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The Letters of Paul: Romans (2)

St. Anne Bible Study5 Nov 2012

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Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of they law. Psalm

119:18

O God, our Father,Open our eyes and enlighten our minds

as we study your word.So grant that our minds may know your truth and

our hearts may feel your love;And then confirm and strengthen our wills, that we

may go out to live what we have learned: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Opening Prayer

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Paul wanted the Romans to sponsor him to Spain; He needed their support; wanted to set the record straight on his message “law free gospel”◦ He anticipates the objections; Does “law free” means

“anything goes”? Paul is rehearsing the arguments he may need

in Jerusalem He wants everyone to get along; reconciliation

of the Jews and Gentiles◦ Jews returning to Rome could cause issues for the

Gentile Christians

Why send this message ?

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Both Jews & Gentiles under the wrath of God (1:18-3:20)◦ Gentiles

Did not have scripture to guide them but this does not excuse their behavior

Did not have the “Law” but they violated the law written on their hearts

◦ Jews Did have scripture to guide them but they disobeyed

Both Jews & Gentiles are the beneficiaries of God’s grace (3:21-5:21)

Righteousness of God

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Abraham – righteous because of his faith

God’s action in Jesus restored human beings to a right relationship with God◦ They are JUSTIFIED BY FAITH◦ Through Jesus, both Jews & Gentiles can have peace with

God

Through Faith for Faith

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Righteousness◦ Being in a right relationship

Justification◦ The act of being put into a right relationship with

God Sanctification

◦ Being made holy or righteous by God See handout 12.7

Terms

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Something God displays (3:25), reckons (4:3,6) & imparts (10:3)

What is done through Jesus shows God is righteous

God Shows grace to all humanity God displays the righteous qualities of

faithfulness & generosity God is faithful to the covenant; he gives Jews a

means of salvation through faith in their Messiah God offers salvation to the undeserving (5:6,

5:10)

Righteousness of God

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Romans are justified by their faith◦ Restored, reconciled to God

Justification is a consequence of faithfulness◦ Assumes that those faithful trust God’s promises,

believe the gospel and strive to be faithful Consequence is sanctification (6:22)

Justification by Faith

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Paul wants all people to live in a way pleasing to God◦ Jews failed to do this◦ Gentiles unlikely to do better if they shown the

scriptures and told to live by the law True obedience to God’s will comes through

faith◦ Result of being reconciled with God (5:10) &

Receiving the gift of the spirit (8:4)

Obedience of Faith

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Divine blessings are available to all who have faith◦ Once available only to Israel, now offered to all

Opportunity for inclusion of all Might be Paul’s main point of the letter

Universality of Salvation

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Refer to the following passages; Discuss the reading with the following question in mind

Chapters 6:1 – 7:6; Also see handout 12.8◦ If Salvation comes by grace, why shouldn’t people

just continue to sin so that grace may abound? Chapters 7:7 – 8:39

◦ What is the role of the law now? Does it still have a place in the lives of Christians

Read and Discuss

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Romans has been used as a scripture basis to justify exclusion of others based on homosexuality. Romans has been used to justify slavery, to show that you didn’t have to do good works for others.

If Paul was around now, how do you think he would feel about these interpretations?

For deeper thought

A Look AheadTopic: Paul’s Letters: Reading Place Date

Righteousness Romans 1-8 El Rancho Grande

Nov 5th

Jews and the chosen people Romans 9-11 El Rancho Grande

Nov 19th

Practical aspects of life Romans 12-15 El Rancho Grande

Dec 3rd

Letter to Phoebe & ConclusionsWomen in Romans

Romans 16 El Rancho Grande

Dec 17th

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The Bible Challenge◦ http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/what-is-the-bible-challenge/

Websites◦ http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/NT_Canon.htm◦ http://www.matthewmcgee.org/paultime.html ◦ http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/corinthians/city.stm◦ http://www.thinkonthesethings.com/materials/Gal.pdf◦ http://executableoutlines.com/pdf/ga_sg.pdf◦ http://groupcurriculum.org/source/galatians.pdf

Books◦ Barclay, William. Barclay’s Guide to the New Testament.

Westminster John Knox Press. 2008◦ Powell, Mark Allan Powell. Introducing the New Testament.

Published by Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright © 2009

Resources