Romans #7, 1:6-7

Sunday December 21, 1997

Brian Kocourek

Last Sunday we spoke from [Romans 1:6-7] Where Paul said, “Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We examined these few words Paul said, here, “beloved of God, called [to be] saints”: and as you might remember, we looked at the order in which Paul said these words and we found their order to be quite revealing as to the true understanding of what Paul was telling us, because the first thing he tells us is that we are beloved of God, and then he tells us we are called, and then he reveals to us what we are called to.

Therefore, we see that Divine Love is the first thing to proceed forth from God toward us, and as this Divine Love comes forth from God, we se that God has a desire that He wishes to become effective in our lives. And in order to bring forth this desired effect, God sends forth a call to sanctification. We see the same thing spoken of by John in 1 John 3.

[1 John 3: 1-3] Notice 1st the Scripture tells us that God Loves us. Then it tell us that because of this Love of God for us, we are called sons. Then after receiving this call we see the effect it has upon us, it brings us into the very image of the Father. And we see then that this change in us is a process which begins with sanctification and ends in our glorification.

We see the same thing in Romans 8 as well. [Romans 8: 28-30] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Now we found in our study last week that the process of sanctification must begin with our separating ourselves from everything that is contrary to God’s Word. For sanctification is a process of separation. A continuous process of separating ourselves from everything that would be contrary from God’s Word. In Psalms 119 we read, “How does a young man cleanse himself? By taking heed tot he word thereof.” And in the book of Ephesians we are told that it is “the washing of water by the word,” which brings forth our sanctification. And in John 17 we hear Jesus praying to the Father “Sanctified them through Thy Truth, for you Word is Truth. So, again we hear Jesus Himself telling us that our cleansing or sanctification comes through God’s Word.

Now, before we go on this morning I want to make sure that we have our understanding nailed down on what sanctification is. It is not what you can do for God in terms of conduct, but it is simply a pulling away from every influence that would distract you from His Word. Sanctification then is a taking heed tot he Word, and as we know that Justification made a way for sanctification, and sanctification made a way for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit makes a way for the Holy Ghost Himself to come right down in our midst. Now, if justification made a way for sanctification, then sanctification would be impossible outside of the revealed Word. For justification comes by faith which is a revelation.

[Romans 3:20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 5:3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 5:4 And patience, Character; and character, hope: 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Now, this brings us up to our text for today. Therefore, let’s return once again to the book of Romans and we shall now continue with our study of this Tremendous epistle from Paul to the Romans.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Now, what is Paul thanking God for? For the Faith that is spoken. Paul is very thankful for their having Faith which is revelation.

Notice then what Paul says in verse, Romans 1:9 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; How many times do you here people ignorantly using these same words, “God is my witness.” But Paul is not just speaking of a God who is far off somewhere who by the shear fact that He knows all things, is witness to all things. But Paul as no other disciple, had God in the form of the Pillar of Fire working in His ministry and therefore he knew that God was in fact a witness to the many times he prayed for these people. Now, in the next verse we here what Paul was praying for.

Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, ( Why ? Why does Paul long to see them? ) that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end the you might be established; Now, here is where many will go off on a tangent. Paul is telling the people that he desired to impart to them some Spiritual Gift that will help them to become established. Now the key here is in understanding what this gift is that Paul wished to impart or give to them, because he called it a spiritual gift for the purpose of establishing the saints. So what is this gift, this spiritual gift.

Some would think perhaps it would be tongues, and others would think perhaps it would be love or some other manifestation in the flesh. But I believe that what Paul wished to impart to them was revelation. For the word established that Paul used here is the same one that Jesus used to Peter when he told Peter to strengthen his brethren after he himself was converted. And how was Peter to strengthen them? Did not Jesus say that He would build his church upon Revelation? [Luke 22:31-32]. So therefore, we see that this word established has to do with a being strong in the faith. In fact Paul tells us in chapter 16 that this being established is in the Gospel, with strength and it must be according to revelation. [Romans 16:25]

And in fact if we read on in chapter one in verse 12, we will find that this is exactly what Paul is speaking of. Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, ( Why ? Why does Paul long to see them? ) that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end the you might be established And now Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Therefore we should see here that there is no question as to what that Spiritual Gift is that Paul wished to come and personally impart to the people. It is revelation... Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. And how does faith come? By hearing the word of God. That is why Paul wished to go to Rome. To preach to the and thereby impart the revelation of Jesus Christ that God had given him, to the saints in Rome.

