15:5]

And consolation— The mission of the brethren is to comfort the Church as the channels of the holy Spirit, and as the mouthpieces of God. R3435:2

[NTC - Romans 15:6]

With one mind— "Gathering or Scattering. Which?" offers kind words of admonition. The love of Christ constrains us to be of "one mind," "one mouth," "of the same judgment," having the "same love." R3920:2* The oneness of thought, mind and action required of the Church of God, may be seen in this text and others, including "Love one another, as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples." (John 13:34, 35)R1130:6*

[NTC - Romans 15:8]

Of the circumcision— Symbolizing a cutting off, a separation from the flesh, its aims, hopes and desires. R3022:3

[NTC - Romans 15:9]

That the Gentiles might glorify God— In this chapter Paul alludes to and explains something of God's plan relative to the casting away, and subsequent restoration of the Jews; and hints at the casting away of the Gentile Church likewise.R777:3*

[NTC - Romans 15:12]

A root— Origin, source of life, progenitor. E136

[NTC - Romans 15:13]

Peace in believing— Our peace in Christ begins from the moment we begin to believe in him. R2625:2 Whosoever believes in Jesus as the propitiation for his sins has a rest not transitory but permanent, not partial but complete. R543:6

[NTC - Romans 15:16]

The offering up— Our sacrifice forms a part of the sin-offering, the completing of Jesus' sacrifice. PT392:T*

[NTC - Romans 15:24]

On my way— A precedent for helping our preaching brethren on their way. R449:5*

[NTC - Romans 15:25]

Saints— The truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1

[NTC - Romans 15:26]

Saints— The truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1

[NTC - Romans 15:30]

That ye strive— Greek: agonize. R1865:5

[NTC - Romans 15:31]

In Judea— The nominal church. R238:6*
For Jerusalem— The Bride. R238:6*
Saints— The truly consecrated among professing Christians. R1139:1

[NTC - Romans 16:1]

I commend unto you Phebe— It was the usual custom to give and carry letters of personal introduction and commendation. R1720:2
Which is a servant of the church— Some services can best be performed by females, especially visiting the female sick. Many suppose that this verse refers to such a female assistant. In the early church many sisters did service. R1891:6

[NTC - Romans 16:2]

Receive her— The Apostle's high regard for women and women's work is shown by his mention of faithful co-laborers. R766:4*, 1076:5*

[NTC - Romans 16:3]

Priscilla— Her name is mentioned before that of her husband, as if she were the more efficient of the two, as a fellow worker. F268; R1549:3
My helpers— Fellow-workers, helping Paul not merely in tent-making, but specially in his chief work as a minister of the Gospel. F268

[NTC - Romans 16:4]

Have for my life— Greek, psuche, soul, being. E338
Their own necks— Risked their lives to hide me, at the time of the riot at Ephesus. R2207:3

[NTC - Romans 16:5]

In their house— The congregations of the primitive Church were small and usually met in private houses. R2941:6

[NTC - Romans 16:6]

Much labour on us— Personal services, perhaps washing and mending. F268

[NTC - Romans 16:9]

Urbane, our helper— Another fellow-worker, helping Paul in his ministry, the same as "Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers." (Rom. 16:3) F268

[NTC - Romans 16:12]

Tryphena and Tryphosa— Two sisters whose labor in the Lord is honorably mentioned. F268

[NTC - Romans 16:13]

His mother and mine— Paul mentions with evident appreciation the activity of certain females in the early Church. R1549:3, 1076:5*, 766:4*

[NTC - Romans 16:15]

The saints— The truly consecrated among the professing Christians. R1139:1 Paul had a considerable number of kinsmen and acquaintances in Rome, the number of whom we know was at least over thirty-two according to the salutations of this epistle written to them from Corinth. R3208:3

[NTC - Romans 16:16]

An holy kiss— In spirit, but not in letter; the courtesies and civilities of our times being somewhat different from the customs of that day, although equally hospitable. R1550:5* In the East, it is frequently the custom for men to kiss one another. The sex dividing line was very strict in olden times, so there was no indiscriminate kissing among them. Q618:5
Churches of Christ— The Church of Christ and The Church of God are synonymous, because our Lord and the Father have one interest in us. F81 Our Lord established "The Church of the First-Born which are written in heaven," "Church of the living God," "The Church of Christ." He gave it no party name. (Heb. 12:23; 1 Tim. 3:15) Q755:4

[NTC - Romans 16:17]

