In this video we'll talk about a huge largely unknown cryptocurrency blockchain soft type of penny stock play. I will go through the information some of the research that I've got for you in this video and why I think this company could be slightly promising particularly for a swing trade but maybe in a long term but probably more of a swing trade. I'm going to go into the information for you today. I've got to say I'm not a financial advisor I'm a business teacher in my daily life but I'm by no means an expert on the stock market. Now let's get right in to the information. If you like the direct approach of getting right into it do leave the video a like. So who's the company called? So it's called EPAS and the ticker symbol is EPAZ. Now who are they? So they specialize in enterprise cryptocurrency, enterprise cryptocurrency, Bitcoin blockchain, mobile apps and cloud business process software with over 500 repeat customers. It's got a new Bitcoin mobile app and it's a financial technology company that offers a unique Bitcoin and Ethereum payment mobile app software allowing consumers to acquire Bitcoin at the point of sale and this is one of the apps that they've got here. This is one of them. They are working on another app as well. It's called ZENAPARE. I just thought let's have a look at the app and let's see what the reviews are like for the app. Are they getting some decent comments about it? Is it because it's a penny stock right? The app's not necessarily going to be absolutely fantastic because it's a penny stock. They don't have a huge amount of money that they can put into research and development and build this build app to the levels of maybe some of the big people in the industry. But the app has got really good reviews. So people saying here works better than a lot of the other wallets. Absolutely love the app, outstanding app for Bitcoin. So this has got some really good reviews, this particular app. And why I think that this stock might have a lot of potential is that there's been this hype around and it's not just hype. It's like maybe justified hype, right? And there's a reason behind it. There's fundamentals behind it. But with Bitcoin, with cryptocurrency in general, there's been a major focus on this. And I think there's a lot of subsidiary kind of companies that might be involved in this sort of space that are going to do really well. Some of them I've already have. You've got Argo blockchain, which did really well. And I think you've got a lot of others that are less known that we need to kind of figure out who they are. And I think they could do really well as well. This could be one of them. It could be not be. Again, it's a speculative player. It's penny stocks come with their risk as always. So what is it? So blockchain software, this is what they've got. So Xenopay offers its users a secure and simple Bitcoin wallet that allows users to buy different products online using Bitcoin. Xenopay is a financial technology service that offers a unique, secure and reliable Bitcoin payment for apps, allowing consumers to acquire Bitcoin at the point of sale. The consumer can use a digital currency to make a purchase on the store with ease. Xenopay Bitcoin wallet has been designed to match unique business demands in the industry. Our feature rich Bitcoin wallet makes it easier for businesses to accept their payments securely. So they've got the app. They've got this interesting app in a emerging industry. Okay. And also very, that's gone unnoticed this, but they're also releasing another app. Okay. And this is called Bitcoin altcoins. And what it is is a tracker that you can kind of track. What you can do is the app tracks and covers over 1600 cryptocurrencies. So not just Bitcoin in itself, but 1600. And it supports and converts it over into 15 native support currencies. Users can download the full version of the app for $2.49 per download. So very interesting that releasing this app. And again, when you've got a massive interest in this cryptocurrency space, there's going to be more people that will inevitably probably download this app. And then they're getting that initial £2.49 there. And it's going to have initial features as well, for, you know, maybe exclusive premium features, et cetera. And that's what I'm guessing what they mean by additional features from $1.99 to $5.99. Now, what will be massive? If on any of these apps, they can add some kind of membership scheme where they can get some sort of reoccurring revenue from it, you know, an income source that's reoccurring rather than just a one-off payment for the app, for example, because that just adds more sustainability to the revenue. But as you can see with this cryptocurrency area just growing and having a lot of interest, then maybe this app's going to do quite well in terms of sales. And by the way, this isn't the only area this company's involved with. It's involved in many other areas. Before I go into some more information about this company, I've got to say thank you everybody for subscribing to the channel and helping this channel absolutely blow up. It was only like two weeks ago when we was on like 1,500 subscribers. And now we're nearly at 4,000 subscribers. And if you're new to the channel, what we do is penny stocks. We do growth stocks, long-term stocks. We talk about all sorts of stocks on this channel. And we go through the fundamentals, some of the information about the businesses. Okay, so if you want to subscribe, feel free. And also like the video if you can because it helps it get up into a YouTube algorithm and it'll help this video blow up as well. And that'd be fantastic if you can do that. Another area that they're involved with, so EPAS, I think that's how you pronounce it anyways. So they've got blockchain software, content management, web collaboration and learning management systems. So they've got a wide range of product portfolio here that they're involved in. So it's not just blockchain, although that is the key kind of area in terms of bringing attention to the stock maybe. But also there's a lot of other areas that the company's actually involved in as well. And I just thought I'd take a look at their Twitter to see what they've been saying at the actual company themselves. It says, EPAS developed software for IE securitized token using smart contracts. The token is traded in an Asian crypto market. We believe this is a major growth market with Bitcoin over 20K. Our crypto programmers are adding new features there. And it says, he has strengthened its position on the crypto sector with smart contracts using blockchain technology. And it's expanding blockchain software features of its Bitcoin, Altcoins tracker app. So they're looking at the Altcoins tracker app and they're expanding the features on this app. And they're trying to improve this even further. Okay. So it's very interesting stock, very speculative, very potentially high risk, but high reward potentially. But what are the benefits of the stock? And it is an emerging growing industry. So the Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, this is just an industry that is potentially going to grow even further, right? There is some hype around this, this area. So we could see this stock just shoot up based upon the hype in the cryptocurrency scene. So we could see this stock just naturally do well. You know, I noticed when we was talking about electric vehicles, you know, even even a couple of months ago, right, any EV vehicle under the sun that's on the stock market was going up, right? All because Nia and some of the and Tesla and some of the other big ones were going up.  And then you might have some apps related to Bitcoin that go up as well after that. Because we saw it in the, I know it's not comparable, but we did see it in the EV industry, didn't we? Where it was like, okay, the EV vehicles went up. Okay, then what's the next thing? People started looking at EV batteries, those went up. And then we started looking at mining companies that mine resources, MP materials based upon, you know, EV compartments that that went up. So this is again, you have subsidiaries within industries where this is people are going to start be looking for the next part of the puzzle within the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wealth, right? And this might be one of them. If it's not this stock, it'll be other types of stocks that are like this that may pop, right? And it's an interesting product portfolio as well, though. My only concern is obviously speculative and high risk. So I wouldn't go put your entire portfolio on this stock might be worth a bit of a go on a small scale, right? Just see how it does. But it's up to you. At the end of the day, I'm not a financial advisor. You know, you consult your own financial advisor of which I'm not. I'm a business teacher, but I'm by no means an expert on the stock market. But that's the only concern I've got is this fact that it's a bit speculative, which is not necessarily always a bad thing, but it's high risk as well. Okay. So what's its size? It's 0.052. It did pop on the 6th of January towards nearly 0.07. And then it's had a little bit of a dip and it's having a pullback. I mean, if you could get this stock on a pullback, it might be a good opportunity, right? To just have a little bit of it. You can only get this particular stock on certain apps, I think. So just have a look around in terms of trading apps. Okay. But that's the stock that I've got for you today. If you enjoyed the video, then please leave the video a like. It'd be much appreciated. It helps it get up into that YouTube algorithm. So when anybody searches penny stocks, my video then shows that we get new fantastic people joining the channel and seeing the videos. So that'd be fantastic if you can do that. And I'll see you everybody in the next video. Have a wonderful day.


