The Book of Romans
The gospel, explained — Paul's great letter on sin, grace, faith, and life in the Spirit.
Overview
Romans is Paul's fullest, most systematic explanation of the gospel. It lays out humanity's problem — that all have sinned — and God's stunning solution: righteousness given freely through faith in Christ, apart from our own works.
From there it rises to some of the most soaring assurance in the Bible: no condemnation for those in Christ, and nothing in all creation able to separate us from the love of God.
Key themes
Sin and grace
All have fallen short, but God justifies the ungodly freely by grace through faith.
Life in the Spirit
Those God saves are given his Spirit and set free to live a new kind of life.
Unshakable love
Romans 8 crescendos into the promise that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ.
Key verses from Romans
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The measure of God's love — shown while we were still far from him.
How to read Romans
Read the argument in order; Paul builds his case step by step.
Sit in chapter 8 when you need assurance — it is a summit of the whole Bible.
Let the free grace of it land before you reach the 'therefore' of how to live.