Through the Bible: Romans 5-16

Romans 1:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans: Pauls greatest work.

Who was Paul?

Jewish Rabi named Saul of Tarsus

Pharisee

Devout to the Torah and Jewish traditions

Jesus and Christians were a threat!

Face to face with Jesus

Commissioned an Apostle to the Gentiles

Travels the Roman Empire using his Roman name; Paul telling the world about the risen Jesus.

Church planter

Communicated by letters to churches offering connection, instruction and direction

Written late in his ministry to the Romans “Pros Romaious” or to the Romans

Other context: Church in Rome was well established and made of of both Jews and Gentiles.

The first four chapters of Romans deal with these core subjects:

All humanity is trapped in sin.

Hope does NOT come from the law.

Calvary is the answer for man’s sin problem.

Because of Calvary, we are all a part of the Family of God.

Paul introduces an idea called Justification by faith which is to be declared right or in good standing or righteous.

When one is Justified by faith we receive

New status: right with God

New family: included with God’s people

New future: transformed life

Three remaining sections to the Book where he will develop the thoughts more.

Chapters 5-8: New Humanity

Chapter 5

Paul goes to the beginning of it all.

‘ādām = humanity is sinful and has to be judged by God because we have become slaves to sin and MUST die.

Paul compares Adam and Jesus, the New Adam.

What makes Jesus the Faithful ‘Ādām?

OBEDIENCE!

Because of the Spirit, we are now empowered to OBEY and be a part of the Family of God of New Creations.

Chapter six challenge: leave the old human behind and become a new human!

Key to this is baptism.

Romans 6:4 (KJV 1900)

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism is a burial of the old man, raising of a new man.

Once the new man is born, God will now breath the breath of life into them and the will become a new creation!

Chapter 7 - If Calvary was always the point, then why the Law/Torah?

Paul teaches that the commands were good… showing God’s will.

But Israel constantly broke the law.

And with each generation became more bound in sin.

Point is that humans are sinful - that law alone could not do anything about.

Chapter 8 - The solution is here because of the death and resurrection of Jesus!

This is were redemption for all of “Ādām begins!

Let’s look at the process in these three chapters.

Nine things that happen - from sinner to conqueror.

Justified by the blood of Jesus (5:1-11)

The abundant grace of Jesus (5:12-21)

Walk in newness of life (6:1-14)

Be a instruments of righteousness (6:15-23)

Deliverance from the Law/Torah (7:1-6)

It’s a struggle (7:7-25)

Spirit of Life (8:1-11)

Led by the Spirit (8:12-28)

MORE THAN CONQUERORS (8:28-39)

Chapters 9-11: What about Israel?

In these next chapters Paul anguishes over Israel…

Chapter 9

Has God forsaken Israel?

Given up on them?

Paul begins to reflect over Israel’s past…

How Israel has consistently rejected God.

Then looks to the present in chapter 10

And calls Israel a disobedient people…

Next little while his anguish is apparent, he is troubled, burdened for his people, Israel.

Chapter 11 - calls for a preacher to preach to Israel at the end of chapter 10 and starts preaching himself in 11.

Romans 11:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

Because of their rejection of the Messiah, the rest of the world can be saved…

Paints a picture of Israel being a great olive tree and the old branches (rejectors of Christ) is broken off and an wild branch is grafted in.

Romans 11:25–27 (KJV 1900)

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Israel will be saved!

Chapters 12-16: Jews and Gentiles consist of God’s family!

Chapter 12-13 = Unity through love and forgiveness, service to each other and humility!

Love and forgiveness produces humility and unity

Chapters 14-15 = Christian liberty; ethic division

IT CAN BE CULTURALLY IMPORTANT BUT DOCTRINALLY INSIGNIFICANT!

Love bridges that gap!

Chapter 16 = Thank you to Phebe who carried the letter to the Romans from Paul…

He sends specific greeting to individual ((16:1-16)

Four verse warning about division and marking those who divide (16:17-20)

Final good byes and Glory to God… (16:21-27)