Theology for Everybody: Romans a 365-Day Devotional

INTRODUCTION TO

ROMANS

DAY 1

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. —Paul in Romans 1:1

What is the first thing you do when you receive a text message or phone call from someone you don’t know or recognize? You politely ask, Who is this? To fully understand what someone is saying, you first need to know who is speaking. The same is true when we study a book of the Bible. Even though we know God is the divine Author of all 66 books, He used human authors who had distinct styles and patterns. Learning about these human authors will allow you to uncover a deeper layer of understanding about their writing.

The human author of Romans is Paul, and he identifies himself in the opening verse: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. With almost all the books of the Bible, some historians and theologians dispute their authorship. Almost no one challenges Romans. According to New Testament Professor Charles Quarles, Although Paul’s authorship of several letters has been contested, the evidence for his authorship of Romans is so strong that only the most radical have challenged it.¹

In the days to come, I will explore Paul’s pre-conversion background, but for now, I want to give you a brief overview of his writings and describe their place within the overall contents of the Bible. The Bible is really a book divided into two parts. The Old Testament is 39 different books preparing us for the coming of Jesus. The New Testament is 27 books telling us about the coming of Jesus and the beginnings of the Christian movement. Of those 27 books in the New Testament, Paul wrote 13 over a period of 15-plus years. He addressed them to at least seven different churches and two individual church leaders. Paul may also have written Hebrews. If so, he would be the author² of 14 books.

The majority of the New Testament falls into one of three categories:

1. Written by Paul

2. Written about Paul

3. Written by someone working closely with Paul.

In the book of Acts, which is a historical account of the Holy Spirit’s work in the early church, chapters 13-28 focus on the mission work of Paul. The human author of Acts is Luke, a medical doctor and the most prolific contributor to the New Testament in terms of an actual word count. Luke wrote his self-titled book (or Gospel) on the life of Christ and the book of Acts on the life of the first Christians. He was also Paul’s traveling companion. Luke was a friend and physician who stood by Paul through beatings, riots, and imprisonment.

If any doubt remains about the authority of Paul’s letters, proof can be found in a letter from the apostle Peter:

Our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15–17).

Today’s Reflection

How is God’s divine authorship reflected throughout the writings of the human authors of the Bible?

DAY 2

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —The Risen Jesus in Acts 22:7

Before Paul became the writer, preacher, and missionary we now know him to be, he led quite a different life. Paul was his Greek name, but his Hebrew name was Saul, after the Old Testament King. Saul was born in Tarsus in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) around 4 BC. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, and according to Jewish tradition, he was circumcised at eight days old. Saul grew up in Jerusalem and learned how to be a tentmaker. He also studied under the renowned rabbi Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3). Fluent in the languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and possibly Latin, Saul became a brilliant young Pharisee who was zealous for God (v. 3).

Saul was also a religious terrorist, much like terrorists we have seen in the Middle East in our own time. This man hated, despised, opposed, persecuted, and murdered Christians all under the authority of the Jewish religious leaders. In Acts 7, a mob of angry, violent men murdered Stephen, an early church leader, for the crime of loving and preaching Jesus. Verse 58 says, They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. Saul was not just an innocent bystander. Often, when a stoning occurred, participants would lay their coats at the feet of the first person who threw a stone to indicate their solidarity with him. Thus, Saul was an approving, emotionally and perhaps physically involved witness who approved of [Stephen’s] execution (Acts 8:1). The reign of Saul’s terror had only just begun.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison (Acts 8:1–2).

Imagine opening your door to find Saul standing there. He asks, Do you love Jesus? If you answered yes, then he would arrest you and haul you away to be beaten, imprisoned, and possibly murdered. We think the cost of following Jesus is high in our current culture, but the first Christians paid with their bodies and lives.

Saul did everything possible to crush the followers of Christ, including trying to make them blaspheme the name of Jesus. He even carried out his persecution in foreign cities (see Acts 26:11). Acts 9:1 says, Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Permission was granted. Now, only a divine intervention could stop Saul’s bloody rampage on the early church.

But on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered an unexpected visitor. This visitor would change the trajectory of Saul’s life in a mighty, eternal way.

Today’s Reflection

Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? If so, what happened?

DAY 3

Who are you, Lord? —Saul on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:5

Saul was on a mission: he was going to bring all the followers of Jesus from Damascus back to Jerusalem so they could be tortured into denying their Lord.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:3–5).

Jerusalem’s top religious terrorist was knocked to the ground and blinded by the Light of the world. Jesus had come to deal with Saul personally. In a way, this was an answer to the martyr Stephen’s final prayer, Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:6). When we forgive someone and pray for them, we have no way of knowing what Jesus might do next in that person’s life.

Jesus told Saul to go into Damascus and wait for further instructions. The traveling companions of the now blind man had to lead him by his hand into the city. They had heard a voice but did not see Jesus, so they must have been terribly confused.

In Damascus, Saul waited and fasted for three days. Then the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias and told him to go and pray for Saul. Ananias knew of Saul’s horrifying reputation, so he was very reluctant to obey. After all, couldn’t the blindness just be an evil trick to capture believers? Still, the Lord insisted: Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Ananias obeyed. Not only did he pray for Saul to regain his sight, but he also prayed for Saul to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he regained his sight (v. 18). Saul was then baptized in response to his conversion.

