Romans: Theology for Everybody (1-5)Campione

God’s plan of salvation includes grafting new members into His family tree, not based on our goodness but on His grace as He gives us His righteousness. Whether you come from a Christian family or not, there is hope for you and your family if you enter His family, just as there was for Abram.

The Jewish nation began with the pagan Gentile Abram being chosen by God for salvation (Genesis 12) and trusting in God by faith so that he was renamed Abraham (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:8-12). God promised that through Abraham would come a son, through that son would come the nation of Israel, and through that nation would come Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the nations of the world. 

Paul, who was himself a devout Jew before meeting Jesus, answers the question if there is any benefit to being Jewish now that the mission and message of salvation have gone forth into the Gentile nations making Jewish believers a minority group within Christianity. Paul says that there are many benefits to being Jewish, but they are not of any eternal blessing unless someone believes in Jesus Christ, which was the whole point of the Old Testament and Jewish faith.

Jesus came not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). God knew that our sinful nature would cause us to be separated from Him, so He came up with a plan to rescue us. Just as He has shown his control over history from the beginning of time, He also works in each of our lives to bring us knowledge of Him and a specific mission by His grace no matter our past.

Reflection:

• In Romans 3:1-7, Paul says that coming from a religious family can be a benefit, but only if you believe in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, it’s all a wasted opportunity. What things in your upbringing are a benefit to you if you also believe in Jesus Christ?
• In Romans 3:9-19, Paul says that God rules the world by unchangeable laws that are like math – true for everyone no matter whether they agree or not. How does this understanding of God’s unchanging universal laws apply to individuals who believe they are the exception to God’s laws, and entire cultures that disagree with God’s laws?
• In Romans 3:20, Paul says that the more we learn the laws of God in the Word of God, the more we should be aware that we are a sinner and need a Savior. What were some of the first things God convicted you of as a new Christian? What areas needing to change is He showing you more recently?