Oh, and I got to chew and Thomas. No They teamed up finally, huh? Because they were fighting for what? They're like, oh man, we didn't pay the fee. We can't get through Is that What's up everyone welcome back to realistic gaming today. I have a few different animations today Like an animation that has skibbity toilet Thomas I got a little bit of Amanda's adventure a little bit of grimace So let's check them out. It's two animations. I've been waiting to watch the first one's gonna be the secret behind skibbity toilets Epic 50th episode, but his thumbnail has Thomas in it. Let's go. Let's check it out Okay Whose legs are those are those Thomas's legs or what by the way go and go and follow me right here on Instagram go right now Where they teaming up? Yo, the skibbities They're joining forces with Thomas No way They're in the subway right now. Who's that? Y'all know who that is? Yo, what's up, bro? Hey, yo, you need a haircut my boy And you need to change that shirt. It's a little dirty. Oh, what the how you got a Thomas backpack Look at this guy. Is he the is he the leader?  I don't know what's gonna happen right now like Okay, so they're walking Wait, why he locked out all the skibbities man If you need to use a toilet where you're gonna go my boy Hey right now is a perfect chance to go hit the notification bells. So you know when our next video is dropping, please What's he gonna do to him? ET phone home. I know he's telling him to go straight. Is that a wall or is there something there? Why is it so dark? Okay, I can't see okay, I couldn't say anything. Oh, oh So I think he was protecting him I Thought they were all together.  Oh Snap who come who come in is that is that time?  Let's give it a toilet's eyes when he saw Thomas Look, he was like, oh wait. I missed it. Oh Over for y'all look how scared he looks. Oh, and they got to chew and Thomas. No They teamed up finally, huh? Because they were fighting for what? They're like, oh man, we didn't pay the fee. We can't get through Is that What is gold and what happened to the sound does the sound just stopped with Now they're breakdancing Yo, this had a lot of action. We had a eight of Hitler's kibbity toilet I haven't seen that one. So go subscribe to ampra animation. That's pretty cool I like to keep doing more bro because we gonna react to it. Keep going All right, the next one that we're gonna watch is grimace shake versus skibbity toilet skibbity toilet animation So, let's see it's Dom studio. We love Dom studios videos. So let's check it out. Is that okay as a man of their venture? They got the little sheep are doing this.  Okay grim a grimace piece English pretty well. Oh, they got the skibbities Yeah, better run. Oh, okay. They went to a little restaurant Grimace is well enough right now. Oh, they're all dead. I want to say he did it a legacy To be the father, right?  Oh, he just wants to be so beautiful. Just join his family Oh man, you were an only psychopath There's what I'm saying Like Amanda knows a son like she's crazy too. Look at her. What?   I don't know his name They got saved man, but that was the animation for that one right there So that's it. Yo, those are the two animations I watched today.  So hopefully they keep going with the story. I like it But thanks for watching Hopefully you guys enjoyed that make sure you guys go click like subscribe Comment share the video and all that please and go and follow me on the links that we have in the description below Go watch the playlist. It really helps us out. All right. See you guys later. Peace


Everybody forced here ripping 20 22 certified football hobby 8 box number 10 random divisions check out the results one more time here There's a link in chat for it, and you can always find them at late in sports cards.com. Thanks for joining everybody and good luck I'll win and you're in for both teams. Yes, but they can also draw and both of them still make it There's a scenario and that happens So yeah, there's a few different scenarios, but either one of them win and they're in for sure And the other team might be out honestly, so They're both gonna play like they want they want to win because they want to win the group and stuff You grab his email Here we go we got cam acres on the patch card 17 out of 30 NFC West Probably not gonna recap this one guys just because of the time crunch So just heads up on that graffiti rookie Carson strong to 249 for the NFC East Thank you for understanding Not a too long of a break. So you have to go back and watch it's not gonna be too much Darnell mooney number to 108 of 149 NFC north Classic Back in the vine days, right? Was a vine wasn't kids probably like 20 by now AFC South freshman fabric RPA Trevon Walker numbered 16 of 149 Solid first hit there for the AFC South This is better in a lot of ways the 399 Kyle Pilots are key AFC South You can be funny in seven seconds. That's that's that's that's that's that's a good Zach Wilson with some foil peeling here 171 of 199 AFC East I'll get you a boxer rapper AFC East spot big peel in the bottom speaking appeal. I need to see a You see no Jordan Poyer patch card 29 of 125 AFC East God graffiti Kenneth Walker the third NFC West Shaq Barrett NFC South mirror signatures numbered 430 Dark horses mills mafia AFC South to 199 Yeah, I kind of like all types of movies I guess What's them do kind of stink I Just get scared red rookie scholar Thompson to 99 AFC East Brian Cook to 325 I get for the AFC West Arisa loves my wife loves them my brother loves them, too So therefore I kind of like Have to be kind of okay with it. Yeah, I do a lot of friends and family though I wouldn't consider myself like straight up horror fan, but I like certain ones. There's a lot of crap ones though It's also a genre now that I think people don't spend a lot of like effort or money trying to make a good horror movie anymore Like not a lot of people are doing that Tyler lock at the 349 NFC West Anything you get stuff. That's kind of like stranger things or it's like a sci-fi sort of like Yeah, right has like elements of horror. Yeah, that's about as scary Calvin Austin the third on the freshman fabric RPA 47 to 249 AFC North Yeah, 24 makes pretty good movies most of the time. I like a 24 Vaughn Walker ricketed to 75 for the AFC South Grandpa shorts. I know you're an 824 guy Damian Harris 30 of 75 AFC East Certified stars CD lamb NFC East 68 of 99. I mean they just make good pretty much everything Kenneth Walker the third rookie Jersey 175 at 299 NFC West graffiti Isaiah Spiller AFC West All right, so first off the line divisions is now at two to go three and two first offline visions Yeah, Ryan their attack that Canada's attack is great But their midfield and their defense really just let them down Paul Warfield Canton certified auto eight of 15 AFC East Sean we're here. He'd be seeing go dolphins the certified stars 137 149 NFC North Justin Jefferson Dude, he says so much built into Mexico score. Oh wow golden opportunity Mexico got over like four goals. They're they're just bad at this Corey Davis 26 out of 99 AFC East And it's almost counterproductive if if there's a draw in Argentina in Poland Yeah, I say a likelihood of 399 AFC North Get you a results. You got it right? You want me to get it? I got it. We're gonna drop you a link Let me check it out But as Christopher G AFC North and NFC East Roger has the AFC South Corey AFC East Roger also has the AFC West Joshua NFC North NFC South and Brandon NFC West Aiden Hutchinson rookie Jersey to 349 NFC North Yeah, sorry, sorry for our we had we started this one a bit early Is everything else still had spots to go so we jumped the schedule up just a bit Actually, I've never done that before but it seemed like the right thing to do, right? It's how a lot of other breakers do it. Whatever fills I'll break Do what we do here in there DK to 139 For the NFC West Kenneth Walker the third AFC South Yeah, I bet it's been and because because both of those teams have to try to get a win So they're probably pushing for goals. I guess here at the side of you doesn't have to win But Mexico's probably pushing everybody up Bailey's Zappy freshman fabric RPA 246 to 249 AFC East Brady Zappy David O'Jabbo to 399 for the AFC North Wonder if I should go see the Pats at Gillette against Dolphins on New Year's Day I'll fly in that morning Eli Mitchell mirror signatures to 99 NFC West. It sounds expensive and time-consuming Kyle Hamilton AFC North graffiti Yeah, I would imagine they should be Ryan also those three teams should qualify as witches quality Mexico should always Mexico US should always qualify and Canada should what their talent the 349 NFC North Yeah, for sure Randy. I don't think I'm able to afford it though. It's not it's I'm finding out It's not very cheap to travel in New Year's So rookie patch James Cook one of 25 to the AFC East Flights even with like connections roundtrip January 1st and January 4th like they're back Just over a thousand my wife and I and that's just like regular like having bought haven't bought like check