From this point forward, I will refer to Saul as Paul. His conversion is one of the greatest evidences in the history of the world that it doesn’t matter how mighty a man is—when he comes face-to-face with the Almighty, he loses. Stronger than any man is the God-Man, Jesus Christ. When He shows up, everything changes in an instant. This brilliant young Pharisee had to recognize how wrong he was. Then Paul bowed his knee and surrendered his will to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s Reflection

Has Jesus ever knocked you to the ground (metaphorically speaking)? Explain what happened.

DAY 4

You will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. —Ananias to Paul in Acts 22:15

Paul spent the first part of his life in comfort, ease, and luxury. He enjoyed dual citizenship as both a Jew and a Roman, which afforded him incredible freedom to travel. Paul had a world-class education, membership in the prestigious religious group known as the Pharisees, and respect as a powerful leader who was actually given legal authority to kill people in the name of God.

However, the trajectory of his life changed radically and instantly when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. After Ananias baptized him, Paul went away to Arabia (see Galatians 1:17) and then returned to Damascus to share his faith. Acts 9:20 says, He proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying ‘He is the Son of God.’ I imagine the people of Damascus were shocked. They probably thought, Isn’t this that radical Pharisee who hates followers of Jesus? What in the world is he doing? This must be a trick!

But Paul’s words were no trick, and his conversion was no deception. Soon, this former Pharisee’s faith was put to the test. He discovered a plot against his life concocted by the same Jewish leaders he had partnered with before salvation to hunt down Christians. Paul escaped Damascus and returned to Jerusalem. When he arrived, the disciples there were reasonably suspicious. After all, Paul was responsible for the torture, imprisonment, and death of some of their friends and family members.

A believer named Barnabas stepped up as a spokesman for Paul and shared Paul’s testimony with the apostles. Paul went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:28). Once again, the Jews tried to kill him, so the apostles sent him back to his birthplace, Tarsus. Paul spent the next eight years preaching in and around Tarsus, and then Barnabas came and found him and brought him to Antioch. Acts 11:26 tells us, In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Paul traded all the comforts of the world to serve Jesus Christ. He lost everything—his social status, his friends and family, and his safety and security. Paul may have even lost his wife to divorce. Leadership in the Pharisee party required marriage and after his conversion, there is no mention of Paul being married. In fact, he is emphatic that he is single, which may indicate that he was either a widower or that his devout Jewish wife divorced him upon his conversion. As a result, Paul lived most of his adult life like Jesus—a chaste, unmarried, and fatherless man fully devoted to ministry.

Today’s Reflection

What does it mean to you to be a witness for Jesus?

DAY 5

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. —Jesus in Matthew 28:19–20

After Paul had been in Antioch for a year, he went with Barnabas to deliver a relief offering to the believers in Jerusalem. This task helped greatly to build trust with the Jerusalem disciples, who had once been wary of the Pharisee-turned-preacher. Then Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch.

One day the Holy Spirit spoke to the church leaders at Antioch and said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2). (Remember, Saul was also called Paul.) The group fasted and prayed, and after laying hands on the two men, they sent them on their first missionary assignment to Cyprus and Galatia.

Over the next 10-plus years, Paul went on three long missionary journeys with various ministry partners and fellow believers. He may also have traveled to Spain on a separate trip. Now, if you enjoy traveling, you may envy the idea of such a life. But Scripture assures us that Paul’s life was not one of luxury or leisure. This missionary walked an average of 20 miles a day to preach a message hated by almost everyone. In many cities, Paul’s preaching so infuriated the Jews that they began to riot.

Paul often lacked the funds necessary for his basic needs and had to spend time working as a tentmaker (see Acts 18:1–3). The greater hardship, though, was the intense, relentless persecution. Paul made a list of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:24–28:

-He was whipped with 39 lashes five times.

-He was beaten three times.

-He was stoned one time.

-He was shipwrecked three times.

-He was arrested three times.

-He was imprisoned twice.

-He was frequently in danger from both Jews and Gentiles.

-He was often hungry, thirsty, cold, and tired.

-He was anxious for all the churches.

If Paul had a job description, it would be something like this: afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger (2 Corinthians 6:4–5).

Behind much of Paul’s suffering was demonic attack. Because of his God-given mission to bring the gospel to the nations and set captives free from Satan and sin, Paul was at the top of the enemy’s hit list. In Acts 19:15, an evil spirit spoke to some Jewish exorcists and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? Demons obviously knew who Jesus was, and they were well also aware that Paul was now His most devoted foot soldier, marching from nation to nation advancing the Kingdom of God. Paul accepted that part of his mission was to endure suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3). In the same letter to Timothy, Paul says, All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (3:12).

Why did Paul choose to endure such calamity? Theologian and Bible scholar Paul Barnett explains it well: For Paul his relationship with Christ and his work for him were inseparable. He regarded all that he did as ‘the work of the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15:58) that the risen Christ was doing ‘through’ his servant, Paul (Romans 15:18) … In short, to understand Paul’s achievements we need to appreciate his driving passion, which was that Christ loved him and seized him, and that he could never be separated from his love (Romans 8:35, 39), sinner though he was and persecutor though he had been.³

Today’s Reflection

What comforts of this world have you given up to serve Jesus?

DAY 6

Our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. —The Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:15

Many people want the message of Christianity to be like ordering a meal at a restaurant where the ingredients can be changed to suit the tastes of the individual diner. The strength of Paul’s preaching and writing is in how he presents the gospel of Jesus Christ like math—fixed, unchanging, and true whether we like it or not. God does not change, the human problem of sin does not change, and the divine solution of Jesus Christ also does not change. These truths explain why Paul was willing to suffer for the sake of the true gospel, refusing to present a more palatable, less offensive version to his listeners and readers.

