Among the many books of the Bible Roman’s is packed with information that Christians can help us understand the foundations of our faith, God’s Sovereignty over salvation and instructions on how to live a holy life. One of my favorite verses is in Romans 8:38-39 were Paul tells us that he is persuaded by his faith that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God and I see that verse in the first person as God loves me and nothing can come between that love. These truths are very personal to me and I can read those verses and replace third person references to the first person with the words “me” and “I”.
Much of the first eight chapters of Romans discuss the foundations of our faith as described by Paul. First when Paul had a desire to come to Rome to spread the good news about the existence of God. Paul tells us about the very existence of God from the teachings of creation. Paul talks about Adam sinned essentially causing man to be separated from God. But Jesus is described as the second Adam has come to correct what Adam did and make a path back to God for both Jew and Gentile. Paul goes on to discuss how we have all sinned and need to have a savior. Paul introduces concept that we are justified through Christ and we gain peace through his Glory. He further tells us that deeds cannot overcome the law in Romans 3:23 Paul writes in one of the more memorable verses, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” This shows us that the grace of God is what ultimately allows us to be justified and have peace in the Lord. Paul goes on to help us understand that we are free from the law. It is our very nature to be sinful and works cannot pave a pathway to God, only by grace is this accomplished. There is nothing I can do by myself to gain heaven or everlasting life. It is the Spirit of Jesus that lives in us that allows us to please the Father. Finally, Paul explains that even as our nature of sin separates us from God, he made a pathway to him through Jesus which allows us to enter into his presence as a child of his. This is the most remarkable part of the foundations which is God love for us. And personally my favorite scripture in Romans 8:38-39, “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 ,”creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In chapter 1 of Romans, Paul declares his faith and desire to come to Rome. And followed by his explanation of the world’s rebellion against God, who clearly exists from looking at creation. In chapter 2, God is right to judge everyone as we all know from our consciences and when we condemn others. The Jews are as guilty as the gentiles, just knowing the law does not make you free from its obligations. In chapter 3 it talks about the justification in the past is the death and atonement of Christ. So everyone has sinned, no one can boast, all will be silenced on the day of judgement. God has found a way to make us right with him that does not depend on our goodness. This way is “the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood” (Romans 3:24-25). Even in the Old Testament, people were justified by faith, such as Abraham and David. The covenant of circumcision came after the promise made to Abraham, and this promise was salvation through faith to many nations. We are now put right with God through faith and have peace with Him, because of the righteous work of Jesus Christ, who dealt with the consequences of the sinful deeds of Adam and us, his descendants. We should now live as we are, which is dead to sin and alive to Christ, counting ourselves as slaves to Him and not to our sinful desires any more. We have been freed from the law, in its powerless to sin, and the death that was the penalty for breaking it. All the law can do is convince our consciences and minds and it cannot give us a new nature that desires to please God. It is the Spirit of Jesus Christ living within us that enables us to keep the law of God and please Him. This is the only way we can please God. We are sons, and as such are identified by suffering just as Jesus did, but this suffering is unavoidable to lead to glory, because God has predestined us to become just like Jesus.
Romans is the systematic laying out of the gospel and how to applies to are life. Begins in chapter 1 and chapter 2 with, what is the problem addressed by the gospel. Like Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” In chapters 1, 2 and 3 Paul demonstrates why we are sinners what that truly means. We are powerlessness to change are own condition and are own inability to keep the law of God which were called to. And then at the end of chapter 3 we get what God has there for done. That God has presented as christ appreciation for are sins appreciation means very center of New Testament teachings dead on the cross. The wrath of God was poured out on Jesus. He entered everything that hell is, so that we would never know what that is like, that was happening on the cross. He carried sin and for that reason those that are in him are forgiven sin, we are justified a word that Paul uses. Then in chapter 4 gets in to, how did I get related to Jesus and the answer is faith. Jesus is the one who we put are faith and the one deliver. Chapters 5 through 8 is really getting in to what is ours when we have faith in Jesus, begins in chapter 5 being justified by faith we have peace with God, we our bought in a right relationship, we are set free from the law, we live in a new position sin should not be your master thats Romans chapter 6. And then Romans chapter 8 there is no condemnation for those in christ and then as Paul review everything what christ has done to us, nothing can separate us from God‘s love. In Chapter 9 through 11 takes us into a glimpse of the sovereignty of God in history. Then in chapter 12 through the end we have a application of the gospel of the practicalities of a life of a Christian believer. The power of the gospel when you embrace this by faith, there is a life changing and eternity changing power.
The Sovereignty of God in Salvation. Romans 9 is very important to Christians, not only in the sense that it provides a basis for the doctrine of election, but in that it has great for our spiritual life. I know that I am forever secure as a Christian, even though I may change, God is unchanging. Since God who purposed my salvation and He cannot change. Chapter 9 tells the unbelievers of Israel, God did not purpose to save all Israel. God didn’t choose those who disbelieve. In chapter 10 Paul presses on, that neither did Israel choose God. In chapter 11, Paul shows how God purposed the unbelief of Israel to accomplish the salvation of the Gentiles.
There is no shift from chapter 9 to chapter 10, the argument of divine sovereignty goes easily into human responsibility. Verses 30-33 serve as the transition between Paul’s defense of divine sovereignty and his declaration of human responsibility. Also talk about the Jewish people’ problem was faith. They wanted to do it by their works instead, and this was unacceptable towards God.