- It is Paul's letter to the Romans. To tell them of his plans to come there on his way to Spain. It is the chief book of the new testament, the purest gospel. Some say it is "a light and way into the whole scriptures."
- It is a comprehensive statement of Paul's mature thinking and reflection on the gospel, not only to benefit the church of Rome but for the greater Christian community. It was his Presentation of the Gospel.
- His theme was justification BY faith.
- Building an airtight case for the lostness of mankind and the necessity for God's intervention.
- He refers to himself as a "servant to Jesus Christ." Servant is translated from the Hebrew word "doulos"- for a Roman citizen at that time, it was unheard of to actual refer to oneself as a servant.
- Romans 2:4- Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Exactly! It is God's KINDNESS that leads us to Repentance!!
- Romans 2:11- For there is NO partiality with God. ---- He loves us all equally!
- Romans 2:12-15- For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; For when Gentiles who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel."--- People are condemned not for what they don't know but for what they do with what they KNOW. Those who know God's word and his law will be judged by them. Those who don't know the Bible STILL know right from wrong, and they will be judged because they did not keep even those standards that their own consciences dictated. People violate the very standards they create for themselves! If someone THINKS something is a sin and they still do it, IT IS A SIN.
- Romans Chapter 3- it's about God's Judgement being defended - Some say our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous GOD is.
---We are ALL under the power of sin, since birth.
Romans 3:10-18 (NLT)
10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”[a]
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”[b]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[c]
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”[d]
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”[e]
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”[a]
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”[b]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[c]
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”[d]
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”[e]
Romans 3: 20 is basically saying that no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands, the law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Romans 3:27-28 - We Can't boast because it has nothing to do with obeying the law, it is JUST ON FAITH ALONE.
Romans 4:4- When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
Romans 4:7-8- Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.
Romans 4:14 - basically says that if God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith wouldn't be necessary and the promise would be pointless- Thank Goodness that's not so!
Romans 5:1-2- therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance and endurance strengthens character and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation, and this hope will not lead to disappointment.
Romans 5:8- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We have to remember that when Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adams one sin brings condemnation for everyone but Christs one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
Romans 5:20- Romans repeats several times that God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.
Romans 6:4- Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.....We know our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might loose it's power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin! Jesus died ONCE to break the power of sin. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead.
Do not let sin control the way you live. Do not give in to sinful desires.
We must ".....present yourselves slaves to obey....." (Romans 6:16)
"......so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness." (Romans 6:19)
Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 7 starts discussing how "the law only applies while a person is living." You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. Now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.
Romans 7:4- Therefore my brethern, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should BEAR FRUIT TO GOD.
WE HAVE A CHOICE
Slave to sin = Death
Obey God= Righteous Living
Remember that because you are a human you were born a slave to sin.
Paul's words in NLT...."Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. It uses Gods good commands for it's own evil purposes. In my mind I want to obey God but because of sinful nature, I am a slave to sin. I love God's law with all my heart, but there is another power within me that is at war with my mind, this power makes me a slave to sin that is still within me."
Romans 8 (Life in the Spirit)
talks about the fact that there is no condemnation for those who walk in the spirit, not in the flesh.
"....for to be carnally minded is DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace." Romans 8:6
"...and if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Romans 8:10
NOW we have no obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do.
".....for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13.... You see a trend here???
I like this verse----- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
We must wait patiently and confidently.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26 - in other words, even when we cannot form the words to pray what we need to pray, God understands and translates even our groanings.
Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:31- "....If God is for us, who can be against us?!"
Romans 8:38- " For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ----- IT'S FOREVER LOVE!!!!!
God chooses who he will show mercy to, we cannot choose it or work for it. (Romans 9:15-16)
Romans 10:10- For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ---- WE CONFESS OUR SINS WITH OUR MOUTH, CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD-- YOU WILL BE SAVED. :-) What a GIFT!!
SALVATION
1. Everyone Has Sinned (Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)
2. The penalty for our sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
3. Jesus Christ died for sin. (Romans 5:8)
4. To be forgiven for our sin, we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone. (Romans 10:8-10)
Romans 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Give Yourself to God.
Starting in Romans 12 Paul talks about our personal responsibilities and how to behave like a Christian. Some key points:
- God has given us all different gifts for doing certain things well- I never knew this was actually biblical!
- Use your gift WELL and WITH GLADNESS (Romans 12:8)
- Abhor what is evil, Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9)
- Be patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12)
- Never be lazy, work hard for the Lord
- Bless those who persecute you. (Romans 12:14)
- Don't just pretend to love others, REALLY love them. (Romans 12:9)
- Live in harmony with each other, Don't think you know it all. (NLT)
- Love each other with genuine affection, take delight in honoring each other (NLT Romans 12:10)
- When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. (NLT Romans 12:13)
Romans 12:17- Don't pay back evil with evil, Do things in such a way that everyone can SEE you are honorable.
Romans 12:18- "......live peaceably with all men."
Never take revenge, leave that to God.
Romans 12:21- Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing GOOD.
Romans 13 is about Respect for Authority
13:5-Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake."
from what i'm reading this chapter is about the fact that we must obey our earthly superiors/leaders/authority because they would not be in the position without God's assistance- Everyone must submit to governing authority.
Give to everyone what you owe them, give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Authority is meant to strike fear into those doing wrong. Sent for our good, but of course we should be afraid if we are doing wrong because they have the authority to punish us.
Romans 13:8- "....except to love one another....."
Romans 13:9- ".....are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Romans 13:12- "....therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light (the shining armor of right living.".
Live decent lives for ALL to see. Don't participate in the darkness.
Romans 14- Accept other believers who are weak in faith and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Romans 14: 8- "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."
Do not look down on other believers if they don't believe the same as you. If it's for the Lord, its for the Lord..
Romans 14:13- "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way."
We will all have to give our own personal account to God.
Romans 14:14- "that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person, it IS wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what YOU eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. "
Romans 14:17- "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Let us aim for harmony and building each other up.
Romans 15 - If you do anything you do not believe is right, you ARE sinning. We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this, we should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. (Romans 15:1)
Romans 15:5- "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another."
Romans 15:13- "now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Personally, I LOVE the book of Romans. It states these basics OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. Beating it into my, and hopefully your, head. Read it, absorb it, Live it.
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