Romans is a foundational book, providing a believer with the fundamental doctrine of salvation, justification, and positional sanctification through the cross of Christ. Yet, the more I read it, the more I see how the truth it presents is structured to detach and separate us from this world, and prepare us to receive a mystery revelation regarding God's plans for our redemption, to the glory of Jesus Christ.
We are only officially informed of the details of this mystery, in other letters, and in particular, that of Ephesians, but even in Romans, Paul lays out in our doctrine, details that are aimed at getting our minds and focus off of this world and its vanity, and set on the faith that there is something greater ahead, a mystery that is going to be revealed, and that cannot compare to what we currently have here.
So, Romans is meant to draw us away from this world, and activate our faith, so that we can see what God has planned for us from before the foundations of this world (Eph.1:4). Let's have a look at some key statements and verses that prove this point.
Established in the faith
Romans tells us that we need to understand by faith what God's will and desires are for us, and what Christ has done for us. The purpose of Romans is to establish us in the faith, that we might know in detail what God has predetermined for us, and blessed us with, in the spiritual realm through Christ. The faith that is establishing in our hearts, by the content of Romans, is to provide us stability and surety in our salvation and in the hope laid up for us in Christ.
Rom.1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom.3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ... 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. ... 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Rom.5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom.10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom.16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin
Romans tells us how that through the death of Christ, we too have died to this world and its curse of sin. Though we still live in a flesh body that is sinful, our lawful position before God has changed. We are utterly justified before God through the death of Christ. By His death, we have died to the sin nature. Through His resurrection, we are raised in newness of life. This is the start of a believer's journey.
Rom.5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom.5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Rom.6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom.6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom.8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Married to another
Romans tells us that we are married to another. Through Christ's death, we have been legally released from the bonds of marriage to Adam (that old Adamic nature). Because we are now freed from sin and the law, we can marry another, Jesus Christ, to which we become bound to righteousness and peace with God.
Rom.7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Be transformed in the mind
Romans tells us to renew our mind and our pattern of thinking. Our mind is the primary battlefield. It is our thoughts that need to be retuned, to take them off of the things of this world and of the flesh and to be reprogrammed to perceive and understand the things of the spirit. The only way to get tuned into the things of the spirit, is to read and reread the written Word, which contains the life and Spirit of God, and which stirs up faith within us. Setting our thoughts upon the Word of God is one of the most critical things to do in our journey of growth and maturing in the things of God. Romans is the catalyst in confirming this truth as well as the beginning of the process of conforming us to the image of Christ.
Rom.8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom.12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom.15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God
Romans tells us to be led by the Spirit of God, to know our adoption into God as the children of God. It tells us of our inheritance in Christ and that our hope should be looking towards that time when we can display the full glory of Christ in the heavenlies. However, until that day, we should continue to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God and find patience in suffering and persecution, knowing that this present time is not worthy to be compared to the glory which is to come in Christ.
Rom.8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Romans places our attention on the spirit. There is a lot of lessons, advice and practical application focused on spiritual content. We are being taught to lay off this old man, the flesh and its cravings. Our mind must be renewed to look at the spiritual aspects of our salvation and relationship with God. Lessons in the sacrifice of the flesh and the maturing of the spirit will increase more and more as we continue through Paul's epistles. Paul's nine church epistles are a curriculum of growth into maturity, having Christ formed within us more and more. Our life here on earth is for the purpose of God to form His Son in us.
We would do well to study Romans, to get a deep understanding of all of it's foundational teaching, to apply it in our lives and to become stable and grounded in it. Only then will we be able to build upon this foundation and add to it the knowledge of the more mature principles and lessons in the letters of Ephesians to Thessalonians.
God bless.
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