Mark them— The greedy, hungry wolves in sheep's clothing. R1558:6 Teachers who favor divisions should be watched and turned away from. R1571:2Let us "mark" the course taken by those who have separated themselves from us "because they were no longer of us," and whither that course leads them. (1 John 2:19) R4531:4,5 We should not allow any bitterness respecting them to enter our hearts or to escape our lips or our pens. Would we smite the blind? Surely not! R4483:5 Satan still "works in the hearts of the children of disobedience." (Eph. 2:2) Let us all, therefore, beware of this spirit of disobedience in our hearts—of any alienation from the Lord. R4469:5 Avoid their fellowship as you would avoid a pestilence or a vile odor or sparks from a neighbor's burning barn. R4381:4 If, after we have done all in our power to hold a fellow-member with our love and with the truth, he departs, we are to take the matter with equanimity. R4375:5 It is not for us to judge, condemn, nor slander them, but to pity and pray for them. It is ours only to reprove their bitterness of spirit. Our avoidance of them for a time may be the best lesson we could give. R4327:2 Our enemies become unconsciously our best friends, when their slanders deepen in us heavenly graces. Let them do their worst; they only give us the God-like victory of forgiving them. R1665:2* The ungodly policy of this evil day of compromise cannot believe that any will arise to "pervert the truth" in the midst of the consecrated, but it is made obligatory upon all the faithful to be on the alert. R1589:2 Avoid contentions and strife except it should be unavoidable, and then let it be with loving desires. R4540:6 Warn the disorderly: those who are drifting away from the spirit of Christ; busybodies who do not work; immmoral and unjust persons; those who wrest the Scriptures; doctrinal disorders are among the chief. R1575:3 If one has a gift of debate, arguing whatever side of a question he chooses to take up, proudly defending his liberality, the Lord will punish him with stripes; but he can be renewed unto repentance. R1482:5 As soon as we see that any teacher is wrong on the one central and vital point—the ransom—evading, misrepresenting and misapplying the word and doctrine—we should have nothing further to do with him. R1453:4 Avoid helping such a person to an office, or anything that would specially help him along if you see him in an unsafe position. Do not express yourself so freely as to those who are in closer harmony. Q226:8 Prefer the company of those who are in the spirit and fellowship of the truth. Q148:2; R1130:6* Don't make them your bosom companions; don't elect them as elders. Don't encourage anyone who has a strifeful condition. Q30:6 The sifting must go on to the finish. R1279:5
Cause divisions— By a lack of love and humility, harsh and unkind words. R4299:3 The spirit of favoritism led to factions, an evidence of carnality—a worldly spirit. The Corinthians who took party names, evidencing a selfish, party spirit, did not appreciate the oneness of the Body. R1571:3 Let the truth make the separation. R1279:6 The oneness of thought, mind and action required of the Church of God, may be seen in this text and others, including "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." (Acts 4:32) R1130:5*
Contrary— Should "grievous wolves," "backbiters," "slanderers," and "contentious" persons attend meetings of truth people, they should be treated so scripturally as to make them ill at ease. R4461:4
The doctrine— Of the ransom. R1453:4, 1482:5
Ye have learned— The royal law of love. R2368:6 From inspired sources. R1453:4
Avoid them— Treat them not as enemies; hope for their return to a better spirit. R4540:6 We should not allow any bitterness respecting them to enter our hearts, no matter what they may say or do against us. R4483:5 Does not mean excommunication. Avoidance for a time may be best lesson. R4327:2 Reprove them by avoiding them. Show them that you do not sympathize with such a strifeful, unholy spirit. R4318:3 The Apostle does not say to brand him as a heretic and have nothing to do with him. But do not give him so much of your fellowship; just be a little more cool toward him. Q227:T Paul was not the man for compromises. He did not counsel gentle handling of wolves. He did not say, You must call them brethren. R1559:1Do not waste time investigating "the errors of the wicked;" the more thorough our knowledge of the Lord, the more intimate our acquaintance with him, the more secure we are in our own steadfastness. R3215:2

[NTC - Romans 16:18]

Good words— Kind and complimentary words. R1571:2, 3215:2
Deceive— Mislead. R1571:2 In this day of "deceivers," it is well to use conscientious care before offering a testimony on a traveler's behalf. R1720:3
The simple— The unsuspicious. R1571:2, 3215:2 Those not on the alert for the encroachment of error. R1589:2

[NTC - Romans 16:20]

