Read Romans 1:1–7
You also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:6
When we study the book of Romans, we walk into a courtroom. First,
Paul called Jews and Gentiles to the stand and found both guilty before
God. Then he explained God’s marvelous way of salvation—justification by faith. At this point, he answered his accusers and defended
God’s salvation. “This plan of salvation will encourage people to sin!”
they cried. “It is against the very law of God!” But Paul refuted them,
and in so doing explained how Christians could experience victory,
liberty, and security.
There were Jewish believers in the Roman assemblies, and they
would naturally ask, “What about Israel? How does God’s righteousness relate to them in this new age of the church?” In chapters
9–11 Paul gave a complete history of Israel—past, present, and future.
Then he concluded with the practical outworking of God’s righteousness in the life of believers. When we sum it all up, in the book
of Romans Paul is saying to us—“Be right! Be right with God, with
yourself, and with others!” The righteousness of God received by faith
makes it possible for us to live right lives. The Romans needed this
message then, and we need it today: Be right!
Something to Ponder
What is one area of life where you need to experience more victory,
liberty, or security? How does being right with God, yourself, and
others help you accomplish this?