Romans
Introduction & The Romans Road
Background To The Letter
The book of Romans was written to the church(es) in Rome, from Corinth, by the apostle Paul during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2-3). The date was around AD 57 and the church of Rome was only about 3 years old. Paul had never visited Rome in person, and he desperately wanted to do so (Romans 1:10-12). The book of Romans is a letter so comprehensive in nature that the believers in Rome would be able to read the fullness of the gospel that Paul preached, even if Paul himself were not able to visit them. Eventually Paul’s longing to visit is fulfilled and he makes it to Rome, although as a prisoner.
Content Of The Letter
The book of Romans is the apostle Paul’s clearest and most complete explanation of the gospel. Romans unfolds God’s plan of salvation for all people - Jew and Gentile alike - through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul presents deep theology in an orderly, logical way and focuses on salvation being a gift from God through grace, by the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul explains humanity’s need for salvation, the power of grace, the role of faith, and how believers are transformed to live lives of love, holiness, and obedience.
It is possibly because Paul has not visited the church of Rome in person, that this book differs from many of the other letters Paul wrote to the various churches. Other letters (eg: 1&2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians) focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The letter to the Romans focuses on God and His great plan of redemption.
Some of what Paul writes is difficult to understand - a fact that even the apostle Peter acknowledged! Perhaps Peter had the letter to the Romans in mind when, speaking about Paul’s letters to the churches, he wrote in 2 Peter 3:15-16, “... there are some things in them that are hard to understand…”. Even so, Paul determined that it was important to communicate such deep theological truths to all believers - even those who were less than 3 years old in The Faith! Deeply theological yet intensely practical, Romans calls all Christians to understand the gospel clearly and live it out faithfully in everyday life.
The Romans Road
The Romans Road is an evangelistic tool - a method of presenting the Christian message of salvation using a sequence of verses from the Book of Romans. It provides a step-by-step, logical explanation of humanity’s need for salvation, God’s provision and how to receive it.
Why not learn these 5 Scriptures and share them with spiritually lost people?
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans Study
Romans 1:1-7
Romans 1:8-17