Warren W. Wiersbe - Romans

Contents

Introduction to Romans

Righteousness Revealed

If youre tired of all the wrong things in your life, in the lives of others, and in this world, then Pauls epistle to the Romans is the book for you.

The theme of Romans is the righteousness of God. In this letter, Paul tells how to Be Rightwith God, ourselves, and others. Paul also explains how one day God will make creation right, and even solve the Jewish problem and bring peace on earth.

Romans was not written for woolgatherers or religious scholars. You will have to think as you study this letter, but the rewards will be worth the effort. If you understand Romans, youll have the key to understanding the rest of the Bible and the secret to successful Christian living.

A Book of Great Influence

On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went very unwillingly to a religious meeting in London. There, a miracle took place. About a quarter before nine, he wrote in his journal, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

That missionary was John Wesley. The message he heard that evening was the preface to Martin Luthers commentary on Romans.

The Protestant Reformation and the Wesleyan Revival were both the fruit of this wonderful letter written by Paul from Corinth around the year AD 56.

Imagine! You and I can read and study the same inspired letter that brought life and power to Luther and Wesley! And the same Holy Spirit who taught them can teach us! You and I can experience revival in our hearts, homes, and churches if the message of this letter grips us as it has gripped men and women of faith in centuries past.

Warren W. Wiersbe

How to Use This Study

This study is designed for both individual and small-group use. Weve divided it into eight lessonseach references one or more chapters in Warren W. Wiersbes commentary Be Amazed (second edition, David C Cook, 2010). While reading Be Amazed is not a prerequisite for going through this study, the additional insights and background Wiersbe offers can greatly enhance your study experience.

The Getting Started questions at the beginning of each lesson offer you an opportunity to record your first thoughts and reactions to the study text. This is an important step in the study process as those first impressions often include clues about what it is your heart is longing to discover.

The bulk of the study is found in the Going Deeper questions. These dive into the Bible text and, along with helpful excerpts from Wiersbes commentary, help you examine not only the original context and meaning of the verses but also modern application.

Looking Inward narrows the focus down to your personal story. These intimate questions can be a bit uncomfortable at times, but dont shy away from honesty here. This is where you are asked to stand before the mirror of Gods Word and look closely at what you see. Its the place to take a good look at yourself in light of the lesson and search for ways in which you can grow in faith.

Going Forward is the place where you can commit to paper those things you want or need to do in order to better live out the discoveries you made in the Looking Inward section. Dont skip or skim through this. Take the time to really consider what practical steps you might take to move closer to Christ. Then share your thoughts with a trusted friend who can act as an encourager and accountability partner.

Finally, there is a brief Seeking Help section to close the lesson. This is a reminder for you to invite God into your spiritual-growth process. If you choose to write out a prayer in this section, come back to it as you work through the lesson and continue to seek the Holy Spirits guidance as you discover Gods will for your life.

Tips for Small Groups

A small group is a dynamic thing. One week it might seem like a group of close-knit friends. The next it might seem more like a group of uncomfortable strangers. A small-group leaders role is to read these subtle changes and adjust the tone of the discussion accordingly.

Small groups need to be safe places for people to talk openly. It is through shared wrestling with difficult life issues that some of the greatest personal growth is discovered. But in order for the group to feel safe, participants need to know its okay not to share sometimes. Always invite honest disclosure, but never force someone to speak if he or she isnt comfortable doing so. (A savvy leader will follow up later with a group member who isnt comfortable sharing in a group setting to see if a one-on-one discussion is more appropriate.)

Have volunteers take turns reading excerpts from Scripture or from the commentary. The more each person is involved even in the mundane tasks, the more theyll feel comfortable opening up in more meaningful ways.

The leader should watch the clock and keep the discussion moving. Sometimes there may be more Going Deeper questions than your group can cover in your available time. If youve had a fruitful discussion, its okay to move on without finishing everything. And if you think the group is getting bogged down on a question or has taken off on a tangent, you can simply say, Lets go on to question 5. Be sure to save at least ten to fifteen minutes for the Going Forward questions.

Finally, soak your group meetings in prayerbefore you begin, during as needed, and always at the end of your time together.

Lesson 1

Life-Changing Letter

(ROMANS 1:117)

Before you begin

Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.

Read Romans 1:117. This lesson references chapter 1 in Be Right . It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.

Getting Started

From the Commentary

Pauls epistle to the Romans is still transforming peoples lives, just the way it transformed Martin Luther and John Wesley. The one Scripture above all others that brought Luther out of mere religion into the joy of salvation by grace, through faith, was Romans 1:17: The just shall live by faith.

Be Right, page 17

1. As you read this first passage from Romans, what emotions do you detect in Pauls voice? What is the overall purpose of this introduction?

More to Consider: This letter had a powerful impact on well-known influencers of the church such as Martin Luther and John Wesley. What clues about the importance of this letter to the early church do you discover in the opening verses?

2. Choose one verse or phrase from Romans 1:117 that stands out to you. This could be something youre intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here. What strikes you about this verse?

Going Deeper

From the Commentary

The word Paul used for servant would be meaningful to the Romans, because it is the word slave. There were an estimated sixty million slaves in the Roman Empire, and a slave was looked on as a piece of property, not a person. In loving devotion, Paul had enslaved himself to Christ, to be His servant and obey His will.