Closing Review of the Book of Romans. (Chapters 1-16)

I believe The Book of Romans stands as the most  profound of all the biblical letters, meticulously crafted by the Apostle Paul to address the pressing question: How can a righteous God make unrighteous people righteous? This exploration unfolds through a structured progression, revealing the depth of God's redemptive plan.

1. Righteousness Needed (Romans 1:18–3:20)

Paul begins by establishing the universal need for righteousness. He portrays humanity's descent into sin, highlighting that both Gentiles and Jews are under sin's dominion. This section culminates in the assertion that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), emphasizing that no one is justified by works of the law.

2. Justification by Faith (Romans 3:21–4:25)

Transitioning from the problem to the solution, Paul introduces justification by faith. He explains that God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe (Romans 3:22). This justification is a gift of grace, made possible through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Paul uses Abraham as a prime example, illustrating that righteousness was credited to him through faith, not works.
Desiring God

3. Righteousness Accomplished (Romans 5–8)

Having established justification, Paul delves into its implications. He contrasts Adam's act, which brought condemnation, with Christ's act of righteousness, leading to justification and life for all men (Romans 5:18). Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, symbolized through baptism, and are called to live as instruments of righteousness. Paul acknowledges the struggle with sin but assures that through the Spirit, believers are empowered to live victoriously, with nothing able to separate them from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).

4. Righteousness Vindicated (Romans 9–11)

Paul addresses the complex relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, particularly concerning Israel. He affirms that God's word has not failed and that not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel (Romans 9:6). While Israel pursued righteousness through the law, they stumbled over the "stumbling stone," Christ. However, Paul holds hope for Israel's future salvation, emphasizing God's mercy and the mystery of His redemptive plan.

5. Righteousness Practiced (Romans 12:1–15:13)

Concluding with practical exhortations, Paul urges believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). He outlines how righteousness manifests in daily life: sincere love, honoring others, being zealous in service, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Believers are called to live in harmony, overcome evil with good, and submit

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Transcript

Review of the Book of Romans (Part 1: Chapters 1-5)

Transcript: 

Host: It often seems that nothing is right in our world. 

Humanity is not right, nor is it righteous.

Unrighteousness seems rampant.

This can lead us to important questions: 

Is God truly righteous? Can He deal with humanity righteously and yet allow us to survive? 

Can He produce righteousness in individuals or society in such a wicked age?

These are heavy, foundational questions.

One book in the Bible was written to address this very subject: The Book of Romans. 

Of all the books I've studied over the years, Romans is the deepest.

Its argument is tightly woven, not with dramatic stories, but with cold hard spiritual logic, tackling philosophical issues like God's righteousness, election, and predestination.

If you grapple with any of the big question in life it is likely the answer lies somewhere in the text of Romans.

We've gone through it verse by verse; today, I’ll attempt an overview of the whole book in one message….

The subject of Romans is righteousness. And the book of Romas follows the format of an ancient letter:

·         A salutation (1:1-7).

·         A thanksgiving and prayer (1:8-17).

At the end of his thanksgiving and prayer Paul pauses and says:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’"

Many consider Romans 1:17 the thematic key to the entire book: the righteousness of God, revealed from faith to faith. This phrase unfolds as we move through the book.

The body of the main text of Romans begins at chapter 1, verse 18. 

1. Righteousness is Needed (Romans 1:18 – 3:20)

First, Paul establishes that righteousness is desperately needed.

Gentiles are under condemnation (1:18-32): Paul, was writing from Corinth—a city rife with vice. He describes how the wrath of God is on all unrighteousness. Human beings have rejected God's clear revelation even seen in creation, so God "gave them over" to their sin. 

In essence, the wages of sin is more sin. God let them sink deeper, and His judgment rests upon them.

Paul then addresses the moral, self-righteous person, clearly identifying him as the Jew by chapter 2, verse 16. 

This religious person, who judges others, will also be judged by God according to reality, their works, and the light they received. 

As an example he says that though the Jew possessed the Old Testament Scriptures—a distinct advantage—this did not exempt him from judgment. Racial identity or rituals offered no escape.

Paul concludes this section powerfully: all, both Jew and Gentiles, are under sin. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Scripture itself declares everyone accountable, and no one can be justified before God by the works of the law.

IPaul uses the imagine a courtroom: God is the Judge. The Apostle Paul is the prosecuting attorney, like. The defendants are a Jew and a Gentile—representing all humanity. Paul presents his case: "They're all guilty. They are all unrighteous. None seek after God." 

The Jew, in his example objects, claiming innocence. Paul retorts, "Oh yes, you are! You who judge others will face the same judgment." He rests his case, and the whole world is found guilty before God. Curtain closes on scene one.