bags or anything yet Like American not cheap To go to to go to Philly like a couple months ago for a wedding in like early October It was no it was around like 700 and it was like direct both ways Zeke to 275 NFC East Peer strong junior rookie to 199 for the AFC East. I get Logan's a smaller airport. I get it. I get it Still that's tough. That's tough in his new year. So hotel hotels not super cheap even though it's Boston and winter Theoretically it should be cheap, but Pat's game. There's a winter classic in his new years rookie jersey sim howl NFC East the 349 probably once in a lifetime thing though Gold team Matthew Stafford to 249 NFC West, so I don't I don't I don't mind Probably find a nice cozy place to watch the game when I when we get there though Do some New Year's Day? eating and drinking Probably gonna be dead tired though. I'll probably break new And then have to wake up super early to fly Phyllis Jones junior NFC North to 149 Fadarian Matt this to 199 rookie for the NFC East I don't know how they're gonna how they're gonna add it Ryan. I honestly don't know So the four what is it con me bull is what we call it a concha cap the four concha cap teams were Costa Rica Canada US and in Mexico So I would every every region is gonna get expanded though because there's 48 teams in the next World Cup Crystal Lave So there's already gonna be more guaranteed Guarantees for a region I guess Zvian Howard on the patch card numbered 106 of 149 that looks game used to me AFC East Yep, it is Gabriel Davis to 349 AFC East Take me back to middle school or no elementary school I'd play that on like the morning announcements or whatever. Oh, is this the the action Santa Claus movie? I'm for sure seeing this you know what it actually doesn't look horrible. It looks fun. Yeah Eric is a comma RPA 76 out of 99 AFC East John Dotson the avatar I saw I still haven't seen a first one No, I see first 225 Alec Pierce AFC South. Is there anyone that hasn't seen avatar bro Somebody I know just watching for the first time my sister. I think Aaron Jones the 50 NFC North That's crazy Dark horse is Mills mafia AFC South the 149 I was gonna say I haven't seen Black Panther yet either Seven I don't have time I Do have time it ends up not being at the movies apparently rookie jerseys a mere white the 399 AFC West Yeah, he signs easy. I'm excited to see you. I also want to see um any Bill Bates auto as a throwback NFC East 3 of 99 What movie just came out recently? I need to see glass on you. I think that's on Netflix though Glass onion with knives out sequel. Oh, yeah, what is that come out? It's already out Really, it's in certain theaters I think it's also in Netflix, but that's a movie. I want to see the theater. It's on Netflix I think it's on Netflix.  I Just cancel Netflix a couple months ago, though Yeah, so good Jojo Rabbit. Yes who's 275 drew lock NFC West so good, right great movie sad movie funny movie Yeah, so good though Soda theater I would love to see I love going to theaters any chance I get I'm addicted to like movie theater popcorn I think because of the flavor call seasoning like it's so bad for you, but I love it Kenneth Walker the third sixty two of 75 freshman fabric RPA NFC West Go NFC West. I have seen hunt for the world of people. That's what the Sam Neil right to do so 275 K to Otten rookie NFC South That's a great movie 199 I'm already Cooper AFC North Dark horse is Eli Mitchell to 75 NFC West No origins did not break This filled up first. So I decided to break it Romeo Dobbs rookie Jersey 72 out of 199 for the NFC North graffiti Kenny Pickett I'll break whatever fills up next honestly out of the out of what we have a Louis sign a rookie signatures 25 out of 25 NFC North Dark horse is Davis Mills to 249 AFC South The Mario movie Dude, I I don't know if I'm gonna be able to get used to Chris Pratt's voice as Mario.  It's just we I don't know man. I'll be like all the other voice casting is great Tram it bride to 149 NFC West rookie. There's a great idea 325 on the Robbins NFC East the movie actually looks pretty solid But there's gonna be a few times where I just laugh at Chris Pratt's voice as Mario like I'm just gonna have to Breeze Hall AFC East not because he sounds like Mario That's why I'm gonna laugh. It just sounds weird. I don't know once every 7 to 249 Garrett Wilson rookie for the AFC East I don't know Randy. I don't know maybe So I will say about voice acting Now I feel like every movie now like has to have some big name actors as voice actors not just actual voice actors You know what I mean? Like back in the day You would typically just get voice actors to voice act for roles not an actor That you're trying to teach how to voice act I think all right guys origins has five teams to go You also have three and two first off the line full case. We're trying to get filled as well Argentina on the board Carson strong rookie Jersey NFC East at 249 Crystal Lave NFC North Jerome Ford 325 AFC North Crystal Lave is NFC South, I don't know if I said that Brandon cooks to 349 AFC South Jeremy Ruckerts AFC East rookie Otto to 15 So is Argentina about to drop their first game to Saudi Arabia and go on to win the group still is that what's about to happen? It looks like it Very early second half though. So there's a long time to go here Levin Golskies Got it. He's got his site set now. He's got to lock it in Malik Willis Jersey auto 18 of 20 AFC South That's very nice Piece of the game die-cut relic Otto a D hop numbered To 75 NFC West right there there's a there it is Greg Dulcich AFC West rookie Otto to 50 Three and two is down to one guys. Let's get these breaks filled up so we can get them ripping Adam feelin 15 of 75 NFC North Clyde ever delivered a 199 AFC West Dark horse is Javante Williams to 149 AFC West. What is that? Oh, that's pretty cool. Cooper cub This got to be a case hit scoring machines Looks sick case hit going to the NFC West scoring machines Cooper cup He is one of those. Yeah, it's true. Johan Dotson NFC East graffiti Oh That was close That was a golden opportunity right there Hassan Haskins patch card to 199 AFC South John met you to 399 for the AFC South Two more boxes guys and again We're off schedule now guys. So whatever fills next. I'll break next origins or three and two whichever one you guys want Wondale Robinson on the jersey card for the NFC East to 75 Things that he got hurt. He was looking good. Oh, yeah. Next. We'll break the three and two three and two is sold out now Let's get those origins filled up guys last break's daytime Aaron Rogers 275 NFC North. Hey guys, thanks for understanding how The the afterness kind of gone here Shake out the schedule just breaking things kind of as they fill at this point We had a lot of spots to go. So we had to get something going That's what we did Johan Dotson 31 of 49 NFC East piece of the game Jersey Auto graffiti trail on Berks AFC South 325 Trent McDuffie AFC West Poland's gonna have to be aggressive Matt Corral rookie patch to the 99 NFC South Dark horses Mills Mafia They might Ryan 349 Zeke NFC East I would be kind of scary Certified stars Russ AFC West of 249. I know that's a home game, but is that really on game? Yeah, I think it would be It would count on paper in the home game. So I don't think Mira signatures Jamal Williams the 35 NFC one they better win flying up there better win Although I'm a curse I've never been to a Bruins game that they won That's how I am with the Red Sox, I've never seen the Red Sox win in person Every time I go like one of the Tampa games they'll win two or three. I go to the one where they just Get blanked or something Cam Taylor Britt Ricky to 75 AFC North. I've seen a lot of losses. I've seen a lot of wins When that an introvano locker AFC South it's always a tough road trip no matter who you are honestly, I don't know why There's something about playing in that dome that makes it home field advantage It's not that I mean the fans only show for the playoffs, but it's like Look of it the feel of it. I don't know what it is man. Is it a spiller? Doesn't feel like baseball anybody else messy Block. Yeah, this is another game. I don't I don't really care much what happens. I like I'd like to see our team move on But I also want to see pulling move on for love and dousy Jermaine Johnson the second to 75 rookie for the AFC East I say a spiller AFC West That that's a fact JQ that's a fact dark horses Davis Mills AFC South number to 149 Like I know it's an outdoor game and those are kind of funky, but They should they should be the pens Any eyes they should be the pens Calvin Austin the third freshman fabric RPA 117 of 349 Another one AFC North and that's the last RPA or should be scholar Thompson to 399 AFC East Chris Goblin to 149 NFC south NFC South Yeah, so for results hold right now with the draw in the other game then both teams and move on here Christian Watson rookie Jersey to 399 NFC North. I bet Poland is dying to get a goal. They're probably So I think if Saudi Arabia ends up beating Mexico, then it's Then they move on for sure William Perry refrigerator Perry mirror signatures to 50 NFC North graffiti trail on Burks His true Ryan. He is good in outdoor games JJ Watt the 349 NFC West Yeah, then I'll have seen as many hockey games in Fenway as baseball games Kevin Harris rookie a NFC AFC East at 275. I've only seen one Red Sox in the Fenway They won the division that year to that was 2017 it was like the one loss they had in the series against the Blue Jays that year See you suck saw home runs though Red Sox also like five three Geez dude, that was awesome Look at that T. Higgins five of five Certified gamers patch game worn. That's filthy AFC North game worn patch the G and Bengals Guess that's across their their white home jerseys, right? That's filthy dude Nice tee and that'll do it. Thanks again everybody again to do the time constraints not gonna be able to do a recap Thanks again three two first off line coming up


