Peace with God (Romans)

In a world where strife, stress and violence abound, the idea of peace seems far away. And yet, one of the key ideas of Romans is that we can find peace, even peace with God.

And the way to peace? There is only one way to peace; and that is through trusting in the work of Jesus.

This simple study takes us through the key passages in the letter in nine studies, and shows us the great saving power of the God in whom we trust.

Newcomers to Romans will have the entire scope of the book laid out before them, with the key landmarks shown in depth and clarity. And those who are more familiar with Romans will find these studies a refreshing look at the gospel that brings us peace with God.

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Table of contents:

1. Getting to know Romans
2. The righteousness of God
3. What God did in Jesus
4. The result of faith
5. Before and after
6. The Spirit-filled life
7. Suffering now, glory then
8. Does God get it right?
9. The Christian life
10. Appendix: Some key words

Before you begin

Paul’s letter to the Romans lights up what it is to be a Christian, and does something even better for us: it steers us away from our own small concerns to the wonder and glory of God himself, and his purposes for his world. In Romans we learn about God’s free gift of life in the gospel, and how through that gospel he makes us righteous—that is, right with him—as opposed to self-righteous. And being right with God, and in the eyes of God, is the only sort of righteousness that really counts for anything.

In Romans we also learn how God manages to achieve making us righteous, while still remaining true to himself. How can a God who can’t bear to look at evil and imperfection still bear to look at us, and then declare that we are fit to be his own dear children? The answer in Romans is that this happens through the gospel, and only through the gospel—the gospel which is the good news that Jesus died to take the just punishment we all deserve. We can be right with God, this gospel teaches, by trusting in him.

This set of nine studies in Romans doesn’t cover everything. This is not because some bits are unimportant. Like visiting the city of Rome itself for the first time, you quickly discover that there is enough in Paul’s letter for a joyful lifetime of discovery. Rather, this guide pays a visit to all the key landmarks—including Romans 3:21-26, which Martin Luther noted in the margin of his Bible was “the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible”.

Indeed Martin Luther, in other good advice, recommended that the letter to the Romans was an excellent one to learn off by heart, thus showing the high value he put on this book. Whether or not as the reader you decide to take this advice, this Romans guide in our Pathway series is meant to start you on the discovery of the glorious treasures buried not too far below the surface of Paul’s letter to the Romans.

—Gordon Cheng, August 2005