Paul wrote the book of Romans as a well thought-out statement of his faith. It does not appear as one of his typical letters. The church at Rome was mostly Jewish but also had a number of Gentiles. It had probably been started by believers who were present at Pentecost. He had never met most of the believers there so he sent this as a letter of introduction. He really presents the foundations of the gospel as salvation for all, saved by grace through faith. He gives clear practical guidelines for the Roman believers.

Paul reminds the people about the prophecies in Holy Scripture. This would be our Old Testament.

“First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you…”Notice Paul thanks God for the people. He doesn’t thank the people.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel.”Paul’s rewards are still coming in.

"...first for the Jew, then for the Gentile..."
See Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24, John 4 - the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. and many others.

“…men who suppress the truth…”
“…so that men are without excuse…”God’s power has manifested itself from the beginning. Those who suppress the truth are called wicked.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather that the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.”An example of exchanging the truth of God for a lie would be evolution. It is non belief in a Creator. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe in God.

“…received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”Sin has consequences. Sin also hurts more than just the sinner.

Romans 1:28-32 seems to describe a slice of life today. And notice it all started with..."since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God..." All of the other things listed in this passage take place because people do not retain the knowledge of God.

“…but also approve of those who practice them.”People are watching what we do as Christians. We must be careful that by our silence we are in effect condoning sinful behavior. Silence can speak volumes!

Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with his people. Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit happens at acceptance of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. However, we must be on guard or our hearts may become hardened.

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”When faced with temptation, it’s nice to have a Bible verse to quote in order to take every thought captive. Because we will be judged for every careless word we've ever spoken.

Many people said that Paul's letters were weighty and forceful but in person he was unimpressive. It seems that Paul was forceful in his letters. People read them, had time to digest them so that by the time Paul visited these people, there was no need for him to be forceful.

Paul had some strong words to say, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they are not wise.”
Would this be ego-mania to the max!?!

“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”Satan will use any means possible, including passing himself off as God, using both subtle and blatant means. He is the great deceiver. Satan is not omnipresent. He can’t make us do anything. Don’t give him too much credit.

Notice all the sufferings Paul lists. With all the punishment his body received, he probably never fully recovered from any of them. Can you imagine suffering without pain medication or the comfort of our homes and people to take care of us? Being a Christian does not guarantee a “cushy” life. Paul seemed to relate that the physical pain he endured was nothing compared to his concern for the spiritual.

“…caught up to the third heaven…”Many think that this happened during the three days after Paul’s conversion experience while he was blinded. The first heaven contains clouds and air. The second heaven contains stars and sky. The third heaven is where God lives, where His glory shines. See the firmament in Genesis.
The natural response to this experience would be pride. No one else experienced this so Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. Any handicap we might live with can be our thorn in the flesh. Satan wanted this to turn Paul. God wanted to humble Paul. Pride doesn’t usually exist in people of pain. It is not always God's will to keep us from pain and pressure. Remember that suffering is not new. Pride comes with achievement. Contentment does not require comfort.

“…a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”Many scholars have done extensive research to discover what this “thorn” in the flesh was and no one can say for sure. But whatever it is, the most important thing is that Paul accepts this and even boasts about this weakness. Rejoice and be glad to be found worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ.

Paul writes in the beginning of 2 Corinthians about comfort in Jesus. We must also remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 10:34 and Luke 12:51 that He did not bring peace but division. So we cannot equate comfort with peace.

Paul tells the church that they have gone through many hardships. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…”
What would happen if we relied on God instead of ourselves? Would the hardships be less? Paul also mentions that he suffered in Asia so much so that they despaired even of life. Is this hardship because Paul went to Asia when he wasn't supposed to go? See Acts 16:6,7.

“For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
What schemes? Satan's schemes are not always blatant and "in your face". Most often they are very subtle. Check out the Chronological Chronicles on the website for a writing entitled Too Busy? It tells all about Satan’s schemes!

Chapters 2 and 3 contain some vivid contrasting images.
Smell of death - fragrance of life
Tablets of stone - tablets of human hearts
The letter (of the Law) kills - the Spirit (Jesus' ultimate sacrifice) gives life

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
We are constantly being transformed into the likeness of Christ, if we allow it and work toward it.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
What an awesome responsibility and privilege!

“Therefore come out from them and be separate…”
When we step out of worldliness and into Godliness, we are different. This difference will attract others. We will be that "light" shining in the "darkness".

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence to God.”
What contaminates body and spirit?

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Notice all the "alls". The Scripture containing all the "alls" follow the Scripture containing words about giving cheerfully! Any connections???

Speaking of Jesus,
“Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
This James is thought by most scholars to be the brother of Jesus who at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but later believed and became a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Paul says that he was abnormally born. Not many of us have the spiritual birth that Paul did.

Concerning spiritual bodies…we have a natural body and a spiritual body. It’s hard for us to comprehend what our spiritual bodies will be like. Imagine an apple seed. If we plant an apple seed, a seed doesn’t grow – ultimately a large beautiful apple tree with leafy branches, beautiful blossoms, and luscious fruit grows. The final result looks nothing like the seed. Our resurrected bodies will be far more beautiful than a “seed”.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
What a statement this is! Death is not defeat. Believers are victors in death because we will have inherited eternal life.