When John Calvin Purposed to write a commentary on the book of Romans He began his very brief introduction in this way With regard to the excellency of this epistle I know not whether it would be well for me to dwell long on the subject for I fear less through my Recommendations falling far short of what they ought to be. I should do nothing but obscure its merits The excellency of this epistle with regard to the excellency of this epistle Whatever we might say will certainly fall short of its true merits The Apostle Paul's epistle to the Romans has been regarded over the centuries to be the highest peak The Mount Everest of God's revelation to man the cathedral of the Christian faith Simply stated Paul's epistle to the Romans is the greatest Document the most Significant document ever produced J. I. Packer describes it as the place where all the main biblical themes are brought together and displayed in a single Panoramic suite and think for a moment about the panoramic sweep of the book of Romans The scope of Romans is breathtaking Through the book of Romans will consider the doctrine of God Will consider the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ will consider the ministry and operation of the Holy Spirit Will consider the doctrine of man the doctrine of sin the judgment of God will consider God's glorious plan of redemption God's covenants God's providence predestination election reprobation Regeneration justification sanctification preservation and glorification will consider a federal headship Representation imputation union with the Lord Jesus Christ. There's an extensive explanation of the place of the law There's an extensive explanation of the workings of grace the relationship between the law and grace the relationship of grace to hope the relationship of hope to the Christian life The place and importance of obedience to the Christian life the struggles and difficulties of living the Christian life Overcoming sin in the Christian life the nature of the Lord's church The place of both Jew and Gentile in the plans and purposes of Almighty God the message and meaning of the Old Testament The proper interpretation of the Old Testament the significance of baptism our relationship to the government Liberty of conscience the liberty of the Christian our relationship to one another in the body of Christ, and that's just a representative list It truly is staggering. I mean it is Absolutely staggering with such an economy of words 16 chapters all that God instructs us through this letter Calvin would say again That when anyone gains a knowledge of this epistle he has an entrance open to him to all the most hidden treasures of scripture William Tyndale Romans is a light and a way unto the whole scripture Tyndale goes on to say I think it meet fitting good That every Christian man not only know it by or wrote in other words know it from memory and without the book But also exercise himself therein ever more continually as with the daily bread of the soul No man can barely read it too often or study it too well for the more it is study the easier It is the more it is chewed the pleasanter It is and the more groundly it is searched the Preciouser things are found in it so great a treasure of spiritual things life hid therein This letter have considered should grind you to powder under the unfathomable weight of our sin and then Lift you to heights unimaginable for lowly undeserving wretched creatures like us It will strip you of self-confidence and then show you an unbreakable Unshakeable confidence it will strip you of self-righteousness and then show you a perfect righteousness It will strip you of what you think is freedom and show you what true freedom really is It will strip you of false religion and Lead you in the way of faith lead you in the way of truth It will strip you of hope in anything else and show you an unwavering Unflinching hope all that said The book of romans is truly is a truly glorious in its presentation of the gospel The primary theme of the book might be summarized in a simple statement by paul concerning the gospel in chapter 1 verse 17 For in it in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith that being that The true gospel has been under attack by the enemy of our souls since the garden Many have come to consider romans as the guardian of the gospel a role that the book has excelled in over the centuries Since it's writing consider this very fact from the words of John Owen in John Owen's assessment of the book of Romans listen God favored the people of Israel with the rituals of religion Which were designed merely as aids. They were pictures And means to attain and to preserve true religion, but they converted them to another purpose They took those rituals and they converted them to another purpose. Owen says like the heathens They regarded them as meritorious performances and expected They expected God's acceptance for their very their very religious acts the very religious acts which they exercised And in order to make up as it were a sufficient quantity of merit They then made Additions to those services which God had appointed as though to multiply acts of this kind was to render their Salvation more certain you see their error that Owen is pointing out The very same evil Owen says crept early into the Christian Church and still continues to exist Owen continues the accumulation of ceremonies the building up of these ceremonies is of itself a sufficient proof that Salvation by faith was in a great measure lost side of we want no other evidence It is what has been ever done whenever the light of truth has become dim and obscure We see the same evil in the present day. Owen says outward privileges and Outward acts of worship are in effect too often substituted for that grace which changes the heart and for that living faith which unites us to the Savior which works by love and Overcomes the world the very disposition to overvalue External privileges and the mere performances of religious duties is an unequivocal evidence that salvation by faith is not Understood or very imperfectly understood and not really embraced the only Remedy as means for this evil is that which we find employed by Paul in this epistle Amen to that. Amen Romans becomes the guardian of the gospel Nowhere has this been more evidently true than in the life and experience of a young Augustinian monk from Wittenberg, Germany Martin Luther was caught up in The accumulation accumulation of those ceremonies right and the accumulation of those ceremonies very common to Roman Catholicism as a Roman Catholic monk Luther had wearied himself Trying to maintain a right standing with God Trying to maintain that right standing through the Catholic sacrament of penance So Luther would confess for hours. He would fast for days He would whip himself and punish himself strip him down to strip himself down to nothing in the cold It's the practice of asceticism Believing that that earned or merited some right standing some righteousness with God. It was Romans chapter 1 verse 17 This theme of the book as it were that would provide the remedy as Owen says for that evil Luther said I greatly longed to understand Paul's epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way But that one expression the righteousness of God Because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is just and deals Righteously in punishing the unrighteous So night and day Luther said I pondered until I saw the connection between the righteousness of God and the statement that the Just shall live by his faith and then all of a sudden as it were Luther says I grasped that the righteousness of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God Justifies us through faith in other words that righteousness of God is the righteousness that he gives sinners as a free gift of his grace when they turn to Christ in faith and it's by that Righteousness the righteousness that is a free gift of God that he justifies them and makes them right in his sight He does that in the blood of the lamb through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You see