Panoramic Bible Study Lesson 46 - Paul's Epistle to the Romans
INTRODUCTION.
This Epistle was written from Corinth during Paul’s third visit to that city in about 60 A.D. (see II Corinthians 13:1). It was the Apostle’s intention to visit the Christians in Rome at some time. This prompted him to write that he might announce beforehand the distinctive truths which had been revealed to him. Romans not only embodies the doctrine of grace in relation to salvation, but in three of the chapters the promises to Israel are recalled, and God’s purpose to restore the seed of Abraham according to the flesh is clearly dealt with.
The theme of the Epistle to the Romans is the Gospel of God (chapter 1:1) concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Two things declare Jesus to be the Son of God. The first is His spirit of holiness, and the second is His resurrection from the dead. Both are historical facts and give undisputed proof to the claims our Lord made for Himself (verse 4). Paul would have all men know that he felt his indebtedness to others, and that he had the remedy which never fails, the Gospel which is the Power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth (verses 14-17).
The Epistle, exclusive of the introduction, is in seven parts:
1. Universal guilt - chapters 1:18 to 3:20.
2. Justification by faith - chapters 3:21 to 5:11.
3. Identification with Christ - chapters 5:12 to chapter 7.
4. The law of the spirit of life - chapter 8.
5. God’s covenant promises to Israel - chapters 9 to 11.
6. Christian life and service - chapters 12 to 15.
7. The outflow of Christian love - chapter 16.
UNIVERSAL GUILT.
The whole world is steeped in the guilt of sin. Man’s rejection of light is the cause of his downfall. No one is excused. Apart from oral messages by man, God Himself speaks through creation (chapter 1:19-20). Any thoughtful person must be impressed with the wonders of the universe, and to deliberately give glory to the creature rather than to the Creator leads into darkness. This in turn leads to great depths, so that man finally finds himself a slave to an exacting lower nature. God is no respecter of persons. Mere religion never meets the need.
Chapter 2 plainly teaches that the Gentile without law, and the Jew under the law, are both likewise condemned for their insincerity. To the Jews were committed the oracles of God, but they are no better than the Gentiles if they fail to conform to them. All are under sin, and all must seek for righteousness in another way than by their good works (chapter 3:9-20).
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.
Into man’s darkness, God sends light, and shows a way of life wherein we can hope. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but through the substitutionary death of Christ and faith in Him we can be justified from all guilt (chapter 3:23-25). The law of God which condemned us is not made void, but is established in that its judgment was born by our Substitute, legally freeing those who believe (verse 31). Abraham, our great example was saved that way (chapter 4:2-3), and to understand how secure the believer is, God says in verse 8: “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” This is received apart from any religious ordinance (verse 10), and it does not come through keeping the law (verse 14) but is an act of pure grace in response to faith, making possible the salvation of every grade of sinner (verse 16).
To understand just how to believe we have a clear statement in verse 17. Jesus told His Disciples to “have faith in God,” which simply means that as He called those things which be not as though they were, so we should do likewise, and He will provide the quickening. Abraham walked with God and grew in faith until he was fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform (verse 21). This pleased God, and Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith. Justification is the open door into all further blessing so that in all things we shall be saved from wrath through Christ, and His life will meet our every need (chapter 5:9-10).
IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST.
Adam’s fall involved the entire race so that man is born in sin (verse 12; Psalm 51:5). Sin is something which cannot be cured. Many remedies have been tried but all to no purpose. God has, however, provided deliverance by offering to make man a new creature. The plan is simple but very effective. Verse 19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” Christ submitted to a false judgment and yielded to death on the Cross not for His own sake, but for every one of the human family. In order to participate in this redemption, we must learn of the threefold accomplishment of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Our acceptance identifies us with Him. If we do this, God will work in us and bring the truth to pass (see chapter 6:1-5, 11, & 17. Chapter 7 describes man by nature endeavoring to overcome the law of sin, which is working in his members, hindering every effort he makes to conform to God’s righteousness (verses 14-21). In despair he cries out “who shall deliver me,” and then with thankfulness sees that Christ the Great Emancipator has met the need (verses 24-25).
THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.
In contrast with the life of failure depicted in chapter 7, we have a brighter picture in chapter 8. Through Christ we obtain deliverance from condemnation, and by the new “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus we triumph over the law of sin and death” (verses 1-2). Life for the mortal body is also included (verse 11), and an exalted position as joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ awaits those who will suffer with Him now (verse 17). To encourage His children, God promises a personal oversight of their lives, so that each one may be assured “that all things work together for good” (verse 28). Although Satan may slander God and picture Him as failing in His love to us, we can reply with that nothing can “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38-39).
GOD’S COVENANT PROMISES TO ISRAEL.
In the plan of redemption God has remembered His covenant with Abraham. “Unto thy seed have I given this land” (Genesis15:18) is the promise the Lord made. Although through disobedience the children of Israel were cast out and scattered among the nations, they will eventually be led back, and in true repentance will be fully restored spiritually, and Christ their King shall sit upon the throne of His father David. At the present time they are estranged from God because they think to obtain salvation by works (chapter 10:2-4), but “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for they are beloved for the Father's sake” (chapter 11:26-28).
CHRISTIAN LIFE AND SERVICE.
The reference to Israel is a parenthesis in the Epistle to the Romans. The next four chapters tell the redeemed soul how to live before the world, and faithfully represent the God who has saved him. The first and all important thing is a full surrender to the Divine will (chapter 12:1-2). Out of such a consecration will spring helpful service, for God is looking for People whom He can make channels of usefulness (verses 3-8). Various thoughts on behavior are then mentioned, and an exhortation not to take vengeance on those who harm us but leave it all to God and He will fully recompense in due time (verses 19-20). We are to be law abiding citizens (chapter 13:1-2), an injunction which every believer should heed. Charitable consideration of fellow believers must also be observed, and the rule to adopt in our contact with others is mentioned in chapter 14:13. Every Church has some who are weak in the faith. They must be cared for in a spirit of love (chapter 15:1-2).
THE OUTFLOW OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.
The Apostle Paul meant every word he wrote and endeavored as much as possible to be the very embodiment of his message. Chapter 16 is taken up largely with kindly reference to his fellow laborers in the Gospel. Two instances are worthy of note. In verse 7 Adronicus and Junia are mentioned. They were Paul’s fellow prisoners and believers who were in Christ before him. How nice of Paul to think of them in that way. The other person we might notice is Apelles, approved in Christ (verse 10). Whoever this person was, he evidently had a distinctive place in Paul’s memory as one with whom the Lord was pleased, and who no doubt was used in a noticeable way.
The Epistle closes with a note of triumph. In chapter 1:16, we learned that the Gospel is the power or dynamite of God which saves both Jew and Gentile through faith. Now in chapter 16:25 we are told that God has power to establish according to “the revelation of the mystery” which of course is “Christ in you the hope of glory.” One thing is needful and is the obedience of faith (verse 26). To those who are constant in this way God guarantees unlimited success in the Christian life, because of His unlimited power to be drawn upon at will.