An Introduction to the Letter to the Romans
August 6, 2006
Pray
INTRODUCTION
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. The Letter to the Romans was written in the winter of 56-57, not 1956-57, but the year AD 56. The Letter to the Romans is so important to Christianity; it was the first letter to actually get its own commentary ( a book explaining its meaning). Only 150 years later around AD 200 the theologian, Origen wrote this first commentary.
In Martin Luther’s commentary on the Letter to the Romans he writes: (Translated into English): “This epistle (letter) is really the masterpiece of the New Testament and the very purest (explanation of the) Gospel. It has great worth, not only, for every Christian to memorize word for word, by heart, but also to occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much. The more it is handled, the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.
John Calvin writes: “If we understand this Epistle, it opens to us a doorway to the understanding of the whole of scripture.”
It was the Letter to the Romans, the Holy Spirit used in the conversion of Martin Luther.
So what should The Letter to the Romans mean to you?
We know the importance God places on having a good foundation, but, do we understand the importance God places on the structure itself?
1 Corinthians 3:11 states: “For another foundation no one can lay, than the one laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
This, then, is our firm foundation; Christ Jesus
The verses on either side of 1 Corinthians 3:11 state: “According to the grace of God given to me as a master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds there on.”
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (your day before God) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man’s work, of what sort of workmanship it is. If any man’s work remains standing, which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. But if any man’s work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss, yet he himself shall be saved, yet through the fire.”
So, if Jesus Christ is the foundation on which we build the dwelling of our souls, then the Letter to the Romans is the mortar binding the theological bricks of our new dwelling.
If we can grasp the truths of the letter to the Romans, than
• we will live uncompromising lives and
• we will worry not about the works of our lives being burned up in that day.
But transgress this book, fail to grasp its truths, and we will stand before God empty handed. For it will all be burnt up.
Sometimes, we just fail to grasp the truths of life. Years ago as a new couple we were at Disney World. We sat down to eat lunch in Cinderella’s Castle. There, they treat you like royalty – Literally.
After lunch our waitress bowed before me and asked; “Is there anything else my Lord wishes?”
“Yes, I joked. I’d like my wife to treat me like this at home. I like being served and being called, My Lord”
The waitress bowed to my wife. “My Lord desires to be treated like a king, in his castle. May I suggest a reply?”
“Sure,” my wife said.
The waitress said; “Tell him he’s spent a little too much time, today, in fantasyland.”
“As soon as he buys you a castle, you will start treating him like a king!”
“Otherwise, he’s still just the toad you kiss every morning.”
I just don’t get it! Sarah called Abraham Lord! I just can’t get any respect.
Anyway! We need to grasp the truth of this letter.
None of us want to show up in heaven only to find we will have to live out the rest of our eternity in a tent.
As we begin to approach the Letter to the Romans, I want us to understand the background of the Roman church and the layout of the letter itself before we jump in.
THE BACKGROUND
The Roman church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The Jews had gone into cities all over the known world and set up businesses. In the process they also set up synagogues.
If you will remember, when I did a study on the leadership in the early churches, we found that the churches were spin offs of the synagogues where the early Christian evangelist, such as Paul, Timothy, Peter, etc. had gone into each town and preached the gospel in the local synagogue.
Look at Acts 28:16-31
There were few synagogues where everyone in the synagogue believed and the whole synagogue became Christians, but there were many more where those who believed had to spin off and become there own church. In these many of the converts were those gentiles who were considered seekers, but outside the faith of Judaism. They came to hear about God, but had not accepted the faith of Judaism.
The Jews, for the most part never did really consider gentile converts to be as good as them. But in the gospel Paul preached, everyone was equal. It was very appealing to those who wanted a relationship with god, but couldn’t quite understand why they had to go through Judaism to get there.
So the believers spun off a church from the Synagogue and the evangelist who preached to them would appoint an episcopos or elder to rule over the church based.
THE LAYOUT OF THE LETTER
The Letter to the Romans is made up of:
• an opening and closing salutation,
• The heart of the letter addresses Salvation which comes through faith alone, and
• a brief address of Paul’s ministry, plans, and personal greetings to believers.
The heart of the letter; “a life lived out through justification by faith alone addresses four areas of concern for the Romans:
Romans 1:8 – 4:25 Salvation is a product of the righteousness of God, not anything man does or inherits due to race or family. Therefore we are justified before God by faith alone, not works. Therefore no one has the right to judge another.
Romans 5:1 – 8:39 What does it means to live out life as one who is justified by faith alone.
Romans 9:1 – 11:36 What does it mean for a Gentile verses Jew to live out life as one who is justified by faith.
Romans 12:1 – 15:13 Justification by faith does not mean freedom to sin, but freedom to sacrifice one’s freedoms for our faith and others.
Romans 1:1-7 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
“7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 1:1
The Letter to the Romans is personal – “Paul”
The writer is – “a servant of Christ Jesus”
The writer is – “called to be an apostle”
The writer is – “set apart for the gospel of God”
Romans 1:2 - The Gospel was promised in the Old Testament through his prophets.
Romans 1:3 - The Gospel is – “regarding His Son”
- A descendant of David
Romans 1:4 - Declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection
Romans 1:5 - Through Him we receive grace
- Through Him we receive apostleship
- For His names sake
- To call the gentiles to the obedience derived from faith (not works)
Romans 1:6 - You also are called to belong to Christ Jesus
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