Theologian and Bible scholar Paul Barnett calls Paul the first theologian in the early church, and arguably the greatest in the history of Christianity.⁴ This apostle had an incredible, impeccable mind. He studied under Gamaliel, the leading rabbi of the day. This training was the equivalent of studying at an Ivy League school and graduating at the top of the class. Paul was fluent in the Old Testament language of Hebrew, the New Testament languages of Greek, Aramaic, and possibly Latin. In his letters, he uses more than 100 Old Testament quotations in addition to innumerable echoes and summations of biblical themes and terms. This broad knowledge base was committed to memory, which proved important as Paul spent much of his ministry traveling on foot and writing from jail cells.

Early church father John Chrysostom wrote, Put the whole world on one side of the scale and you will see that the soul of Paul outweighs it.⁵ Paul’s thoughts are heavier, weightier, and deeper. Not everyone understood his letters. In 2 Peter 3:16, the apostle Peter admits, There are some things in them that are hard to understand. Now, Peter began as a fisherman, but he spent more than three years following Jesus and learning from Him. Peter was also one of the first followers of Christ to be filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. So, for Peter to essentially say, Paul is so much smarter than the rest of us, he must have trusted the wisdom given to [Paul] by God (2 Peter 3:15).

Martin Luther calls Paul the wisest man after Christ.⁶ Our world values intellect, but not wisdom. There are people who have more degrees than Fahrenheit, but if they don’t have the Spirit of God, then they do not possess real wisdom. If you don’t know what this looks like, then find a college, walk onto campus, and ask a professor a few questions. You can have a great education and no wisdom that comes from God. Paul was as highly educated as he could be, but more importantly, he had divine wisdom.

Today’s Reflection

Why do you think divine wisdom is more important than human knowledge?

DAY 7

At the heart of Romans we find a theology of love. —N. T. Wright

Written in approximately AD 57, the book of Romans is Paul’s letter to the Christian churches in Rome. While many churches were planted by the apostles, including those planted under Paul’s leadership to the Gentiles, no one is exactly sure who planted the first church in Rome. Luke says there were visitors from Rome (Acts 2:10) who were among those saved when Peter preached about Jesus on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The general consensus is that, most likely, some of the people who were from the city of Rome and present at Pentecost in Jerusalem became Christians and brought the message of Jesus with them upon their return home.

The Christians in Rome likely gathered as house churches (Romans 16:4–5). The size of their gatherings would have ranged from small to large, depending upon the size of the home or other building each group was able to secure. This practice was common for the first Christians.

The mention of Jews and Gentiles throughout the book of Romans indicates that both groups worshipped together as Christians. Furthermore, The leaders are people like Priscilla and Aquila, Aristobulus and Narcissus, whom Paul greets at the end of his letter (16:3–5, 10–11) … Paul mentions 26 people by name. Some are men and women converted through his ministry, others are people with whom he has been in prison and others are his friends or relatives. Some are well placed in society, while others have slave names. Nine of them are women and Paul especially values their care and hard work.⁷

The introduction in Romans is longer than any of Paul’s other letters, in large part because he had not yet been to Rome, though not for lack of trying, and he did not personally know the people. In this opening he starts with the following:

1. Introducing himself in relation to Jesus Christ

2. Commitment to the Old Testament having been fulfilled in relation to Jesus Christ

3. The saving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ

4. The obedience that Christians have to Jesus Christ

5. The mission to get the gospel of Jesus Christ out to the nations

6. How the love, grace, and peace of God the Father comes to us through Jesus Christ

Paul connects everything and everyone to Jesus Christ so that people can belong to Him, receive grace and peace through Him, and experience transformed lives in obedience to Him—all made possible through faith in Him.

Today’s Reflection

How do you think the believers in Rome felt to receive a letter from Paul?

DAY 8

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. —Paul in Romans 1:16–17

Paul’s letter to the Romans is widely considered his most towering theological work. This helps explain why it is listed first among Paul’s letters in the Bible, even though it was not written first. In this way, the order of Paul’s writings shows that Romans is of the first order.

Regarding Romans in comparison to the rest of Paul’s writings, D. G. Miller says, Some passages in his other writings may reach higher emotional heights or contain momentary flashes of deeper intuitive insight into the wonder of the gospel, or … set forth the cosmic grandeur of the gospel in more profound terms. In its totality, however, Romans stands alone in the massiveness of its thought and the power it has released in history through its testimony to the gospel as 'the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith' (1:16).⁸

Paul’s big idea in Romans is the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we will examine in our study of this majestic masterpiece, this includes:

1. God’s work for us—We are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by imputed righteousness.

2. God’s work in us—We are regenerated, or born again, by the power of the Holy Spirit by imparted righteousness.

3. God’s work through us—We live the Christian life as members of the Church doing ministry to serve the mission of God as the fruit of imputed and imparted righteousness.

