Paul’s letter to the church in Rome provides us with one of the clearest and fullest explanations of the gospel in all of the Bible. Most of Paul’s letters were written to address some specific issues and problems. This letter does address some specific issues but Paul also uses the opportunity to set out the gospel he preached clearly and fully. It is best understood therefore by following its argument in sequence.

Chapters 1-5:  Justified by Faith in the Blood of Christ

Romans teaches us that everyone breaks God’s laws and so all are deserving of his anger and punishment. It also makes clear that God is concerned not just with the outward observance of the Law, but with the inner condition of our hearts. The purpose of the Law was simply to show us that we are all sinners, that there is a problem within the heart of all of us (Jew and Gentile). Also, the Law (both the Mosaic Law for the Jews and the inner law of the conscience for all people) stops us from having any excuses before God. We are all guilty.

God has therefore made a new way for us to be made right with himself – by faith in Christ. Based on what Jesus has done for us in dying on the cross, we are made right with God. All of us – Jew and Gentile – are made right in the same way. This was actually the way that Abraham was made right with God. He believed God’s promise and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. By putting such faith in Christ and what he has done for us, we can have peace with God, stand in the grace of God, and look forward to sharing in the glory of God.

Chapters 6-8:  Living a New Life by the Spirit of God

God doesn’t just deal with our sins but with our internal sinful nature. He does this through our union with Christ. As we exercise faith in our identification with Christ in his death and resurrection, confirmed at our baptism, we can refuse to let sin control and dominate us. And we can increasingly experience his righteousness, holiness and eternal life. Because we died with Christ, we are also dead to the Law. That is, we are no longer bound to the Law. Instead, we now live in the new way of the Spirit, being led by the Spirit.

It was not that the Law was wrong but that we had a sinful nature and the Law was powerless to do anything about that nature. We are delivered from that desperate situation by the work of Christ and the gift of the Spirit. The key to the Christian life then is living by the Spirit. The Spirit confirms our sonship and is a guarantee of the new creation. This is the age to come that we are going to be a part of and that we can begin to enjoy in part now. In the meantime, God is working all things together for our good and his glory, and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Chapters 9-11:  Jews and Gentiles

Paul then goes on to show that God is not unfaithful to his promises to the Jewish people but that the true children of Abraham were the children of promise, i.e. those who had faith like the patriarch. It also makes clear that, although historically the Israelites were God’s chosen people, God is free to choose who he wants. There were Old Testament prophecies about him choosing Gentiles anyway. Both Jew and Gentile are saved on the same basis – by faith and not by works. And all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. There is also a remnant of Israel who are chosen by grace and the present hardening of many of the Jewish people will result in many Gentiles being saved. This in turn will then lead to many more Jews turning to Christ.

Chapters 12-16:  Putting It All Into Practice

Chapter twelve marks a point in the letter where Paul starts addressing the practical outworking of this wonderful gospel. We should all play our part within the body of Christ, the church, each using our gifts. We should be good citizens who obey God-ordained civil authorities. We should not argue over disputable matters and not judge one another harshly. Paul then explains his calling as an apostle and shows the nature of Christian relationships as he spends time writing about his co-workers and expressing his concern for individuals within the church in Rome. It shows that this gospel is not just an abstract theory but is being lived out in real relationships within the family of God.