Romans 5 vs 1-11 - Corps Notes - 9
Publication Date: 1973
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
Romans 5:1-11
Lesson 9
I want to go back and pick up some things in Romans 5 that I tried to put together just
to share it with you. There is a phrase in Romans 5:3 that many Christian people or church
people use to cover for their injuries or something. And they take it out of context and that
is, verse 3.
Romans 5:3:
...we glory in tribulations...
And they take it out of context, and when this portion of this verse is quoted
independently, it’s totally untrue. Nobody glories in tribulations, you know, if you accepted
that out of its context as literally true, then you would have to pray: lay more tribulation on
me. If you’re going to glory in tribulation, then the more tribulation you had, the more
what do you have? {Glory.} Alright. And the reason they miss it is because, they miss the
latter part of verse 2: the hope of the glory of God. That is what you have to tie together
with “we glory in tribulations.”
Romans 5:2:
...we...rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
The hope of the glory of God is our sure foundation. It is our rock of security, it’s our
solidness. Tribulation is environmental only. It’s not the sheer rock, because the hope of the
glory of God has to be talking about something we can not have now but is future, right?
There’s no hope of the glory in tribulations, of the glory of tribulations is now. But, you see,
the hope of the glory of God is our surety, our foundation. I just know he’s coming back. I
just know there’s going to be a gathering together; therefore because I know the end over
here, the environmental things like this, we glory in tribulation also, that’s just the
environment we live in. And in the environment we live in, I know from the Word that
Satan controls the earth, right? The world, therefore, he sets up the patterns that some of
these things you’re just not going to avoid. But, the tribulations never cause us to cop out,
because the storms of life, no matter how snowy it may be on the way to St. Louis, it never
moves us off of our basic mooring. The storms never move us off of the strong God and his
moorings that he has set within us, just can’t do it. A person, let’s say, is really being hit by
the devil to where you’re almost dead. Someone calls you and said: look, this person has
really stood with you in the ministry. Now they’re dying. And he is beginning to question:
what’s the matter with the Word, therefore, I think you ought to talk to him. You see, that
again is just the selling out of the Word. That fellow, if he stood with you in the ministry
and believed God’s Word to the greatest of his ability as you have believed – you see, this
sure foundation, the rock of the security of our believing is the hope of the glory of God. If
he cops out or if he misses it, let’s say he suffers and therefore because he’s sick, he says:
well, the Way Ministry and what it taught just wasn’t right. He’s never seen the hope of the
glory of God, and so they rest out of context: therefore, we glory in tribulations. Because,
if you can say well, Paul had a thorn in the flesh, this fellow was sick, Moses was sick, Job
had a good trip of it, therefore we glory in it. The only reason Job came through, because
he saw the hope of the glory of the Lord. His wife didn’t see it. His wife said, why don’t
you blow it, man? You know, kick it out. I thought of this in here because, remember II
Corinthians, very familiar I’m sure, about Paul’s trip. II Corinthians 12:9, but we read it
again tonight, because it fits right in here.
II Corinthians 12:8, 9:
For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is [what? sufficient for thee]: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my [what? infirmities],
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
He had seen the glory of the Lord, he had seen that glory. And therefore, in the midst
of his infirmities he was able to do, what? Glory. Reminds me of the cross of Christ who
for the joy that was, what? {Set before him} – Endured the cross. Now, if there’s anybody
who should have been able to avoid Satan’s onslaught, it should have been our Lord and
Savior, right? And yet he was tempted in all things like as we are. Satan was busy on him
all of the time. Well, how come he didn’t cop out or complain? Because, he knew of the
hope of the glory of God. He knew God and God’s will. That’s the only thing that keeps
you solid and steadfast. I thought I’d like to show you that from here, you see in 4 that we
read the other week, 4:18, who against, what? Hope, believed in hope. That he might
become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken, see it? It’s the
same trip in verse 18:
Romans 4:18:
Who against hope believed in [what?]...
The hope, of what? The word that God had promised that he couldn’t have them but it
would come to pass, right? Future. And that’s why you see, if you just take the glory and
tribulations without the context, you end up only in a flesh trip. In 4:18 he sets the flesh is
over against God, who quicken him, makes alive His promises.
I also wanted to handle the word “tribulation” in this verse tonight.
Romans 5:3:
...we glory in tribulation...
The word “tribulation” means squeeze or press. You know, like here’s a sponge and
you squeeze it, or your put the press on it, that’s literally what that word “tribulation”
means. I want to check a few things in the Word with you and I think we’ll begin with John
6:33 and Vince read it to me please. John 6:33. Somebody else get Matthew 13:21, Kathy.
