weekly reading guide
Romans
2024
ROMANS in 2024
The book of Romans helps us deepen our understanding of God's love for us through the Gospel of Christ.
Each week you'll find a passage from Romans and a short reading guide to help you know what to look for as you study the book of Romans.
AUGUST 4
Romans 1:1-17
What to look for...
Like a grand entryway into a huge edifice, Paul’s longer than usual comments to begin his letter provide a striking introduction, preparing hearers for the rest of the book. He will address fundamentally important matters, especially clarifying what the gospel entails. It’s about Jesus, both human and divine, who was enthroned in power as the Son of God as a result of his resurrection. It’s also about true faith, which results in obedience.
Whatever people had heard about Paul previously—especially with Jews and Gentiles having mixed opinions about him—he wanted to clarify who he was, what he believed, and what he felt called to do. He was committed to both Jews and Gentiles, and he wasn’t going to take sides with one over the other. Also, wanting to endear himself to his hearers, he commended them in various ways, hoping they would be receptive to what he had to say.
Paul concludes his introduction with stunning yet puzzling declarations. The meaning of the “righteousness of God” is widely debated; it may refer to the righteous character of God; the saving activity of God; or the righteous status given by God. The “righteous will live by faith” is equally debated. At the very least it means that righteousness and faith are interdependent. Moo suggests that it should be translated, “The one who is righteous by faith will live” (Encountering Romans, 47).
AUGUST 11
Romans 1:18-32
What to look for...
Reading this passage can be like visiting an ancient Roman city. In Pompeii, for example, archaeologists have found X-rated paintings and objects so sexually perverse that they are now hidden away in closets, rather than on display in museums. The debauchery was despicable.
Paul, speaking like an Old Testament prophet, points sharp fingers at the depth of wickedness common among the Gentiles (next in his crosshairs will be the Jews). Sin isa relentless power, a wicked tyrant, that seeks to trap all of us in its grasp. We are without excuse.Everyone should already know about the true God, his power, his glory, especially based on his acts of creation.
One means of God’s judging reprobates is letting themself-destruct even more. Three times Paul said, “God gave them over” to their impurities, lusts, depravities. Shockingly, though sinners know their actions are deserving of death, they dive deeper into their senseless ways and even cheer on others to do the same. Is there any doubt the world needs someone to rescue them?
AUGUST 18
Romans 2:1-3:8
What to look for...
If the shoe fits, wear it. After what Paul said in the previous passage about sinful Gentiles, the Jews might have been thinking that they were okay, even to the point of bragging about being God’s Chosen People(Rom 2:17). After all, they considered the Law that God gave Moses a special treasure.
But Paul does not let the Jews off easy. He basically repeated what Jesus had said: “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Matt 7:5 NLT). It should have been obvious to Jews that the law was only beneficial if it was obeyed . . .and that’s a big “if.” The Jews were guilty of saying one thing and doing another, and believe it or not, God’s wrath on them would also be severe: “God will judge everyone according to what they have done!” (Rom 2:6; see also Jesus’ statement in Matt 16:27).
Paul even asks, What advantage is there in being a Jew? (Rom3:1). His point was that genealogy doesn’t determine a person’s relationship with God. A Jew is only a “Jew” if he or she is one inwardly (Rom 2:29). In other words, a “Christian” in name only is meaningless; true Christians are transformed into Christ’s likeness, both inwardly and outwardly.
AUGUST 25
Romans 3:9-20
What to look for...
Welcome to the court of law. On the bench is the Judge of all judges ("Yes, your Honor"). And in the dock, indicted as the criminal of all criminals, were the Jews and Gentiles. But Jews?! They would never have expected to be tried the same as Gentiles. In their minds, "we're holier than thou."
But Paul, summing up his opening argument (in 1:18-3:8), and citing verses from the Jews' own Scriptures (the Old Testament), made clear that the Jews were sinners just as much as anyone else. "You're guilty! Now, be silent! You have no defense!"
All this was setting the stage for the most important announcement of all, which is where Paul turned next. Stand by for news!
SEPTEMBER 1
Romans 3:21-31
What to look for...
It's always great to receive good news. Well, it can't get any better than these verses, which are some of the most important in the Bible. Unfortunately, with all the sin in the world, there was a lot of bad news. Even for the Chosen People, they were unexpectedly as guilty as anyone else, and God's intent to bless them was on hold.
BUT! God had a shocking and amazing solution. Instead of all humans being judged and doomed to death because of their sin, God, in the person of his Son, did the unthinkable and took on himself the very judgment sinners deserve! Jesus as the sacrifice of atonement was the most incredible act of grace and mercy since the creation of the universe. And there's more: now the righteousness of God is available to all who believe! How is that possible?