Now, why would Paul wish to travel so far just to speak to the people. Could they not get what he wanted them to know through his epistles? There is no doubt that many have come to believe through reading these Epistles, but remember, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It is not the same to write and hope that those who are reading will understand as it is to go and personally speak face to face so that there are no misunderstandings.

That is why I am so opposed to ministers who do not preach from their heart and pray that God will open the eyes of the people. I have seen to often where churches will open up their pulpits to men who call themselves evangelists and those men will come in and preach a fiery sermon, but when they have left the people will not have grown a lick. They might have felt good and they might have felt like they were getting a charge while the evangelist preached, but they are left with nothing to feed on but emotion and Paul did not intend to give them emotion, but revelation to fire up their minds and hearts.

The truth of the matter is did the people move forward and did they learn anything, or did they just resort back to their old filthy habits after the evangelist passed through. I think the key to whether you were able to help is if the people remember what you taught them after years have gone by.

I remember, having gone to a church in Kansas back in 1983 and I taught the people about the Omega reflection of Christ among us in this hour. Almost ten years later I was talking to a friend who had moved to that church a few years later and he told me that when he mentioned my name to them, they had still remembered the illustrations that I used. Now, whether they ever received any revelation I have some doubts, because their pastor did not water what I brought to them, and therefore, the real kernel of truth was later held down or held back tot hem.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Remember How that Jesus had told Peter to strengthen the brethren after his own conversion. We find Paul telling us that the Gospel is the Power of God and it’s purpose is to bring forth salvation to the hearer and to those who are believers, and in the next verse is our key to understanding Paul’s purpose.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Now, Paul is not saying from Faith to Faith as though God is revealed a little differently from one faith to another. But what He is telling us here that the very righteousness, or the right-wise-ness of God is revealed from revelation to revelation. In other words, we do not just stop once we have first received the revealed word. But as brother Branham taught us in the church age book about revelation, He said, it is like a roman candle that goes up and out from it comes another flame and from that another and from that another and another and on into eternity. And this is the key to understanding our day and it’s message. If Christ has truly come down in this hour, then the message goes way beyond God sending a prophet. He said, “my ministry is to declare Him, that He is here”. Therefore if his ministry is to declare, then we must know what it means to declare something.

Now, Webster tells us that to declare means to reveal or show openly, to make clearly known. And that again is why Paul felt that He himself had to see the people face to face, because already during his time men were arising who were speaking perverse things concerning the revelation of Jesus Christ. And Paul wanted to go and declare the revelation of Jesus Christ himself because he wanted to make it perfectly known, and clearly revealed. Now, if the word means to make something perfectly or clearly known, then why is there so much confusion still? I’ll, tell you why, because they are not saying like the prophet of God said it.

Did you know that they are teaching that the Bride will perfect the bride? Did you know that it is being taught that the Bride will speak and the resurrection will take place? Did you know that it is being taught that the Bride is to have a ministry just like brother Branham’s with signs following, because they teach that brother Branham’s ministry was just a first fruit and if a first fruit then there must be other fruit to follow. And yes, they are looking and focusing on the miracles, and not the word.

Why you talk about being set up for the great deception. And yet if you talk to these people and try to help them to understand that they are going down a wrong road, they will look at you as if you are lost and tell you that they have the right spirit. Now how can error ever be the right spirit? tell me if you can. I’d like to know when has error ever been preferred over Truth by God? God has always stood behind the man who was focused upon his word regardless of how the man’s personality might seem to be.

