Narrator: Phoebe
Primary Scriptures: Romans 9-16
Story Summary: Paul’s letter to the churches in Rome Location: Roman Empire; Italy; Rome
Time:
AD 30 Jesus crucified and resurrected; Pentecost; Holy Spirit arrives
AD 48 Paul’s “famine visit” to Jerusalem; First Missionary Journey starts
AD 50 Council at Jerusalem; Start of Second Missionary Journey.
AD 53 Start of Third Missionary Journey
AD 57 Paul writes Romans while in Corinth
Suggested Memory Scriptures: Romans 9:18; 10:17; 11:6, 29; 12:1-2, 9-12,17-18, 21; 13:1, 14; 14:12, 17-18
Some of the New Testament’s most challenging verses to understand are found in Romans. Romans 9:10-26 address Paul’s thoughts on why God makes some of the choices He makes. This glimpse of God’s thoughts provides Christians with some of their most important information about God’s will, mercy, and justice.
Paul continues teaching on these subjects as he talks about the people of Israel and how that tradition affects the ability of the Gentiles to be saved. Verses such as Romans 11:29 continue to give us a glimpse into God’s mind.
Since all Scripture is God-breathed, it is a bit presumptuous to rate some Scriptures above others. But it is fair to say Romans 12 rates alongside 1 Corinthians 13 as two of the most influential chapters in Paul’s letters. Thinking of Romans 12 as a very meaty, theological sandwich, these are the two “bread” verses: “I beg you by the mercy of God, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service,” and “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
In modern times, there is nothing quite as contentious as politics. If everybody paid attention to Romans 13:1-6, there would be a lot less rancor and despair.
Sometimes it is tempting to judge non-Christians by the same standards as Christians. However, Romans 14 is a good example of Paul’s instructions about the ways Christians should treat each other, where he gives a very high but compassionate standard. Wanting everyone to understand the seriousness of the matter, he adds in Romans 14:12-13, “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore.”
While Romans is a book of instruction to Christians about behavior and belief, it’s always important to remember that a primary purpose of all Christians is to glorify God, as Paul so eloquently states in Romans 15:6.
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