Ok final recap!
Romans
1 Paul Greets the church at Roman and points to the message in this letter (the Book of Romans) that this is the Gospel
He starts by identifying evil and provides a list. In short Evil is identified as a love for the sins on that list/Justification for said sins.
2 Paul starts out by Charging the Christians at the church of Rome to NOT Judge Evil men because he points out that the very members of said church practices these very same acts listed in romans 1. The difference only being that the members of the church were repentant of their sin. which separates and defines the terms Sin and Evil. sin being the transgressions of a humble and contrite/repentant heart, and Evil being the transgressions of a person who embrace their sin over God. Evil does not have anything to do with the depth of sin one is willing to take part in.
3 The take away from Romans 3 is that ALL Are guilty of sin, that even the most religious among us are still considered to be dirty sinners that need redemption. Which means that our religions, rights and practices do not save us. Chapter 3 put all in need of redemption even the religious 'christian' because again, the acts of religion are meaningless in of themselves. We find out here that Christ is the only one who can determine who is and is not saved. That Christ is the only Being who can rightfully issue the title "Christian." "We are not save by our works (works being our religious efforts) but by faith in Christ, so no man can boast (meaning no one can claim to be a 'true christian according to his religious beliefs.') again that title can only be awarded by Christ a church has no right to issue or sell that title.
4 In chapter 4 Paul takes the principle described in Chapter 3 (that its not our works of worship that save us) and applies it to Abraham. Pointing out that From the beginning it was the faith God looked for and this example could even be found in the works and deeds of Abraham. In that before Abraham did Anything, God found him 'righteous' through his faith. The 'works' of abraham were just outward showing of the faith that he had inside.
5 In the first 1/2 of Chapter 5 Paul takes the lesson of Abraham and practically applies Justification through Faith to the potential believer. In that how Abraham was found righteous/Saved through Faith we too Are also found Righteous/Saved through christ. In the second half, Paul answers a question he believes his followers are having, in that How can the Sacrifice of one Person/Jesus could atone for the sins of the whole world. He answers by point out that through one man, sin entered the world, and it is through one man that sin will be atoned for the whole world/those who seek atonement.
6 beings the good stuff. Paul explains that for everyone who sins, the consequence is death. Then Paul explains that Jesus Dies for our sin, and if we are baptized into Christ then it means we are putting on Christ's death/Rather we are allowing Christ to die in our place. Meaning Death is not required of us anymore. Nor are we bound by the law any longer for our righteousness, because when Jesus died in our place we died to the law of sin. Now does this mean the law goes away? no, for all who are not save are still bound to the law for their righteousness, and according to what we have already learned no one can be found righteous according to the law. (He explains in greater detail in the first 1/4 of chapter 7 when he makes a parallel from marriage)
so then Paul asks if we are free from the Law of sin, shall we sin more? He answers no. why? because it is out of love and respect (like abraham) that we follow the wishes of God to the best of our ability. Not as a way to earn heaven but as a way to thank God for redeeming us.
7 1/4 Paul explains that we are bound to the law of sin before we are saved like a wife to a husband, but if the Husband dies then the wife is free to remarry. So she is no longer bound to the covenant of her first husband.
the rest of the chapter is earth shattering to those in religions who practice legalism. Meaning those who preach we must stick to the law to be righteous before God (Super moral Christians who think we must be holier than you to earn salvation, this includes all sorts of rules and punishments or methods of redemption for breaking the rules of religion) In chapter 7 Paul admits to being a hopeless sinner. that even at the height of his ministry and even being one of the founding members of the church Paul is out of control when it comes to his sins. That he knows he should do certain things, but he does not do them. Rather he does the things/sin he hates instead. then he cries out and ask how can God love someone like him, someone the world/christian pharisees would call a hypocrite? He points back to Jesus' atonement. Paul in the last 1/4 also separates us into 2 being who occupy the same body. We are the Soul/Spirit who can want to be sin free and love and honor God, and we are the Mind/body who is a literal slave to sin. Paul points out that while the mind/body wants and is bound to sin we (soul/Spirit) must seperate from the sin the mind/body is bound to. So when we die our mind body who is a slave to sin will stay gone, but our (soul/Spirit) are resurrected with Christ and given a new body that will be controlled by the soul spirit.
8 Paul spents a lot of time in Chapter 8 telling how 'we'/saved are to live, now that we are no longer bound by the Law. The short answer is to live in the Holy Spirit. Now most people do not understand what this means or even some religious types believe this to be a cop out, but when we are saved our measure of the Holy Spirit greatly increases and we do indeed get sharp direction and correction from God. While we are not bound by the laws of sin for righteousness/going to Heaven, we are still to try and live by the law. If we don't doesn't mean we loose our salvation, it means we will be left to suffer the consequence of our sin. (If you choose to sin you choose to suffer.)
The middle of the chapter explains that even though our suffering we can always know and look forward to our heavenly reward. He closes with the reassure us that no matter how bad things may get that no one can take our salvation. Meaning once Christ identifies you as 'Christian' Nothing in all of creation has the authority to take your 'saved' status from you.
