Romans

Paul introduces the gospel as God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first Jew then Gentile; he exposes humankind’s downward spiral — idolatry leading to moral corruption — so that God’s wrath is revealed against all ungodliness.

God’s judgment is impartial: self-righteous Jews as well as Gentiles stand guilty; true circumcision is inward, ‘of the heart, by the Spirit,’ not merely an external mark.

Both Jews and Gentiles are under sin (‘none is righteous’); yet God now offers a righteousness apart from the Law through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice, so boasting is excluded and the Law itself is upheld.

Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised, proving justification is by faith, not works; the same principle applies to all who trust God, as illustrated also by David’s blessing of forgiven sin.

Justified believers have peace with God and rejoice in hope; Adam’s one trespass brought death to all, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings grace and life, with grace abounding far beyond sin.

United with Christ in baptism, believers die to sin and rise to new life; they must yield their bodies as slaves of righteousness, for the wages of sin is death but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ.

Believers are released from the Law’s binding authority, yet the Law remains holy; Paul describes the inner conflict of wanting to do good but being captive to sin, crying, ‘Who will deliver me from this body of death?’

There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus; life in the Spirit frees from sin and death, grants adoption and future glory, and assures that nothing can separate believers from God’s love in Christ.

Paul laments Israel’s unbelief but affirms God’s sovereign freedom in election, showing that His purpose stands not by human effort; the remnant is saved while Gentiles attain righteousness by faith.

Israel seeks righteousness by Law, yet Christ is the end of the Law for all who believe; faith comes by hearing the proclaimed word, but Israel largely remains disobedient despite the universal offer of the gospel.

God has not rejected His people: a remnant lives by grace, and Gentile believers are grafted into the olive tree; ultimately ‘all Israel’ will be saved, leading Paul to a doxology over God’s inscrutable ways.

In view of God’s mercy believers are to present themselves as living sacrifices, serve with diverse gifts, practice sincere love, bless persecutors, and overcome evil with good.

Christians must submit to governing authorities as God’s servants, pay taxes, and fulfill the Law by loving their neighbor; the hour has come to cast off darkness and ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ.’

Disputable matters (food, holy days) require mutual acceptance; each serves the Lord and will answer to Him, so stronger and weaker believers must pursue peace and avoid causing others to stumble.

Christ exemplifies self-denying service; Scripture foretold Gentile inclusion, which Paul celebrates, reviewing his ministry from Jerusalem to Illyricum and outlining plans to visit Rome after aiding Jerusalem’s poor.

Paul sends greetings to many co-workers (including Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila), warns against divisive people, and closes with a doxology praising God for the revealed mystery now made known to all nations.