The Epistle to Romans

This study is an introduction to the book of Romans in order that believers would be encouraged in reading the book to understand it properly.

The first 17 verses are an introduction to Paul, Jesus, Paul’s love towards them and the gospel.

Chapter 1: God’s wrath on Mankind

Men knew who God is and His might. But because of their thinking they had been wasted. So, God gave them up to sin as in verses 21 and 25.

Man did not honor God and honored lies and this was the start of sin. So, God had to give up on Man and he fell down deeply in sin.

Chapter 2: Man starts judging falsely but God’s judgement is due.

Verses 1 to 5 shows how easy man took God’s word and used it only to condemn others. Verse 4 is important that explains God’s mercy and patience has only one purpose which is to lead us to repentance.  God’s wrath is there to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth (v8).

God will judge and this will happen for sure. If we know the law, we have to obey first and be a light to others who do not know. If we do not know the law, we will be judged according to our own conscience.

In the last verses, Paul explains that even circumcision is invalidated if we disobey.

Chapter 3: Righteousness cannot be attained and comes outside the law.

An understanding of why nobody can become righteous by works. Paul first explains that the law defines what sin is but not what life is. Since all have sinned, Justification is the only way.

Verses 21 to 26 beautifully explain how Jesus is given as a propitiation for our sins and how God’s righteousness is revealed here.

So, all are equal.

Chapter 4: Justification by Faith

By quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul refers how Abraham became a righteous man.

If we are just obedient to the law, we are just escaping wrath. But God wants us to be in a place where there is no transgression and so no law. (v15).

Verses 24,25 say that we, if we believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus was delivered for our sins and raised up for our justification, we will be counted as righteous.

Chapter 5: Peace with God

As opposed to Chapter 1 where God gave us away to sin, we are now in peace with God because of our faith in Jesus. The verses 10 and 11 explain that we are more than reconciled, but saved and not just saved but made to rejoice.

Verses 12 onwards explain how Adam brought sin and death to us and how Jesus brought life.

Chapter 6: Baptism

Baptism is the first step that we are cleansed away from sin through Jesus. We are united with Jesus in death and resurrection. Since we are a new creation, death and sin does not have dominion over us. We have to present our members as instruments of righteousness (v 13).

For us not to misuse the freedom, we are expected to become slaves to righteousness. (v20 onwards).

Chapter 7: Freedom from the Law

The first few verses explain how are not bound to the law and if we practice it, we become adulterers. The following verses honor the law because it explains what sin is and brings us to Christ. (Gal 3:24). Verses 18 onwards prepare grounds for another being inside us who strengthen us to do good.

Chapter 8: Life in the Spirit

This chapter is even more encouraging as the emptiness is now filled with the Holy Spirit. We are expected to walk according to the Spirit (v4). Verse 11 says that the Holy Spirit will give us life like Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Holy Spirit to make us heirs is explained in verse 15.

Verse 18 onwards, the hope of glory is explained which encourages us towards perseverance. With this strength we are now able to say the bold words in verses 37-39.

Chapter 9: Burden towards souls or Israel

In this chapter, Paul mourns for Israel who had not received grace as we did. This burden is important in Christendom. We are in no way superiors or better than those who are unsaved. They did not have faith and so have stumbled. (v31, 32).

Chapter 10: Salvation to all

Verse 13, everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. So, it is our duty to preach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Like verse 20 (Isaiah 65:1) we are expected to go behind unsaved and people who do not look for salvation.

Chapter 11: Our selection and Israel’s Rejection is not final

In this Chapter Paul explains how God had separated a lot of Jews for Himself and they had followed faith. Moreover, the gentiles are branches of wild olives rooted to the original family. There are chances we may fail totally just like Israel did. Let us not consider that we are forever saved and are secure.

This is God’s wisdom that we are selected and so, need to humble ourselves.

Chapter 12: Living Sacrifices and Spiritual Gifts and Fruits

With this humility, we are expected to submit ourselves as living sacrifices so that God will change us and we have to allow ourselves to be changed.

God will impart to us gifts as He wishes and requires and we are expected to use them.

There are marks of a true Christian in verse 9 onwards.

Chapter 13: Submission to Local Authorities

This is a mark of humility of a true Christian. He allows himself to be obedient to other authorities.

The last two verses expect us to put on Jesus Christ and walk in the light.

Chapter 14: Helping and not judging others

When we are saved and growing up in Christ, Pride should not be there and we should ensure every person is following us and not being discouraged. There will be cultural differences but we should put them aside and ensure our growth in Christ.

