I think it's so interesting how Paul set up this letter, and I believe we can learn a lot from the structure.
Chapter 1:
Paul started off by explaining his purpose in writing the letter, and sharing the gospel message - along with the power the gospel message carries. Then, he went right into God's wrath against sin, and those who choose to live in unrighteousness and in opposition to Him. Paul explains that, while this condemns men, it is mans choice (in accordance with his corrupt heart and debased mind) to pursue the lusts of the flesh - and condemn themselves by purposefully ignoring God. There are no excuses.
I think that, at the end of chapter 1, Paul does what could be called "getting them lost" - revealing to His readers their sinfulness and their need for a Savior. This is how the gospel should be shared to this day. If we don't reveal someones sinfulness to them, and help them realize how it separates them from God and condemns them, they will never truly grasp the gift of the gospel.
Ray Comfort has a sermon called "Hell's Best Kept Secret" - He discusses the importance of "getting someone lost" as a part of sharing the gospel. A link to the sermon is below.
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=434&commentView=itemComments
Chapter 2:
Then Paul has to deal with his people, the Jews. Paul apparently knew that their rebuttal to his explanation of God's wrath on sinfulness was going to be that they had the law, they knew what righteousness was, and they were very good at living it out. Paul had a different take on this. Chapter 2 consists of Paul coming down hard on the Jews for judging the Gentiles, explaining that by judging others they bring greater condemnation on themselves.
The Jews were caught up in the belief that they were better off because they were handed down the law from God by their descendants. They took this to mean that God was there God only, and that the rituals, laws, and commands that had been passed down had everything to do with their acceptance by God. Paul spends some time revealing that we are all equal, we are all sinners, and we all need Jesus Christ - God shows no partiality - and no amount of ritual, law, or command keeping has anything to do with our acceptance by God.
Chapter 3:
Paul undoubtedly knew that the Jews weren't going to be happy to hear that they were equal to the Gentiles, and he deals with this right away. He explains that there are advantages to being a Jew in the sense that they have more information (the oracles) about God, but that overall we are all equally under sin, and none of us loves God in our sinful, lost state - no matter what rituals, laws, or commands we are keeping.
Then, Paul spends some time discussing the law, what the purpose of the law really is, what the law does, and why we uphold the law - yet are not justified by it. This idea that justification is by faith apart from the law had to be foreign to most of the Jews, and quite an eye opener considering they had been raised with the idea that doing these things they were taught meant acceptance by God and ultimately salvation. Paul destroys that way of thinking by explaining that a restored relationship with God is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. The purpose of the law is to reveal to us who God is, our sinfulness in light of who God is, and our desperate need for Jesus as our Savior.
Chapter 4:
Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, was aware that the Jews would not be finished arguing the value of their heritage, and why being physical descendents of Abraham - and keeping the laws handed down from generation to generation, had everything to do with being above the Gentiles and accepted by God. So Paul dives in and explains that Abraham was justified by faith, not works that he performed. We learn that Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision, and that he is the father of faith all.
Paul then gives an example of Abraham's great faith; when God promised Abraham and Sarah a child when they were way beyond child bearing years. This is an example of the true, saving faith in God that is required in order to have a restored relationship with Him.
Looking back, I think it's important that we understand that, while Paul has been focused for the most part on a Jewish audience, all that has been written could probably apply to us today. As Christians, it's easy to look down on lost sinners, it's easy to misunderstand the law - to get caught up in legalism and it's rules and requirements in order to be a Christian, it's easy to fail to grasp how sinful we really are, it's easy to forget exactly who God is - and allow our faith to waiver. These things all apply to us today - and so does the promise that God gave through Paul so many years ago.
Salvation, a restored relationship with Him, is a gift that does not need to be, nor can it be, earned. It is completely free through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Looking ahead, as we get ready to dig in to Chapter 5, I am very excited. After preaching to us how we are lost and we cannot earn salvation, Paul is going to get into the details of grace, and how powerful this gift of a restored relationship is.
Please share any questions, comments, or thoughts that you may have on these first four chapters in Romans. I have grown so much so far - I pray that you have as well! The shared questions, comments, and thoughts only help this growth in each one of us! Also, if there are any ways that this study could be improved to help you grow more, let me know.
To Him be the glory, honor, and praise forever, Amen!
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