Around A.D. 57, Paul sent this letter to the Romans (1:7) ahead of his visit to them (15:24,28). In it, he crafted a series of theological arguments about the great mystery of God’s salvation plan, a plan predestined from Creation (8:28-30) to restore us in our relationship with him through his mercy and love.
Paul compared Adam with Christ, in order to show how the ripple effect or consequences of their actions forever effected their descendants. Adam’s sin of disobedience led to death for his human descendants of the flesh, but Christ’s one righteous act of obedience brought justification and life to his family by faith born of the Spirit (5:12-21).
Our new found freedom in Christ does not mean we are free to sin (6:1-2,15) for God’s grace to us does not nullify the Mosaic Law (3:31), which is good and holy (7:1,12) with its fundamental principle being love (13:8-10).
Christ is our righteousness (1:17; 3:21,24; 8:4,10,30,33; 10:3), meaning that, through his grace we have been forgiven, justified and sanctified by faith in him. Instead of being ruled by the letter of the Mosaic Law that condemns us and leads to death (3:20, 6:23; 7:7-13). Christ is the force that reigns in our hearts through his Spirit of holiness and love (1:4; 5:5) that works in us for our purification, and brings life. Therefore, we no longer offer ourselves as slaves to sin, but as servants to God and for our sanctification and redemption (3:22-26; 4:25; 5:1-2,9-11; 6:1-23; 7:4-6; 8:13-14).
In hope, we trust in God’s grace and faithfulness to fulfill his promises to us (3:3-4; 15:8,13). Faith brings hope, but requires patient endurance for what is yet unseen (8:24-25), and our hope in turn fills us with joy and peace as we await our redemption (5:2; 12:12;15:13).
Abraham’s faith was credited to him as justice before, not after, the inauguration of the Mosaic Law, thereby demonstrating that God’s covenantal relationship with us has always been based on faith, not works or blind obedience to laws (4:1-25).
The mark of genuine faith is circumcision, a “circumcision of the heart” by the Spirit (2:28-29), in which one is transformed into the likeness of Christ and their spiritual act of worship becomes selflessly serving God (8:29; 12:1-2), and owing no debt, except love (13:8).
Walking with Jesus Series #116, May 2025
Copyright © 2025 by Christopher Clark