Shall bruise Satan— The Apostle was a firm believer in a personal Devil, as shown in this text and others, including (addressing Elymas as) "Child of the devil" (Acts 13:10) and "Turn them from the power of Satan" (Acts 26:18). R3165:6 As in Heb. 2:14, we find the Devil is to be destroyed: "He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." R4363:5*, HG304:1 Crush the serpent's head; destroy him. R255:1 Satan is going to have his head crushed. That will be the end of him. CR461:6 The Kingdom will crush out evil and bless and heal all nations. A306 Crushing Satan and all his willful followers who love evil rather than good. R1176:4 Putting "all enemies under his feet" (1 Cor. 15:25) is not conversion but destruction as also taught in Rev. 20:10. R1057:2 Totally destroyed in the end of the Millennial age. R725:3, 696:6 This serpent that is now to be crushed is not merely Satan, but it is all sin in every shape and form. CR462:1; A306 Accept with fortitude and resignation whatever tests of patience and perseverance the Lord may permit to come upon you. All our experiences will result in blessings, however unpropitious they may appear. R2413:4 The bruising of Satan and the destroying of death have both been deferred until the Body of Christ is complete, and they shall bind Satan, destroy death, and restore mankind to harmony with God. R86:6
Under your feet— The feet of The Christ. R3926:6, 11:2 The Church's feet. OV224:1 So intimate is the association of the Church with Christ that the work of restraining Satan and the powers of evil in the opening of the Millennial age is here ascribed to the Church under her Head. SM243:2 The Little Flock, who are to be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ their Lord, shall share glory with Christ and they are to share in the bruising of Satan and in blessing and restoring of sight to the blind. R526:5 The feet of the Church; thus associating the Church with the Lord, the Head. OV305:5; R2842:2 The seed which will bruise the serpent's head is not Christ, the Head, alone, but the Church, which is his Body, "Which seed is Christ, and if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed." (Gal. 3:16, 29) R257:2, 6:1 The Church is a part of the seed of the woman. CR461:6; R257:3, 11:2 The seed of the woman and the seed of Abraham are different ways of referring to Christ and the Church. Q643:T Not until it is selected, developed, and exalted to power, will the Seed bruise the serpent's head. A98; R2434:5, 257:2, 6:1; OV224:1; HG343:3 There is a future favor to the world to be accomplished through the elect Church, called and tested during the Christian age. R868:3 When the called-out company is complete, the plan of God for the world's salvation is only beginning. Then will the seed "bruise the serpent's head" and bless all the families of the earth. (Gen. 3:15) R533:1
Shortly— As soon as this age shall end. R4965:1 The next thing in the outworking of God's plan will be to bruise Satan and destroy sin. R4964:6Satan and ignorance are the real assailants of truth, and the vail of ignorance and power of Satan will soon be cast aside and trampled upon. R3121:1 The "promised seed" is to crush the serpent's head, thus destroying evil and bringing about "the restitution of all things." R270:5, 255:1, 134:6, 11:3 "A little while and he that shall come will come." (Heb. 10:37) "A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday." (Psa. 90:4) R11:1

[NTC - Romans 16:22]

Tertius— This epistle was sent from Corinth, dictated by Paul, written by Tertius. R1582:2

[NTC - Romans 16:23]

Gaius— A Corinthian Christian, at whose house this book was written. R1582:2
Quartus a brother— A brother in Christ; the apostles never ascribed titles to each other or to other brethren, nor did they receive homage from the Church. R1523:5; F230

[NTC - Romans 16:25]

To him that is of power— This scripture, like many others, differentiates between "him" and the preaching of "Jesus Christ." Jesus said: Ye call me Lord and Master and so I am, but one is your Father, which is in heaven. (John 13:13; Matt. 23:9) R369:6 To my gospel—The inspired writings of the apostles, in their various epistles, are as authoritative as were the words of Jesus. OV412:1
Revelation— A full knowledge of the mystery of the Lord was not promised until the end of the Gospel age. OV6:T
Of the mystery— That at the second advent the Messiah will consist not only of Christ Jesus the Head, but also of the Church his Body. R3192:4 Daily and hourly the saints of God are being searched out and sealed intellectually with a clear appreciation of the "mystery of God"—the mystery of God being about finished. R1279:2
Kept secret— In part, hitherto. R1279:2 The proclamation of many of the sweetest notes of the glad tidings of restitution, are reserved until now, during the sounding of the seventh trumpet, when the mystery of God is finished. R287:2*, 3192:4, 757:2

[NTC - Romans 16:26]

Made manifest— Unto the saints, according to the will of God. R1279:2

[NTC - Romans 16:27]

God only wise— "Jehovah our God is one—Jehovah." (Deut. 6:4) R369:2
Glory through Jesus Christ— By and by, God will reveal to the world his loving character. When "the glory of the Lord (through the Christ) shall be revealed, all flesh shall see it together." (Isa. 40:5) R385:1*