Romans Part 17: The Conclusion

[Robert]

In this study, we walked along with Paul as he gave the word of the Lord to the church in Rome; I've included links to all the parts of the study here:

Romans Part 1: The Unbelief of the World

Romans Part 2: The Accusation of Jew and Gentile

Romans Part 3: The Accusation of the World

Romans Part 4: The Faith of Abraham

Romans Part 5: Justified by Faith

Romans Part 6: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans Part 7: Between Two Natures

Romans Part 8: When the Rubber Meets the Road

Romans Part 9: Choice or Chosen?

Romans Part 10: the Word and the Heart

Romans Part 11: The Branches of the Vine

Romans Part 12: Not Conformed to This World

Romans Part 13: Submission or Rebellion?

Romans Part 14: A Matter of Conscience

Romans Part 15: Bearing with Others' Weaknesses

Romans Part 16: Paul's Care of the Brethren


Now that we've reached the end of this study, here is a brief review of each part as it appeared in the beginning of each new post:

In Part 1, Paul tells us that all of creation reveals God to men, yet in their sin and rebellion against Him, they knowingly chose to ignore him and turn to their own pleasures.

In Part 2, God lays out plainly in scripture that both Jew and Gentile are guilty before the Lord, and that neither are innocent.

Part 3 reveals that God concludes His accusation against the world and then brings into the discussion Jesus Christ and salvation outside of the Law.

Part 4 explains that faith has always been the key element in salvation; as the Law can only convict and is unable to save, faith in God and His ability to save is paramount.

In Part 5, we see how faith in the Lord justifies those that believe; trusting in Christ and his sacrifice on Calvary washes us in his precious blood and fulfills the demands of the Law.

Part 6 explains how we should walk in regards to sin;salvation is not an excuse for us to go and sin more!

Part 7 tells us that we can choose which nature to serve: the "sin" nature, or the new nature that the Lord has implanted in us when we accepted His incredible gift.

In Part 8, though we have struggles in this life, the Lord will walk with us as we walk with Him; nothing can separate us from Him against our wills and wrench us from his grasp

Part 9's point is that our definition of "predestination" and the Lord's definition of it differ greatly.

In Part 10, we see that God's requirement for approaching Him does not lie in denomination nor nationality, but in the heart.

Part 11 shows us that instead of the nation of Israel being cast aside forever, God was using their rejection of Him to reach out to the Gentiles, and in doing so, bring Israel back to Him.

The message of Part 12 is that the Lord does not want us to conform to the world's ways, but to instead walk in His.

In Part 13, the Lord tells us that we to be subject to the human authorities that have power over us; unless their commands and laws directly contravene the Lord's commands, we are to obey.

Part 14 shows that "matters of conscience" were issues each believer had to decide for themselves and answer to God alone for, and honored by the Lord so long as we do them wholeheartedly.

In Part 15, Paul spoke of bearing with others' weaknesses; not just for their sakes but as a ministry unto them for the Lord.

Overall, Paul brings the reader from the state of sin the world wallows in, through why we cannot be saved via works, to salvation itself, to issues in our walk. We see in Paul's letter the Lord's mind towards all mankind, as the father doesn't want his creation to remain in sin, but instead partake of salvation and walk with Him in a new life. We also see that the ways of the Lord God are not those of man, and that we are indeed asked to be different from this world in a myriad of ways, including how we treat not just one another, but everyone we encounter.

In this letter to the church at Rome, Paul gives them all this information not just so that they can keep it to themselves, but that they can use it to walk with the Lord more closely and give a witness that would show Gentiles and Jews alike that the Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross truly was the payment for sin. This information is for us as well, for even though the times have changed, the truth of the message has not; Jesus Christ is still the only way to the Father, and that we must be willing to come through Him alone, to Him alone and humble ourselves before His cross. Once we do, while we have freedom in the cross, it is not a freedom to do as we please, but a freedom to serve the Lord God. It is also not a freedom to act as we please, but a freedom to treat others in a godly manner rather than as the world would.

In short: it is freedom from serving sin.


Writing this study has been long, but well worth it. I pray that I have written as I was led, and that I didn't read into scripture any of my own beliefs, but rather let scripture shape my beliefs. As I mentioned at the beginning, I am no theologian nor am I any sort of skilled scholar....


...all I am is a poor set of hands.


It's my hope that the work done in this is of benefit to the folks out there; walking with the Lord isn't easy, and it gets no easier each day. But we aren't alone in that walk, and one day, we will see Jesus face to face.

Thank you for going with me in this study; it was an awesome experience! I look forward to the next study, whatever one the Lord has next in mind. :)


Your Brother in Christ,


-Robert

[IamPJ]

I love Romans and really enjoyed this walk through the book, Robert. I know you spent a lot of time on it and I'm thankful you shared it with us. It was a really good study. I think you did an awesome job!

[Meg]

Robert, this has been a truly awesome study. I looked at the date of the first post in this series, you started it just after your Mother died. You served the Lord in spite of your overwhelming grief... As you wrote this series, you were going through so many changes that never showed in the work you were doing...

I thank Jesus Christ very deeply for the way He has affirmed you in this ministry, and I encourage those who think they have "nothing" to offer the Lord to be encouraged in Him. Robert and I are both very simple people who serve and love a truly spectacular God. I can attest that this series came through the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers are that this series encourage those who read it to trust in the Word of God as our only reliable source of Eternal Truth, Amen.

[mattfivefour]

I agree with Pastor Mike's comment about your gift in the Romans - Part 16 thread. God is using you. Thanks for this excellent study.

[WKUHilltopper]

I like this study by chapter, book and verse by verse--can we still do it?

[Robert]

I like this study by chapter, book and verse by verse--can we still do it?

I'll see where the Lord leads me next in scripture, but I certainly wouldn't mind doing another study. :)

[Elijah's Mantle]

Robert once again
excellent

Thanks to you Robert
I will be in Romans for a time even still

Its a book we cant exhaust thank Goodness

Ive re-read one in particular for 3 weeks still
It was that Great
least I believe so

[WKUHilltopper]

I'll see where the Lord leads me next in scripture, but I certainly wouldn't mind doing another study. :)

Cool! It's sorta like being in Sunday school. I have to admit, I like to stick straight with the Scriptures. Sometimes, I get bored at church with all the singing, the "comedy hour"/story telling preaching--just stick with the Bible! I guess that's bad, but I'd rather hear a verse by verse sermon.

I admit I go in late to church sometimes (if my wife lets me get away with it) just to bypass the music and get right into the sermon.

[Robert]

Cool; if you like verse by verse, then check out Meg's Ephesians study:

Ephesians, A Users Guide To Spiritual Warfare