Bible Survey: Part FourSample

Paul, whom we met in Acts, travels over great distances starting local churches in various cities. He was eventually arrested and taken to Rome as a prisoner. But prior to that, a church was started in Rome that he hadn't helped to start. He wanted to make sure they understood the most important things that a follower of Jesus should know, so he wrote a letter that we know as the book of Romans.

The first few chapters of Romans detail how we fall short of God's standard for us and don't deserve to be in a relationship with God. We are then told that we can trust in Jesus and be declared righteous by God. Chapter 5 shows that it is through the death of Jesus that we receive the gift of righteousness. Chapter 6 then goes on to say that once we have trusted in Jesus, we have the ability to live lives pleasing to God.

Some hear the message of Jesus and think that they are being told to sin all they want and just depend on Jesus to forgive them. Paul rejects this thinking and expresses surprise that anyone would want to return to a shameful way of life. Why would anyone choose to be less than what they could be in their relationship with Jesus?