HIGHLIGHTS OF ROMANS

 
  A letter explaining that righteousness comes, not as a result of ancestry or through works of the Mosaic Law, but through faith in Jesus Christ and as a result of God’s undeserved kindness
 
  Written about 56 C.E., some 20 years after the first Gentiles became Christians
 
Righteousness is through faith in Christ and as a result of God’s undeserved kindness (1:1–11:36)
 
  Faith is essential for salvation; the scripture says, “The righteous one—by means of faith he will live”
 
  The Jews, although highly favored by God, have not been able to attain to righteousness by means of the 
Law
 
  Jews as well as non-Jews are under sin; “there is not a righteous man, not even one”
 
  By God’s undeserved kindness both Jews and non-Jews can be declared righteous as a free gift through faith, just as Abraham was counted righteous as a result of faith—even before he was circumcised
 
  Men inherit sin and death from one man, Adam; through one man, Jesus, many sinners are declared righteous
 
  This does not give a license to sin; any remaining slaves to sin are not slaves of righteousness
 
  Those formerly under the Law are “made dead to the Law” through Christ’s body; they must walk in harmony with the spirit, putting sinful practices of the body to death
 
  The Law served the purpose of making sins manifest; only through Christ, though, is there salvation from sin
 
  God calls those who come to be in union with Christ and declares them righteous; His spirit bears witness that they are His sons
 
  Fleshly Israel received the promises but most of them try to attain righteousness by the Law, hence, only a remnant of them are saved; a public declaration of faith in Christ is necessary for salvation
 
  The illustration of the olive tree shows how, because of the lack of faith of fleshly Israel, non-Israelites were grafted in so that the true Israel might be saved
 
Attitude regarding superior authorities, self, other persons (12:1–15:13)
 
  Present your body as an acceptable sacrifice to God, make your mind over, use your gifts in God’s service, be loving and aglow with the spirit, endure, and keep conquering the evil with the good
 
  Be in subjection to the superior authorities
 
  Love one another; walk decently, not planning ahead for fleshly desires
 
  Do not judge others in matters of conscience, nor abuse your Christian freedom and so stumble those with weak consciences
 
  Be guided by Christ’s example in not pleasing self; be willing to bear others’ weaknesses, doing what is good for their upbuilding
 
Paul’s loving interest in the congregation at Rome (15:14–16:27)
 
  Paul’s reason for writing is to fulfill his commission as an apostle to the Gentiles and in order that these Gentiles might be an acceptable offering to God
 
  No longer having territory where the good news had not already been proclaimed, Paul wants to fulfill his longing to visit Rome and from there to go to Spain, after first traveling to Jerusalem with a contribution from the brothers in Macedonia and Achaia for the holy ones
 
  Paul greets numerous believers by name, encouraging the brothers to avoid those causing divisions and also to be wise regarding what is good