NEW TESTAMENT
ROMANS SECOND PART
What is the book of Romans about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.
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Who Wrote the Book of Romans?
The Book of Romans in the New Testament was written by the apostle Paul.
Context:
Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, a diverse city with various religious practices and cultural influences. The early Christian community in Rome faced challenges of unity and doctrinal understanding, which Paul addresses in his letter. The Book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul around AD 57-58.
Curiosities of the Book of Romans:
Literary Styles:
The Book of Romans is primarily written in an epistolary style, meaning it is structured as a letter.
Key Themes:
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Righteousness: Paul explores God's righteousness and how it relates to human sin and salvation through faith in Christ.
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Unity: He stresses the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, despite their cultural and religious differences.
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God's Faithfulness: Paul discusses God's faithfulness to Israel and His plan to include Gentiles in His covenant through Christ.
Structure:
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Introduction and Thesis (Romans 1:1-17): Paul introduces himself, his desire to visit Rome, and his thesis—the gospel is the power of God for salvation.
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Sin and Salvation (Romans 1:18-8:39): Paul addresses human sinfulness and the need for justification through faith in Jesus Christ.
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God's Plan for Israel and Gentiles (Romans 9-11): He explains God's plan for Israel's salvation and the inclusion of Gentiles in the covenant.
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Christian Living (Romans 12-16): Paul gives practical instructions for Christian living and concludes with personal remarks and greetings.
We explore the second half of Paul's letter to the Romans, where he emphasizes the fulfillment of promises from the Hebrew Bible and unity in Jesus.
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Reflect:
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What was the point of the 613 commands given through Moses? (Video 2:31-3:41)
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In your own words, how would you summarize what Jesus did to rescue and renew humanity? (Video 3:42-4:30)
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What is one practical way Paul encourages Jesus’ followers to live in God’s renewed, multi-ethnic family? (Video 6:59-8:28, or view Romans 12-15).
Go Deeper:
Humanity’s failure to trust God’s wisdom brings despair and division into creation. Paul’s letter to the Romans shows that the damage we cause by our failure cannot be remedied by law, rules, or rituals. While the Law is good, it cannot bring life; only Jesus can transform hearts and reverse creation’s downward spiral. So how does he bring this hope? Jesus invites everyone, Jew and non-Jew, into his renewed multi-ethnic family. Those who accept his invitation are empowered by the Spirit to live in his love and forgiveness. As God’s family learns to live together with God’s others-centered mindset, his mission to bring life and peace expands to renew all of creation. Let’s explore this in more depth together.
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Read: Romans 8:1-6 | Romans 8:14-21
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Compare Romans 8:5-6 What do these passages have in common?
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After observing the above passages, what is one practical way to set our minds on the Spirit? How does this move us into real life and peace within God's family?
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How does Paul describe life in the family of God in Romans 8:14-18? How does it compare to our lives before adoption into the family of God?
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How does Paul describe the hope and future of creation in Romans 8:18-21.
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Take some time now to pray and acknowledge the ways we struggle to share a humble and loving mindset in God’s renewed family. The Spirit rescues us from the despair and tension that harms our world, so let’s express our gratitude while we ask for his help to live in peace together.
Jesus created a new covenant family:
Since the garden, humans have repeatedly chosen sin and rebellion over living by God’s wisdom. God’s covenants with his human partners were imperfect, and humans failed to be faithful to the agreement. But Jesus established a new covenant that is open to all people, Jew and Gentile, creating a multiethnic family of God where self-giving love and forgiveness are at the center of everything.
The Gospel Explained:
The book of Romans is a detailed explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the church in Rome. See how Paul lays out the surprising message of Jesus' new covenant in this carefully crafted letter.
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