Jacob could not hold a candle to Esau when it come to looking out for others, and being benevolent, and taking care of the aged, but God loved Jacob and he hated Esau. And why is that? Because Jacob was focused on God’s Word and Esau despised God’s Word. Look, God does not expect you to help every Tom, Dick and Harry that crosses your path. In fact your helping may be contrary because if that person is under the curse of God and you try to change that curse you will find yourself fighting God. So let’s be careful, and do everything according to God’s Word and then you will be all right. The Word will not fight Word, therefore, if you think you have Word for your action and there’s another Word that opposes that action, or directs that action, then you had better do what God’s Word says do.

Let me illustrate. Supposing a person shows up on your door step and is in need of food and shelter. Are you obligated by the Word of God to open your home to that person? What does the scripture tell us. That’s what we want to know. #1) On the one hand the scripture says, [Heb 13:2] “be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” But on the other hand, the Scripture also says, [1Thess 5:2] “abstain from all appearances of evil.” Therefore, I would have to ask myself if that person staying in my home could be done in a such a way as to avoid any and all appearances of evil.

Now, remember the devil himself can give you a scripture that would seemingly justify his evil intentions. say for example we look at the same scenario, or someone in need, and so we look at [Matt25:36,43]& [1 John 3:17] Now, these scriptures could place a pretty heavy burden upon you and quite a guilt trip as well, and that is the way the devil even approached Jesus. He tried to give Jesus a guilt trip, did you know that? He said, if you have faith in God’s Word then jump down from this mountain, because after all, the Word said that He would bear you upon angels wings, you know. Oh, what a guilt trip he tried to place upon Jesus, but it didn’t work. And may times we have enough of a guilt trip laid on us that we feel we should help such people and it could be just a test to see how we are going to handle God’s Word.

LaVonne and I have had to deal with these situations many times in our 19 years of marriage. In Minnesota our first place that we lived was a duplex that was right alongside the highway and we used to get bums coming to the door for food.

We tried to do what we could for them, and LaVonne was so good hearted that she would feed them, but that did not mean they had the right to just enter our home, especially if I was not home. In fact that is a number one rule we have to avoid the appearance of evil. If a man comes to my house be it brother or not, he may not enter my home without me there. If a woman or sister comes to our home the same hold true for her without LaVonne being home. Remember the scripture tells us to try every Spirit first and so we find ourselves being tested constantly to see if we have a balanced and mature Christian walk. The number one rule you must never forget is that scripture will never fight scripture. You can help people but there are many different ways to help beside taking all the burden upon yourself.

As you well know, LaVonne and I have opened our home on several occasions to complete strangers and on several occasions we have had families move right in with us. Now, although the Christian attitude is to try to help anyone in need, that does not obligate you to any one outside the household of faith. And further more, just because they might claim to be believers doesn’t make them so. If you find a person in need and open your home to that person, that is all right providing that #1) It does not place you or your family in a compromising position where two grown people of the opposite sex will be in your home alone at any given time. #2) You are not obligated to help to the place where you are packing that person or family. We’ve done that and it never works out. You can’t have two families living together for an extended period of time, it just doesn’t work, unless there are circumstances that just make any other possibility impossible, like for instance the Hiding place of the Frank family during the last world War where they hid the Jews. But those are circumstances that are not of a normal every day occurrence.

Even Brother Branham had to learn the hard way. I talked to Brother Billy Paul Branham and he told me that when brother Branham was younger, he would allow people who had come to see him to stay in his home, but what happened is that the people began to take advantage of his Christian generosity and after a while Meda would end up doing their laundry and cooking their food and they would stay on and on. Finally brother Branham would not allow this anymore and opened up the church for people to sleep in. But after a while, there would be so many men sleeping in the church that the sisters could no longer enter to clean it, and so brother Branham had to lock that up too. He finally said, if you want to come and see me, I will meet you at the church at a certain, certain time and they had to make appointments.

One man saw that Brother Branham had two beautiful sweaters and tried to lay a guilt trip on him and asked for one of the sweaters quoting the scripture that said, if you have two cloaks give one to your brother, but Brother Branham rebuffed that come on by saying, “The Scripture said two coats not sweaters.” So the fact is that you must keep a balance in everything you do, and to do that you must abide by what God said to do about it. Not just what He said, but all of what He said. Now, In Closing Rom 1:11