After surveying a wide breadth of writings on Romans, one Bible commentary concludes, Commentators generally accept that Paul states his basic theme or thesis in Romans 1:16–17 and that all the letter’s other ideas and themes revolve around this center.⁹

Commenting on the big idea of Romans, theologian John Murray said, The epistle to the Romans is God’s Word. Its theme is the gospel of his grace, and the gospel bespeaks the marvels of his condescension and love. If we are not overwhelmed by the glory of that gospel and ushered into the holy of holies of God’s presence, we have missed the grand purpose of this sacred deposit.¹⁰

In Romans 15:14–33, Paul summarized his ministry to that point and outlined his missional strategy for the future. Paul was called of God to bring the gospel to non-Jews and had spent roughly 20 years evangelizing Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece (Achaia). He felt that his work there was largely completed. Paul’s hope was to travel to Rome to encourage the church there and raise financial and spiritual support so that he could then set up a new mission outpost in Spain. In Romans 15:23–24, Paul says, But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

Today’s Reflection

Why do you think it is it significant that Paul preached a gospel of grace?

DAY 9

The Epistle to the Romans is the cathedral of the Christian faith. —Swiss Bible Commentator F. L. Godet¹¹

The length and theological depth of Romans makes it virtually impossible to find any one singular theme for the entire letter. Since the days of the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther, many Protestant Bible commentators have emphasized Paul’s theme of justification by faith, which is one of the dominant themes but likely not the predominant theme.

After surveying the entire spectrum of theological interpretation on Romans, authors Derek R. Brown and E. Tod Twist have identified four themes that stand out among the many that can be identified:

1. The righteousness of God. The phrase righteousness of God occurs only eight times in Paul’s letter (see Romans 1:17; 3:5, 21, 22; and twice in 10:3). Theologians and Bible scholars have debated Paul’s meaning, but it is an important theme and central to his description of the gospel in Romans.

2. Unity of Jews and Gentiles. Paul advocates for Jews and Gentiles to be part of one family under God and makes both theological and practical arguments. He still sees Israel given priority in God’s plan for salvation: to the Jew first and also the Greek (Romans 1:16). Paul says salvation is available to any person who believes. Once they believe, God grafts them into the people of God along with Israel (see Romans 1:17; 11:11–24). Paul writes to the Roman churches to encourage both Jews and Gentiles to accept one another as part of God’s family (see Romans 14:1–15:13).

3. Christ as the Second Adam. Jesus is the head of the new humanity. As such, He is at the center of what God is doing to save humanity (see Romans 5:12–21; compare to 3:21–26).

4. The Holy Spirit dwells in believers. The Holy Spirit is at the center of Paul’s theological argument (chapters 1–11) and his exhortations (chapters 12–15). Paul sees the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers as the proof for two important theological truths:

-God has fulfilled His promises (see Ezekiel 11:19–20; 36:25–27; Joel 2:28–32; Jeremiah 31:31–33).

-God has adopted believers as His children (see Romans 5:5; 8:12–17).

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live moral lives by freeing them from the power of sin (Romans 8:2). He also enables them to obey God (Romans 8:4–16; 14:17; 15:13). The Spirit is always interceding for believers when they are weak (Romans 8:26–27).¹²

Unless you live in a dome, your home probably has four walls or sides. They hold up the whole structure, but each side is unique. Some have doors, some windows, and some may just be walls. For the believer, Romans is to be a bit like a home. We should live in it, learn about God, and love others as we experience the blessings of that house. Each of these four major themes in Romans stands like the sides of a home. As they stay connected, we enjoy the best possible home. If one exterior wall of your home is missing, then the building isn’t complete, and the structure may fail. Just like your home, each of these four sides or themes of Romans holds the entire letter together.

Today’s Reflection

What themes would make up a letter if it was written about your faith?

DAY 10

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1

At the risk of stating the obvious, the unifying center of the entire Bible is God. In fact, the very first line of Scripture says, In the beginning, God … (Genesis 1:1). If we want to understand anyone or anything, we must begin with God. He is ultimately the unifying center of history, theology, and the Bible. This same principle is true of Romans, as well as every other book of the Bible.

When instructing children about the Bible, we should not forget why we are teaching them in the first place. It’s great for them to hear about all the great heroes and even the terrible villains. But we should never forget that the Bible only has one Hero, and anyone else who does something heroic only stands in relationship to God working in the situation. Moses was a great deliverer, but God set the people free. Joshua was a great warrior, but God fought the battle. David was a great king, but only when he recognized God as the ultimate ruler. Follow that pattern, and children (and adults) will discover the main reason the Bible exists.

Bible commentator Leon Morris notes people often overlook that Romans is fundamentally a book about God. Morris believes that students of the letter often get caught up in the finer points of theology, such as the content of the gospel, what God has done to save us, or something else, but Paul is focused on God. In fact, Morris notes the word theos, or ‘God,’ occurs 153 times in Romans, which is about every 46 words. No other New Testament book, except the short epistles of 1 Peter and 1 John, contains so many incidences per word. Acts contains 166 mentions, which means God occurs about every 110 words. Luke has 110 occurrences, and 1 Corinthians has 105. Otherwise, no additional books contain over 100. For that reason, Morris says, [N]ot only does ‘God’ occur in Romans more frequently than in any other writing, it occurs more often than any other theme in that book. Morris cautions the use of statistics to study Romans, but God remains a major theme. Even when Paul writes about other topics, he still does so in relation to God.¹³

Today’s Reflection

Who or what is at the center of your spiritual world?

DAY 11

If a Bible student wishes to master any one book of the Bible, let it be Romans! An understanding of this book is a key to unlocking the entire Word of God. —Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe¹⁴

Keywords have become all the rage in our age of technology. In a web browser, keywords guide you to the right information as you try to make sense of the flood of data at your fingertips.

