Justification by faith
Righteousness reckoned to faith apart from law-works, argued from Abraham (ch. 4) and the gospel's own structure (ch. 3).
New Testament · Book 45 of 66
Romans
Paul's gospel set out in order. Four great movements: sin, salvation, sanctification, sovereignty — closing with sustained calls to service and unity.
16
Chapters
1
Gospel defended
4
Great doctrines
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
The Doctrinal Arc
Five movements trace Paul's case from universal need to embodied service. Click any movement to jump into its opening chapter.
Sin1–3
Under sin — Gentile, then Jew, then all.
Salvation4–5
Abraham justified by faith; peace with God.
Sanctification6–8
Dead to sin; alive in the Spirit; no condemnation.
Sovereignty9–11
Israel's stumble; the olive tree; God's purpose stands.
Service12–16
Living sacrifice; church life; Paul's plans.
Sin → Salvation → Sanctification → Sovereignty → Service. Doctrine in order.
- Author
- Paul the apostle, dictated to Tertius (Rom 16:22)
- Date
- c. AD 57, from Corinth before the Jerusalem offering
- Audience
- The church at Rome — believers Paul had not yet visited
- Position
- New Testament · Book 45 of 66
Structure
- Sin — the universal need1–3
Gentile and Jew alike under sin; all have fallen short of God's glory.
- Salvation — justification by faith4–5
Abraham justified by faith; peace with God; life through the Second Adam.
- Sanctification — union with Christ6–8
Dead to sin, alive to God; the Spirit's indwelling; no condemnation.
- Sovereignty — Israel's place9–11
God's elective purpose, the stumble of Israel, the olive-tree graft, all Israel saved.
- Service — the living sacrifice12–16
Bodies offered; relationships, government, weaker brothers, greetings.
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Romans — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
Law and grace
The law exposes sin but cannot save; grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life (ch. 5–6).
Union with Christ
Baptized into his death, walking in newness of life; the believer's fundamental identity (ch. 6).
Life in the Spirit
The Spirit frees from the law of sin and death, witnesses to sonship, intercedes according to God's will (ch. 8).
Israel's place
God's gifts and calling without repentance; the remnant, the hardening, the grafting back (ch. 9–11).
Practical Christian living
Bodies as living sacrifices, renewed minds, government, the weaker brother, the greetings of ch. 16.
If you only read a few chapters
- 3All have sinnedThe universal verdict; righteousness of God manifested apart from the law.
- 5Death through Adam, life through ChristPeace with God; the Second-Adam argument.
- 6Union with ChristDead to sin, alive to God; slaves of righteousness.
- 8No condemnationThe Spirit's witness; more than conquerors; nothing shall separate us.
- 10Confess Christ LordFaith comes by hearing; the word of faith which we preach.
- 11Grafted inThe olive-tree argument; Israel's future and the depth of God's wisdom.
- 12Living sacrificeBodies presented; transformation by the renewing of the mind.
Featured studies in this book
The Gospel DefinedRom 16–17The Fruit of the SpiritRom 4Justification by FaithRom 23–26The TabernacleRom 25The Second AdamRom 12–21Second AdamRom 12–21Union with ChristRom 3–6The Fruit of the SpiritRom 3No CondemnationRom 1The Love of God in ChristRom 38–39The Messianic PsalmsRom 34The Bronze SerpentRom 3The TabernacleRom 34The TabernacleRom 34The Fruit of the SpiritRom 4Names of GodRom 9Confess and BelieveRom 9–10The Suffering ServantRom 16The CovenantsRom 17–27Trees — Eden, Cross, New JerusalemRom 16–24The Living SacrificeRom 1–2The Suffering ServantRom 21