Summary of Romans 1-8 (Part 1)

SIN BROUGHT DARKNESS

After Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead, He gave His disciples His last orders: "Go ye into all the world and make Christians from among all tribes, baptize them and teach them to obey all things that I have commanded you. And remember, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world."

The disciples took the Gospel to many lands. Churches were started. There were many questions by the Christians in different tribes. They asked questions about forgiveness. Did God have many different ways to forgive sins, or only one? There were questions about the way a Christian should live (walk). Paul wrote this letter (Romans) to answer these questions.

In the first chapter, Paul tells the Christians about the good news of God. This news is that sinful people everywhere can be saved (have their sins taken away) by believing on Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to take the punishment (pain) of their sins which they have committed against God. First, he shows that all men everywhere have broken God's laws, and it is fitting for them to receive God's punishment. Many people have worshipped images of wood and stone. Others gave honor to the spirits of their ancestors. The people thought they were wise, but God said they were foolish. They gave honor and worship to things God made, but they did not give worship to the God Who lives forever. God made the sun, the moon, and stars, and everything on the earth. All people everywhere know that there is a God. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Still they did not like to think about Him. They did evil. They committed adultery, worked witchcraft and fought and killed each other. They did all the evil their minds could think of. So God let them go their own ways. He was angry with them. They walked in darkness because they did not know God. That is why they did wicked things. But God wants people everywhere to know they can come back to Him.

In the second chapter, Paul shows that many people who know about God and His laws do not obey Him (do as He says). They may say that they believe in God, but they do not believe true because they do not obey Him. These people deserve His punishment more than those people who have never heard about Him. Many white people are like this, and many Jewish people and many New Guinea (Papua, brown) people, too. God favors no people more highly than others. He is pleased with people who hear and obey His words. The people who honor Him, He will bless them. It is false for a man to say, "I am a Christian" and live like an unbeliever. God is not pleased with this situation. The heart must be straight with God.

(Continued on #313)