In the Bible, God the Holy Spirit has also chosen and placed some keywords to help us find our way. These shorthand tools explain or refer to complex theological truths. Understanding what these keywords mean, and what they don’t mean, help us learn the language of the Bible to understand what the authors of Scripture meant. Keywords also help us communicate with others about the bigger ideas of the Bible. What follows are three of the key words Paul uses in his letter to the Romans.

The Righteousness of God

In one survey of the landscape of Bible commentaries, the author noted that the phrase 'the righteousness of God' is one of the central theological ideas for Paul’s exposition of the gospel and his mission in Romans. The phrase occurs just eight times in Romans (see Romans 1:17; 3:5, 21, 22, 25, 26; and in 10:3 two times), though Paul frequently uses related terms and phrases throughout the letter. The interpretation of the phrase 'the righteousness of God' is complex and, at times, controversial since it carries significant theological weight for the doctrine of justification.¹⁵

The Gospel

In the ancient world, the Greek concept of evangelion (or the noun euangelion in Greek) simply referred to a good report of some good news. Often, this kind of report would be given by a king who would send a herald throughout the land to deliver the good news. Paul, however, uses this concept in Romans to refer to the Good News (gospel) from God as He sends out preachers from His Kingdom to herald it to the nations. Of all the New Testament writers, Paul uses the word translated gospel or Good News the most often (60 out of 75 instances, or 80 percent). Within the written Gospels themselves, euangelion only occurs 13 times. Luke–Acts, however, contains the related verb euangelizō over 25 times. Paul uses the same verb about 20 times.¹⁶

In Romans, Paul examines the gospel from several different angles. It is a fact that God has confirmed through Jesus, and to deny it is to deny reality. For Paul, the gospel isn’t an abstraction; it is salvation. Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the gospel [euangelion], for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16). So then, what is the gospel?

1. God working in history with Jesus Christ being the culmination of everything God is doing.

2. By its power, anyone who believes can be saved. ¹⁷

Faith

The concept of faith is a massive theme in Romans. The New Testament uses the Greek word pistis as the translation of various Old Testament Hebrew words, most often the word 'aman, which is usually rendered to be trustworthy or to trust. This kind of trust is frequently demonstrated through obedience and the acceptance of God’s ways. The most prominent ways the New Testament uses pistis involve the following:

1. The right disposition a person has toward God

2. The means by which God has a relationship with us

3. The content of our belief in God

4. The way we live out faith in our attitudes, relationships, conduct, and beliefs

Paul uses the concept of faith in all four ways in his letter to the Romans."¹⁸

Today’s Reflection

In your own words, how would you explain these three keywords to someone who is not yet saved?

DAY 12

If we have gained a true understanding of this Epistle, we have an open door to all the most profound treasures of Scripture. —John Calvin¹⁹

In addition to Paul’s major key words in Romans, author Andrew Knowles lists the following additional key words or gems from Romans:

-Sin . All have sinned. There are no exceptions (3:23).

-Righteousness . Jesus Christ is the only way we can be put right with God. He stands apart from the law. People can only be saved by faith alone because of God’s grace (3:21–22).

-The Jews . Christianity is rooted in the Jewish experience with God. We depend on that experience for our understanding. God has not discarded the Jewish people, and they remain central to His plan of salvation (9:1–11:36).

-Faith . Abraham is our example of faith. If we live by faith, it makes us Abraham’s true children (4:17, 20–21).

-One Another . Our position as accepted in Christ enables us to accept one another. There is no longer any place for prejudice or spiritual one-upmanship (15:7).

-Human Government . God has established and gives authority to human rulers, although His authority is always higher (13:1).

-Our Spiritual Struggle . Every Christian has an internal conflict, but the Holy Spirit is there to aid us in our weakness (7:18; 8:26).

-God’s Choice . God chooses or elects to save entire nations, and not just individuals. It does not depend on anyone’s effort, but on God’s mercy alone. (9:16, 25). ²⁰

Today’s Reflection

Which gems stand out most to you as you consider your own spiritual journey?

DAY 13

These men … have turned the world upside down. – A mob rioting against Paul in Acts 17:6

The early church father and legendary preacher John Chrysostom had Paul’s letter to the Romans read to him multiple times a week. In his sermons from Romans, Chrysostom says, As I keep hearing the Epistles of the blessed Paul read, and that twice every week, and often three or four times, whenever we are celebrating the memorials of the holy martyrs, gladly do I enjoy the spiritual trumpet, and get roused and warmed with desire at recognizing the voice so dear to me, and seem to fancy him all but present to my sight, and behold him conversing with me. But I grieve and am pained, that all people do not know this man, as much as they ought to know him; but some are so far ignorant of him.²¹

Others have recognized the deep effect of Romans:

·The famous English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge said Romans was the profoundest book in existence.

·The great reformer Philip Melanchthon copied Romans twice by hand just to get more thoroughly acquainted with it.

·Anglican cleric W. H. Griffith Thomas said that Romans is concerned with the deepest problems of Christian thought, great theological principles, and the prime secrets of the spiritual life. He then adds: A Christian life nourished on the Epistle to the Romans will never lack the three great requisites of clear perception, strong conviction, and definite usefulness. ²²

Not only has Romans impacted the history of the Church, but it can also impact the history of your life. Warren Wiersbe says in the introduction to his commentary on Romans, Imagine! You and I can read and study the same inspired letter that brought life and power to Luther and Wesley! And the same Holy Spirit who taught them can teach us! You and I can experience revival in our hearts, homes, and churches if the message of this letter grips us as it has gripped men of faith in centuries past.²³

Today’s Reflection

What effect has Paul’s writing had on your spiritual journey?

