Romans
The letter of Romans has affected Christian history. Its message changed the lives of three important men who lived in the past. They are Augustine, Luther and Wesley. There is one great subject in Romans. The subject is ‘the gospel of God’. God began it. But the gospel has another name too. It is ‘the gospel of his Son’ (1:9). God completed it. Then Paul described the gospel as ‘his gospel’ (2:16). He knew the gospel in his own experience.
[Note: The word ‘gospel’ means ‘Good News’.]
We cannot separate the subjects of
- God's love
- Christ's power to change a person
- The Holy Spirit's company in each
believer .
This gospel (good news) is for all who will believe it. But they should prove the reality of what they believe too. And they do this by the way that they show it in their lives.
Human Defeat (Chapters 1-4)
Paul started the letter with greetings to his readers. He described himself in four ways:
- An
apostle (1:1, 5) - A servant (1:9)
- Someone who had a duty to people (1:14)
- A
preacher (1:15).
Then Paul announced his main subject. It is God's anger against man's
Moral evil (1:18-32). People are not grateful (1:21). They say that they are wise, but they are foolish (1:22). They
- The law court − legal. People are declared ‘Not Guilty’ by God (3:24).
- The market place − commercial. ‘This is a free gift’ (3:24).
- The
Temple − religious. ‘God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people's sins through faith’. God does this by the blood (death) of Jesus (3:25).
We can learn more about Paul's
Chapter 4 is vital. It introduces the main ideas of the next section. There was Abraham (4:1-5). Then there was David (4:6-8). And these men showed an important truth. It is this. We cannot earn
Christ's Salvation (Chapters 5-8)
This is a great passage. The main ideas are:
God offers
God gives new life (chapters 6-7). This special pardon is not something that just happens in heaven. It affects our lives every day. We are different people (6:4).
In chapter 5 Christ dies for us (5:6-10).
In chapter 6 we die with him (6:6).
The same power that made Christ alive again is also working in us. And that power makes it possible for us to be free from
God promises friendship (chapter 8). One Christian writer described this chapter as ‘Paul's Pentecost’. [Note: Read Acts 2.] The
- please God (8:8-9)
- obey God (8:14)
- love God (8:28)
- trust God (8:31).
At the beginning of the chapter God, who is the Judge, says, ‘Not guilty’ (8:1).
At the end of the chapter there are some wonderful words. ‘Nothing can separate us from God's love’ (8:38-39).
Notice 8:35. These were not just theories for Paul. The troubles were his personal experience.
Our Responsibility (Chapters 9-16)
All
To people who do not believe in Jesus (chapters 9-11). Paul cared very much about his own people, the Jews (9:1-5). He spoke about ‘a pain that never leaves me’ (9:2). And we should care like this about non-believers.
Paul then talked about God's choice of people. [Note: The word that people use for this subject is ‘election’]. Paul discussed the importance of the Jew in God's purpose. But he always returns to the subject of being a
To the Lord (chapter 12). Paul urged people to offer themselves in 6:13. But he said more about this subject here. When we offer ourselves to God, something will happen.
We will not be like the people of the world. We will be completely different. And this will affect our relationships with the Church (12:3-13). It will also affect our relationship with the people of the world who oppose us (12:14-21).
To the state (chapter 13). This was a serious matter in the first century. (Read Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14.) Paul believed that God was in control. This includes God's control over judges and officials of Rome. He can use these men as he wants to (13:1-5). This means that the
Two things give purpose to our actions. They are love (13:8-10) and hope (13:11-12). Then there will be a result. We will be holy people. We will be like our Lord Jesus Christ (13:13-14).
To the church (chapters 14-16). This last section is about some problems. The problems were in connection with weak
- bring peace (14:19)
- please other people (15:2)
- encourage other Christians (15:3-5)
- give glory to God (15:76).
Chapter 16 is a series of greetings to Christian friends. And it ends with some great declarations about God. He is ‘the God of peace’ (16:20). He is ‘the
Cruel times were coming for the
[Note: Nero was the Emperor (chief leader) in Rome,