Romans - Life's Transformation Journey

Summary of Romans

• The apostle Paul wrote the letter roughly about 56-57 A.D.
• The letter to the Romans answers questions such as salvation, predestination, God’s sovereignty, judgment, spiritual growth, righteousness of God, etc.
• Paul highlights salvation only through faith in God’s righteousness: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… ” (1:16).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Following are key questions answered in Romans:

• Why believe?
• What happens to real nice guys who don’t?
• What is grace?
• If God has already predestined us, where does the individual’s role come in?
• Why suffering?
• How to discipline our flesh?
• If Paul himself is struggling to control his flesh, what message does it give us?

Slaves to Sin – Jews under the Law

• All who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law Romans 5:12b

Slaves to Sin – Gentiles (non Jews) without the Law

Rom 5:12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Always a remnant

Both among Jews and Christians, there is always a remnant – a few who are faithful to God. No matter how alone we feel,  we should be encouraged to know that there are several like us across the world. Rom 11:4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Predestination

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew  he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Saved by Grace Free Gift

Romans 5:17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Saved by Grace Faith

Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Rom 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

The power of grace is released through the pursuit of holiness in the presence of Christ

Sacrifice for Perfection Surrender

Rom 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

SACRIFICE IS WORSHIP

Sacrifice for Perfection Renewal of Mind

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sacrifice for Perfection Renewal of Mind

Romans 8:26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Sacrifice for Perfection Struggle against Sin

Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Sacrifice for Perfection Suffering

Rom 5:3 …… we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Share the Gift

Romans 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Share the Gift Use your Gift

Romans 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ESV

Recap – Life Transformation Journey

Discussion

• How much have we REALLY changed after accepting Christ? Think of people close to us. Think of ourselves.(ie. how much are we less angry, impatient, selfish, etc.) Share/ reflect.
• What steps can we take to bring about a bigger transformation in our lives?
• When do we tend to lack discernment on false Christians and Christian leaders?
• How can we discern without judging considering that only a “remnant” is true?