An Overview of Romans

Introduction

“This Epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul.” - Martin Luther

Background

According to Thomas Schreiner

Likely written 55-58 AD, during Paul’s three months in Greece due to the Jewish plot for his life (Acts 20:1-3)

Probably from Corinth in the house of Gaius (1 Corinth 1:14.

Probably delivered by Deaconess Phoebe.

Written in anticipation of an upcoming visit.

Paul had never been to this church before. In fact, it’s unlikely that any Apostle had. It was likely established by Jewish Christians who were grappling with the reality of eating with uncicumcised believers, as the leveling of Jewish ethnic identity in the letter is a majour theme.

Letter Structure

Thesis: The Gospel Is the Glory of God through the salvation of Jews and Gentiles by faith alone, and thus it should not bring shame but rather inspire confidence to live as God’s obedient people.

Creation shows enough about God to the Gentiles to give them a conscience and have God’s law written on their hearts. When they disobey this, they show themselves responsible before God.

Those who have the law have no benefit unless they actually keep the law. Otherwise, they are as guilty as the gentile.

Since Israel broke the law and gentiles break the laws of nature, both are condemned before God for breaking his law.

Even before a law existed, Adam broke the law in the garden and so all descended from Adam, Jew or Gentile, are under sin. Sin was sown into the human heart when the law is broken, and when the law manifests sin is exposed.

Historically, it was not those under the law, but those who believe God, that are made righteous. Abraham was righteous when he was a gentile (uncircumcised) by faith alone, not by his own faithfulness to a covenant (since he was not yet circumcised.)

Jesus died to justify sinners who trust in him. Jesus, being the object and end of Abraham’s faith, is greater than the law because his perfect obedience as a son stands in our place, and our sin was laid on him.

In this way, those with faith in Jesus are no longer under the law. They have died to the law, and without the law there is no sin, so Christ represents us as a lawkeeper, and we who had died to the law in the cross of Christ are now free from that law and thus free from sin.

This brings glory to God by magnifying his grace in our disobedience. This does not give the Christian the freedom to walk in sin, since this would be to undermine the whole foundation of the Gospel. If we continue in, we are not dead to it, which means we are not dead to the law, which means we are still going to hell. Obedience comes not from obeying the law in human strength, but by the life that those who are in Christ Jesus have.

Since Christians have submitted to God as a slave through Christ after dying to the law, they are free to walk in the Spirit.

The Spirit’s dwelling in believers brings them to be the vessels of the Spirit dwelling in the world. The groaning pulls the Christian forward towards consumation, which is the hope that Christians have based on their faith in Christ.

Next Paul talks about one question his Jewish audience might have had: what about God’s promises to Israel? What about God’s promises to Abraham about the nation of priests that he would never forsake?

First, Paul digs into the nature of divine election. God’s election was not unfair when he chose Israel while other nations hardened theirs hearts, and God isn’t unfair to elect gentiles when Israel’s heart is hard.

Second, Paul contrasts how Israelites with much revelation are not responding to it, while Gentiles with little revelation are.

However, Israel is not finished. Instead, God will use the salvation of the Gentiles to save the Jews.

Jews and Greeks

Both have revelation

Both has sinned against the revelation they had.

Both saved by believing in Jesus Christ.

Both part of the true Israel.

Both saved through the salvation of the other.

God alone is glorified since no one is justified by keeping their end of the covenant, but rather by faith in Christ’s work on our behalf. This is the grand conlcusion of Paul’s theological argument, ending with the famous doxology.

Chapter 12-15:21 The application of consistent, Christian living, especially in the area of brotherly love.

15:22-16 Paul’s personal plans and greetings to the church.

Majour Themes to be Looking Out For and Lessons to Learn

Main Takeaway: Because the Gospel has provided salvation by faith in Christ apart from being under the law, the power of sin has been destroyed and Jew and Gentile are brought together in fellowship with God by his grace alone. Rather than being ashamed of such a Gospel, it must boldly affect our lives, especially our love and patience with one another since we all are lawbreakers and reconciled through the work of Christ.

Doctrines

General/special revelation.

Justification by grace alone through faith alone.

Substitutionary Atonement

Original Sin and human nature

Election and Sovereignty

Earthly/spiritual Israel

Eschatology

Hemartology (sin)

The Glory of God

Federal headship

Baptism

Doctrinal Errors Identified

Legalism

Moralism

Racism

Christian-living

Espousing the Gospel in our entire life and confession without shame, since we recognize it’s power in freeing us from the law of sin and bringing us into righteous fellowship with God through faith in Christ.

Judgemental attitudes dissolve in the Gospel.

No longer slaves of sin.

Living in loving understanding and serving of one another. The only lifestyle worthy of the Gospel is one of full-hearted, humble loving service and performance of good works since we are alive in Christ.