2. Justification by Faith (Romans 3:21 – 4:25)

Next, Paul explains that justification comes by faith. Chapter 3 explains this doctrine, and chapter 4 proves it from the Old Testament.

God faces a divine dilemma: How can He, a righteous God, declare an unrighteous person righteous and remain righteous Himself? Romans 3:22-26 provides one of the clearest, most profound explanations of the gospel:

"Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness... that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Please underline that last phrase: God is just AND the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. 

How? Because Jesus Christ, God's Son, died on the cross as a propitiation—a satisfaction—for our sin. The moment we trust in Christ, God declares us righteous. He can do this and remain just because Christ paid the full penalty for our sins. God didn't just wink at sin; He dealt with it fully.

This is the gospel.

Chapter 3 concludes that God is righteous in declaring believers righteous, the law is upheld, and human boasting is excluded because it's all by faith.

Chapter 4 then uses Abraham as the prime Old Testament example of this justification by faith.

So, the second major point is that righteousness is imputed—credited to us.

Back to our courtroom drama. The defendants—Jew and Gentile, representing you and me—are found guilty. It looks hopeless. But then, in a dramatic twist, the back door opens. A surprise witness enters:

Jesus Christ. He approaches the bench. "May I say something?". "You see these two defendants? They're guilty. The penalty for what they did is death." This seems to make things worse! But then He declares, 

"Your Honor, I died for what they did."

That’s the dramatic reveal. We are guilty, but He paid our penalty. This means the Judge can let us go. He can declare the guilty innocent and be perfectly just in doing so. God then speaks: "I declare these people innocent, justified, vindicated. They are free to go." This is incredible!

It is crucial to understand: Justification in the Book of Romans means to declare righteous. That's all it means in this context. Righteousness is imputed, declared on your behalf. Does this mean you are made righteous in your behavior automatically? No. And that’s why there’s much more to the Book of Romans.

3. Righteousness Accomplished (Romans 5, leading into chapters 6-8)

This brings us to the third major movement: how righteousness can actually be accomplished in the life of a justified person. Paul begins this in chapter 5.

Benefits of Justification (5:1-11): 

Once declared righteous, we have peace with God, stand in His grace, and can even learn patience through tribulations, knowing that Christ's life saves us from future wrath.

Justification unto Life (Latter part of chapter 5): 

Crucially, justification produced not only a declared righteousness but also life. Romans 5:18 states.

"Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life." 

That phrase, "justification of life," is key. Up to chapter 4, I was declared righteous. Now, chapter 5 tells me that justification was to life. When I trusted Jesus Christ, I not only received His righteousness credited to my account, I also received life – a new life.

This is a foundational truth for understanding how a declared righteousness can become a practical, lived-out righteousness, which 

Paul develops this further.

We plunge into chapter six. Paul asks, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" His emphatic answer: "Certainly not!" 

In the first 14 verses, he explains that grace has united us to Jesus Christ; we've been baptized into Him and are now alive to God. We're dealing with the very life of Christ within us. A helpful outline emerges:

Know that you were baptized into Christ and have new life in you.

Reckon (believe) it to be so.

Present yourself to God in acts of obedience. 

As you then yield and present yourself to Him, righteousness is accomplished in your life.

This is stressed further in chapter six, verse 16: 

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" 

Even as a Christian, declared righteous and given Christ's life, you have a choice: yield to sin, leading to death, or yield to God, leading to practical righteousness. Righteousness by faith (declared) is now complemented by righteousness through obedience (accomplished).

But a problem arises: Many fail.

Paul explains in the latter part of chapter seven that the problem isn't the Law—"the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good" (7:12). 

The problem is me, the flesh. When I try to live by the Law, I fail. Trying to achieve righteousness by an external standard, like the Law, is a path to failure. The Law not only reveals sin but can even arouse it—tell a child not to do something, and it often eggs them on. 

So, by the end of Romans 7, Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Even with Christ inside, trying to live by the Law leads to this despair.

The solution unfolds in Romans chapter eight: The work of the Spirit of God. 

It is to live according to the Spirit. Paul uses phrases like "mind the things of the Spirit" and "walk in the Spirit." This means aligning your thinking and choices with God's, which is impossible apart from His Word.

This walk may involve suffering and groaning for ultimate deliverance, much like creation itself groans. But chapter 8 ends with the glorious assurance: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Let's return to our courtroom. 

In scene two, Jesus Christ paid the penalty, and the two defendants (Jew and Gentile), upon trusting Him, were declared righteous. 

Scene three finds them out on the street, free. Does this mean they'll never commit crimes again? Not necessarily. That's the point of Romans 5-8. If they yield to the flesh, they could be enslaved again. But if they mind the things of the Spirit, making God’s values their own, and walk in the Spirit, then righteousness can be accomplished in them out on that street.

