Author: © Christian National Church of Christ

Question:
What Philosophy of suffering is set forth?

Answer:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NIV” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

Question:
What autobiographical touches appear in this letter?
Answer:
In Romans 7:15-20 the author gives a frank picture of a tortured inner self; “I do not understand my own actions”; in Romans 11:1, he recounts his ancestry: “an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin”; in Romans 15:21 he tells us that it was his policy to seek out places where Jesus Christ had not yet preached, “Lest I build on another man’s foundation.”

It reads in Romans 7:15-20 NIV: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
It reads in Romans 11:1 NIV: I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
It reads in Romans 15:21 NIV: Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

Question:
What part is played by Adam, Eve’s husband?
Answer:
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 NIV

Question:
What is the answer of God’s love for us?
Answer:
The love of God is the sure foundation of our faith in Him. God’s love gives us the absolute assurance that we are never alone or without help. God’s love for us is unfailing, it never stops, it is eternal. God’s love is the reason we are alive. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 NIV

Question:
What position is assigned to Jesus Christ?
Answer:
Let us look at the fact here presented to us, or at THE POSITION ASSIGNED TO JESUS CHRIST. He is said to be seated “at the right hand of the throne of God.” A place at the right hand of any person in authority and power is employed by the Sacred Writers to represent a position of high honor. Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 NIV: “Death no longer has dominion over Christ.”Romans 6:9 NIV: For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

Question:
How is justification now obtained?
Answer:
It reads in Romans 5:1-2 : “Therefore, since we are justified BY and THROUGH FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

Question:
Didn’t Abraham obey the spirit of the law?

Answer:
Abraham stood righteous before God, even before the Ten Commandments were given. His righteousness was counted to him strictly from his faith, not from his works (observation of law). It reads in Romans 4:13 NIV
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Question:

Answer:
Abraham is given a high position of respect in three major world faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the covenant, the special relationship between the Jewish people and God, leading to the belief that the Jews are the chosen people of God . It reads in Romans 4:16 NIV: “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring, not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”

It reads in Romans 4:3-22 NIV:
” What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

(“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring, not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old, and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Question:
Did the advantages of the Jews bring redemption?
Answer:
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Romans 3:20 NIV
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood, to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished, he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26 NIV

Question:
What advantages did the Jews have in earlier times?
Answer:
Much in every way!

First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. Romans 3:2 NIV: The people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.

Romans 9:4 NIV