No where in scripture is the gospel message more clearly outlined than in the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome. It was Paul’s desire to go to Rome. The church in Rome began after the preaching on the day of Pentecost, where Roman Jews were also present in Jerusalem. They heard the gospel message preached by Peter and had accepted Christ as Savior. However, they did not have a lot of training thereafter. Hence, they had blended some ideas of legalism, misconceptions regarding the Jewish nation, and other rituals. For that reason, Paul wrote to them the greatest exegesis of the gospel message found in scripture. Exegesis means a critical or rather detailed explanation of an idea or text.
Paul breaks it down into 4 major categories. The Righteous Wrath of God is outlined in Romans 1 through 3:20. This is followed by displaying the Grace of God from Romans 3:21 through chapter 8. Romans 9-11 are about the Sovereign Plan of God. And finally, the book of Romans ends with an exquisite exegesis concerning the Will of God.
The Greatest Exegesis of the Gospel Message Led to the Reformation Movement
It was the book of Romans that lead to Martin Luther leading the reformation movement. As a very devout German monk, he felt that he could never measure up to obtaining perfect righteousness on his own doing. He did everything and even spent hours in confession for every thought that entered his head. Indeed, he was miserable and depressed because of this. He spent hours studying his Bible. He went to Rome to seek guidance but found they had created another round of “indulgences” whereby people could purchase their way to heaven. Then one day as he read Romans, he suddenly really read this:
; 20 because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.
Justification by Faith
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
The Greatest Exegesis of the Gospel
This was the answer! Saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Our righteousness is not our own, but His. He imputes to us His righteousness, purchased by Him at the cross. Jesus Christ pays the price for us so that all who believe might be saved from the chains of sin. Purchased to never be enslaved again. God can justly justify us because the penalty was paid. The word propitiation is the same word used in the Old Testament to refer to the lid of the Ark of the Covenant where the blood was poured upon. The blood of Christ was poured out for us so that we might be declared righteous.
Chapters 1 to 3:20 spoke of a world that justly deserved only God’s wrath; but now, through grace we are saved. Martin Luther for the first time believed that Jesus Christ was the only way of salvation. That changed everything for him. He then began to stand up to the religious order of his day and proclaimed their heresies at risk of being himself killed.
The book of Romans so majestically declares the details of the gospel. Paul even raising and answering the objections which might be brought against his words. This was a style of writing that also helped to make this the greatest exegesis of the Gospel Message. It is one of the greatest expositions to guide us along the way.
Grace Explained
From 3:21 through to the end of chapter 8, Paul tells us of both the grace which saves us, and the Holy Spirits work in Sanctification. We are immediately declared as Saints in Christ, but at the same time we are being sanctified every day. One day our outside will look like the new creature we are in Christ. My heart will love like His and I will understand it all.
The Greatest Exegesis of Security in Salvation
In the 8th Chapter of Romans, the Holy Spirit is mentioned 15 times. He is the one to secure us, indwell us, transform us, and strengthen us. Also, He intervenes for us when we do not know what to pray. Pretty amazing!
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NKJV)
So, what if I cannot walk according to the Spirit? Am I doomed? But that is the beauty of our Savior, we cannot, so He does.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11
Our Hope in Him
For our hope is found in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. (written by Edward Mote)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8 (NKJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (NKJV)
The Greatest Exegesis of Our Security of Sanctification
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8 (NKJV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ….37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Greatest Exegesis of the Plan of God
Paul then in the next three chapters details how the plan of God allowed for the rejection by the Jews of His son without destroying His plan for them. It merely has allowed a time for the Gentiles to be brought in and grafted into the vine. We have not taken the place of the Jews—they remain His chosen nation and one day He will complete all His promises to them as well. That will be during the millennial reign of Christ. That will be at the end of the completion of the 70 weeks of years Daniel wrote of that are necessary “to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” Daniel 9:24.
Paul further describes how the failures of the Jewish nation opened to doors for the Gentile nation and the current church age. But we did not replace the Jews. We are the bride of Christ—they remain God the Father’s chosen nation to whom He made a covenant long ago with Abraham and He will complete that covenant.
He ends this section with:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11 (NKJV)
The Greatest Exegesis of the Will of God for our lives
The remainder of the book of Romans is an explanation of what is the will of God for our lives.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12 (NKJV)
He then goes on to say:
- Serve God with Your Spiritual Gifts
- Let Your Behavior Reflect Who You Are as a Christian (Do not be a hypocrite)
- Submit to the Government by Obeying the Laws
- Love Your Neighbor
- Be an Example of Christ to the World
- Be Kind and empathetic to each other- not offending those who are weaker in the faith
- Love One another
- Glorify God Together
Then it was years later, God gave Paul the chance to go to Rome. Albeit when he went it was because the Jews had accused him and wanted him killed. He appealed to Cesar and went via a boat which shipwrecked, got bitten by a snake, and went to Rome as a prisoner. There he was later beheaded by the Roman Government under Nero—it is believed.
Paul before setting out on this journey had said:
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20
Oh that we too would have that mindset.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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