Luther comes to an understanding of this truth. That's the gospel I mean he comes to that understanding through a meditation on a ponderance on Romans chapter 1 verse 17 Luther says there upon I felt myself to be reborn Amen, Luther. Amen It took a new birth for Luther to have come to that understanding I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open gates into paradise the whole Scripture took on new meaning and whereas before the righteousness of God had filled me with hate now It became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love this passage of Paul became to me a gate to heaven Luther would later call the book of Romans the chief part of the New Testament and the perfect gospel It would essentially be the Greek translation of the New Testament by Erasmus Along with Luther's study of that translation in the book of Romans That would unleash the firestorm that was the Protestant Reformation Well brothers and sisters the same errors persist today and those same errors don't only persist in Roman Catholicism They persist all over the place in a variety of colors and fashions and styles Politicians fill most pulpits today Snake oil salesmen showmen Professionals as it were fill most pulpits today performers their performers hirelings man pleasers ear ticklers feckless cowards feckless Compromisers they're all over our town all over Orlando today What is said is generally awful What is left unsaid is even worse And the people love to have it so the people love to have it so Karl Marx was obviously wrong Religion isn't the opiate of the masses False religion is the opiate of the masses. They don't want the truth. They want what is false And there's a dealer on every street corner Romans is a powerful God Wrought Holy Spirit inspired remedy to all that garbage Through the lens of this book the sewage on our streets becomes clear Social justice feminism tyranny homosexuality perversion politics abortion and Certainly not the least of which certainly not excluding the remaining sewage that we may find within our own heart and mind All of this the book of Romans lays bare You and I we see in the book of Romans. We are sinners and How can a sinner be right with a holy God and the book of Romans is just a clear Exposition of that glorious truth in all its technicolor splendor But as the site of that sewage comes into sharper focus It's the site of our savior in this book that fills our sight and fuels our faith Christ who is our righteousness One who studied this book Compared himself to a man who is groping in the dark and he's groping in the dark reached out for this book as a man might reach Out for a rope to steady himself and in the dark He laid a hold of this rope that is the book of Romans as a man would lay hope a layhold of rope for guidance And he found that he had laid hold of a bell rope and it made a sound he said fit to wake the dead This book has awoken many dead over the centuries praise God You and I should look forward to this book with great anticipation We should absolutely relish the thought of spending time in this book together to take on this study And you and I to be need to be in prayer fervently together that Lord would be pleased to bless this work For our good and for his glory. I know it said of Many things today and you hear it all the time it said of many things today from hearing aids to catheters to pumpkin spice lattes But it's true of this book this book really will change your life The Lord will change your life through a study of this book verse 1 begins with Paul a Bonservant of Jesus Christ Paul a bond servant of Jesus Christ. I want to spend our remaining time together this morning considering the historical context of the book of Romans through the life and ministry of the books author Who is Paul a bond servant of Jesus Christ turn with me to Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 and look there beginning with me at verse 1 Paul a bond servant of Jesus Christ The Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead there have been multiple encounters between the disciples of Jesus and Jesus over the 40 days between his resurrection and between his ascension and at one point the Lord Jesus has appeared to over 500 disciples together at one time many of those disciples still alive at the writing of these letters in the New Testament and It would be the truth of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead That would then fuel what would be the relentless preaching of the gospel by the disciples of the early church in The very city where the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified Think with me the very disciples who fled at the arrest of Jesus Christ now powerfully Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in the very city they fled from and what changed their disposition of heart It was the resurrection of the Lord. They had seen the risen Lord on the day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem Peter would stand up with the 11 and preach the gospel chapter 2 verse 1 records the opening scene verse 1 When the day of Pentecost had fully come they were all with one accord and in one place Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting Then there appeared to them divided tongues as a fire and one sat upon each of them And they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit Gave them utterance notice. They didn't have to practice that they didn't have to go to classes to learn how to do that The spirit gave them utterance verse 5 and there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews devout men from every nation under heaven and when this sound occurred the multitude came together were confused because everyone heard them Speak in his own Language now that's fascinating, but you don't see that around Charismania today. Do you? They heard them speak in his own language. Whatever language he was speaking. I'm hearing him in my language Where is that miracle? Where's that gift of tongues today? Verse 7 it's not happening today. By the way, it's not happening Verse 7 neither is the utterances of the previous verse. Those aren't happening either folks Verse 7 they were all amazed and marveled saying to one another look are not all these who speak Galileans How is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born the notice verse 9? Parthians and Meads Elamites those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea Cappadocia Pontus in Asia Frigia Pamphlia Egypt and parts of Libya adjoining sireen and Visitors from Rome both Jews and proselytes Cretans and Arabs we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God that day in Jerusalem 3000 souls would be added to the church and the Bible says that those new disciples went Everywhere preaching the gospel they went everywhere preaching the gospel all over Jerusalem all over Judea Samaria and to the uttermost ends of the earth including Rome preaching there in their own languages the crucified and the risen Christ well as The gospel began to spread as you might imagine The Jewish leaders the scribes the Pharisees began to panic They brought Peter brought the others before the council in Acts chapter 5 Saying did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name and look you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us Preaching the Lord Jesus Christ and as the Lord had warned them in the upper room Before his death persecution begins to ramp up against the new church Disciples begin to be rounded up Imprisoned beaten eventually killed for their faith The first would be a man named Stephen in Acts chapter 7 turn over to Acts chapter 7 And in Acts chapter 7 drop down to verse 54 What was Stephen doing? Stephen was preaching the gospel verse 54 when they heard the preaching of Stephen They were cut to the heart. That's what good preaching will do It'll bring conviction and You can either be hostile or you can be humble They were cut to the heart. They gnashed at him with their teeth. What does that sound like? Sounds like hostility verse 55 But he being full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and said Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God Then they cried out with a loud voice Stopped their ears and ran at him with one accord and they cast him out of the city and stoned him and The witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul Drop down to chapter 8 verse 1 Now Saul was consenting to his death in other words Saul Thought it right that they should stone Stephen in the temple that day And at that time verse 1 a great persecution Then arose against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all Scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. It's interesting. Isn't it how the Lord? Uses the very persecution of his own people to further the spread of the glory of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ such that sinners would be saved and how those disciples of Jesus Christ are themselves Worthy of honor for their sacrifice, right? We see it on