“…because a great door for effective work has been opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
Just like Paul, we will have opposition if we are doing effective work for the Lord. Has a great door been opened to us Believers for effective work? Do we have the courage to walk through that door, knowing we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit or are we weak because there are many who oppose us?

1 Cor 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
So even if we think we aren't making a difference, God says we are! What encouragement!

“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”
Don't you just love the way Paul words things???  Wonder why he didn't just say, "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I want you to be informed." ?

We are supposed to know and understand our spiritual gifts. The body of Christ, the church is diverse. Because of our different spiritual gifts we view things differently and we interpret things differently. We are motivated to do things differently. We are born with certain talents and natural abilities but when we are born again, we are given certain spiritual gifts. Talents are natural. Gifts are supernatural. Evidence of a spirit-filled church is one in which the members exercise their gifts for one another. God has chosen to minister to his people through us!

“…since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church…”

“Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.”

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”
Paul explains that those who have the gift of prophecy speak to believers for edifying the church – for strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. Those who speak in tongues edify themselves unless there is an interpreter present. To excel in a gift is to exercise it, to use it and find out more about it.

Paul warns about allowing women to lead in church. We have to remember that girls were not formally taught in the synagogues like the boys were. They did not have knowledge of scripture. They didn’t have the foundation to speak with understanding. Many women were speaking and confusing others. This is why Paul warned about allowing women to lead. The same warning applies to new believers. Many new believers are simply not equipped yet with that firm foundation of the knowledge of spiritual matters. However, Jesus made it clear that there is definitely a place for women in leadership. Whew! Glad He did!

Paul addresses a specific incident concerning sexual immorality and tells them to how to deal with the person. “When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
This person has to “hit rock bottom”, be at the bottom of the pit and have no where to go but up.

Paul warns about the yeast of malice and wickedness (most of the time when yeast is mentioned it is not a good thing, in fact is a symbol of sin) and encourages them with the bread of sincerity and truth.
“For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.”
Our sins are forgiven, obliterated, not just covered over temporarily as with the old covenant.

Paul separated sexual immorality from other sins. He says that the one who sins sexually sins against his own body and that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God has been repeatedly compared to a marriage relationship. In Corinth as well as in today’s society, sex outside marriage was treated as a normal, even desirable part of life, while marriage was seen as confining and joyless. Paul made it clear that Christians should take no part in sexual immorality, even if it is accepted in society. It is a sin against God, it hurts all those involved.
“..You are not your own; you were bought with a price…”
Christians don’t belong to themselves.

Paul expresses that he doesn’t want to be distracted by a family. He believed if he had a family it would slow him down in his ministry.

“But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.”
HA!

“…but there is one God, the Father…and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ…”
Paul makes a distinction here between God and Lord, identifying God as the Father and Jesus as the Lord. The word God means supreme deity. The word Lord means supreme authority.

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some.”
Paul met them where they were without condemning them.

“…for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”
No doubt here that it was the Son of God who interacted in the wilderness with Moses.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”
We must stand firm with the whole armor of God, not standing firm with our own confidence or only with part of the armor.

“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…”
Good news for all believers when faced with temptation.

Corinth was a major seaport and trade center, the capital of Achaia (present day Greece). The city was very prosperous with great cultural and religious diversity. It was ripe for corruption, filled with immorality. Idolatry flourished with more than a dozen pagan temples employing more than a thousand prostitutes. The temple of the love goddess Aphrodite was there. Sex was a part of the worship ritual.

The church at Corinth had been established by Paul on his second missionary journey, made up largely of Gentiles. The Christians there were struggling with the corruption all around them and felt the pressure to adapt. Paul wrote this letter to offer solutions to the many concerns and to answer the questions that had been raised.

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift…”
The body of Christ as a whole does not lack any spiritual gift. In any body of Christ, truly seeking Him, there will be no lack of gifts. It may be that one spiritual gift may be enhanced over another if there is a need for that particular gift in that particular body.

Paul didn’t seem all that too concerned about baptism. He said Christ didn’t send him to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with his own words. Be baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells the Corinthian church that he did not come to them with eloquence or superior wisdom, but with a personal testimony of the Spirit’s power. He was demonstrating a characteristic of the gift of evangelism. Paul was thoroughly educated in the scriptures and could have spoken with superior wisdom, yet he spoke from personal experience.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him…”
In our wildest imaginations, we can never imagine what God has prepared for us!

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”
Paul told them of salvation through Jesus. Apollos nurtured, educated, and encouraged them. But when all is said and done, it is up to God to produce the growth. We can do what we have been gifted to do, then leave it in the Lord’s very capable hands.

If we are “servants of Christ” then as servants we must do what the Master tells us to do. We are servants who have been “entrusted with the secret things of God”. It is up to us to prove faithful and share those “secret” things with others. As we learn more and more about Him, through Bible study, prayer, devotions, we must witness for Him. We must be faithful to His word and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore I urge you to imitate me…”
This appears on the surface and taken out of context to be arrogant on the part of Paul. We must read the previous passages to understand what Paul is referring to in this instance. He just told the Corinthians that he and his companions in the gospel were hungry, thirsty, in rags, brutally treated, homeless, cursed, persecuted, and slandered. And that his response to this was to bless, endure, and answer kindly.
In other words, Paul is saying that everything we do as Christians is the opposite of human logic when it comes to dealing with the enemy.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
Talk is cheap! Do all of us as Christians walk the talk?