Synopsis "A Commentary on the Book of Romans (Volume 1)"
In the opening chapter of this text, it was stated that no one knows how Christians came to Rome or even who might have established a local church in Rome. One noted commentator said that the Christians in Rome were probably there because they were some of the converts from Pentecost. He also said that the book of Romans has four divisions.
They are the courthouse of law in Romans chapter one through Romans chapter five, the powerhouse of grace in Romans chapter six through Romans chapter eight, a synagogue, representing Israel, in Romans chapter nine through Romans chapter eleven, and the temple of God in Romans chapter twelve through Romans chapter sixteen.
Some of the many key verses in the book of Romans are often used to tell someone how to be saved. In this book, a person learns that everyone has fallen short of pleasing the Lord. He or she learns that the eternal cost of sin is to die lost and be eternally separated from the Lord.
But a person also learns that Jesus willingly died on the cross at Calvary to pay the sin debt for every person who has ever lived. One learns that true biblical salvation can only be had through Him as a free gift from God the Father through faith in the Son. All a person must do to be saved is believe on Him and call upon Him. He will save anyone who comes to Him in the right spirit and with the right attitude.
Another thing that Paul wrote about in Romans chapter eight was the love of God which is always with those who call upon the Lord. He wrote that God the Father works in each Christian's life to make him or her look and act more like Jesus, and that nothing can separate a godly person from the love of God. He is always with them.
Another important part of this book, in Romans chapters nine, ten, and eleven, is that Paul told the Christians in Rome that the children of Israel have temporarily been blinded to the gospel so that the Gentiles can hear and be saved. But Paul did not say that happily. What he actually said was that he would be willing to die eternally separated from the Lord, himself, if the Jewish people could be saved.
So those are some of the high points in the book of Romans. But there is one thing to say before ending this introduction with respect to the organization and writing of this text. Something that the reader might find useful, in the NON-AUDIO version of this text, is figures throughout that show the different passages that are referenced at the times and in the places where they are referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference.
Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader better understand the various events and to also put them into their right context. It is also hoped that that will make this book easier to read and that the Lord will receive the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully deserves. Of course, in the AUDIO version of this text, those figures will NOT be used because that would make it an extremely difficult experience for listening to or for trying to understand.