the pages of scripture Verse 2 devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him the Saul here was a Jewish man originally from Tarsus Named possibly after a fellow benjamite the first king of Israel was named Saul and a benjamite It was common at that time for Jewish men to have both a Jewish name a Hebrew name and a Greek name And we find out later in Acts chapter 13 verse 9 that Saul's Greek name was Paul Paul's father from Tarsus had become a Roman citizen Made Paul a Roman citizen as well and a Roman citizen by birth Paul had been given the finest of Jewish Education's as well as receiving the finest of Roman or Greek Education's Paul had been given the finest of Jewish education He studied at the feet of Israel's greatest teacher at the time the rabbi Gamaliel and from the age of 13 And it was at that time that Saul became a fiercely zealous Jew Look at verse 3 as for Saul He made havoc of the church entering every house Dragging off men and women committing them to prison everyone it could find Every Christian he could find went to every house dragging them off Paul Saul Set the bar in his zealous persecution of the church Saul was wild with zeal For his Judaism he was unmatched in his zeal for Judaism Persecuting the church he would save himself in 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 13 that he was a blasphemer a Persecutor an insolent man the chief of sinners having persecuted the Lord's church He described himself in Philippians chapter 3 verse 5 Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews Concerning the law of Pharisee concerning zeal Persecuting the church concerning the righteousness, which is in the law Saul saw himself as blameless It's much like it wasn't it? foreshadowing if you will of Haman in the days of Esther Wanting to murder all the Jews here is Saul now wanting to murder all the Christians look at Acts chapter 9 Acts chapter 9 page to the right Look there at verse 1 Then Saul Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and Asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus so that if he found any who are of the way It's what they called Christians at that time They were people of the way and the Lord Jesus Christ is the way the truth in the life, right? They're people of the way speaking of Christians whether men or women that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem Saul was zealous to find them to search them out to bring them back to Jerusalem to see them tried and punished and killed Persecution had scattered them Saul was intent on rounding them all up Paul told King of grippa in Acts chapter 26 He said indeed I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth This I also did in Jerusalem and many of the Saints I shut up in prison having received authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death I cast my vote against them and I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme How do you think he compelled them to blaspheme? right Paul was zealous in persecuting Christians and Being exceedingly enraged against them. I persecuted them even to foreign cities Which is what he's doing right here in Acts chapter 9 verse 3 As he journeyed he came near to Damascus Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him Saul Saul Why are you persecuting me and he said who are you Lord? Then the Lord said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting notice It's Jesus Christ whom he's persecuting as Saul breathes out threats and murder against the Lord's church. You see we're United to him He is our brother as it were and when we're persecuted he's persecuted. You see It's hard for you Saul to kick against the goats a goat was a long wooden pole often with an iron tip at the end They used to jab oxen to get them to go the right direction Paul here Saul is kicking against those goats so verse 6 he trembling and Astonished that's an understatement. Can you imagine? Saul trembling fearful terrified and astonished his mind Rocked now his world in upheaval turned upside down And all that Saul could do was say Lord, what do you want me to do? So the Lord said to him arise Go into the city and you will be told what you must do. This insolent blasphemer is now humbled His world turned upside down Lord then instructs ananias to meet Saul in Damascus and tells ananias in verse 15 go ananias For salt is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles Kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake It's interesting over the years. I Will often hear someone say or remark that wouldn't it be something if God were to save this person or that person who is you know famous person or person was really wealthy or person with a Lot of influence right and what would it be like if God would save Donald Trump right and or if God would save you know and What the Lord might do through that? Well here you have it God saves Saul The persecutor of the church of Hebrew of Hebrews a Pharisee concerning the law blameless a man of matchless zeal of matchless Education matchless upbringing and Judaism a matchless knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures Paul was a tremendous man of influence and here the Lord saves the apostle Paul and he says You go I'll tell you what you're gonna do. I'm gonna show you how many things you're gonna suffer from my name's sake and the Lord who can Draw a straight line with crooked sticks all day long Accomplish as much through this formerly Insolent blasphemous man Verse 20 what did he do? immediately He preached the Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. I really like that Then all who were all who heard were amazed verse 21 and said is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and has come here for that purpose that he might bring them bound to the chief priests But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus Proving that this Jesus is the Christ Paul comes out of the gate storming storming the gates of hell Storming this world with the gospel Saul of Tarsus Becomes Romans 1 verse 1 Paul a bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ But what happens in a very next to verse Acts chapter 9 verse 23 Now after many days were passed the Jews plotted to kill him. Well, of course they did From there From that point we can piece together if you will a chronology of Paul's ministry from various passages in Paul's letters we know from Galatians chapter 1 that Paul then spent three years in Arabia listen to Galatians chapter 1 verse 11 Paul says but I make known to you brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man I neither received it from man nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ That's where it comes from it comes from a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ Paul didn't receive it from men He wasn't taught it by man. He got it through direct revelation and listen It's the same for us today It doesn't come to us from man as if it's something that we can Manipulate or change or adjust or edit to suit our own liking it comes from a revelation of God to man through the Lord Jesus Christ on the pages of scripture and it's not to be meddled with The gospel is not to be changed into ask Jesus into your heart The gospel is not to be changed into a series of sacraments that you have to do to keep righteousness with God The gospel is not to be changed. It's not to be altered It's not to be edited we're to use the words that God uses Right we're to use the gospel that is here given to us clearly on the pages of scripture and we're not to meddle with it people today Continuously meddle with it and what they're doing is they're peddling something that then isn't the gospel Paul says in verse 13 you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism How I persecuted the church of God beyond measure tried to destroy it and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my Contemporaries in my own nation being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers But when it pleased God Who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace to reveal his son and me? That I might preach him among the Gentiles. I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus He spent that time at three years in Arabia where the Lord through direct revelation gave Paul the gospel and gave Paul an understanding of His word through the scriptures of the Old Testament that Paul was extremely well versed in and Paul came to understand The revelation of God in his son the Lord Jesus Christ and that three years Ended up with a quick trip to Jerusalem to see Peter And then afterward Paul went into the regions of Cilicia in Syria Finally back to Tarsus back to the area that he was from Acts chapter 11 verse 25 records that the the church at Antioch sent Barnabas to go and find Paul in Tarsus they wanted Paul to come and teach in Antioch and He is brought back to Antioch and spends a year there with Barnabas teaching the people and all of that would then encompass a 14-year period in the life of the Apostle Paul