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Hello Great Family,

Have you been reading the book of Romans yet?  It is not too late to start.  Just read Romans 1:1-7 a few times before Sunday morning.  Look for the main literary features: author, recipients, reason for writing, etc.

I am excited to begin this verse-by-verse exposition of such a crucial and relevant piece of Scripture.  It would be hard to overstate how essential the book of Romans is in forming doctrine. The structure of Romans provides a hint into the importance of the book in our everyday lives. Beginning with eleven chapters of doctrine, the book then transitions into five chapters of practical instruction. This union between doctrine and life illustrates for Christians the absolute importance of both what we believe and how we live out those beliefs.

Charles Swindoll wrote this about the importance of the book of Romans, “The letter to the Romans stands as the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all the Scriptures. Paul began by discussing that which is most easily observable in the world—the sinfulness of all humanity. All people have been condemned due to our rebellion against God. However, God in His grace offers us justification by faith in His Son, Jesus. When we are justified by God, we receive redemption, or salvation, because Christ’s blood covers our sin. But Paul made it clear that the believer’s pursuit of God doesn’t stop with salvation; it continues as each of us is sanctified—made holy—as we persist in following Him. Paul’s treatment of these issues offers a logical and complete presentation of how a person can be saved from the penalty and power of his or her sin.  The primary theme running through Paul’s letter to the Romans is the revelation of God’s righteousness in His plan for salvation. Paul showed how human beings lack God’s righteousness because of our sin (1–3), receive God’s righteousness when God justifies us by faith (4–5), demonstrate God’s righteousness by being transformed from rebels to followers (6–8), confirm His righteousness when God saves the Jews (9–11), and apply His righteousness in practical ways throughout our lives (12–16).”

I pray this study through the book of Romans will transform our church and us as individuals.  May God reveal Himself and challenge us all to know Him and grow in our relationship with Him.

God Bless
P.D. (Psalm 139)