The Theme of Romans
If you’ve ever wondered what the book of Romans is about in the Bible, then here’s what the Bible says.
✅ What is Romans about?
“So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
(Romans 1:15-16)
Romans is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its power for salvation.
This is the theme for the book of Romans!
✅ What is the Gospel?
The Greek word for “Gospel” literally means “good news” or “good message”
Paul used this word “Gospel” in 12 of his 13 letters; so to Paul, the “Gospel” was extremely important!
But what is the “Gospel?”
The best Biblical statement of PRECISELY WHAT the Gospel is, is found in 1 Corinthians 15
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
What is the “Gospel?”
- Jesus is “Christ”
- Jesus “died for our sins” on a cross as “the Scriptures” prophesied
- Jesus was “buried” and “rose again” as “the Scriptures” prophesied
- This is the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ
✅ What must happen with you and the Gospel?
The Gospel:
- Must be “preached to you”
- Must be “received” by you
- Is “in which you stand”
- Is “by which also you are saved”
- Is what you must “hold fast” to
✅ What does the Gospel do?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
(Romans 1:16)
- The Gospel is “the power of God”
- This “power” emanates from God
- It’s a power “to salvation”
- It’s not a power to create wealth or health; thus the Prosperity Gospel is a false gospel
✅ Who is the Gospel for?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
(Romans 1:16)
- The Gospel is “for everyone who believes”
- For every person, whether Jew or Gentile
God’s offer of “salvation” is given to every person!
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
(John 3:14-17)
- The Gospel is for “whoever believes in Him”
- Notice: Jesus died for the sins of “the world”
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
(1 John 2:1-2)
- “propitiation” is atoning sacrifice
- Notice: Jesus died for the sins of “the whole world”
❓ QUESTION — Have you believed in and received the Gospel? ❓