Unlocking Romans Block 4 Session 3

Heavenly Father, we thank you for calling us back for the afternoon session which is the last session of uh all the blocks. Father, we pray that we can uh focus well in this tiring hours and we can learn the skill to look in depths into the um scripture so that we can know your word more precisely. will not get the skill but get lost uh to know your heart. So please protect us and guide us with your holy spirit. We entrust the following time in your hand in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Uh so what we're going to do before we moving forward to uh the um chapter 12 into chapter 16 is we are going to uh demonstrate some exgetical skill to look into the verses. Uh so let me use the a different version. Romans chapter 8 verse 3-4. So Romans chapter 8 3-4. Uh the ESV uh translated in this way. For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. Walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. Uh so in order to interpret a passage in the Bible, what should we consider? What should be put into consideration? So for example you take you get a a a passage that in order to understand that what I going to look at context uh context context actually includes two two two uh aspects right one is the biblical context basically the bigger environment of the the passage uh the verses before it and the verses uh after it. Uh and maybe extend a bit more the whole book uh whole chapter whole book. Uh the other is the historic make contact. Uh so you know the background, you know the situation, you know the heart of the author, the overarching purpose of the writing uh in order to understand the text well. Yep. Context is important to know the text and also context is important to apply the text. If you are developing a piece of sermon, this is what you are going to do. You are going to link what the contemporary context of the target audience the context of the audience and see how the passage is talking to the uh contemporary readers and the target audience of the sermon. Uh so besides context what else I want to look at? The doctrine uh not really doctrine is the later part. You develop the doctrine by looking at many verses related to one topic. uh if I want to say a statement it cannot be based I mean the doctrinal statement it can't be based simply on one verse for example if you take one verse in first Peter and says hey uh even the one who are dead has the opportunity to repent because Jesus spirit went to the hades to share the gospel to the people in jail so you you can't say that statement because of one verse in the Bible that's not complete right when you develop a doctrine in a systematic theology you need to take many relevant verses and then you look at a bigger idea embedded in those verses in order to get the conclusion. So if you only want to interpret a passage normally we will not firstly look at the doctrine but we do consider the doctrine in order to check if my interpretation is in a bigger framework. Uh so it's located well. So what else? What else? Do you interpret songs the psalms same as Genesis? No. And do you interpret uh proverbs same as Paul epistles? >> No. So what is that? That's genre. That is genre. The type of writing genre. >> So the genre is important and sometimes if you look at one uh book in the Bible, it contains it has a over overall type journal but inside of it, it may contains other type of writing. So uh for example a prophecy was quoted by Paul. So how can you understand the prophecy? Of course you can't just go into that verse. Uh you need to understand overall purpose of quoting that passage and in the book of history there may be the quotation of song. So in in the book of acts it happened and in the gospel it also contain the prophecy but there is a uh overall style of writing the journal. What else are you going to consider? >> Yeah yeah the the text. So that's very important right? you need to look at the text. Uh so some people have different opinion. People may have different opinions of what to what you should consider first. But when you are reading this passage actually in your mind you are developing some idea already because you have a overall understanding or or you have a general understanding about the bigger environment of this passage uh text general context biblical context and historic um background. So if uh if we buy commentary to read usually I would recommend students to buy three types of commentary. Uh the first is historic background. Uh so so old testament history or Jewish culture and to know a bit more about the background and then the second is the expository commentary. So mainly more based on the explanation of the text and the relation between the different phrase. Uh and the third type is devotional. Devotional type of uh uh commentary. So many more uh playing more pastoral function devotional function. So if you want to develop a piece of sermon these three things are all important equally important. You need to know the text well. You need to have the good expository skill, uh, exoggetical skill. And you also shouldn't just interpret out of the context. You need to know the first audience and first author's heart and situation. And