Good News!

LESSON 1

Paul wrote the book of Romans as a letter to the Christians in Rome. These Roman believers were mostly Gentiles who had received the Gospel, been born again, and were committed to following the Lord. However, they were being troubled by Jewish believers who were trying to mix the Old Testament Law with Christianity.

In the early days of the church, many born-again Jews truly believed that Christianity was simply an extension of Judaism. Therefore, they considered all of the basic tenets of the Jewish faith—specifically the Old Testament Law, the dietary regulations, the rite of circumcision, and many other Jewish religious observances—to still be the foundation of their new faith in Christ. They were trying to mix the Old Covenant with the New.

Paul—the apostle of grace to the Gentiles—boldly proclaimed that circumcision and all other adherences to Jewish custom and Law were not necessary for salvation. His constant struggle with legalistic Jews (called Judaizers) is well documented in the book of Acts.

Although written for the same purpose as Romans, Paul’s letter to the Galatians contains several strong, harsh rebukes against legalism.

He started out by saying,

“If anyone preaches any other Gospel than what I preached, let them be accursed!” (Gal. 1:8, author’s paraphrase).

Then he repeated himself for emphasis (verse 9). Paul also called the Galatians “foolish” and “bewitched” (Gal. 3:1) for believing this legalistic lie, telling them that if they were trusting in such things as circumcision for their salvation (Gal. 5:3), they had fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:4 says,

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Romans presents these same truths, but from more of a doctrinal standpoint.

Whoever wrote Hebrews—I tend to believe it was Paul—also dealt with these very same things. Written specifically to a religious Jewish mindset, the book of Hebrews argues faith in the finished work of Christ using Jewish tradition (the Old Testament patriarchs, tabernacle, priesthood, sacrificial systems, among others) and showing how Jesus perfectly fulfilled it all.

Romans expounds the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to both Jewish and Gentile believers.

It’s written to everyone! Anybody who truly understands and embraces its message will be forever changed in the way they relate to God. The revelation of God’s grace contained in Romans delivers believers from a performance mentality—which bases relationship with God on their own efforts—to a total trust and reliance upon the Lord, His goodness, and His grace. Salvation is all about God’s faithfulness—no one else’s!

This revelation is foundational for maintaining a close relationship with God. We might do good for a while, but the truth is that all of us have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Rom.

3:23). We need a Savior! We must constantly place our faith in God’s goodness, and not our own