DAY 14

Every great spiritual revival in the church will be connected as effect and cause with a deeper understanding of this book. — Swiss Protestant theologian Frédéric Louis Godet²⁴

In any given sports league, an all-star team is comprised of the very best players from the various teams. Throughout Christian history, we have our own teams, such as Calvinists and Arminians. Our version of an all-star team would include the best theologians and leaders from various teams and traditions. We would choose Augustine (often considered the father of what we know as Calvinism today), Luther (the father of Lutheranism), and Wesley (the father of Arminianism along with both Charismatics and Pentecostals). I have oversimplified the breadth of Church history, but I want you to know there is variety in the Christian community. What each of these teams has in common is a profound, life-changing experience with the Holy Spirit through the book of Romans.²⁵

The church father Augustine was born in North Africa. He talks openly in his book Confessions about being torn between Christianity and his love of the common false trinity for young men—loud parties, beautiful women, and stiff drinks. In the summer of AD 386, after hearing a child next door say, Pick it up, read it, Augustine picked up a copy of Romans owned by a friend. Augustine began to read at random Romans 13:13–14, which says, Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Like a sniper shot from heaven, the Holy Spirit hit Augustine right in the soul. He testifies, A light flooded my heart and all the darkness of doubt vanished away (Augustine, Confessions, 8:29).²⁶

Augustine grew to become one of Church history’s most influential theologians. His works help form the foundations of Christian theology to this day. Commenting on Romans, Augustine says, Paul … fights zealously and fiercely on behalf of this grace of God, against the proud and arrogant who presume upon their own works … Truly then is he clear and eager above all in the defense of grace … And in the letter to the Romans he is concerned almost solely with this very matter; fighting with such numerous arguments as to weary the reader’s will to follow: yet such weariness is beneficial and salutary, training rather than weakening the various aspects of the inner person.²⁷

Today’s Reflection

When did God’s light first flood your heart?

DAY 15

It is safe to say that Romans is probably the most powerful human document ever written. —Ray Stedman²⁸

Roughly a millennium after Augustine, around the fall of 1515, the Holy Spirit once again sent a sniper shot into a man’s soul from heaven with a verse from Romans. Martin Luther is widely known as one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. Among the most important people to walk the earth, he lived from 1483 to 1546 as a contemporary of the first printing press with movable type, Copernicus, Henry VIII, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Christopher Columbus, and John Calvin. A copper miner’s son, Luther was born in Germany some 120 miles outside Berlin.

After a powerful encounter with God in which he was nearly struck by lightning, Luther became a priest and monk, which included taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for the rest of his life. Trained as a lawyer, Luther lived an emotionally tormented life. Constantly judging his life by the demands of God’s laws in the Bible with a brutal honesty and brilliant legal mind, he drove himself nearly insane by seeking to make himself righteous in God’s sight, even while possessing a terrifying fear of God. He engaged in endless prayer, severe fasting that gave him significant intestinal problems, sleepless nights, freezing cold, and even beating his own body in an effort to atone for his sin.

But by the grace of God, Luther had an epiphany that changed not only his life but also the lives of countless others. While he was a professor of theology in Germany at the University of Wittenberg, he was teaching on Paul’s letter to the Romans, and he had a Holy Spirit revelation in Scripture that changed the world: 'I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.' This new understanding of this one verse—Romans 1:17— changed everything; it became in a real sense the doorway to the Reformation. 'Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise,' says Luther (Latin Writings, 336–337).²⁹

Luther learned that righteousness is a gift God gives by grace and faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something that can be earned or merited through human religious and moral performance. In shorthand, theologians call this great doctrine justification by faith.

Over 200 years later, this time in London, the Holy Spirit would send yet another sniper shot from Romans to the soul of Anglican pastor John Wesley. He was attending a meeting for worship and study at Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738. Part of Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans was read aloud. Wesley remembers, He was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ. I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken my sins away, even mine; and saved me from the law of sin and death (John Wesley, Works (1872), volume 1).³⁰

Wesley went on to lead a great spiritual revival in England based upon the life of the Spirit imparted to him, and Luther, through Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Today’s Reflection

As you consider these great movements in Christian history, how have Paul’s writings transformed your faith?

DAY 16

Christianity has been the most powerful, transforming force in human history—and the book of Romans is the most basic, most comprehensive statement of true Christianity. —James Montgomery Boice³¹

In Christian history, Romans has been held in the highest esteem. In more recent years, the praise of Romans has continued. Here are some examples: ³²

·Philip Schaff: The Epistle to the Romans is the Epistle of the Epistles, as the Gospel of John is the Gospel of the Gospels.

·Henry C. Thiessen: This is in every sense the greatest of the Epistles of Paul, if not the greatest book in the New Testament.

·William R. Newell: [Romans is] probably the greatest book in the Bible.

·Barclay M. Newman and Eugene A. Nida: If the apostle Paul had written nothing else, he would still be recognized as one of the outstanding Christian thinkers of all time on the basis of this letter alone.

·Frédéric Louis Godet: The pious Sailer used to say, ‘O Christianity, had thy one work been to produce a St. Paul, that alone would have rendered thee dear to the coldest reason.’ May we not be permitted to add: And thou, O St. Paul, had thy one work been to compose an Epistle to the Romans, that alone would have rendered thee dear to every sound reason.