Chapters 9-11 Are go into great detail of the status current and future condition of the Jews. (That God has made a provision to save a remnant) It also explains the reason for their disbelief and why salvation was/could be offered to the gentiles in their place. (Via the grafting the wild olive branches into the tree/covenant) Finally Paul laments the loss of his brothers.
Chapter 12 starts out with a charge that 'we' accept Salvation in the place of the Jews who were lost to it. We are told that to love our enemies. And Paul he even takes it a step further and says we are to love our enmies by doing good deeds for them. Then cites examples from scripture (OT) that by doing good for them it will cause them pain. which will harden their resolve or convert them.
Chapter 13 demands that we obey our governments and work through it's proper channels. which again is the exact opposite of what Islam commands. (that Muslims place the whole world under Sharia Law.) Chapter 13 also tells us that the fulfillment of the law can be found in the love we have for one another. Meaning This one step sums up everything in Christianity. Which sets up Chapter 13 and the major paradigm shift to all religions at the time.
Then the body of chapter 14 begins the explaination of the Many freedoms we have in Christ. That we are no longer bound by tradition and religious observances to define who we are/if we are saved. 14 even shows us we have so much freedom in christ that we are allowed to bind ourselves in laws if we do not understand the freedoms we have. It also tells us that we who know and understand our freedom should not be a stumbling block to those who do not understand it. Which if followed out to it's logical conclusion would be why we have so many different denominations. Because like minded people would want to worship under their laws or in their freedom with out being a stumbling block to those around them. In 14 the example is given about some people eating only vegetables because they think it is a sin, or those who want to up hold the Sabbath or new moon festivals because they think those are holy days.. He says their is nothing wrong with that, if you believe those things in your heart, but at the same time he explains the law has been completed by Christ and we are no longer bound to them for righteousness. Our righeousness comes from Loving God and loving our neighbor. In loving our neighbor we must give them the freedom to bind themselves with as much of the old law as they like.
Chapter 15 the first 1/3 of 15 I think belongs with 14 because it is a wrap up of the greater idea that like minded people should worship together and not be a stumbling block to someone weaker in the faith. which again points to different denominations or rather the reason for them. So which one is right? None! we are all equally wrong, but the grace extended to us when we sin is extended to us 1000 times over when we worship God with all that we are, even if we all fall far short!
Then Paul talks about his empowerment through the Holy Spirit/How he is able to accomplish all that he has (Which again is the same Holy Spirit that is offered to all of us)
Finally he closes with an expressed desire to visit Rome.
Chapter 16
He ends his letter as most would with a series of good byes and well wishes.
Romans
1 Paul Greets the church at Roman and points to the message in this letter (the Book of Romans) that this is the Gospel
He starts by identifying evil and provides a list. In short Evil is identified as a love for the sins on that list/Justification for said sins.
2 Paul starts out by Charging the Christians at the church of Rome to NOT Judge Evil men because he points out that the very members of said church practices these very same acts listed in romans 1. The difference only being that the members of the church were repentant of their sin. which separates and defines the terms Sin and Evil. sin being the transgressions of a humble and contrite/repentant heart, and Evil being the transgressions of a person who embrace their sin over God. Evil does not have anything to do with the depth of sin one is willing to take part in.
3 The take away from Romans 3 is that ALL Are guilty of sin, that even the most religious among us are still considered to be dirty sinners that need redemption. Which means that our religions, rights and practices do not save us. Chapter 3 put all in need of redemption even the religious 'christian' because again, the acts of religion are meaningless in of themselves. We find out here that Christ is the only one who can determine who is and is not saved. That Christ is the only Being who can rightfully issue the title "Christian." "We are not save by our works (works being our religious efforts) but by faith in Christ, so no man can boast (meaning no one can claim to be a 'true christian according to his religious beliefs.') again that title can only be awarded by Christ a church has no right to issue or sell that title.
4 In chapter 4 Paul takes the principle described in Chapter 3 (that its not our works of worship that save us) and applies it to Abraham. Pointing out that From the beginning it was the faith God looked for and this example could even be found in the works and deeds of Abraham. In that before Abraham did Anything, God found him 'righteous' through his faith. The 'works' of abraham were just outward showing of the faith that he had inside.
5 In the first 1/2 of Chapter 5 Paul takes the lesson of Abraham and practically applies Justification through Faith to the potential believer. In that how Abraham was found righteous/Saved through Faith we too Are also found Righteous/Saved through christ. In the second half, Paul answers a question he believes his followers are having, in that How can the Sacrifice of one Person/Jesus could atone for the sins of the whole world. He answers by point out that through one man, sin entered the world, and it is through one man that sin will be atoned for the whole world/those who seek atonement.
6 beings the good stuff. Paul explains that for everyone who sins, the consequence is death. Then Paul explains that Jesus Dies for our sin, and if we are baptized into Christ then it means we are putting on Christ's death/Rather we are allowing Christ to die in our place. Meaning Death is not required of us anymore. Nor are we bound by the law any longer for our righteousness, because when Jesus died in our place we died to the law of sin. Now does this mean the law goes away? no, for all who are not save are still bound to the law for their righteousness, and according to what we have already learned no one can be found righteous according to the law. (He explains in greater detail in the first 1/4 of chapter 7 when he makes a parallel from marriage)
so then Paul asks if we are free from the Law of sin, shall we sin more? He answers no. why? because it is out of love and respect (like abraham) that we follow the wishes of God to the best of our ability. Not as a way to earn heaven but as a way to thank God for redeeming us.
