Deep Dive into Romans by Robert H. Mounce - Romans Introduction

Paul’s letter to the Romans is a magnificent and systematic presentation of the gospel, written primarily to set forth the doctrine of justification by faith and its implications for Christian living. Paul composed the letter during the final stages of his third missionary journey, most likely while he was in Corinth, Greece, around A.D. 56, having stayed there for three months. Internal evidence, including greetings from his host Gaius and the city’s director of public works Erastus, confirms Corinth as the place of origin. The letter was recorded by his amanuensis, Tertius.

The letter's comprehensive nature was strategic: Paul intended to use the church in Rome as a base for his planned mission to Spain, and he needed to lay before them a full statement of his message to ensure it was neither jeopardized by opponents nor misunderstood as promoting legalism or antinomianism. He also aimed to reconcile God’s righteousness with the apparent rejection of Israel.

The theological core of Romans establishes that all humanity is in a hopeless condition and "no one will be declared righteous" by observing the law. Righteousness is revealed as a gift from God, received solely through faith, completely unearned and "apart from the law." This justification is the acquittal of the guilty, achieved through Christ’s death as a sacrifice of atonement. Abraham serves as the supreme example, having been declared righteous because he "believed God."

Justification is followed by vital practical implications. Believers, having "died to sin," are set free from the "law of sin and death" and empowered by the "law of the Spirit of life." This freedom is not a license to sin, but a change of master, leading to a life dedicated to righteousness. This theological base culminates in "Practical Christianity," urging believers to present themselves as a "living sacrifice," cease conforming to the world's pattern, and fulfill their ongoing moral responsibility, which is the "continuing debt to love one another."

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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