The epistle to the Romans, one of the apostle Paul’s greatest works, is placed first among his thirteen epistles in the New Testament. While the four Gospels present the words and works of Jesus Christ, Romans explores the significance of His sacrificial death. Paul offers a systematic presentation of biblical doctrine.
Romans is a preeminent book when it comes to crucial topics such as salvation and faith. However, it is much more than a book of theology. It is also a practical exhortation about how to live in joyful obedience. The Good News of Jesus Christ is more than facts to be believed; it is an abundant life to be lived—a life of righteousness befitting the person “justified as a gift by [God’s] grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).
This was exemplified in the life of reformer Martin Luther. When he read, “The righteous man shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17), he realized that good works and religious rituals could not save the Christian. Instead, it was faith in the Lord’s unmerited grace that justified the believer, just as it had Abraham (ch. 4). Therefore, good works were not the means by which one attained salvation, but the joyful overflow of thankfulness for the grace of God.
Paul begins his letter by addressing the necessity of obeying the Lord with love and humility. He reminds us that it is through Jesus Christ that we receive eternal life as well as grace for each circumstance we face. It is His salvation that sets us free from the power of sin. Until we come to a point where we acknowledge our need of a Savior, we cannot appreciate the gracious gift God has given to us.
The title Pros Romaious, “To the Romans,” has been associated with the epistle almost from the beginning.
Theme: People everywhere can enjoy God’s gracious gift of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, who gives them the desire and the strength to obey the Lord.
Author: The apostle Paul.
Time: Most scholars believe Paul wrote Romans circa A.D. 57.
Structure: The first section (1–8) expresses what has been called “the gospel according to Paul,” meaning that the only way to fellowship with God is by grace through faith in the risen Jesus Christ. The second section (9–11) expounds Paul’s expectation that the Jews, who have largely refused this teaching, will one day accept it. The final section (12–16) describes how people saved by grace through faith in Christ should live and behave.
As you read Romans, watch for the life principles that play an important part in this book:
9. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. See Romans 4:13–25.
12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God. See Romans 5:1.
18. As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. See Romans 8:18.
28. No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith. See Romans 12:5.
3. God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm. See Romans 15:4.