Romans
Paul’s letter to the church in Rome provides us with one of the clearest and fullest explanations of the gospel in all of the Bible. Most of Paul’s letters were written to address some specific issues and problems. This letter does address some specific issues but Paul also uses the opportunity to set out his gospel clearly. It is best understood therefore by following its argument in sequence.
Chapters 1-5: Justified by Faith in the Blood of Christ
Romans teaches us that everyone breaks God’s laws and so are deserving of his anger and punishment. It also makes clear that God is concerned not just with the outward observance of the law, but with the inner condition of the heart. The purpose of the Law was simply to show us that we are all sinners – that there is a problem within the heart of all of us (Jew and Gentile). Also, the Law (both the Mosaic Law for the Jews and the inner law of the conscience for all people) stops us from having any excuses before God. We are all guilty.
God has therefore made a new way of us being made right with himself – by faith in Christ. On the basis of what he has done for us in dying on the cross we are made right with God. All of us - Jew and Gentile - are made right in the same way. This was actually the way that Abraham was made right with God – he believed God’s promise and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. Because of such faith we can have peace with God, stand in the grace of God and look forward to sharing in the glory of God.
Chapters 6-8: Living a New Life by the Spirit of God
God doesn’t just deal with our sins but with our internal sinful nature. He does this through our identification with Christ in his death and resurrection. On the basis of our faith in this union with Christ, as we refuse to let sin control us we can come into an experience of righteousness, holiness and eternal life! Because we died with Christ we are also dead to the Law; we are no longer bound to the Law and we now live in the new way of the Spirit.
It was not that the Law was wrong but that we had a sinful nature and the Law was powerless to do anything about that nature. We are delivered from that desperate situation by the work of Christ and the gift of the Spirit. The key to the Christian life then is living by the Spirit. The Spirit confirms our sonship and is a guarantee of the new creation, the age to come, that we are going to be a part of and that we can begin to enjoy something of now. In the meantime, God is working all things together for good and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
Chapters 9-11: Jews and Gentiles
Paul then goes on to show that God is not unfaithful to his promises to the Jewish people but that the true children of Abraham were the children of promise .i.e of those who had faith like him. It also makes clear that, although historically the Israelites were God’s chosen people, God is free to choose who he wants and there were Old Testament prophecies about him choosing Gentiles anyway. Both Jew and Gentile are saved on the same basis - by faith and not by works; and all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. There is also a remnant of Israel who are chosen by grace and the present hardening of many of the Jewish people will result in many Gentiles being saved, which in turn will then lead to many more Jews turning to Christ.
Chapters 12-16: Putting it into Practice as the Family of God
Chapter twelve marks a point in the letter were Paul starts addressing the practical outworking of this wonderful gospel. He covers a number os issues. We should all play our part within the body of Christ, the church, each using our gifts. We should be good citizens who obey God-ordained civil authorities. We should not argue over disputable matters and not judge one another harshly. Paul then explains his calling as an apostle and shows the nature of Christian relationships as he spends time writing about his co-workers and expressing his concern for individuals within the church at Rome. It shows that this gospel is not just abstract theory but is being lived out in real relationships within the family of God.
This background was written by Trevor Lloyd, leading elder at Community Church Huddersfield, and founder of the Bible Tour Blog