when they mention something, what was the minds and emotions going on? uh and are they targeting a certain uh wrong doctrine or or do they have certain concern circumstances right so those are very important to know of course you may not need to read the Jewish history in order to know probably when you read Bible when you link Acts with uh Pauling epistles you could already get quite a lot of things uh but it's still quite good to have a handbook or or or commentary about a historic background and the devotional part also help you to uh to apply uh the word of God well uh into the contemporary life. Uh yeah so so in order to understand text I think strong dictionary is very helpful. Blue letter Bible is quite helpful. Um so and usually what I do is I will not go into Greek directly until I want to know the meaning of some important words. So I want to know the over overall flow and meaning first. So what I will do or what I recommend you to do is you read different versions of translation. Uh so recommended version uh is usually ESV, RSV, uh not LT, not the message Bible, N RSV I I found it's quite good because it try to use the contemporary English uh but it tried to keep the original order of expression. When you read NISV, you will feel vocabulary wise is quite close to NIV. Uh but uh the structure of the sentence wise quite close to ESV. But the the problem is most of the online platform and uh e bible doesn't contain version uh and in the blue letter bible I think 2000 u 2020. Yeah, maybe 2020 is a quite good version. Easy to read. Uh but respect the uh text. NIV can be a reference for you to especially if you are not the first English is not your first language. I think I is is not bad. U but the traditional Chinese uh translation is not very accurate if you try to analyze the meaning. Uh I would definitely recommend English. Uh if you know English and and then I will read different versions in order to know u the meaning better. Uh this is only SP20. For what Allah could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did, sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. He condemn sin in the flesh so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit. Once you read this, you immediately feel, wow, it's quite different, right? especially verse three the especially the parts sing offering. So you may be curious why the translation is so different and and only as RSV sorry only as RSV actually had the footnote. Uh some version some some manuscript indeed wrote in this way as an offering and What do you do? To be seen or to be seen. Yeah. So, and it's so different and you can read more versions. I think King James version is not bad. Uh the Bible actually has a version to compare. Yeah, I think there is a translation weak through the flesh. God sent his son like this. Simple and fore condensing in the flesh tools Bibles and it has the comparison between different version. Oh is really long as offering of sin amplify. No amplify Bible is not very accurate but it it may try to put all the possible meaning in you can have a look what the law could not do that is overcome sin and remove its penalty its power. That's the interpretation. Being weakened by the flesh, man's nature without the Holy Spirit, God did he send his own son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin and he condemns in the flesh. Uh so so um no not a good option because it interprets a bit more. For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do. Sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemn sin in the flesh. So I think more versions actually translate it as for sin just like ESV. So let's stick to the ESV and then next stage I will probably not go into the detail text first. I will look at the purpose of uh of these two verses. So it's in a bigger context of talking about how the body can be redeemed. Um so the work of the triumphant god in uh redeeming u the children of god uh so typically the body u that's related to Romans chapter 7. So if you don't understand chapter 6 chapter 7 well then chapter 8 may not be precisely understood. uh you can still get the meaning and get the grace but it will be so important for us to know the flesh because this is one of the thing dealt with or struggled with in chapter 7. So that's the overall purpose you to find the overall idea of the passage and also the purpose of the passage and then we start to go into the uh text. uh for God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do. So the big idea let's let's just try to write big idea. So in in in the ser sermon development usually when we preach about a a passage the first step is to come up one sentence sermon so to get a big idea of the passage. So let's try to use one sentence to describe the big idea. For God has done what the law we flesh cannot do by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. He condemn s see the flesh in order that the right require right righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilling us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. So what is the one sentence big idea? Try to use one sentence, not too long, not like several. Try to use one sentence to describe the big idea of these two verses