Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1- Intro)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

A while back, after a bible study session, a friend of mine asked me to teach a series of lessons on, “the process of salvation”. We had just finished a series of teachings dealing with the judgement seat of Christ, so I thought the request was a bit surprising, since he was an established Christian, but I have also never hesitated or questioned this topic, as I believe that there can be no more important subject and information than to know salvation, and to know what it means, and to know what happens to one in the process of receiving it and growing in it.

Thus, this post, and a few subsequent ones, will be digging into the topic, from the epistle of Romans, and seeking out to understand its truth and effects on the human heart and mind. Now, before you all think this is a basic topic concerning the cross of Christ, which every Christian thinks they know, I want to inform you ‘off the bat’ that this topic is far deeper than the average Christian realizes. Salvation is a VERY broad term and involves a LOT more than what Christians know. Romans may be the foundational epistle in the curriculum of Paul's 9-church epistles, but foundational does not mean the information stops at being basic. Romans contains the words of God, and we all know that God is infinitely wise. There are depths to this topic that continually surface as one studies it more and more.

Go up to any Christian and ask them what salvation means. Most of these believers will tell you about the cross of Christ and that by believing in the cross you can be saved from hell. If you ask them if there is more to salvation than that, they look at you bewildered and say, “I am saved from hell; what more does one need!?” You see, most Christians stop right there! They are saved from hell; wasn’t that the whole objective of the cross and the sacrifice of Christ? Nobody seeks further in the scripture to learn if there is more than just that! The thing is that there IS!!! Being saved from hell is only the very FIRST step. God did not stop there. He reveals in Romans chapters 6 to 8 (predominantly) that there are more steps to take; deeper levels to attain, more grace to experience, and a labour of love that works for one a greater glory in the ages to come. Paul lays it out masterfully in these chapters: chapters that many believers are ignorant of because this content is too difficult to understand, too deep to make sense of! What? Are we talking about the foundational book of Romans? Basic info? Yep! It costs some study, some interrogation, some labour and time.

So, shall we begin with an overview of the parts that many Christians say they know. In the next post, let’s have a look at a summary of the first four chapters of Romans. Thereafter, we will focus on lessons from chapters 5 to 8 with more details. These chapters are the parts that contain some incredibly important, yet very undervalued and misunderstood information. However, to start with, I will get into the key points from chapters 1 to 4 in the next post.

Make sure to follow this series to find out more.

• Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 2 - From faith to faith)
• Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 3 - God's Wrath, Righteousness, and Love)
• Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 4 - He staggered not, but was strong in faith)

God bless…