Posts Tagged ‘Romans (2009)’
Romans – Introduction and Salutation
Paul’s epistle to the Romans was written in 35AD from Corinth to the Church in Rome, a group that Paul had not visited at the time he wrote the letter. Paul was returning to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey and viewed Rome as a necessary base through which he could extend his ministry further…
Read MoreRomans – Faith and Purity
Paul thanks God that the Church in Rome is spoken of highly, and prays that he might come to visit them so that he can strengthen their faith, and they can strengthen his. Though he has not been able to get to Rome, yet, Paul has taken this time to preach to the Greeks, the…
Read MoreRomans – On Judgment
Paul reminds us not to judge others, since we are doing the same things, i.e. sin, even simply by savoring the thought of sin in the heart. This way of thinking may be indicative of a belief that we will somehow escape God’s judgment. Those who do such things are storing up wrath in Heaven.…
Read MoreRomans – Judgment, part 2
Paul tells Jewish Christians that if they think that they are righteous by the Law, they must follow the Law, otherwise the gain they boast in is actually judgment against them. This is not just a litany of prohibited acts, either. The Law must penetrate into the hearts of those who profess it, as well,…
Read MoreRomans – Holiness and the Law
Paul tells us that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, apart from the Law. This is a recurring theme in Romans. All have sinned, and all require Christ’s salvation. God gives us this redemption as a gift, and we are justified through faith, apart from works under the Law. This cannot be used…
Read MoreRomans – Faith
Paul shows us that Abraham was not justified by his works, since his faith was not earned, but rather reckoned to him, and since we are not reckoned what we are owed, this could not have been something that was owed to Abraham. Moreover, the sacrificial system is not really a way to earn any…
Read MoreRomans – Faith, Hope, and Love
Paul continues explaining that we are justified by faith, or as the council of Trent describes, by God’s grace. Not only do we need God’s grace, but without it, we cannot even grope after God, and that we must use our free will to accept or reject that grace. This grace puts us at peace…
Read MoreRomans – Jesus and Adam
Sin entered the world through Adam, and we know this because all men sin. Our flawed nature is a consequence of that sin. Sin existed before the law, and although sin is not counted where there is no Law, that does not mean that we do not have any guilt for that sin. Indeed, the…
Read MoreRomans – Faith and Works
Chapter 6 of Romans starts a new section in Romans, dealing with the necessity of using our faith to be conformed to the Lord’s will. We must thus strive for holiness, apart from which no man will see God. We must increase in love to establish ourselves unblameable before God and make holiness perfect in…
Read MoreRomans- Grace and Sin
Paul tells us that the Christian ought no longer to be slave to sin, which is a very powerful statement indeed. Since Jesus died one for all and died to sin once for all, we, too are to be like Christ and put to death the sinful parts of ourselves, and not a wasting death,…
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