4. Righteousness Vindicated (Romans 9-11)

Paul then raises a question: What about the Jews, God's Old Testament people, who had Him crucified? Weren't they separated from God's love? This brings us to Romans 9, 10, and 11.

Chapter 9 (God's Sovereign Election of Israel): Paul asserts God's sovereignty. God had a sovereign, elect purpose for Israel that will be fulfilled. He never promised to save every individual Israelite, but to fulfil His elective purpose. Romans 9:14 asks, "Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!" God is righteous in His election.

End of Chapter 9 & Chapter 10 is about our human responsibility:

Paul explains (9:30-32) that Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, didn't attain it "because they did not seek it by faith." 

Chapter 10 reiterates that the reason some in Israel weren't saved is their unbelief. The Bible teaches both God's sovereign election and human responsibility for belief. 

Chapter 11 (Israel's Ultimate Salvation): The final answer to the Jewish situation is that God will ultimately save all Israel.

Paul himself, and the remnant, are proof He hasn't cast them off. Though they are currently hardened in part (which led to Gentile salvation—so Gentiles shouldn't boast), God will eventually save them. 

This section ends with a mini doxology to God's incomprehensible wisdom and mercy.

This whole section vindicates God's righteousness in His dealings with Israel.

Back to the courtroom for scene four.

In a dramatic turn, God is not the Judge but the Defendant! Paul, now acts as the defence attorney, vindicating God's righteousness. 

God will fulfil His purpose with Israel. Individuals who are not saved have chosen not to believe. God’s faithfulness and love, affirmed at the end of Romans 8, are thus upheld.

5. Righteousness Practiced (Romans 12:1 – 15:13)

The final major section shows how this justified person, in whom righteousness is being accomplished by the Spirit, can actually practice righteousness by obeying God's Word in various areas of life.

·         In the Church (12:1-8): "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice... be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Paul now speaks of using spiritual gifts soberly. We are to give our bodies, minds, and service to the Lord, primarily within the church context.

·         In Society (12:9-21): This covers relationships with believers and unbelievers. Love "hates to hurt and... longs to help."

·         Toward Government (13:1-14): We ought to pay taxes and show due respect to governing officials. The motivation? Christ is coming back! So, "wake up! Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."

·         Toward Individual Believers (14:1 – 15:13): Particularly regarding weaker believers. We shouldn't judge one another or cause a brother to stumble. The strong should care for the weak. The plea throughout is to "receive one another."

Scene five of our courtroom drama takes us back out on the street. Our justified individuals are now, by God's grace, “living in the Spirit." 

Their minds are renewed, they're submitting their bodies to acts of righteousness, understanding their call to serve. 

They are righteous before God by faith, and now, as they practice righteousness, they are becoming righteous before men—submissive to government, serving in church, handling disputes with grace, receiving each other, with the strong caring for the weak.

This practical righteousness is essentially love, a universe away from self-righteousness.

Summary.

The Book of Romans is about righteousness. Its sum is this: The righteousness of God is for unrighteous man to practice righteousness, first by trusting Jesus Christ and being declared righteous, and then by obeying God's Word so he can practice righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I began by noting that all people are unrighteous and wickedness is rampant, leading us to ask: Where is God? Is He righteous? Can He produce righteousness? Romans answers with an emphatic YES. 

Yes, people are wicked. Yes, God is righteous. And yes, a righteous God can make individual men and women righteous as they trust and grow in Christ. 

Yes, He can make a group—the church—righteous. Will He do it for all society? Romans hints at this when it says all Israel will be saved, which implies Christ's return and His righteous rule on earth.

To bring it down to simple, practical terms: if you want to get life right, the Book of Romans shows the way is "from faith to faith" (Romans 1:17).

The first faith is coming to Christ and trusting Him (covered up to Romans 4). This is when God declares you righteous.

The second faith is to keep believing Him, which involves obeying Him. This means daily acknowledging your helplessness, saturating your mind with God's Word, beginning to think and choose as God does, and obeying Him. 

Then you are able to walk in the Spirit.

It all boils down to this: Trust and Obey. 

As you trust Jesus Christ, you're declared righteous before God. As you continue to trust the Lord and obey Him, you will experience practical righteousness before God and man.

As one of my favorite hymns says:

"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Someone might say, "That hymn is about being happy, but you've been talking about being righteous!" You're right, but also wrong. 

Because to be righteous in Jesus, you must trust and obey. And if you trust and obey, you will also be happy in Jesus.

In the final analysis, there's not a whole lot of difference between being right with God and being truly happy.

The profound message of Romans calls us to a righteousness that begins with faith, is accomplished by the Spirit, vindicated by God's own faithfulness, and lived out in daily practice. 

So why not, trust and obey?