Chapter 15: Example of Christ in humility

Christ has become a servant and did not have any selfish deeds. We are expected to be so.

Paul calls himself as a minister of Christ to the gentiles so that they would come to obedience and their worship will be accepted by God.

Paul says that he is satisfied thoroughly by the progress of the Romans and the whole book encourages them further and not condemns them.

Chapter 16: Final Greetings

This chapter explains how to treat fellow believers. The reason for greeting every person in this chapter is to be noted well.

People who bring division by doctrine do not serve Christ and we have to be watchful.

To the wise God who brought glory to Himself through Jesus, be all glory. Amen.

The book starts with “gospel of God” and ends with “my gospel”. This is how we carry the gospel.

Stephen's Sermon

Acts 7:2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran”.

The largest chapter in the Acts is a single sermon by Stephen who explains the history of Israel to an already educated audience but the narration emphasizes their loss of Christ to them. When concluding the sermon, Stephen gives them a hard message calling them stiff necked people and murderers.

Stephen starts the sermon with saying “God of Glory” and in the end he sees the glory of God. Stephen could see the glory because he was able to demonstrate this glory through his sermon. The demonstration starts from separation of Abraham from Mesopotamia. Abraham was originally from a pagan family and God wanted him to forsake his family for the sake of God’s glory. This separation continues as God did not give any inheritance to Abraham in Canaan either. The plan of God is that we should go through trouble so that His glory is manifested. Enemies have their roles but they will reap what they had done. For us, it is glory through trials. We read a confirmation of this in Romans 8:17,18.

The next topic Stephen mentions is the covenant of circumcision which Abraham immediately obeys. The obedience to this covenant was the reason for the birth of Jacob and the twelve patriarchs. When God gives us a covenant and a promise, it is important that it is followed at the earliest. Stephen reminds that Issac was born out of the covenant and so, it is required for us to honor the covenant Jesus has given. In verse 51, Stephen calls the Jews as uncircumcised in heart and ears which have the extra knowledge that plain rituals are followed but the original call and requirement of the covenant is completely lost.

The next lesson is that God mentions to Abraham that his descendants will be slaves in a foreign land but after deliverance, they would come back and worship Him. But this disappointment became very high to God as in verse 40 onwards. This disappointment took place as the people did not hear about the upcoming prophet, they rejected Moses. We see God’s anger towards Israel.

The glory of God is so manifested in Joseph’s life as the verse gives emphasis to the introduction between Joseph, his family and pharaoh in verse 13. From the brother’s perspective we need to see how the glory of God is seen when Joseph whom they rejected is a great ruler in Egypt. Next, we read Moses being beautiful and pleasing in God’s eyes when he was a baby. God being pleased with a baby is only seen here in the bible. This is because of the perverseness of the generation and God seeing the future of how disobedient they are going to be. So, Moses was trained like Joseph and thought he would be the savior of the people. But it did not happen as God wanted His glory to be manifested. When people ask Moses “who made you a ruler over us”, Moses comes back saying God has made me a ruler over you. This time Moses is old and weak, but was performing wonders and signs in Egypt. Moses was rejected and people turned to Egypt. Stephen uses the term “Our fathers” meaning it is our nature to be stiff-necked and resist the Holy Spirit.

Being stiff-necked is something we all can relate to ourselves. After so many experiences, we still search for solutions in Egypt. The Holy Spirit’s main strength is renewal where we have newer ambitions and newer locations to search for salvation. Jeremiah 7:25,26 says that people could not heed their ears as their necks were stiff. When they could not hear, they did more evil than their fathers.

This is clearly understood when the death of Christ does not have any effect in us. In 2 Chronicles 30:8, we are requested to yield to the LORD and enter the sanctuary which is Christ. In Mathew 16:16 when Peter says that you are the Christ, we continue reading the excitement of Jesus in promising the Church and the authority given to it. Everybody else was following Jesus as a Rabbi for knowledge. But this understanding Peter had about Jesus made him soft necked than all of Judea. He was able to bend down to accept the Lordship of Jesus.

If we still are unchanged after learning about Jesus and his sacrifice, we are the ones who kill every prophet (as we ignore them). If we are enraged further, we end up like the ones who stone Stephen. But our Lord Jesus is so concerned to stand up and watch as Stephen dies. This sermon is worth a martyr as Jesus has to be accepted more than all doctrines and incidents.

Amen.