·Richard A. Batey: Paul’s epistle to the Romans stands among the most important pieces of literature in the intellectual history of Western man.

Of all the great Christian leaders influenced by Romans, John Bunyan studied the letter while being held in the Bedford jail. Romans so inspired him that he felt compelled to write the now legendary Puritan book Pilgrim’s Progress.

One Bible dictionary summarizes Romans’ place in Christian history saying, The Epistle to the Romans has also contributed significantly to the history of Christian doctrine. Almost every influential Christian thinker has dealt with Romans. Origen, Thomas Aquinas, and Philip Melanchthon, to mention only a few, wrote noteworthy commentaries on Romans. And numerous theological notions have been derived solely or in part from Romans. Augustine acquired his idea of original sin from Romans 5, Luther gained his understanding of justification by faith alone from Romans 3–4, John Calvin obtained his doctrine of double predestination from Romans 9–11, John Wesley got his distinctive teaching on sanctification from Romans 6 and 8, and Karl Barth learned of the importance of the righteousness of God from Romans 1 and 2. In short, this epistle has exerted a powerful influence on all branches of the Christian Church, and its impact on the lives and thought of prominent Christian thinkers through the years has been second, perhaps, only to the canonical gospels.³³

Today’s Reflection

What impact did Romans have on you prior to salvation? What about after salvation?

DAY 17

Paul’s letter to the Romans is regarded not only as his most significant writing, but as one of the most important writings in the history of the Christian faith. —Derek R. Brown and E. Tod Twist³⁴

Trends and fads dominate culture and history. In everything from music to media to fashion, what is popular today is old news tomorrow. In comparison, Paul’s letter to the Romans has been a favorite in every generation for nearly two millennia.

Endless commentaries, essays, and books have been dedicated to the study of Romans. One commentator notes that the trajectory of Christian theology can be traced to the interpretation of Romans. According to John Stott, every generation of the Church has recognized the letter’s importance, but that sentiment also applies to every major theologian throughout history.³⁵

The impact of Romans stretches far beyond Christianity, transforming entire cultures. Stanley K. Stowers writes that it has influenced the Western culture and psyche [m]ore than any other book.³⁶ Gordon Fee says, This letter is arguably the most influential book in Christian history, perhaps in the history of Western civilization.³⁷

Within the history of Christian theology, Catholic and Protestant theologians have faced off over the battleground of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Catholic Bible commentator Brendan Byrne rightly said, While widely acknowledged as the single most influential document in Christian history, it has also been the most controversial...At the time of the Reformation, the letter became a battleground within Christianity between Protestant and Catholic understandings of the faith.³⁸ Protestant Bible commentator Leon Morris notes, The Reformation may be regarded as the unleashing of new spiritual life as a result of a renewed understanding of the teaching of Romans.³⁹ For Protestant Christians, Paul’s letters to the Romans and Galatians serve as perhaps the most significant sources of theological clarity for teaching on what the gospel of Jesus Christ is and is not, respectively.

The early church father Chrysostom said of Paul’s writings, Like a wall of adamant, his writings form a bulwark around all the churches of the world, while himself, as some mighty champion stands even now in the midst, casting down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.⁴⁰

Today’s Reflection

Do you believe Scripture is relevant in today’s world? Why or why not?

DAY 18

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. —The Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:15–16

In recent years, Christian theologians have continued mining Paul’s letter to the Romans for even more gold. R. C. Sproul said, No book has had such a powerful impact on my life as the book of Romans.⁴¹

John Stott wrote, Paul’s letter to the Romans is a kind of Christian manifesto.⁴² Charles Swindoll says in his commentary on Romans, Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome can be called many things. Clearly, this became his magnum opus. It is the first systematic theology of the Christian faith. This letter may be considered the believer’s constitution—the Christian Magna Carta. We might even call it a manifesto of the new kingdom, for it not only declares our essential beliefs, it establishes our agenda as Christ’s disciples.⁴³

Leading contemporary Bible scholar N. T. Wright says, Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome is his masterpiece. It covers many different topics from many different angles, bringing them all together into a fast-moving and compelling line of thought. Reading it sometimes feels like being swept along in a small boat on a swirling, bubbling river. We need to hold on tight if we’re going to stay on board. But if we do, the energy and excitement of it all is unbeatable.⁴⁴

In the introduction to his commentary on Romans, Grant Osborne writes, Paul’s letter to the Romans is clearly the deepest theological treatise in the New Testament, indeed of Scripture as a whole. It was written by one of the great geniuses of the early church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Who am I to try to unpack such a work, perhaps the greatest of history?⁴⁵

In his commentary on Romans, James Montgomery Boice says, We cling to man-centered, need-oriented teaching. And our churches show it! They are successful in worldly terms—big buildings, big budgets, big everything—but they suffer from a poverty of soul. All this means, in my judgment at least, that it is time to get back to the basic, life-transforming doctrines of Christianity—which is to say that it is time to rediscover Romans.⁴⁶

I cannot stress enough the significance of Romans for its role in Church history, Western culture, and personal piety. As you study this book, remember you are reading words that have changed the world. They will likewise transform you even more into the image of God.

Today’s Reflection

When you reflect on your relationship with the Lord, what role does Scripture play?