to fulfill the law. to save us >> Jesus. But there is no mention about death right sending his son and one very important idea is the signs in the likeness of sinful flesh for sin. So we try to include all the key ideas and important ideas in that one sentence. And also the description about those God saved uh this description also important who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit is not without any description or condition. There is a who to describe us. I know with the with AI you probably can make it concise but but try to try to do it by our effort and then we'll we'll look at what AI I said later on. So when we develop a sentence there's subject, object and important verb. That's the simplest way to structure the sentence. What is the subject? So Jesus God or Jesus God, right? God did it by sending his son. God did it by sending his spirit. That's the overall idea of Romans chapter 8. How God redeem our body? Uh so so I think God is the subject. And what do you do? >> He sent his son. Yeah. God sent his son. But this this is too simple. God sent his son for what? >> Send his son into the world. into the world. Uhhuh. >> In human form. >> In human form. >> To fulfill what men could not do. That's a long sentence. >> Yeah. No, no problem. >> God sent his son. >> God sent his son >> into the world. >> Into the world. >> In human form. >> In human form. Let me let me write down what you want to say. God sends his son >> his son into the world in human >> in human form for Uhhuh. >> To what to fulfill a requirement. To feel to fulfill the law. To fulfill the law. have to go. So bad. So >> I don't see any soul because in order that it's already included here. trying to work out the one sentence sermon. I think so far so good. God sent his son into the world in human form to fulfill the law. >> Yeah. >> And but but I feel we need to say something to summarize the last bits because to fulfill the law not just randomly I I feel this for four for someone for four single There's no key word here. Yeah, for single the idea is there but I think we can express in a more precise way according to the text. Those for us. Just say for us and then we can elaborate later. >> Priscilla, do you have any better idea? >> No. >> I think this is pretty concise, but I'm curious what what does Uh let's ask Jiminy because Jiminy has better imagination. Uh so verse three and four, right? develop a one sentence. Uh big idea of this should not be too too long. Okay, this is too long. Short still too long. God did what the law could not could not by judging sin through Christ empowering us to live righteously by the spirit. It's going to feel quite bronability to change us by condemning sin through the sun enabling spirit l to finally fulfill all walk. I think this is good. This is a good big good big idea. God did what the law could not by judging sin through Christ empowering us to live righteously by spirit. Actually not really judging only about judging sin. I think there is a fulfillment. There is a fulfillment. Um but but but I think this idea kind of kind of carry the idea of fulfillment. Yeah. So what we missed compared to what AI writes even though some sentence a bit long I think what we missed is how God deal dealt with sin right uh judging or condemning uh how how God deal with sin yeah what's missing how God dealt deal with deals with saying through the sun. Another thing we missed is this spirit le spirit. Uh what else is missing? I think for few We put the fulfill already. Yeah. Spirit L or or empowering. I think empowering is change. Uh I didn't see any meaning of empowering or enabling that strong. Yeah, it's I think mainly fulfillment. Fulfillment is the key idea. So the requirement of the law fulfilled in the spirit on people. Anyway, that's that's the first step. You you look you check a few things, read the um uh similar I mean the same verses in different translation and you try to develop the big idea. uh you may write it down, just have it in your mind. But I do find write it down is a good way to discover the overall structure um and the the the key elements of the um sentence. And then we we we don't go into uh Greek yet. We start to look at the uh structure of the sentence. uh things like who or in order that those really uh uh and for right those those words though they are not key words but they actually showed us the relationship between different parts elements of the sentence uh for God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not uh could not do So the this one means that we say uh reason or at least the situation the first reason is a bit strong slightly lighter than reason. So, so, so, so this next sentence is a response to the first sentence. Anyway, we'll just write reason and in order that that's the consequence, right? Consequence and purpose. And who who it means this part describe the previous part us. So the this whole part is to describe us. Yeah. And by by it means means matters. by these these methods and uh and then we can make the structure more clear. Uh and this one this sentence also describe the law, right? describe the law. Uh so basically the meaning is like this in order to meet the uh to enrich the big