THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 1, Introduction Today we embark on a study of the New Testament Book of Romans. We’re going to have quite the dialogue about this exquisite work of the Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) because it has more to do with shaping the Christian faith as we know…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 2, Intro continued and Chapter 1 We’ll continue today with our introduction (I prefer to think of it as our preparation) for the Book of Romans. Last time we talked a great deal about Paul and that in order to understand what he means by…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 3, Chapter 1 cont. The subject matter of the Book of Romans necessarily lends itself to much interpretation, application, and preaching. We won’t be shying away from any of it, so here we go. Last week we dealt with the opening words of Romans chapter…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 4, Chapter 1 continued 2 While we won’t spend as long in every chapter, chapter 1 of Romans has so many important terms and God-principles in it that it is necessary to go slow and to carefully clarify these terms and flesh out these principles.…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 5, chapter 1 conclusion We have spent an inordinate amount of time in chapter 1 of Romans, but today we’ll conclude it. In some ways today might be the most emotionally and culturally challenging of the several lessons we’ve had on this chapter because Paul,…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 6, Chapter 2 In Bible study, context is everything. So before we open Chapter 2 of Romans, let me say something that I should have said (a few times, probably) about Chapter 1. Chapter 1 was primarily (but not exclusively) speaking to gentiles. It was…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 7, Chapter 2 continued Put those thinking caps on today, it is going to be challenging. The things that often get glossed over in Romans we’re going to attack with gusto! In Romans chapter 2 the role of the Law (or as the CJB prefers…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 8, Chapters 2 and 3 If you think that after going through the mind twistingly difficult words of Paul in Romans 2 last week, that it is going to get easier this week, think again. Part of what makes this so challenging for us is…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 9, Chapter 3 We barely got started on Romans chapter 3 last time, and this week we’ll continue it. Before we re-read Romans 3 I want you to keep in mind that what Paul is doing (at least for the first few verses of Romans…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 10, Chapters 3 and 4 I’m not sure that more beautiful, soaring, hope-inspiring words have been written in the Bible than what we read in Romans 3:24: CJB Romans 3:24 By God’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 11, Chapter 4 As we saw to begin Romans chapter 4 last week, Paul is essentially offering a Midrash (an interpretive discussion) of Genesis 15:6 to bolster his case that the Gospel saves both Jews and gentiles under exactly the same terms. This Genesis passage…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 12, Chapter 5 As we study Romans Chapter 5 today we should pause to remember just who Paul is addressing his thoughts to: it is to the gentile and Jewish Believers living in the capital city of the Roman Empire: Rome. To put a finer…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 13, Chapter 5 continued As we return to Romans chapter 5 we had just finished learning of Paul’s approach to explaining how the Gospel works by a comparison he is making between Adam and Yeshua. In verse 12 Paul stated this: CJB Romans 5:12 Here…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 14, Chapter 6 Romans chapter 5 verse 20 said this: And the Torah came into the picture so that the offence would proliferate; but where sin proliferated, grace proliferated even more. (Rom 5:20 CJB) . Or in plain English, Paul is saying that the Law…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 15, Chapters 6 and 7 We are going to spend considerable time today defining terms and words that have become common in our Christian-eze vocabularies; but we either don’t actually have a definite understanding of those words and terms in our minds, or we take…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 16, chapter 7 We’re going to walk our way very thoughtfully through Romans chapter 7, which many theologians consider as perhaps the most important chapter in the entire New Testament as pertains to Christian doctrine. So let’s continue with Romans chapter 7 by having a…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 17, Chapter 8 We have reached the (more or less) halfway point in the Book of Romans as we enter chapter 8. So it is fitting that the first word of chapter 8 is “therefore”. “Therefore” is a word that indicates that what follows is…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 18, Chapter 8 continued We’ll continue to work our way through Romans chapter 8 today and I’ll tell you in advance that we’ll be knee deep in some important theology. Since chapter 8 sums up what Paul has been teaching and presents the conclusion to…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 