Romans 8:35, Doug McMullen. II Corinthians 4:17, Tina. I Thessalonians 3, Terry. John
6:33, Vince.
John 6:33:
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto
the world.
John 6:33? Read it again. [SCRIPTURE REPEATED] Maybe 36, what does it say?
John 6:36:
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
Yeah, that’s wrong, I don’t know what’s wrong but it ain’t right. Must of put the wrong
reference down when I looked it up. How about Matthew 13:21, are we close there?
Matthew 13:21:
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Okay, tribulation comes because of the Word; the squeeze is on, the press. I don’t
know where I could have missed it in John. Romans 8, also, 35-37:
Romans 8:35-37:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter.
Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Okay, Gale?
[Gale:] That’s 16:33 that you were looking for back in John.
Yeah, sorry. That’s the one, 16:33. You see, that Romans one that Doug just read, you
see how all of this fits with the hope of the glory? You can’t just separate out tribulation
alone.
John 16:33:
These things have I spoken...In the world, ye shall have [what?] tribulation:...
But you don’t cop out, because you know the glory of the Lord and the promises of
God. II Corinthians 4:17, 18, who has that?
II Corinthians 4:17, 18:
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen:
Right, see? Looking at things that are not seen is the hope of the glory. The word is
affliction is that what it is? It’s the same word as the word tribulation; I want to give you
all of these words after a bit. I Thessalonians 3:3.
I Thessalonians 3:3:
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we
are appointed thereunto.
Right, not going to be moved by these afflictions for you know you’re appointed unto
because, you know, what the adversary is doing and what he’s going to do. But you don’t
cop out; you don’t budge on the foundation, because the surety of our foundation is the
hope of the glory. The more you work this Word, the more you see the greatness of the
manifestation of speaking in tongues is fantastic. Because, in the speaking of tongues, you
have the proof of eternal life and if you have eternal life, it’s Christ in you; then you have
the proof of the hope also that he’s coming back. Otherwise, it’s just words written. But
this gets to the place of the word ginōskō that you know by experience. it’s right on trip.
You see, this patience and hope of the glory are real closely aligned. It says in verse 3 of
Romans 5:
Romans 5:3, 4:
...tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
James 1:3:
Knowing this, that the trying of your [believing] worketh patience.
And isn’t it true that when somebody really challenges you on your believing, that the
adversary takes a crack at you on infirmities, you know, and all the rest; he really hits you,
boy, you just develop patience. Why? Because of the surety of the Word, you just stand.
Patience and hope are really closely aligned.
All this section in here, talking about the word “reconciliation” in chapter 5, you’re
basically in 5:1-11. I think some of the text, if I remember correctly, I was going to check
this and didn’t. But “justified” in verse 1, being justified I think is the root word
“reconciled,” same word. I know it is in verse 9. In verse 8 he says:
Romans 5:8-11:
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
Much more then, being now justified [reconciled], by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
we have now received the [reconciliation: the at-one-ment] atonement.
It’s really an at-one-ment because of reconciliation, it’s that word. Now, I haven’t had
time to work this all out, I was going to give it to you tonight and have Walter to handle it,
but Walter asked me if he could go home and that’s all right. So, I set it before you. Here in
Romans 5:1-11, the root word that’s always used is the word allos. And we need to study
this allos, which is reconciliation; this word here that is translated reconciliation. The root
of it is the word allos, you know, we handled that some place in the four crucified, I
believe. Now, sometime we are going to have to do a piece of research here, and I haven’t
done this, I haven’t gone deeply into it. Not as deeply as it can be done, but I’m going to
share with you tonight what I have done, and then you can work on it. In 5:10 the word is
katallassō. In 5:11, the atonement received is the word katallagē. You see, this.
Romans 5:10:
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son,...
Is really magnified in Romans 8, which we’ll be at some time between now and
August.
Romans 8:31, 32:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can [what?] be
against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all things?
5:10 talking about: we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, see? Which really is
magnified that reconciliation is magnified by that Romans 8:31, 32, that’s what it’s all
about.
Colossians 1:21:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled
This word “reconciled” here is the third usage which is: apokatallassō. Same as the
first one I gave you katallasso. I will give you just a little of what I’ve worked on and what
others have worked on too before. But as I’ve said, I have not worked it out in its depth,
but it’s available to you people to work on. And Walter would be very adept in this I am
sure. The word, allos, which is the root of all the words used, regarding reconciliation, the
apo in front of it, indicates the state to be left. This is what one fellow who preceded
Bullinger wrote, I forget his name. Read him once and I made a note of it. Today I’ve dug
it out, because I thought maybe Walter would be here tonight and we would really dig this
stuff but it’s too late to get involved, I guess. And the word kata preceding allos indicates
the state to be sought. Now, apo means also, a restoration of a relationship of peace which
has been disturbed. Now, that section of 5:1-11, I’d really like to have work sometime from
this reconciliation point of view in all of its depth because there’s a lot of stuff in there.
