Posted in Bible Study, Romans

Session 1: Introduction to Romans

 

A Tour of Romans

As followers of Christ, growing in God’s grace, we instinctively develop a thirst for knowing His Word.  The Bible is a rich treasure of God’s Truth, the very mind of God.  It is such a privilege to hold the Bible in our hands, and we want to handle it responsibly, so we need to get to know it deeply!  It is, after all, intended for the complete good for each of us in our walk as godly Christians (2 Timothy  3:16-17).

For the Christian today, the book of Romans stands out as one of the key books of the Bible that we must know well.  It is a major source of much of our doctrinal and practical understanding of Christian Living.  Looking across all of Scripture, no other book is comparable to its depth of developing the key biblical truths which anchor our walk in Christ.  As Christians, we will spend much time through our lives in this powerful book.  The growing Christian needs to maintain a life-long priority on establishing a deep familiarity with Romans.

Bible Study Journal 
Something to look into:  Do a quick read-through of Romans – that should only take 30-40 minutes.  Be sure to have your Bible Study Journal open and write a few summary observations that you pick up as you go along.  A basic key to good Bible study: plan to read through the book you’re studying 3-4 times, starting with right at the start of your study, a couple of times through the next couple of months of study, and then when you’re done with the book.

Often in these Bible studies, you will see this icon labeled “Bible Study Journal”.  This is our challenge to you to always have a notebook and pen (or laptop!) right beside your Bible to make notes as you do your study.  Please be sure not to miss out on the blessing of maintaining a Bible Study Journal!  Click here to read more about using a Bible Study Journal.

Scan the Terrain

When you approach any trip, but especially when headed out on a long trip, you need to some homework before heading out.  Here we will provide some tools and helpful “guide information” that will help you handle the challenging turns ahead (note that “challenging” is just a descriptive word – Romans is really packed with many rich truths that are a delight to encounter).  Of course, you’ll need  a map so Click here for an outline of Romans.  It would be best if you copy this outline into a Word doc or an email to yourself, then print it to keep in your Bible.  It will help a lot as you read through the book (see above).

Here are five words beginning with ‘S’ to guide you through Romans.  You’ll see how these words fit together related to God’s righteousness as we progress in our study.

    • Sin (1-3) – we lack God’s righteousness because of sin
    • Salvation (4-5) – we receive God’s righteousness when we God justifies us by faith
    • Sanctification (6-8) – we demonstrate God’s righteousness by being transformed from rebels to followers
    • Sovereignty (9-11) – we confirm God’s righteousness when we see Him save the Jews – explains God’s sovereignty over salvation
    • Service (12-16) – we apply God’s righteousness in practical Christian living

As you read through the book, you will pick up on an interesting distinction about Paul: he asks lots of questions!  He wants to get his hearers thinking seriously with a goal of conclusion and action.  Here is a list of just the four questions he asks in Romans 2.   If you scan through more chapters, you will see that Paul uses this device a lot.

  • 2:3 – Do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
  • 2:4 – Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
  • 2:21 – You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
  • 2:26 – So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

Get to Know Romans

As with any Bible book study, one of the most important things for you to do is plan on reading the whole book through.  Romans is a little longer so aim to cover this session in more than one sitting.   Suggestions:

  • Use two or three different translations.  Make sure you’re using dependable translations such as the New American Standard (NASB) or New King James (NKJV). One easy way to get to these translations is by using one of the excellent internet tools such as BlueletterBible.com, BibleGateway.com or Studylight.org.  Let me know if you would like some thoughts on how to identify a “dependable” Bible translation.  You can also check out this article I wrote here.
  • Each time you read through the book, write quick notes of your impressions as you go along, things you can go back to and spend some time looking into more thoroughly.  Watch for recurring themes, words you need to understand better, and key statements of truth or principle.

Any mountain climber will tell you that before approaching the first leg of a climb, time must be taken to study the terrain and be familiar with where you are headed.   As we move forward in the “mountain range” of Romans, we would benefit from making sure we have a good understanding of the book’s overall structure.  What does Paul expect the reader to “get” from this major document?  What are the steps Paul takes as he works toward that goal?  As we proceed on through the heights of Romans, here are the major plateaus you can expect:

  • Romans 1-8 comprise a “super-segment” of Paul’s message in order to give a complete picture of what God has provided
    • Romans 1-3, The Seriousness of Sin:  The seriousness of sin and the desperately lost condition of every living soul.  Paul emphasizes that it is impossible for any person to accomplish that righteous condition.  All he can do is be miserably aware of just how sinful he is, and stare in fear because of his condemned status before the Judge.  All mankind has sinned and stands condemned (Rom. 3:23).  Every man, woman and child who has existed on earth throughout all of history – we are all hopelessly lost in sin.