The Jews thought that obedience to the Law was all they needed to receive God's special blessing. But Paul makes clear that the law is not the issue; something is more important.
SEPTEMBER 8
Romans 4
What to look for...
"Father Abraham had many sons . . . I am one of them and so are you, so let’s just praise the Lord." The lyrics of that old song capture the essence of Paul's point in this chapter. The relationship that God had established, beginning with Abraham and extending to all the Israelites, was an agreement (a covenant) that God would bless people based on their belief and obedience. Otherwise, as the Old Testament reveals, God would judge, not bless (see Deut 28).
By the time of the early church, with thousands of Gentiles turning from their pagan ways and becoming Christians, many Jews were saying--not having learned the lessons from the past--"Aren't we the true people of God? After all, we have Abraham as our father. Plus, we're part of the covenant, and we follow the Law."
But Paul responded, "Now hold it! The Gentile believers are not some late addition to God's family, as if they were stepchildren, second class citizens. No, Abraham is their father too, and they are just as much a part of the covenant relationship, even though they do not follow the special rules of the Law. Indeed, Abraham is a model for all to learn from, and everyone needs to walk in the steps of his faith. It’s a fact: the privileged status belonging to Israel belongs to believing Gentiles as well!”
SEPTEMBER 15
Romans 5
What to look for...
Welcome to the family! For most of us, a major focus of our lives is parents, siblings, spouses, children. Our identity and blessings are closely linked to family. But much more important is another family. The question is, What kind of a family do we belong to?
In this chapter, Paul sets up a striking contrast between the sinful descendants of Adam and the righteous followers of Jesus. Being part of Jesus’ family, we are beneficiaries of God's grace, his glory, his righteousness, his peace, hope--and the list goes on. The most amazing thing is: the sacrificial death of one person (Jesus!) makes it all possible.
In contrast, Adam’s disobedience resulted in descendants with no hope, no peace, just judgment and condemnation. Why would anyone want to belong to a family like that?! Paul wants his hearers to understand that the gospel is fundamentally about reconciliation: “instead of being God’s enemies, we can be reconciled to him” (Rom 5:10). We can actually get back to where we belong as part of God’s family, created in his image and conformed to Jesus' image! The blessings are incredible. Welcome to the family of God!
SEPTEMBER 22
Romans 6
What to look for...
When a guilty person is sent to prison, part of the goal is that they will experience a kind of death, death to the lifestyle that put them in prison. If they experience a transformation and end up with a renewed focus, upon release they will be prepared to live a whole new life. (As you meditate on Romans 6, see if that concept helps to understand what Paul was emphasizing.)
The backstory is, Jewish adversaries were apparently accusing Paul of a “lawless gospel” and were claiming that if believers do not need to obey the Mosaic law, then that is being far too easy on them. But Paul would not tolerate another misunderstanding of the gospel. He was adamant that believers should not sin. Yet he was going to do more than just saying, “Stop it!”
Paul provided the perfect approach to eradicating sin. When we become united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, selflessly dying as he did, it is a transformation and renewal, which prepares us to live a whole new life. By closely identifying with Jesus’ experience, the old lifestyle that had us imprisoned is long gone. That’s the good news of the gospel! We no longer need to be—shouldn’t be—slaves to sin. We are alive in Christ!
SEPTEMBER 29
Romans 7
What to look for...
“You can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them” . . . laws, that is. Many people, for example, have trouble obeying the speed limits. Some would be happy without any speed limits at all. But consider the implications of that!
In chapter 7, Paul tackles a challenging topic, especially for Jews in the church in Rome. They were convinced that the laws of Moses needed to be strictly obeyed in order to have true faith. But Paul responds that we don’t need to live with all those rules. Based on what Jesus did for us, we have been released from the Law. While it’s true the Law served a good purpose in making us aware of our sinfulness, obeying those laws is not the basis of our salvation. But nor are we free to live without a clear sense of lawful duty. Now our focus is obedience to Christ!
Paul then turns to a discussion (beginning in verse 14), which is also challenging. Was he describing his own personal struggles, failing to have victory over sin and feeling defeated? Or given the context, was he describing the frustration of trying to keep all the rules of the Mosaic law? In any event, the most important thing for all of us is to be on guard against sin, especially since it can seem so inviting and harmless!
OCTOBER 6
Romans 8:1-17
What to look for...
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1862, thousands upon thousands of people were on the edge of their seats waiting for the new year to begin. According to President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, as of January 1, 1863, slaves were permanently freed. Incredible! Hallelujah!
