Where We've Been Through the First Four Chapters of Romans
A review of Romans 1-4.
I’m still enjoying our study through the book of Romans!
At the end of each chapter, we’ve stopped and looked around at what we’ve covered so far. It’s essential to keep the big picture of Romans firmly in mind.
The Theme of Romans.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
These two verses are the foundation Paul builds on as the book of Romans unfolds.
Outline of Romans 1-4.
Here’s a brief outline of Romans in bullet-point form.
Paul’s greeting to the church in Rome (Romans 1:1-7).
Paul’s desire to see the church in Rome face-to-face (Romans 1:8-15).
The gospel of Christ is the theme (Romans 1:16-17).
God's wrath and righteous judgment upon the Gentile’s sin (Romans 1:18-32).
God's righteous, impartial judgment will be according to everyone’s deeds (Romans 2:1-16).
The Jews’ knowledge of the law and circumcision would grant them no special treatment at the Judgment, for they, too, had sinned (Romans 2:17-29).
God is the faithful Judge, so His justice can be trusted (Romans 3:1-8).
All have sinned, so all stand guilty before the Judge (Romans 3:9-20).
The guilty ones can be justified by Christ Jesus, demonstrating God's righteousness (Romans 3:21-26).
Justification through Christ eliminates any boasting in self on the part of the justified ones (Romans 3:27-31).
Abraham and David were justified by faith (Romans 4:1-8).
Abraham is the father of the faithful to the Jew and the Gentile (Romans 4:9-12).
The promise to Abraham is through the righteousness of faith, not through the law (Romans 4:13-25)
Some thoughts about Romans 1-4.
As we’ve added Romans 4 in our study, we’ve hopefully noticed what Paul has done.
Romans 1-3 emphasized how everyone has sinned - Jews and Gentiles. Beginning in Romans 4, Paul explains that the way of faith is the path of justification for Jews and Gentiles.
Abraham is the example for all people. His faith is what we ought to imitate.
Jesus Christ - the one who died because of our sins and was raised so we might be justified - is the only way for people to stand righteous before God.
All have sinned - all have the same problem.
Jesus Christ died and was raised for all - all have the same hope extended through Christ.