Putting Paul in Antioch in 48 48 ad When in 48 ad the spirit of the spirit of God set him apart for missionary work in Acts chapter 13 Flip the pages and look at Acts chapter 13 Be beginning there in verse 1 Paul would embark on three missionary journeys in His ministry this being the first Acts chapter 13 verse 1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers Barnabas Simeon who was called Niger Lucius of Cyrene Menein who had been brought up with hair the tetrarch and Saul as They ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them then Having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them. They sent them away Now what follows is a description of Paul's first missionary journey through the region of Galatia north of Israel and Paul there went to Cyprus to Pisidia Iconium Lystra derby all the cities throughout that Region as he went planting churches seeing churches planted as they traveled They faced tremendous Tremendous persecution the terrain was incredibly difficult had a terribly difficult time the mountains were Imposing and Paul was likely thinking of segments of this trip when he wrote in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 We're very familiar with that. He was stoned in Lystra That he was in perils of waters and perils of rivers in robbers and perils of his own countrymen and perils of the Gentiles and perils in the city and perils in the wilderness Weariness and toil and sleeplessness and hunger thirsts and fastings and cold and nakedness. This would have been this missionary journey the first of three many of the Jews on That journey rejected the gospel at every turn stirred up people against Paul Such that Paul and Barnabas then turned their attention to the Gentiles and Paul is considered the apostle to the Gentiles concluding his first missionary journey through Galatia Paul then writes Galatians around 49 to 50 AD After returning to Antioch in Syria from Paul's letter to the Galatians We know that false teaching Immediately became an issue in those churches takes no time at all before the enemy starts sowing seeds of destruction Seeds of false teaching in the Lord's church the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone Immediately challenged and corrupted by the Judaizers So between this first and second missionary journeys Paul takes a trip to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council that is recorded in Acts chapter 15 Where the council affirms there the true gospel in? 50 AD then Paul takes Silas and begins the second of his three missionary journeys He decides to go back through Syria and Selecia in Acts chapter 15 strengthening the churches Paul and Silas meet Timothy in Lystra and take Timothy with them and then something interesting happens So three of them are prevented by the Spirit of God from going over into Bethany or into Asia The only route available to them was to the port city of Troas where Paul receives the Macedonian call in Acts chapter 16 and Paul has a vision of a man in Macedonia calling for his help So Paul Silas and Timothy understanding that to be God's direction Immediately head for Macedonia they pick up Luke on their way to Philippi and Paul plants a church in Philippi He plants a church in Thessalonica. He plants a church in Berea Paul is a prolific missionary a prolific church planter And God is prospering the work of the gospel right the church the gospel is spreading all over the place and Then leaving Silas and Timothy behind in Berea Paul departs from Macedonia in the north and then heads south to the region region of Achaia Where we have Paul's preaching at the Areopagus and Acts chapter 17 and then Paul ends up spending 18 months in Corinth Between 52 or 50 and 52 AD and that's recorded in Acts chapter 18 turn to Acts chapter 18 Look there at beginning in verse 1 In verse 1 after these things Paul then departed from Athens and went to Corinth He found there in Corinth a certain Jew named Aquila Born in Pontus who had recently come from Italy He'd come with his wife Priscilla Because the Emperor Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome do you see He met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth and Priscilla and Aquila had come from Rome. They were Christians Christians who had come from Rome and joined Paul in his work in Corinth They'd come from Rome and because he was of the same trade. He stayed with them and worked for by occupation They were tent makers and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks That's going to become important here in just a moment from Acts chapter 2 From Acts chapter 2 remember We know that there were visitors who had come from Rome who were converted in Jerusalem at Pentecost There were visitors from Rome here in Acts chapter 18 We find 20 years later or more in Acts chapter 18 We find two known Christians Priscilla and Aquila leaving Rome and meeting Paul in Corinth There's a church that has begun in the city of Rome And it's been established by believers with no apostolic help no apostolic support yet This is a church that is cropped up in Rome at the preaching of the gospel The Paul tells the Romans in chapter 1 Romans chapter 1 verse 8. He says first listen I Thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world When Paul writes this letter to the Romans the church is well known Their faith is spoken of throughout the whole world verse 9 for God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers Making requests if by some means now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you for I long To see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established These folks in Rome had been without an apostle up until this point Paul wanted to be an influence with them wanted to be a help to them wanted to teach wanted to help wanted to see Them established established an apostolic doctrine verse 12 that I may be encouraged together with you By the mutual faith both of you and me verse 13 I do not want you to be unaware brethren, but I often plan to come to you But was hindered until now that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the other Gentiles I am a debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians both to wise and to unwise so as much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also Well in Acts chapter 19 then beginning in verse 1 Paul Begins the third and last of his missionary journeys and it happened in verse 1 while Apollos was at Corinth that Paul having passed through the upper regions came to Ephesus and From a home base as it were in Ephesus Paul made what would be a second trip to the city of Corinth after which he would write first Corinthians from the city of Ephesus Paul would then leave Ephesus for Macedonia and then on to Corinth one last time to pick up a collection for the Saints in Jerusalem We talked about that moment through second Corinthians together and after a short three-month stay in Corinth Nearing his departure from Corinth for the last time Paul would sit and write his letter to the church at Rome in Around AD 57 Now Paul would write With an eminuensis an eminuensis a scribe so to speak turn with me to Romans chapter 16 Romans chapter 16 And look at verse 22. What were the the conditions or the circumstances of the writing of this letter? Paul would have sat Nearing the end of his stay in Corinth Nearing the time that he would leave to go to Jerusalem with his gift for the church there But Paul had on his mind the church at Rome the church at Rome so Paul sits to write and Paul Uses what has been called an eminuensis a scribe. We see that in Romans chapter 16 verse 22 Look at verse 22. I Tertius the name of this scribe the eminuensis was Tertius. I Tertius who wrote this epistle greet you in the Lord So Paul the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit dictated this letter to Tertius you can imagine the scene can't you the Scrolls opened up and Tertius sitting at the desk and Paul thinking Paul maybe with scrolls open in front of him Considering the church in Rome and then dictating this letter that would have been amazing to have been there Tertius was the first to have heard this epistle But it Paul then in writing a letter mentioned several believers in and around Corinth So we know that he's in Corinth when he writes the letter and it Secures our understanding of where the letter was written and in chapter 16 in verse 23 Paul is staying with Gaius Gaius was a man that Paul had baptized in Corinth in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 14 Now Paul is staying with him as he writes this letter and in chapter 16 verse 1 He mentions Phoebe from Shinshria Which was a port town very near to Corinth and it would be Phoebe who would be the one to carry this letter to Rome When Phoebe carried this letter from Corinth to Rome Phoebe would have arrived in a city of nearly 1 million people at that time would have been an absolute massive city by the standards of that day a very heart of the Roman Empire As we consider Phoebe going to