ROMANS MESSAGE OF ROMANS – THE GOSPEL IS God’s Cards 27-31 MESSAGE OF ROMANS – THE GOSPEL IS God’s ROMANS POWER TO SAVE ALL WHO BELIEVE ROMANS 1:16 ROMANS ..the very title of this book conjures up images of the powerful empire that ruled the western world. To people of Paul’s day, Rome was the center of the world in every way; law, culture, power, and learning. A letter to this sophisticated audience had to be impressive indeed. In Romans, Paul brilliantly set down the whole scope of Christian doctrine, which, at the time, was still being passed along orally from town to town. Paul wanted to convince those demanding readers that Christ held the answers to all of life’s important questions. Literary types are often asked questions like this: “What one book would you most want along if you were stranded on a deserted island?” If asked that question about a single book of the Bible, many Christians would choose Romans. Compact, yet all=encompassing, it summarizes the Christian faith.

MESSAGE OF ROMANS – THE GOSPEL IS GOD’S Instruction that you can read and follow if you want to. Message that don’t apply to us today. Power to save all who believe. In Paul’s day was Rome the center of the world in law, power, and learning? Did a letter to the Romans need to be most impressive? During this time the Christian doctrine was being passed along how? Paul wanted to convince those Roman readers that Christ held what? What one book would you most want along if your were stranded on a deserted island? Romans is compact, all encompassing, it summarizes the what?

ROMANS 3:23 “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” Card #27-31 QUOTE ROMANS 3:23 ROMANS 3:23 “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” This glory of God not only manifests, but communicates, itself, being reflected in such of his creatures as are capable of knowing and loving and growing like him. Paul, therefore, calls man “the image and glory of God”, because he is capable of receiving and reflecting God’s glory. The glory of God in Christ shining forth in the gospel upon the believer’s heart transforms him into the “light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8); and so “we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit”. The transformation begins here, but man’s full participation in “the glory of God” is the hope of our high calling reserved for us in heaven. “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” ROMANS 3:23

QUOTE ROMANS 3:23 “For all have s____________, and come s_____________of the g_____________ Of G_________.” Paul calls man “the image and glory of G__________. The glory of God in Christ shining forth in the gospel upon the believer’s heart transform him into the “Light in the L__________”. The transformation begins here on earth, but man’s full participation in “The glory of God” is the hope of our high calling reserved for us in h_____________.

ROMANS DESCRIBES A BAPTISM AS –Burial with Christ—Raised with Christ “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.” No doubt the expression, “are buried,” was suggested by the momentary burial in water of the person baptized. It declares our union with Christ in death and our entire separation from our former life in which sin reigned. When people yield themselves to obey the gospel of Christ, they die to sin, and hence, are dead to sin when buried with Christ in baptism. We are buried with him—alluding to the manner of baptizing by immersion. As Christ was raised from the dead through the glorious strength of God to a new life, we were raised to walk no more in the sins that have been put off in baptism, but were raised (from the watery burial with death between us and the old life of sin) to walk in the new life in Christ.

ROMANS DESCRIBES A BAPTISM AS? A burial with Christ Raised with Christ Both of the above How are we buried with Christ? What are we buried in? Is a burial when we are completely covered? Can we be baptized by being sprinkled? When people yield themselves to obey the gospel they die to what? Was Christ baptized? Who baptized Christ? In what river? Christ was also raised from the d___________? We are raised in baptism to walk no more in s_________?

ROMANS TELLS US TO OFFER OUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE “I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE.” The sanctified body might be called a “living sacrifice,” because it’s natural life is not consumed like an ordinary sacrifice, but is presented to God “alive from the dead.” There is in every sacrifice a death, and in this sacrifice a death unto sin, out of which arises a new life of righteousness unto God. Thus the “living sacrifice” is that in which though the natural life is not lost, a new life of holiness is gained. When our bodies are full of life as a fact; when they are kept free from sin and actively employed in doing God’s will, then as offerings they are acceptable to him. To please him should be our highest aim; the fact that we do please him is our highest reward.

ROMANS TELL US TO OFFER OUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE “I beseech you therefore, B______________, by the mercies of G________, that ye present your B_______________a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto G_______, which is your reasonable service.” Our bodies are l_______________sacrifice. Are we to abuse our bodies with drugs or alcohol? When our bodies are full of life, is this an acceptable sacrifice to God? Are we to keep our bodies free from all sin? What about tattoos, are they damaging to the skin God gave us. (See Leviticus 19:28) In Leviticus God told the people they are not to print any m________ upon you! To please God should be our h____________aim! The fact that we do please God is our highest r_____________!

QUOTE ROMANS 16:16 “…THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST SALUTE YOU” Paul was in communication with most of the churches; all such would feel interested in the believers at Rome; and if, as is probable, his intention of going there was known, how natural that these churches should ask to be remembered to the brethren there! As he knew so well the believers at Rome, which he had not visited, how well qualified he was to speak for the many churches of Christ which he himself had planted!

QUOTE ROMANS 16:16 “…the c__________of C___________salute y___________.” Who was in communication with most of the churches? Where was he when he wrote Romans? Did the churches he had planted elsewhere want to be remembered there? Had Paul had a chance to visit the believers at Rome? Why? Because he was in p___________.