idea. This is what was described in the whole sentence. Uh the law cannot do some could not do something right. And then God had a response towards this situation by sending his son. Oh, and and the son come came with the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin. in the likeness of sin for flesh and for sin is to describe God's son and uh if this is the means and that this is the result so he condemn but we don't use so to link so he condemn sin in the flesh and for the purpose to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law and that fulfillment is is in us. So us describe the fulfillment and the requirement uh I mean the so the purpose is to fulfill the righteous requirement and walk walk according to the flesh. uh who who not walking sorry who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit describe the people God benefits so basically that's the structure and and and and now the picture become more clearly right become more clear uh so so the general idea is is this if you close the book and then you can sense this we can't fulfill the requirement of the And what should what should we do? God sent his son >> and but God sent his son uh and and there is a description right his son in the image of of human beings that I'm not really precisely recite that but in a human in the same form as us uh but the different the difference is he fulfilled the the law he fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law uh and and it's not just for anybody but for those who follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So that's the overall idea and we get the idea right then we start to look into the detail of the this the the words. Uh so and in this step all the important keywords you circle it out and look at the Greek and get the meaning more precisely. Um so for example um what the law right this word is important why because when you appear in the Bible it doesn't simply mean the old testament law and then this word verb verbs are usually quite important weaken by the flesh flesh appear several times flesh flesh Are they carrying the same meaning or not? And what's the likeness of sinful flesh? And we also feel a bit curious about about this likeness. And this flesh appear again or will the verb contain And also we notice the different translation have different way to deal with this part. So we circle it. What else for few verbs and what else? Oh flash. Okay. So flash one, flash two, flash three, flash four. Any other words you want to check the meaning? No. Then let's look look at the strong dictionary and try to find out the meaning of each word. Okay. To um want to say what the law what the law cannot do. So, let's click here and see usage established recip was the mosaic law. Um yeah the law demanding faith moral instruction given by Jesus Christ the law of Christ right there is also law of Christ uh but I don't think it means that here so it doesn't mean the law of Christ the name of the more important part is put uh for the entire collection of sacred book in the old testament So it's just it's any custom law or mosaic law strong any law whatsoever. It seems that it appear uh that that's the principle chapter three that's basically the first meaning is principle uh I don't think he mean he meant that reception mo Yeah, I think this is still closer to the meaning of mosaic law. It's not just some basic principle. This part is wrong. No, I don't think it's Christian law. Um, in Old Testament is pointing to the scripture. So, I think uh the the the Mosaic law is more specific by law or by uh by grace. Basically, it's that meaning. Okay. And then next one weakened law could not do which is weak here which was weak through to be weak feeble without strength powerless. Um to be wicked means needy, poor, be feeble, sick, imperfect, weak and strong. So which meaning do you think is more closer? So it's weakened weakened by the flesh. I don't think the second one is I think first one is closer. Yeah. Incapability. Okay. state. And let's look at a very important word, flesh. through was weak through the flesh rocks. Flesh actually carry several meanings. One first one is physical body, biological body. the soft substance of living body which covers bones and is permitted with blood for both men and beasts. So basically it's biological body. Uh the second meaning is the body. Uh the body carries three meaning. Uh the body of a man uh used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship, a born of natural generation. The s senses nature of man nature suggestion. Uh so basically the all the meaning here is the new neuter neutral parts. There's nothing to do with sin. Yeah. So so the second meaning of uh flesh is not related to sinful nature. It's just physical natural that meaning. The third one living creature because possess a body of flesh but the man or or beast. Um I think here is not made very clear. I will show you one thing I found with bes. Yeah, this one with bes physical substance of human that's a biological body. Uh and in here it contains lineage by flesh is the descendants of David. That that's the meaning carrying no point of sinful nature. Um the life I now live in the flesh also this is also neutral