“God has richly blessed those who have devoted themselves to the study of this book.”
R.C. Sproul
The book of Romans was written in approximately 57 A.D. by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome. It includes doctrine and duty, theology and practice, and understanding and application. It tells how God revealed His righteousness to the world and how Christ’s followers should live because of it.
Rome was the capital and most important city in the Roman Empire. It was the center of politics and government, and although it was filled with magnificent buildings, many of the Roman people lived in slums. Over one million people were living in Rome, and many of them were slaves.
First-century Rome was known to be filled with all kinds of decadence and immorality. It was heavily influenced by Greek mythology and the practice of emperor worship. Roman people were largely polytheistic, and most forms of worship were tolerated. That is, except for Christianity and Judaism.
When Paul wrote this letter, the Christians in Rome were facing persecution for their faith. They were different, and their differences bothered the polytheistic, “you do you” way of life that many in Rome were accustomed to. Despite these obstacles, the Church in Rome was growing, and Paul was eager to visit them. In the meantime, he sent this letter to cover the foundations of the Christian faith and to remind his brothers and sisters in Christ of the power of the gospel they proclaimed.
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.” – Romans 1:16-17 ESV
Why study the book of Romans?
As the world around us becomes more hostile to Biblical values, it’s not hard to place ourselves in the shoes of the Roman Christians. Many of us live in societies that are increasingly tolerant of just about anything except Christianity. People create their own version of “god” with little concern about His righteousness and holiness. And sadly, many professing “Christians” live lives that undermine the faith.
Romans is a clear and methodical presentation of Christian Doctrine and practical application. It reminds us of what we believe as Christians and shows us how to live it out in our daily lives. It reveals the basics of our faith — the holiness of God, the sinfulness of mankind, the mercy of God, and the sacrifice of Christ. It shows us that salvation is the beginning of a sanctification journey. The start of a new life with an eternal purpose.
Let’s study the book of Romans together!
“If we have gained an understanding of this Epistle, we have an open door to all the most profound treasures of Scripture.”
John Calvin
“This Epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and is truly the purest gospel…We can never read it or ponder over it too much; for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.”
Martin Luther
“The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.”
John MacArthur
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