Intro to Romans

Here is an intro to Romans from Mike's bible study guide...

Author: The apostle Paul

Date: Probably A.D. 56-57, but no later than A.D. 59

Theme: Being right with God through faith in Christ

Historical Background:
Paul wrote this letter to introduce himself to the church at Rome. he intended to stop there en route to Spain. He was eager to assure the Roman Christians that, in spite of any rumors they might have heard, his message was indeed the Gospel of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. The church at Rome had not been planted by Paul. It may have been started by Roman Jews who were converted on the Day of Pentecost (acts 2:10-11). The church was a mixture of Jewish and Gentile believers. At that point in time they were experiencing some tensions between these two groups.

Characteristics:
The big issue in this letter is how anyone can be right with God on the final Day of Judgment. In his most precise theological statement in the New Testament, Paul asserts that right standing comes only through faith in Jesus Christ who died for us as a sacrifice for sin. In light of the Jewish-Gentile tensions in the church, Paul makes it clear that no one has an "edge" on God; rather, all stand condemned before him because no one has kept his Law. Having driven that truth home, he then declares the good news that forgiveness, acceptance and the new life of the Spirit come to all as God's gift to be received by faith. Chapters 1-11 speak of what God has done for all who believer, while chapters 12 -16 show how believers ought to live in response to the lavish grace of God.