In sharing the Gospel with  an unbeliever, there is a key fact that always needs be kept in mind:  before a person will desire to receive God’s gift of salvation in Christ, he must first be completely convinced of his sinful condition and need of salvation!  Paul has developed this key line of thinking for us in Romans 1:18-3:31.

As  men and women of God adequately prepared for ministering to a needy world, we must know and understand the seriousness of sin – please be careful to think Paul’s words through carefully!

    • Romans 4-5, Justification by Faith:  The amazing grace of God is demonstrated by His providing Redemption based on faith alone.  God declared Abraham righteousness unilaterally, justified by faith alone (Rom. 4:3) and by our faith in Christ we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1).  Just as sin came into the world by one man, justification also came through one man – Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:12).    Note the eternal faithfulness of God to keep His promises, and the testimony of faith which Abraham has given us.  Note too the results of Justification by Faith.
    • Romans 6-8, The Power of Resurrection Life:  If Romans is the highest mountain range of the New Testament, then chapters 6-8 is the Summit.  Throughout the Bible, God has shown us that we need to worship and glorify Him, be godly, Christlike, do His will.  In these chapters, Paul guides us through the truths that enable us to do those things.  These chapters are the essential benchmark which we must seek to make a reality in our Christian life.  We are baptized into Christ, and as a result we are new creatures, designed by God to be instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6: 13).  Free from the law of sin, we are empowered for holiness by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:4,11).
  • Romans 9-11, God’s Plan for the Jews:  In chapter 2, Paul reminded the Jews that they were as guilty of sin as the Gentiles.  In chapters 9-11, Paul returns to the subject of the Jews’ relationship to God and His program.  God is still sovereign, His promises to Israel will be fulfilled, a remnant will be eternally redeemed as they place faith in the resurrected Messiah.
  • Romans 12-16, Living Truth in a Needy World:  In each of Paul’s New Testament letters, he concludes with thoughts regarding Christian living – how to apply to real life the doctrinal truths already discussed.  In these chapters, Paul develops how to “prove” the will of God (Rom. 12:1-2), living sacrificially to glorify and serve Him.

Bible Study Journal

Further Study:
Now would be a very good time for you to take a few extra minutes and read through the entire book of Romans.  While the NASB translation is always good to use, It might be good to use the NIV for this read-through.  Look for the main sections and highlights as outlined above and make some notes!

Put it in your Life!
Are you a born again child of God?  Do you wish to live in a way that demonstrates your new life in Christ and offers a testimony of God’s grace to those around you?  In other words, do you wish to live the Christian life the way God intends you to?  If yes, you need to know the book of Romans deeply, well enough to teach it.  Study it well and often!

Take Notes…  So get out your Bible Study Journal and write some thoughts down about this study.  Perhaps look at each of the section of Romans and work on being familiar with how Paul progresses through his letter.

Get to Know Paul 

paul+writing

We’re not going to spend focused time in this study looking into Paul’s life, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook!  As is true when studying any of Paul’s epistles, it’s important to be familiar with Paul’s life of ministry, his travels through three missions journeys and a final trip to Rome, the churches he established and the many people he discipled.   Each of his letters needs to be understood in the context of where he was in his ministry, as well as where the church or individual being addressed is in their Christian experience.

Bible Study Journal
A few recommendations in order to get to know Paul:

Read through the book of Acts, especially Acts 11:19-29 and chapters 13-28. As you read Acts, click here to use this map so that you can understand where Paul was in his life when writing Romans.  Click here to see a timeline of Paul’s life.

  • You might also want to have a good book on hand about the life of Paul (and read it…).  You Here are some suggestions to consider:
    • The Life of Paul: A Servant of Jesus Christ, by F.B. Meyer (free on Kindle)
    • Paul:  A Man of Grace, by Charles Swindoll (used $8)
    • The Apostle: A Life of Paul, by John Pollock (used $7)