LESSONS FROM ROMANS
Thoughts come from a wide variety of sources: messages I have heard from individuals, assembly Bible studies, home life, and books I have read. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher who makes them real to me.
- "Romans," by William Newell
- "What the Bible Teaches, Romans," by F.E. Stallan
- "The Life Application Bible." Tyndale House and Zondervan
The book of Romans is the greatest summary of the Gospel, the Christian message, in the New Testament. It is not the first in the order of writing of the epistles of Paul. Galatians and the books of Thessalonians were written before Romans. Theologically it is the most important as far as unfolding the doctrine of the Gospel. The foundations of our faith are plainly taught in Romans. The first eleven chapters teach us what we are to believe, and the last chapters teach us how to conduct ourselves as we live out the truth of the Gospel in real life.
The righteousness of God is the standard by which the Gospel message is measured, and human beings fall far short of that standard. After a brief introduction that defines the facts of the Gospel, the theme of the righteousness of God is developed. God is righteous in judging sinners [Chapters 1-3:20]. He is righteous in judging believers in Him [3:21-5]. He is righteous in sanctifying those who believe in Him [6-8]. His righteousness was demonstrated throughout history [9-11]. Now, He expects righteousness in the daily lives of believers [12-16].
Paul, the apostle, was a very persuasive teacher, and in Romans, his teaching is presented not so much as a letter but more like an eloquent essay delivered the same way a lawyer would address a court. There is authoritative firmness of logic as he teaches justification by faith. In his letters, without hesitation, he presents the fact that Jesus Christ is the living Son of God by whom all things were created. Paul is the only one of the New Testament writers who declares the church to be the body of Christ composed of all believers in Him as Lord. In Romans, Paul teaches us about the power and influence of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers so they can live the Christian life that the old Jewish law could not provide the will or power to do. Paul also taught the second coming of Christ, and those who have been redeemed are received into God’s presence because we are accepted in the Beloved.