Almost all of the commentators agree that the human author of the Book of Romans was the Apostle Paul. It is reported that he wrote the epistle from the Greek city of Corinth in about 57 AD, during his third missionary journey. The book is full of gems that provide blessings to the reader no matter how many times they read it. [1] [2]
In the first chapter, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to describe the depravity of humankind. He leads the Apostle to take a stand against it, regardless of the teaching’s unpopularity in secular society. In this way, the reader begins to understand our to our need for a savior.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
The verse selected from chapter 2 points out the consequences of a sinful lifestyle. It contrasts them with the rewards of faithfully following Christ.
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:9-11)
Our verses from the third and fourth chapters show us God's alternative to a sinful, secular lifestyle, and religions that are nothing but a system of rules. We can have the righteousness of God as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:21-25)
… just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Romans 4:6-8 - from Psalms 32:1-2)
In chapter 5, we learn that when we are saved we have peace
with God because we can have faith that our salvation is assured by his provision
of grace (mercy, unmerited favor) to us. This knowledge is a source of joy even
in times of trouble. We are able to feel
God's love in every situation through the Holy Spirit living in us.
Therefore, since we have been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this
grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of
God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
The 8th chapter of Romans teaches us that by God’s grace we are not condemned to be objects of wrath. For, we are shown how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are urged to give our lives to pleasing the Spirit, rather than our own desires. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest chapters in the Bible.
There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of
life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:1-2)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
Then serve Him. The verses selected from chapters 12 and 13 urge us to serve Him in love.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)
In chapter 14 we learn, “Why?”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)
The Apostle provides beautiful benedictions at the end of the Book of Romans. Please let these warm your heart.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)
Jesus said, "For God
Please, believe in Jesus – right now.
These verses were copied from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Holy Bible. They are available to you to study at: https://biblehub.com/
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