Romans 1:1-17

Lost & Found

Romans 1:1-7

Lost and Found: Finding God's Peace

DAY 19

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. —Romans 1:1, emphasis added

In the first sentence of his letter to the Romans, Paul introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Servitude is not a revered position in today’s world, but it is a noble and distinguished role in the Kingdom of God. As believers, we must live Kingdom-down, not culture-up. Our King Jesus is a servant king, so when Paul declares himself to be a servant, he is assuming the same posture as Jesus.

A servant has two main tasks:

·lift burdens

·give blessings

Jesus lifts our burdens and gives us blessings, and then He invites us to serve others by lifting their burdens and giving them blessings.

Jesus’ disciples regularly argued over the question Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (see Matthew 18:1–4, Mark 9:33–37). The disciples should have easily been able to answer this question. They should have had a suitable answer because they were in front of a man who could walk on water, feed crowds with a little boy’s lunch, and cast demons out of people. Still, the disciples did not seem to understand the deeper meaning of what Jesus was teaching. One day James and John even had the audacity to ask Jesus if they could sit at His right and left hands in His Kingdom. In other words, they wanted to be the greatest among all the disciples. How did Jesus reply?

Whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:43–45).

Jesus left His throne in heaven and came to earth to be like us and to serve us. He lived His life without any sin on the earth to serve us. Jesus went to the cross, suffered, and died in our place to serve us. He experienced the wrath of God to serve us. Then Jesus rose from death and conquered Satan, sin, and death to serve us. He ascended into heaven, but He is still serving us today. Jesus is answering prayers. He is lifting burdens. Jesus is providing blessings. He is altering destinies. That same Jesus is still serving. He is the greatest in the Kingdom because He is the servant of all.

Do you want to be like Jesus? There are three requirements for you to be a servant in the Kingdom of God:

1. Allow Jesus to serve you. Before Jesus calls you to serve anyone else, He serves you.

2. Accept Jesus as your Lord.

3. Ask Jesus, Who do you want me to serve, and how can I serve them?

Today’s Reflection

What does it mean to you to be a servant of Jesus Christ?

DAY 20

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. —Romans 1:1, emphasis added

In contemporary culture, being a servant is a role to avoid rather than one to which we would aspire. We delegate tasks or hire people to do things to serve us. Those individuals who work in the service industry will also tell you how poorly people treat them as they try to serve others. As a general rule, the goal for most people is to make enough money and have enough power so others serve them, and they will not have to serve others.

Standing in stark contrast to our culture is God’s Kingdom. If the Godhead could be seen as an organizational chart, then our King, Jesus Christ, was at the top for all eternity being served by angels when He humbled Himself and chose to come to earth to serve us. He sets a countercultural example for us. No matter what your position or responsibility might be at home, work, or school, your role as servant is unchanging no matter what else might transpire, because your King is the chief servant. Paul models this attitude by naming both his calling as an apostle and his role as a servant.

In relation to God, as servants, Christians must seek God’s will and devote themselves to serving it even over their own lives. Life is filled with pains and problems, which means we need a purpose over our lives that is bigger than any pain or problem. For Christians, the purpose of our lives is to find and fulfill the will of God so our pains and problems can be seen in the light of fulfilling His purpose.

In relation to others, a servant lifts burdens and replaces them with blessings. This great task is exactly the example Jesus set for us—He lived to serve the Father’s will and lift our burden of sin. He then replaced that crushing burden with His blessing of salvation.

All of us live on a continuum that stretches from selfish to servant. The more we seek by God’s grace to live as servants, the better our relationships will become. In fact, three kinds of relationships exist:

1. Selfish + Selfish = a brutal relationship. It’s a war. I’m going to win. No, I’m going to win. You’re going to lose. No, you’re going to lose.

2. Selfish + Servant = an abusive relationship. I give; you take. I win; you lose.

3. Servant + Servant = a beautiful relationship.

You can never hope to be like Jesus if you’re unwilling to serve. In fact, serving is the best thing for you. Yes, your life will have problems and pains, so what you need over your life is a purpose that is greater than any problem or pain. That greater purpose is to serve your Lord Jesus Christ. Your role as servant will never change even if your responsibilities change. Whether you’re single, married, or divorced; whether you’re a parent with young children or an empty nester; whether you are employed or unemployed; whether you’re going up the corporate ladder or at the very bottom, you are still called to serve. Your responsibilities may change, but your role as a servant never will. That is the testimony of Paul.

Today’s Reflection

Why do you think being like Jesus requires you to be a servant?

DAY 21

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle. —Romans 1:1, emphasis added

In addition to introducing himself as a servant, Paul immediately identifies his calling as an apostle. This title is derived from the Greek noun apostolos, which means ‘a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.’⁴⁷ While the Bible does not list the explicit requirements for apostleship, the title is most often applied to the disciples who witnessed the Resurrected Christ and were sent by Him to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the nations. Paul was not present with this original group of witnesses, but he did encounter the Risen Lord on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9; 22). In Galatians 1:1, Paul introduces himself as Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. Paul clearly sees his appointment to apostleship as a divine mandate, and he refers to himself as an apostle in 10 of his letters.⁴⁸

The Lord told Ananias that Paul is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel (Acts 9:15). This assignment was particularly unique because the early church consisted primarily of Jews who preached to other Jews. Jewish law forbade close contact (such as eating) with Gentiles (non-Jews), and in his pre-conversion life, Paul had been as righteousness under the law, blameless (Philippians 3:6). To become not only an apostle but an apostle to the Gentiles required a radical change of his mind and heart.

Martin Luther wrote, "We should rejoice and take comfort and also