7 1/4 Paul explains that we are bound to the law of sin before we are saved like a wife to a husband, but if the Husband dies then the wife is free to remarry. So she is no longer bound to the covenant of her first husband.
the rest of the chapter is earth shattering to those in religions who practice legalism. Meaning those who preach we must stick to the law to be righteous before God (Super moral Christians who think we must be holier than you to earn salvation, this includes all sorts of rules and punishments or methods of redemption for breaking the rules of religion) In chapter 7 Paul admits to being a hopeless sinner. that even at the height of his ministry and even being one of the founding members of the church Paul is out of control when it comes to his sins. That he knows he should do certain things, but he does not do them. Rather he does the things/sin he hates instead. then he cries out and ask how can God love someone like him, someone the world/christian pharisees would call a hypocrite? He points back to Jesus' atonement. Paul in the last 1/4 also separates us into 2 being who occupy the same body. We are the Soul/Spirit who can want to be sin free and love and honor God, and we are the Mind/body who is a literal slave to sin. Paul points out that while the mind/body wants and is bound to sin we (soul/Spirit) must seperate from the sin the mind/body is bound to. So when we die our mind body who is a slave to sin will stay gone, but our (soul/Spirit) are resurrected with Christ and given a new body that will be controlled by the soul spirit.
8 Paul spents a lot of time in Chapter 8 telling how 'we'/saved are to live, now that we are no longer bound by the Law. The short answer is to live in the Holy Spirit. Now most people do not understand what this means or even some religious types believe this to be a cop out, but when we are saved our measure of the Holy Spirit greatly increases and we do indeed get sharp direction and correction from God. While we are not bound by the laws of sin for righteousness/going to Heaven, we are still to try and live by the law. If we don't doesn't mean we loose our salvation, it means we will be left to suffer the consequence of our sin. (If you choose to sin you choose to suffer.)
The middle of the chapter explains that even though our suffering we can always know and look forward to our heavenly reward. He closes with the reassure us that no matter how bad things may get that no one can take our salvation. Meaning once Christ identifies you as 'Christian' Nothing in all of creation has the authority to take your 'saved' status from you.
Chapters 9-11 Are go into great detail of the status current and future condition of the Jews. (That God has made a provision to save a remnant) It also explains the reason for their disbelief and why salvation was/could be offered to the gentiles in their place. (Via the grafting the wild olive branches into the tree/covenant) Finally Paul laments the loss of his brothers.
Chapter 12 starts out with a charge that 'we' accept Salvation in the place of the Jews who were lost to it. We are told that to love our enemies. And Paul he even takes it a step further and says we are to love our enmies by doing good deeds for them. Then cites examples from scripture (OT) that by doing good for them it will cause them pain. which will harden their resolve or convert them.
Chapter 13 demands that we obey our governments and work through it's proper channels. which again is the exact opposite of what Islam commands. (that Muslims place the whole world under Sharia Law.) Chapter 13 also tells us that the fulfillment of the law can be found in the love we have for one another. Meaning This one step sums up everything in Christianity. Which sets up Chapter 13 and the major paradigm shift to all religions at the time.
Then the body of chapter 14 begins the explaination of the Many freedoms we have in Christ. That we are no longer bound by tradition and religious observances to define who we are/if we are saved. 14 even shows us we have so much freedom in christ that we are allowed to bind ourselves in laws if we do not understand the freedoms we have. It also tells us that we who know and understand our freedom should not be a stumbling block to those who do not understand it. Which if followed out to it's logical conclusion would be why we have so many different denominations. Because like minded people would want to worship under their laws or in their freedom with out being a stumbling block to those around them. In 14 the example is given about some people eating only vegetables because they think it is a sin, or those who want to up hold the Sabbath or new moon festivals because they think those are holy days.. He says their is nothing wrong with that, if you believe those things in your heart, but at the same time he explains the law has been completed by Christ and we are no longer bound to them for righteousness. Our righeousness comes from Loving God and loving our neighbor. In loving our neighbor we must give them the freedom to bind themselves with as much of the old law as they like.
Chapter 15 the first 1/3 of 15 I think belongs with 14 because it is a wrap up of the greater idea that like minded people should worship together and not be a stumbling block to someone weaker in the faith. which again points to different denominations or rather the reason for them. So which one is right? None! we are all equally wrong, but the grace extended to us when we sin is extended to us 1000 times over when we worship God with all that we are, even if we all fall far short!
Then Paul talks about his empowerment through the Holy Spirit/How he is able to accomplish all that he has (Which again is the same Holy Spirit that is offered to all of us)
Finally he closes with an expressed desire to visit Rome.
Chapter 16
He ends his letter as most would with a series of good byes and well wishes.