Rome and delivering this letter in 8057 let me ask you a question Where was Peter? Where has Peter been and what has Peter been doing all of this time? Was Peter in Rome? No, where was Peter Peter was in Jerusalem? Peter hasn't been to Rome. Where has Peter always been? Peter has always been in Jerusalem Peter was considered a pillar in the church at Jerusalem. Peter was a leader in the church at Jerusalem Peter was an apostle to the Circumcision from his home base in Jerusalem Peter didn't go to Rome Well, how did this church in Rome get started? Peter didn't plant the church in Rome Sorry to say Roman Catholics How did this church in Rome get started? Jews from Rome visiting Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 It went back to their home city and preached the gospel, which is what Christians do and this church got started Very interesting in 8049 before this the Emperor Claudius Expelled Jews from Rome. We have that edict written in the history of the Roman Empire in Secular history as it were of Rome and it lines up exactly with Paul's statements in Acts 18 Where Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth? They were coming from Rome because the Emperor Claudius had expelled all the Jews from Rome now. It's very interesting It's very likely that the edict of Emperor Claudius in Rome was related to Jewish Christians This is fascinating from the Roman historian Suetonius the edict of Claudius said this he expelled from Rome the Jews constantly making disturbances at the instigation of Crestus Crestus was a name that you may have found among Roman slaves at the time But it wasn't a name that was found at all among the Jews if I remember correctly There was someone who had made a list of all the Jewish names that were common Around this area at that time. There were 550 names that they could trace to Jewish Owners of the name and of the 550 of them. None of them was Crestus. It's Crestus isn't a Jewish name Now what does this say then one? This may have been a proselyte If he was a proselyte Jewish proselytes during a trouble. It's very likely that he was a Christian Jewish proselyte among the Jewish population in Rome or secondly The edict could have been related to those causing disturbances at the instigation of Crestus The codex Sinaiticus Manuscript at the time reads Crestianos Crestianos Christians in other words either way It's very good evidence one or two that the gospel was being preached in Rome and the Jews there in the synagogues Were responding to the preaching of the gospel in the synagogues in and around Jewish neighborhoods in Rome in the same way That the Jews in other areas Greek Roman Empire areas had responded to polls preaching of the gospel where they Stoned him and beat him left him for dead and persecuted him from city to city The same thing is happening in Rome. There's trouble being started. There's trouble brewing trouble being instigated by Crestianos or Crestus or Christus in Rome. And so what does cloudiest do he? announces demands the Removal of all those trouble-making Jewish people out of the city of Rome The Jews were responding with disturbances and persecution. Well Paul would eventually make it to Rome Paul and had intentions to go there wanted to establish them in the gospel Wanted to preach the gospel to them and Paul would eventually make it to Rome But not specifically for the purpose of visiting the growing church in Rome Paul would be arrested on His return to Jerusalem in Acts chapter 21 Paul would be seized by a mob Paul would be beaten again and it was a Roman commander that would quiet the crowd and Take Paul into custody and knowing that he would be certainly killed by the Jews in Jerusalem And when the Roman soldiers were about to scourge Paul Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship Paul would be charged with sedition and then sent to Rome because Paul had made his appeal to Caesar Now on his way back to Jerusalem before his arrest Paul had met with the elders of the church at Ephesus in a town called Miletus and listen what Paul says in Acts chapter 20 in verse 17 Acts chapter 20 verse 17 From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus and Called for the elders of the church and when they had come to him he said to them You know from the first day that I came to Asia in what manner I always lived among you Serving the Lord with all humility with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews How I kept back nothing that was helpful But proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house Testifying to Jews also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ and see now I Go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem Not knowing the things that will happen to me there Except that the Holy Spirit Testifies in every city saying that chains and tribulations await me But none of these things move me Nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry Which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God And indeed now I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more Therefore I test you to testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole council of God Yeah, Paul would finish his ministry in Rome What was driving Paul? What was driving Paul continuously was love for the Lord Jesus Christ Christ and him crucified What was fueling Paul's zeal now No longer hatred for the Lord or hatred for the Lord's church was love for the Lord and Paul's love for the gospel and Paul's love for God's people what drove Paul the gospel the gospel Romans chapter 1 verse 13. I do not want you to be unaware brethren I often plan to come to you but was hindered until now But I plan to come to you that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the other Gentiles I am a debtor Both to Greeks and a barbarians both the wise and unwise So as much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also It's all because of the truth the truth of Romans chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ It is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written that just shall live by faith Why? Why is the gospel revealed because verse 18 the wrath of God is revealed the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth of God in their unrighteousness well Paul Would spend roughly two years under arrest in Rome he would eventually be sentenced to death as A leader of the Christianus Christianus as a leader of the Christians And Paul would be led out of the city along Yostian way And Paul would be beheaded at a place called aque salvia modern-day Tray Fontaine And as Tertullian said the blood of the martyrs proved to be the seed of the church FF Bruce said in his commentary on Romans that persecution and martyrdom Did not extinguish Christianity in Rome Praise God for Paul's ministry right praise God for his use of Men like Paul to proclaim his glorious treasure Praise God for this book of Romans. Amen Next week. We're gonna dig further into the book itself all praise honor and glory to God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ For the spread of the gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth even to us. Amen. Let's pray Take a few moments just in gratitude of the Lord and pray and thank him for the blessing that we have of going through this book together Let's pray Father in heaven, we're we're so grateful to you Lord for the the blessed privilege of having your word and More so Lord seeing the cost at which your word has come down to us Certainly hasn't come down to us floating along flowery beds of ease But it has sailed through bloody seas and we acknowledge That cost and are humbled by it and Grateful Lord for it. I pray that you would find us faithful in our day With these precious words and that we would be changed by them through them Conformed into the image of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and that we would be faithful heralds imitating Paul as he imitates Christ For your glory God, we pray these things bless our study in the book of Romans in Jesus name. Amen


The President's budget proposal eliminates public media funding. Learn how you can help at lptv.org slash action. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will receive Department of Transportation grant of nearly one million dollars to address transportation safety issues on Tribal land. The grant is for a little more than nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars and will fund safety planning, engineering improvements, enforcement and emergency services as well as education for Tribal communities. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.


A child can have a lot of fun pretending to be different animals. For example, you can say, Let's pretend you're a bird. What does a bird do? The child might flap their arms like a bird. Or you could say, Can you act like a monkey?  You can do this with any animal they may know about. This activity helps the child learn about the different behaviors of animals. Thank you for watching!