physical life and physical body a thorn in my flesh. Uh second human weakness and fity uh flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. So it's not necessarily evil but weak and temporary mortal body. Um yeah and then the third meaning is sinful nature. Romans chapter 7 verse 8 for I know that nothing good dwells in me that is my flesh and the work of flesh or a list of behaviors sexual immorality adultery jealous that stem from the self centered orientation. The mind sets on flesh. Is that uh a way of thinking that is hostile to God and the old Ara religion. So no confidence in the flesh. Since the ambiguity I think basically the first meaning is the biological body and second important meaning is the sinful the body carrying the sinful nature and third is the dis the the discussion about lineage human lineage. Um yeah and then what here what does that mean? I think the first flesh carries the meaning of simple nature or do you have other opinion or simply it means we are mortal mortal Here we is talking about flesh is a simple flesh the likeness of simple flesh can for sin so that's the likeness of sun I want to know the likeness this word appear in other translation Lightness image lik like like sinful flesh and for sin. So this sinful flesh, what do you think? What is the meaning of sinful flesh? Flesh biology or bio biological body or immortal body or sinful nature? likeness of sinful does that mean Jesus committed sin likeness basically it means he he's like one of us mortal mortal body it's more doesn't carry the meaning of s simple desire because here it already contains simple but it's beyond simply biological body and it's not about humanity and for sin Let's see. So God sent his son uh same like the image of a sinful man with a sinful mortal body and he sent his son for for sin. The version translation sin offering for sin. So the purpose he he came is to deal with sin. right to deal with sin and he is in the likeness of human being. He condemn sin in the flesh. Condemnation condemn judge against the judge worth of punishment. He condemns sin in the flesh. It's another. So this flesh is I think it means mortal body means metal in order that reliously present might be fulfilled. So cute. So cute. Feel that. Feel to the full. To complete or to carry into effect to fact to complete. It's in a bigger idea of to to complete. It's definitely not the meaning of full not abounding to complete rendering. So walk not according to the s to to the flesh flesh again according to the spirit. I think this flesh means simple nature but because it contrast with the spirit. So it means I want to know the meaning of walk as well because in the application I want to know what this kind of people is like what's called walk not according to the sinful nature the flesh but according to the spirit. Walk not after the flesh to leave regularly one's life conduct oneself to pass one's Nice. So basically the way we live our life, the way we progress, the way we grow is according to the spirit. I think those meanings will apprise progress. Cold grass regulates conduct one. So pass one. All the meaning just make it more into imagery as we live our life following the Holy Spirit not following a simple nature. Um but but it's not by our own efforts. It's fulfilled. It's by the coming of the son. And and it just gave me the image of the humility of the son and how God saved the sinful human by sending his son with the same like with the likeness of of a man. Even with the um the image of I mean the form of sinful flesh. Yeah. And also it give us the meaning that by law we're incapable to fulfill the requirement of the law. So related to chapter seven the image uh I felt this is this weak hunt really speaks so simple simple nature impos it's impossible to fulfill law because chapter seven is about law chapter seven is about law is holy and good and we're not abolishing all to be above all. But how can I do that? It's impossible. No one who wants to obey these conflicts. Um and and Romans chapter 8 actually affirm that. But gives us the good news of how God deal with the weaknesses in the flesh. So if we relate to our own life, I I want to keep the holy standard. I want to live the holy life, but I can't. Uh it's indeed the law is holy. Uh so respect holy, righteous, and and good. But I can't do it because of the the flesh. Why I can't do it? Because of the flesh. I couldn't do it. Uh and how can I solve it? Uh God actually solve it by sending his son uh in the same image with me. And in that way, he condemned the sin in the flesh. I wonder how how did that happen? How did God condemn the flesh to fulfill the righteous requirement in us and then in my flesh require won't be fulfilling us. So that's the double inutation that Jesus was condemned and the righteousness is counted onto us. So the image is condemning in the flesh in the mortal body. So how did God condemn? How? So Jesus was condemned. requirements fulfilled not in Jesus but in us and we became became righteous or we say we fulfill the righteous requirement of the fulfill in us. This he refers to to God. This he refers to God. So God condemn sin in the flesh. In the flesh. So this refers to to our flesh and to Jesus. refer