Actually, long before that there was an even greater emancipation. In the first seven chapters of Romans, Paul stressed that all humans were in a terrible predicament. Sin was rampant and the consequences were terrifying. And those who thought that the Law of Moses could solve the problems were mistaken. But Paul had great news. In Christ everyone can be permanently freed from slavery to sin! Incredible! Hallelujah!!
But that’s not all the “incredibles.” One example is how the Holy Spirit (mentioned 14 times in Romans 8:1-17) works powerfully in our lives AND for our good. Read all about it. It’s incredible!!
OCTOBER 13
Romans 8:18-39
What to look for...
In 1859, when gold was discovered in Colorado near Pike’s Peak, gold diggers rushed to get there. And their slogan “Pike’s Peak or Bust” still resonates today. Driving west into the mountains, higher and higher, can be like reading Romans. Chapter 8:18-39 is Pike’s Peak, and it’s golden!
While life on this planet can be difficult (hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, famines, diseases, etc.), which result in God’s creation and even us groaning, yet there is good news. “Lift your eyes unto the hills; our help comes from the Lord!”(Ps 121). God’s plan of salvation includes restoring his creation and creatures to what they were supposed to be from the beginning! In the meantime, we are not alone, for the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with his own groaning! And everything is happening for a purpose, especially that we might become more like Jesus! What could be better than that?!
Standing on Pike’s Peak and observing the beautiful scenery, Paul sees one blessing after another and asks a series of penetrating questions. Can anyone comprehend the extent of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice and what all that means for us? Wow!
OCTOBER 20
Romans 9
What to look for...
“The truth will set you free, but first, it may make you miserable,” so said James Garfield, former US president. Might that apply to what Paul was saying in Romans?
Throughout his letter, Paul declared what’s true, even if the Jews in the audience didn’t want to hear it. Yes, the Gentiles were guilty sinners, but unexpectedly the Jews were too. Even if the Jews carefully obeyed the Mosaic Law, surprisingly that wouldn’t save them. But there was risk involved: Paul’s kin could become so upset that they’d wouldn’t listen to him anymore (which happened a couple of years later when he arrived in Rome; see Acts 28:24-28).
So wanting to break through the stubborn Jewish resistance, Paul boldly offered that he would be willing to be cut off from Christ—if it meant the Jews accepting Jesus as the Messiah! In addition, he announced that there was indeed a true Israel, which God had great plans for—but being Jews by birth didn’t guarantee they were part of that. And he emphasized that the gift of God’s mercy, which was available to Gentiles, was for the Jews too—even if only a remnant believed. Finally, Paul urged the Jews to put their faith in the Rock, who was the fulfillment of the promises of long ago. Guess what: these truths weren’t (and aren’t) miserable after all! They can set everyone free!
OCTOBER 27
Romans 10
What to look for...
A mother and father call their teenage children together to talk about a problem. The parents are upset. The children have been overlooking a critical aspect of their relationship with each other and with their parents. It’s time for change. But will the children be convinced?
Paul did everything possible in his letter to help people in the churches in Rome to better understand the gospel. In chapter 10 he expressed his deep desire and fervent prayer that his family, the Jews, would stop trying to achieve right standing before God simply by obeying the law. They were overlooking something critical. It was time for change.
The issue was righteousness based on faith. Even though the Jews were the Chosen People, faith was the starting point—the same for the Gentiles. Paul had already clarified what it means to be the people of God and what the implications are for those who believe. So at this point he condensed what coming to true faith entailed, stressing that it was basically about believing in Jesus as Lord, (see verses 9-13). He then followed up with a series of significant questions about the necessity of people speaking and hearing the gospel (see verses 14-15). Finally, he pondered whether his family would be convinced of all this (see verses 16-21). It’s a question for everyone.
NOVEMBER 3
Romans 11
What to look for...
The backstory to Paul’s letter provides important insights for understanding Romans 11. Similar to the two-party political system in the U.S., with all the misunderstandings and disagreements, the early church had their own two parties, Jews and Gentiles. Paul, though a Jew, actually considered himself to be the apostle to the Gentiles. It was an odd, yet strategic position to be in.
It’s fascinating to listen in as Paul carefully sought to negotiate a peaceful understanding between Jews and Gentiles. Some Jews didn’t think Gentiles could be true Christians, and vice versa. And with all the attention given to the Gentiles, it might have appeared that God had cut off the Jews like dead branches. But no, Paul said the Gentiles had actually been grafted into the same stock and insisted that it was possible for both to be equal members of God’s family.
Unfortunately, the hearts of many Jews were hardened against the good news about God’s grace (which isn’t true grace if works are required), resulting in only a remnant of Jews being saved (Rom 9:27; 11:5, 14). And Paul was deeply concerned, hoping that with so many Gentiles coming to true faith, the Jews could be enticed to follow suit. But he warned the Gentiles not to boast if it happened. Paul concludes the discussion with a doxology of praise: God and his ways are amazing, so much so that they are beyond our comprehension.