19, Chapter 8 cont. 2 Last week in Romans chapter 8 we concluded by discussing the status of Believers before God during our lifetimes. We also discussed that Yeshua (as recorded in Matthew 5) explained how He will determine our status in the future during…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 20, Chapter 9 I’ll keep reminding you that even though we are moving today from Romans chapter 8 to chapter 9, Paul certainly was not thinking in terms of “chapters”. The chapters were put there over a millennia after Paul’s day as an honest attempt…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 21, Chapter 9 continued One of the great theological questions within Christianity is: why did God judge only some of Israel, and not all, as being part of His “true” Israel? Or even more basic: what is “true” Israel (to use Paul’s terminology) as contrasted…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 22, Chapters 9 and 10 Last week we concluded by reading Hosea chapter 2, which is the proof text that Paul used in Romans 9:25 and 26 to help to explain how it is that on the one hand Israel is (and remains) God’s elect,…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 23, Chapter 10 Paul opened Romans chapter 10 by saying this: CJB Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s deepest desire and my prayer to God for Isra’el is for their salvation; 2 for I can testify to their zeal for God. But it is not based…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 24, Chapter 10 continued Sometimes it is important to pause and take in the panoramic view of the landscape that we have wandered by much too quickly. So as we all take a deep breath, it is my fervent hope that by now in our…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 25, Chapters 10 and 11 We’ll complete Romans chapter 10 and get started on chapter 11 today. When we left off, Paul’s straw man had just asked a series of 4 questions. These questions are in the form of objections to what Paul has been…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 26, Chapter 11 Perhaps the most perplexing tradition in the history of Christianity to try and understand is why the majority of the Church sincerely believes that God has rejected Israel as His chosen people and replaced them with gentile Christians. From a biblical standpoint…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 27, Chapter 11 continued Every now and then a lesson comes along that compels me to preach as much as I teach; this is one of those. Paul has spent the first 12 verses of Romans chapter 11 summarizing some significant theological principles he has…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 28, chapter 11 conclusion As we begin with verse 25 of Romans chapter 11, it is quite clear that Paul has a troubling concern on his mind. It is that gentiles may misunderstand, even exaggerate, their place in the Kingdom of God because of their…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 29, Chapter 12 Romans chapter 12 is one of those that has a bit more depth to it than a casual read of it might suggest. So we’re going to get a little technical today to add some background to what it is we will…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 30, Chapter 12 continued The final part of last week’s lesson regarded gifts of specific aptitudes and abilities given to each Believer by God; these are better known in Christian circles as spiritual gifts. They were: prophecy, serving, teaching, counseling, giving, leading, and doing acts…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 31, Chapter 13 If there was a single overarching theme for Paul in Romans chapter 12 it had to be that Believers should not retaliate when wronged nor seek revenge when insulted and offended. To be clear this by no means is speaking about Believers…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 32, Chapter 14 Romans chapter 14 requires some explanation before we read this most challenging chapter. We’ve spent significant time over the years talking about context as regards studying God’s Word; and never has context in its broadest sense been more important than in interpreting…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 33, Chapters 14 and 1 In Romans chapter 14 we again encountered an issue that simply will not go away: the issue of kosher eating. Thus in verse 14 of chapter 14 we read this: CJB Romans 14:14 I know- that is, I have been…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 34, Chapter 15 As we continue moving towards the conclusion of our study of Romans and undertake chapter 15, it is helpful to notice that Paul’s instructions to the Believers of Rome shift and become more general in nature. Up to this point, all through…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 35, Chapter 15 continued I want to begin today by giving you a thought-provoking tidbit of history about the Book of Romans that you need to carefully weigh. This information reveals something about the book itself but perhaps even more about the uneven history of…

THE BOOK OF ROMANS Lesson 36, Chapter 16 END The early Church Father Chrysostom of the early 5 th century said this about Romans chapter 16: “I think there are many, even some apparently good commentators, who hurry over this part of the epistle because they think it is superfluous…