Introduction to Romans

Romans is, without a doubt, one of the most important books in all of Scripture.  Since Paul had never been to Rome at the time of the writing it seems he wants to make sure that he readers fully understand the doctrine of salvation and all of the implications for both the Jew and the Gentile.  He makes a logical presentation of the Gospel and his argument is very well organized.  There are several doctrines that are difficult for us to understand so it very important for us to approach the interpretation of this book with a big dose of humility.  It is a mistake to assume that we are capable of understanding and explaining everything about God.  Our languages and our minds are limited and are the only means we have of seeking to grow in our understanding of a limitless God.  However, the simplicity of being justified through faith is clearly taught and is the vital information that we need in order to be assured of eternal life.  We must seek to understand these truths with all of our minds but we must also pay close attention to the way that these precious truths should impact or lives.  In light of His great salvation we should be sure that our lives are dedicated fully to Him.  What we believe must impact how we relate with God as well as how we relate with one another.

CONDEMNATION: Paul begins this book with a systematic condemnation of all the different groups of people who seek to justify themselves before God without Christ.  The first group we call the pagan.  These are people who have not been exposed to the Word of God or the Law as revealed by Moses.  However, they are justly condemned by God for two reasons: creation and conscience.  The invisible attributes of God are visible to man through creation and the basic law from God is imprinted on the hearts of man by God.  When pagans turn from worshiping the creator and begin worshiping the creation.  When they violate their own consciences, they reject the revelation of God’s initial light given to them and are therefore justly condemned for their progressive idolatry an immorality.  The second group to be condemned is the moralist.  These are those who seek to be saved by their own good works.  They demonstrate their knowledge of God’s righteous requirements by condemning those who practice sinful deeds.  The problem with this kind of judgment is that they practice the very things that they condemn. The third group that Paul calls to task is the religious man.  These people know the Law and even teach the Law but their trust is in their knowledge and heritage but they fail to obey the things that they teach.  Those who teach are justly condemned for not practicing what they preach. Finally Paul sums up this section by stating that all men are under sin.  We all fall short of God’s righteous requirements.  We are corrupt in our actions as well as our desires; not one of us can be justified before God based on our ignorance or our knowledge.  Our condemnation before God is complete and deserved.

SALVATION: The only hope that we have is based on the justification that is available to us by faith in the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf.  Just as all men are condemned in Adam; justification is available to all men through the obedience, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  God has always dealt with man based on his faith.  This was the pattern set by Abraham.  He was not justified because of his obedience but because of his faith.  Those who desire justification from sin must place their faith in Christ.  He is the only means by which our sins can be forgiven.  When we trust Christ all of our sin is placed on Him and all of His righteousness is credited to our account.  This is our only hope but it is a secure hope based on the promises of God.  Since we are identified with Christ in His death, our sinful flesh has been crucified with Christ and in its place we receive a new nature that has risen with Christ.  The means by which we are sanctified is the same means by which we are justified: by faith.  We must know that we died with Christ, consider it to be so in our lives and then yield our members to the work of God’s Spirit in our lives.  Our natural tendency is to think that we can free ourselves from the power of sin through the works of the flesh.  But just like our flesh is useless to save us from sin it is also useless to free us from sin.  The only solution for the flesh is crucifixion with Christ.  Faith is His work on our behalf results in the Holy Spirit working in our lives to make us like Jesus.  He ministers to us in our times of suffering and He gives us assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  By faith in Christ we are justified, free from the penalty of sin; sanctified, free from the power of sin and because of the Spirits work in our lives we will be glorified, free from the presence of sin for all of eternity.  This is the GREAT salvation we have in Christ.

VINDICATION: Chapters 9-11 of Romans are three of the most difficult chapters in all of Scripture to interpret.  Paul’s argument could have jumped very naturally from chapter 8 to 12 but there are some questions that Paul’s Jewish readers wanted to have answered.  The question of God’s promises to Israel needed to be addressed.  If the Gentiles and the Jews are all justified by faith in exactly the same way then what about the promises made to Abraham concerning Israel?  Paul makes it clear that God has always been free to choose whomever He wishes apart from works and apart from ancestry.  He also demonstrates that the rejection on the Jews was not a complete rejection due to the fact that Paul himself was a Jew as were many other believers.  He also makes it clear that the hardening of Israel’s heart was a temporary condition and that God still has a plan for the nation of Israel in the future.  Today all men are free to call on the name of the Lord in faith and be freely justified independent of the works of the flesh or nationality.  Israel continues to have many advantages due to their history and the revelation given to them.  They also have precious promises that God will work in a miraculous way in the future.  God is fully vindicated of any wrong doing before the nation Israel.  The grace shown to Gentile nations in no way eliminates the promises made to Israel and the Gospel continues to be open to them to this very day.

EXHORTATION: In light of the salvation that we have in Christ and the faithfulness of God; Paul exhorts us to live in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ.  We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord and not be conformed to the system of this world.  God calls us to walk in humility and use the gifts He has given us to love and serve one another.  The early church had many issues that needed to be dealt with due to the different ethnic backgrounds of the Jews and Gentiles.  Paul addresses these issues by simply telling us to practice deference with one another.  We should be willing to limit our own freedoms in order to keep from offending those who may think differently than we do.  The law of love must take precedence over the law of liberty.  Despite the terrible persecution that the church faced at the hands of the Jewish leaders and the Roman Empire; Paul calls on believers to honor their leaders and pray for them.  When we choose to disobey the government even for justified reasons we must be prepared to face the consequences.  Paul has a genuine love for the believers in Rome.  He may never have gone to Rome due to his commitment to preach the Gospel in places that had not had the opportunity to hear.  The desire of Paul’s heart was to see men everywhere worshiping and glorifying God.  He was eternally grateful for the opportunity to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and He served in dependence on the Lord just as we are called to do.  In essence, our response to being justified by faith in Christ ought to be one of loving obedience and a commitment to demonstrating our love to others by spreading the Gospel to all nations.