This article is the second in a five-part mini-series on faith.
Romans has a lot to say about faith - from start to finish. (I would encourage you sometime to sit down and read the book straight through with no preconceived ideas. Who knows, you might just end up leading the next great reformation!) Romans is also perhaps the most-used book in evangelism. Those of you that have been around Christianity for a while are familiar with the Romans Road and know what I am referring to.
I think there are two keys to correctly understanding Romans, however.
1. Romans 1.17 - “As it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith. (WEB)” Note that the righteous are not only saved by grace but live by faith as well (read Galatians for more on this). This statement seems to be the key that the rest of Romans is written around. Keep it in mind as you read and the whole letter makes sense.
2. Read Romans in context - You cannot take a random section out of Romans and correctly understand it. The letter builds as it goes. Each section is built on the previous section. This letter was designed to be read as a whole and splitting it apart destroys the integrity of the letter. Chapter and verse divisions are not your friend here!
An example: Romans 3.10 - “As it is written, There is no one righteous. No, not one. (WEB)” This is right out of the Romans Road. This passage is frequently used in evangelistic outreach to the secular world. The only trouble is this statement is not intended to be evangelistic to the pagan community. This statement is an evangelistic statement made to a faith community! Back up to the beginning of chapter 3. Paul has just finished ripping apart everything his Jewish readers might have relied on about their spiritual heritage gaining them any favor or standing with God. Paul then begins 3.1 with the question, “Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? (WEB)” (Oh, but much in every way, if they have a personal faith in Jesus Christ!) It is on the heels of this statement that Paul reminds us that “there is no one righteous. No, not one.” All of your religious heritage, all of your spiritual experience profits you nothing if you do not have a genuine and personal faith in Jesus Christ. Look forward with me to Romans 3.19-20 - “Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. (WEB)” Our popular evangelistic statement (Romans 3.10) is neatly and unavoidably linked in the middle of a discussion to people who have the law and know God’s righteous standards. These are people like you and me who know God’s word!
This is what we now refer to as “evangelism in the pews.”
Links to the full series:
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