Bible in 90 Days - Day 80 (Romans 1-14)

Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life!

Help us now to hear and obey what you say to us today.

Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

This is the first of many of Paul’s letters that we’ll be reading. Paul uses the introductions to his letters to foreshadow what he wants to say in the main body. What does the (long) opening of Romans tell you about Paul’s message here?

The Heidelberg Catechism is divided into three main sections, often remembered as “Sin, Salvation, Service” or “Guilt, Grace, Gratitude.” After the great comfort in the first question and answer (http://www.crcna.org/pages/heidelberg_intro.cfm

 

), the second question and answer ask,

“What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?”

The answer says, “Three things:

first, how great my sin and misery are;

second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery;

third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.”

Romans is organized in much the same way. 1:18-3:20 let us know how great our sin and misery are. 3:21-11:36 tell us how we are set free from all our sins and misery, and chapter 12 to the end is how we are to thank God for such deliverance. I realize that there is overlap in each section, but the basic structure stands.

Romans 3:3-4 must be understood in light of everything we have read so far. This passage is talking not about individuals, but about God’s covenant people. Do you remember all the times God’s people broke covenant? Do you remember how God always kept covenant? That is what is going on here. Now we are members of the new covenant.

Romans 9-11 is very encouraging and instructive, but it is also difficult to grasp God’s wisdom. I can see how Paul would break into song in 11:33 as he tries to put these difficult things down on parchment!