LET'S READ!
It's a good idea before any study to read through the material as light reading....then perhaps again with notes. This post will include my "first-thoughts" with this type of cursory reading.
It's always interesting to see what happens to these thoughts after some deep-dive study!
Chapter One: Authority from God. Paul chosen, his readers are chosen. Paul has heard of their faith and wants to visit them to help them....but has not had the opportunity yet. God loves the faithful. Those who are outside of knowing him (faith) have turned to immoral living and God has given up on them. They know better, but ignore God.
Chapter Two: God doesn't have favorites, so if you act like the heathen, your judgement will be just as severe. Gentiles who practice righteousness are more righteous before God than the one under the law who is disobedient....and brings shame on the name of the Lord.
Chapter Three: God's righteousness exposes evil, but that should not be an incentive to practice evil. There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, both are capable of terrible sin. Obedience to a system of law is not what make us righteous. Our faith (in Jesus) will be counted as righteous without regard to law/sin. All of us have fallen short.
Chapter Four: Abraham was found faithful and righteous before his circumcision and thus shows that all humans have this gift from God (to be found righteous via faith). The faith of Abraham and the positive relationship with God that this faith produces is extended to all (who will practice it). Both Jew and Greek (Gentile)
Chapter Five: This gift is found in Jesus Christ. He is the catalyst for the mercy/grace extended to us by God. Jesus died for us even when we were enemies and lost...in Him we have our hope. God's gift of life (through Jesus) is far superior to Adam's sin and subsequent reign of sin/death over man.
Chapter Six: we are dead to sin...stop sinning! When we died with Christ in baptism, we died to the slavery of sin.
Chapter Seven: We are dead to the law and sin. The paradigm of law/sin is destined to confuse the one who is seeking to please God. While the law is good, it reminds us of sin.
Chapter Eight: Jesus has given us the Spirit to live spiritually, apart from law and sin. Through the spirit we can defeat sin. Through Jesus and the Spirit, nothing can separate us from God.
Chapter Nine: Paul admits sorrow over his people's rejection of Jesus. He then goes on to describe how God chooses those He favors based on their faith.....which includes Gentiles.
Chapter Ten: Paul re-iterates his desire to see Israel accept the covenant of Jesus. He goes on to re-iterate how God will accept those who have faith and are not physically Hebrew. "All who call out to the Lord will be saved."
Chapter Eleven: Gentile, do not be proud of your salvation. The Jew lost the Lord and you can too! You were grafted in place of the Jew who rejects the Christ, but God will graft them back in when their jealousy drives them to a faithful position before God. You do not support them, they support you!
Chapter Twelve: Each of us have value and a purpose given by God. Do not think too highly of yourselves. Be at peace with one another.
Chapter Thirteen: Be respectful to the government, pay taxes. Love each other....love your neighbor, do not practice debauchery. Draw Jesus near to you to avoid sin.
Chapter Fourteen: Let each of us work out our salvation. Do not judge another person's faith (over incidental idiosyncrasies). Respect others when it comes to practicing liberties. Live with a clear conscience.
Chapter Fifteen: Accept one another. The stronger are to be patient with the weak (in faith). Jesus is the perfect example of servitude. Gentiles are included in His plan. Paul has been blessed by God to preach to the Gentiles (establishing new congregations). Paul wants to go to Rome after delivering the gift to the saints in Jerusalem.
Chapter Sixteen: Be sure to greet specific (named) Christian friends. Stay away from trouble makers!
Chapter Two: God doesn't have favorites, so if you act like the heathen, your judgement will be just as severe. Gentiles who practice righteousness are more righteous before God than the one under the law who is disobedient....and brings shame on the name of the Lord.
Chapter Three: God's righteousness exposes evil, but that should not be an incentive to practice evil. There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, both are capable of terrible sin. Obedience to a system of law is not what make us righteous. Our faith (in Jesus) will be counted as righteous without regard to law/sin. All of us have fallen short.
Chapter Four: Abraham was found faithful and righteous before his circumcision and thus shows that all humans have this gift from God (to be found righteous via faith). The faith of Abraham and the positive relationship with God that this faith produces is extended to all (who will practice it). Both Jew and Greek (Gentile)
Chapter Five: This gift is found in Jesus Christ. He is the catalyst for the mercy/grace extended to us by God. Jesus died for us even when we were enemies and lost...in Him we have our hope. God's gift of life (through Jesus) is far superior to Adam's sin and subsequent reign of sin/death over man.
Chapter Six: we are dead to sin...stop sinning! When we died with Christ in baptism, we died to the slavery of sin.
Chapter Seven: We are dead to the law and sin. The paradigm of law/sin is destined to confuse the one who is seeking to please God. While the law is good, it reminds us of sin.
Chapter Eight: Jesus has given us the Spirit to live spiritually, apart from law and sin. Through the spirit we can defeat sin. Through Jesus and the Spirit, nothing can separate us from God.
Chapter Nine: Paul admits sorrow over his people's rejection of Jesus. He then goes on to describe how God chooses those He favors based on their faith.....which includes Gentiles.
Chapter Ten: Paul re-iterates his desire to see Israel accept the covenant of Jesus. He goes on to re-iterate how God will accept those who have faith and are not physically Hebrew. "All who call out to the Lord will be saved."
Chapter Eleven: Gentile, do not be proud of your salvation. The Jew lost the Lord and you can too! You were grafted in place of the Jew who rejects the Christ, but God will graft them back in when their jealousy drives them to a faithful position before God. You do not support them, they support you!
Chapter Twelve: Each of us have value and a purpose given by God. Do not think too highly of yourselves. Be at peace with one another.
Chapter Thirteen: Be respectful to the government, pay taxes. Love each other....love your neighbor, do not practice debauchery. Draw Jesus near to you to avoid sin.
Chapter Fourteen: Let each of us work out our salvation. Do not judge another person's faith (over incidental idiosyncrasies). Respect others when it comes to practicing liberties. Live with a clear conscience.
Chapter Fifteen: Accept one another. The stronger are to be patient with the weak (in faith). Jesus is the perfect example of servitude. Gentiles are included in His plan. Paul has been blessed by God to preach to the Gentiles (establishing new congregations). Paul wants to go to Rome after delivering the gift to the saints in Jerusalem.
Chapter Sixteen: Be sure to greet specific (named) Christian friends. Stay away from trouble makers!