NOVEMBER 10
Romans 12
What to look for...
Getting married is a wonderful experience. It’s a transformation. The bride and groom live a new life, and their commitment to each other means their priorities need to change, which can be more challenging than expected. Entering into a marriage relationship can be similar to a person becoming a believer.
Up to this point in Paul’s letter, his focus was primarily about how to come to faith and enter into a relationship with God. But beginning in chapter 12, he focused on the priorities that the new relationship entails, which can be counterintuitive and countercultural.
It begins with how we think: “Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind”(Rom 12:2 GNT). And then it changes how we act, which can be just as radical. An essential part of true faith is being together in community with other believers. Each member is not a person unto themselves but belongs to the other. And they put their faith to work, using the gifting that they were blessed with, while equally appreciating the gifts of others. Paul gave a very specific list of thought-provoking do’s-and-don’ts, which everyone in the community of believers should be sure they’re following. Check yourself! The priorities may be more challenging than expected.
NOVEMBER 17
Romans 13
What to look for...
When people accepted Jesus’ invitation and began to follow him, it was a great start. At one point, he had more than seventy disciples (Luke 10:1). But along the way, he kept raising the stakes: “If you do not carry your own cross, you cannot be my disciple!” (Luke 9:23). In response to one of Jesus' shocking statements, the disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Unfortunately, many turned back and gave up following him (John 6:60-66).
When Paul told the Romans, “If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9), that was the basis of true faith and a great start. But Paul had much more to say regarding what’s entailed in being a Christ-follower. We may feel there’s some hard teaching.
Though citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom, we’re still citizens of earthly kingdoms, which means submitting to human authorities, even though it can feel like divided loyalty. Second, we’re indebted to care for people around us, which makes what we do for them as important as what we do for ourselves. Third, we need to wake up from our slumber; it’s increasingly urgent that we live pure lives. Fourth, we must clothe ourselves with Jesus, so people looking at us, see him, not us. As Paul said, “I have written to you with strong words about some things” (Romans 15:15). The question is, How do we respond?
NOVEMBER 24
Romans 14 & 15
What to look for...
A sportscaster excitedly announces, “Let the games begin.” But a coach demurs, saying, “Not so fast. Our team has some differences—quibbles, actually. Until the players put those aside and focus on the essential aspects of the game, we’re not ready.” In Paul’s letter, he expressed similar concern about differences between the believers. It’s bad enough for Christians to face pressures from the outside; but poison from the inside can be especially damaging.
Some in the church were determined that they should only eat vegetables; others were sure meat was okay. Some thought certain days were worthy of special honor; others disagreed. Some didn’t have a problem with drinking wine; others did. In response to the differences, Paul had a lot to say, and he didn’t mince words. “Stop passing judgment on one another! Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God! Accept one another just as Christ accepted you!” In other words, in order for the team to win, there can’t be squabbling over incidental issues.
As Paul was concluding his letter, he mentioned that he would be embarking on a mission to Jerusalem, even though he feared it would put him in harm’s way. Following that, he planned to visit Rome as a stopover on his way to Spain. (Maybe the “coach” was hinting that he’d be checking in on the Romans to see how the team was doing.) For those trips he would definitely need the encouragement of the believers in prayer and support. All of this raises a question: Is our unity and care for one another what matters, and our differences of opinion don’t?
DECEMBER 1
Romans 16
What to look for...
It’s a high school commencement, concluding long years of study and learning. The valedictorian has the privilege of speaking on behalf of the graduating class. But what to say? Maybe mention student’s plans for where they’re headed after high school. Maybe recognize influential teachers and staff. Maybe warn graduates about getting involved with the wrong crowd.
As Paul concluded his long letter, he mentioned his plans, including a trip to Jerusalem (15:25-33). It would be a risky mission, but necessary, especially in hopes of correcting misunderstandings between Jews and Gentiles. He gave credit to a long list of influential people, including Phoebe, who would be carrying the letter to Rome, along with Aquila and Priscilla, who hosted a church group in their home, plus lots of others—both Jews and Gentiles (16:1-16). He warned about associating with troublemakers, who can create divisions in churches (16:17-19).
Paul’s final words were a brilliant accolade of praise, reflecting key points in his letter (16:25-27). The gospel was rooted in the story of what God had accomplished through the Israelites and the prophets, all of which came to fruition in Jesus, with the goal that people everywhere would believe and obey. To the only wise God, be glory forever, through Jesus Christ!
