(1) Introduction

Thank you for joining me in this study through the Book of Romans.

The Apostle Paul was born, Saul, to a prominent family in Tarsus.  Having a unique duel-citizenship - Roman by birth, but Jewish by faith, Saul was given the finest of educations.  Studying under Greek philosophers, he learned what the world had to offer.  Then under the greatest of Jewish scholars, Gamaliel, he learned the Jewish faith.  Like Gamaliel, Saul became a Pharisee - a teacher of Jewish Law.  

Saul hated the Christian Faith.  He saw it as a direct enemy of his Jewish faith.  Saul launched an all-out campaign to rid the world of all Christians.

Accompanied with a battalion of temple guards, Saul made his way North, towards Damascus in Syria, with the intent of arresting Christians and bringing them back to Jerusalem for trial.  But, Saul was stopped in his tracks by none other than Jesus Christ Himself.  This "man" that Saul had seen dead on a Roman cross, was standing in front of him - alive!  "Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Jesus asked.

Saul's eyes were opened to the truth of Scriptures, and he believed.  He came to faith in Jesus Christ, changed his name to Paul, and became the greatest missionary for Christ.

The Apostle Paul's letter to the Church in Rome is unique among the thirteen letters that he penned to various churches, leaders, and friends. Unlike his other twelve letters, Paul did not personally know his audience in Rome. He had never visited or instructed the Roman Church.

He had heard of this growing church, and had also heard of some confusions that were causing arguments among the believers. The Roman Church was made up of a good mix of Jewish Christians, as well as, Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. The Jewish Christians saw their faith as the fulfillment of thousands of years of God working through them as His own chosen people. They felt compelled to continue to follow the Jewish ceremonial and dietary laws, believing that without them, they could never be right with God. The Gentile Christians, on the other hand, never had any moral or dietary laws to follow. They continued to live immoral lives as they always have. Both groups believed in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, through the grace of God, but didn't know what to do after that.

On top of this internal confusion was the constant threat of persecution by order of the Roman Emperor Nero. In Nero's mind, he was not just the emperor, he was god, and hated the Christians because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ – the Lord God Almighty. If they were caught, they would be executed – often in the most horrible ways imaginable.

Paul's letter to the Church in Rome is, arguably, his greatest theological accomplishment. With expert precision, as if it were the closing arguments of a trail attorney, Paul presents an air-tight case for the lostness of humanity, and humanity's need for God's intervention.

It is everything that we, as Christians, need to know about coming to faith in Christ, living in faith in Christ, and reflecting Christ's light into the world we live in. It is “Christianity 101 – Foundations”

This study will take us chapter and verse, from Romans 1:1, all the way through the end of this amazing book.

Each post will begin with the next group of verses, followed by commentary, and ending with study questions that challenge you to understand how the teaching applies to your life today.

The study will be automatically archived, so you can catch up at any time.

Again, I thank you for joining me in this study.

God's blessings on all of you and your families.

Joe