Because in 5:12 after he’s talked about the reconciliation, in 5:12 he comes back saying:
Romans 5:12:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
We get to the inner heart of this whole chapter from 5:12 on, you really get to the inner
heart of what happened in the reconciliation, understand? What God really accomplished
for us. The word “as” here in 5:12, literally should be translated because of this. Wherefore,
because of this, this what? The reconciliation. The state to be left in, the state to be sought,
the restoration of a relationship of peace which has been disturbed. Wherefore because of
this restoration, this reconciliation, what God wrought. Because of this reconciliation by
one man’s sin entered into the world death by sin for until the law never the less death
reigned from Adam to, who? {Moses.} Moses even over them that have not sinned after
the likeness of Adam’s transgression who is the type of him, see? Now, verse 18:
Romans 5:18:
Therefore as by the offence of one...even so by the righteousness [the righteous
act and the righteous act is the reconciliation]..., [unto] all men, unto [the
reconciliation or the] justification of life.
It’s in the reconciliation that there’s justification, and because you’re justified you’re
reconciled before God. And verses 15-17 are parentheses within the heart of this thing.
Wherefore because of this, one man sinned yet one man Christ Jesus reconciled us, you see
the principle? That’s the in depth greatness of some of that stuff, the wonderful Word of
God. Well that’s all I had time to work out today and write. But that’s the stuff that has
been gelling in my heart. The business of this reconciliation and how we’re justified by
what he did. He reconciled us. You remember it said, some place we read about no wrath, 9?
Right, saved from wrath. You see, it’s all in that which God in Christ wrought. If we’re
saved from the wrath, then how in the world could anybody go through the tribulation of
the book of Revelation? Boy, my old heart just gets blessed when I see what God did in
Christ. And how we hold onto the hope and the glory in spite of the situations and they’re
always environmental, the tribulation things. Satan puts it there to trip you out if he can.
But our surety, our rock, is the hope of the glory of the Lord, which deals in essence with
his return. Isn’t that sort of wonderful how that all fits? And the word allos as it relates
itself to the reconciliation. When you really dig that thing, you’ll find it very, very
interesting. Well, that will give you something you can work on in your spare time. I think
all of us and I’m just more so maybe than anybody else, I really get just super abundantly
blessed time and time again. Because, no matter how many times I’ve looked at the Word,
no matter how many times I’ve worked it, every time I work it, I see something deeper,
something greater, something more magnificent in it. I guess my heads just not big enough
to take it all the first trip, else God show it to me. I keep growing up like the rest of you.
What were you going to say, Vince?
[Vince:] I was going to ask you, that word “tribulation,” you’re teaching that that was the
Greek thlipsis meaning mental pressure, is that right? Is that the same thing?
In essence. We need to dig this section and you see the tribulation of the world is a real
mental pressure, because you’re whole believing is controlled in your mind, right?
Therefore if he can get us to cop out by the afflictions or somebody else gets hurt or
something else happens, he’ll do his utmost. But the Word tells us to keep the glory of the
Lord in front of us, yes?
[Joe:] Often times we hear people pray: the mental pressures on Dr. Wierwille will be
lifted or these pressures on people, that pressures will be lifted. Can you pray for that?
I think we can pray for it with thanksgiving that, you know, I don’t see anything wrong.
I really don’t Joe. I think it’s good; I think you can, I really do. Kurt.
[Kurt:] Can you repeat again what you said “as by” meant in verse 12?
Because of this. I think Bullinger has that because of this and the word “as,” should
have because he knew it, Bo?
[Bo:] He says on account of this.
Yeah, okay, yes?
[Student:] Interesting that the Word you just taught us, just now that Thessalonians is the
first book to be written about the Return so the people will be strong and have the
strength when they need it.
And the proof we have of his Return is the fact that we are born again and we speak in
tongues. I just don’t believe anybody will ever see Romans, you know the immediate
present right now, in all of its greatness. I just know I haven’t arrived, and I don’t know
anybody else who has arrived either where we are able to uncover every segment of the
greatness of Romans. It’s just a whopper. That’s why He put it first in the church epistles,
because it’s foundational, it’s just so beautiful.