to Jesus. Jesus was condemned and the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us. So the work of Jesus Christ is not just save our spirit but he also uh he also carry the condemnation we should carry in our flesh. So in other words, this is why in the systematic theology we say uh the the blood of Jesus is not just about the past sin. It has the power to cleanse the future sin. So it's not just effective at a point of justification. But as we are walking the journey of sanctification, as we are groaning in our uh struggle with the uh flesh, uh Jesus he was condemned so that the law the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. Walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. and connect to Romans chapter 1. Chapter 8 verse one. So Romans chapter 8 verse one. Therefore there is no condemnation. That's no condemnation. for those who are in Christ because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. So those two talk about spirit And here the law of sin in and death is um there is a law of spirit and law of sin and death. two two different role uh him verse two need to be included in order to understand this verse well because there is a spirit here and there is a spirit here so we are living in a new law law of spirit and so we follow the law of spirit not law of flesh and there's no condemnation because Jesus Christ has carried the condemnation our inner flesh So it I mean the whole process for me just enriched my understanding of ah Jesus actually carry the same uh in my flesh. So when I try to abide with the law, when I struggle in my daily life on a journey of sanctification to keep the holiness but fail, I know that there is no condemnation because Jesus has taken my condemnation and the law can be fulfilled in me. Yeah, I think this description is also related to the image in Romans chapter six. Those who use their body as the instrument of righteousness not surrender to the sinful nature. Um so the application I think after looking at those things what what's your application or what's your reflection It's still reflection. Uhhuh. >> Jesus Christ. And Now I'm to progress according to the spirit. >> According to the spirit. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. What's your reflection? or any new discovery in the application level. Um I think Jesus serves Jesus he serves man in the form of the heels man talking about himself. to beame the branch and to fulfill the the the requirement for the law. I think when you participate the pastoral work or shopping work, you also need to to be like Jesus to serve >> to humble. So like Paul said, be be what kind of person I become towards what kind of person I become what kind of person. >> Yes. humility of Jesus. Um progress in my spirit for me. Um my reflection as I because I used to think when I walk the path of faith, I need to always refer to the first grace in order to enable us enable me to to continue to walk. But now I realize the the grace is daily when I when I'm doing the work of God. Um my insufficiency, my imperfection in my ministry work, uh the requirement of the righteous law that I I couldn't meet. Uh yeah because sometimes I I told to told myself I don't struggle for my saving grace. So if I fail, if I got frustrated, I I don't doubt if I'm saved or not. >> But I still feel very disappointed and self-laming about my performance because I didn't perform well. I didn't work well. Uh so I felt there's no condemnation to me but the condemnation to my daily performance that that's usually what what I felt. I have no doubt about my salvation. I don't doubt God loves me but I feel pro pretty frustrated and disappointed about my daily daily work and I felt probably I disappointed God. uh but um according to this passage I realized the work of Jesus Christ doesn't just cover uh my being it it actually covers my daily walk and my imper imperfection in my flesh my daily battle and ministry work is is without condemnation there's no condemnation in Jesus Yeah, that's my reflection. So, so in an exam you will I will give several question like big idea uh the key uh um key key key verse and try to draw the diagram to to to sort out the relationship between different elements of the sentence. And then finally I'll ask about the application. So you you can access blue letter Bible when you are doing exam. Uh so that's the basic and then later when we come to the uh the homeytics homeytics the the development of a sermon and this skill will be used u but it may not be a very good choice to choose Romans chapter 8 three and four because I think one and two should be included in order to know the meaning better. Um yeah um Let's come back to to Romans chapter 12. I think I will just make it quick on Romans chapter 12 to um to to 16. >> Oh yeah, let's let's pray and have a break. Pretty tiring. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the time we can uh try to get this new skill. We are not very familiar with this, but this really allowed us to discover uh what's hidden in the text and allow us to have a refreshing uh understanding of our journey of faith. We thank you and we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Let's take a 10 minutes break.