We find ourselves transported into the city of Rome and the diverse network of house churches that spring up throughout the capital of the empire—Jewish and Gentile believers meeting in homes, meeting in synagogues, learning to live as citizens of God’s kingdom in the heart of pagan power. Into this setting writes Paul, a Jew by birth and a Roman citizen by privilege, once a persecutor of Christians, now the apostle to the Gentiles. His letter to the Romans, though never delivered in person, becomes a systematic meditation on the gospel, an invitation to understand our condition before God, the grace that saves us, and the life of love that flows from that grace.
Paul begins with greeting and thanksgiving. He introduces himself as “apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1), reminding his readers that his message is rooted in Scripture—God’s promises to the patriarchs and fulfillment in Christ. He longs to visit Rome, not to lord authority but to glean mutual encouragement, that together we might be stirred up to love and good works (Romans 1:11–12). In our own communities, letters or messages passed between congregations can serve the same purpose: strengthening unity, encouraging service, and reminding us that the gospel transcends buildings or city borders.
Paul plunges into the human condition, diagnosing our universal need. He condemns both Gentile idolatry—exchanging worship of the Creator for creation (Romans 1:21–23)—and Jewish presumption—boasting in the Law without obeying it (Romans 2:17–21). In this twin indictment we see that religious knowledge or moral relativism alone cannot deliver us; we all stand guilty before God’s righteous standard. When Jesus confronted the rich young ruler who claimed obedience yet valued wealth over neighbor (Mark 10:17–22), He, too, revealed that keeping commandments outwardly does not suffice if our hearts chase idols of our own making. Our starting point is humility: acknowledging that we all need a Savior.
In soaring prose, Paul proclaims the gospel’s power: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). This salvation is “from faith for faith” (Romans 1:17), both beginning and maturing in trust. When we place our faith in Christ—His death that cancels our sins and His resurrection that ushers us into new life—we enter a relationship that transforms us from the inside out. Jesus’ call to His disciples, “Follow me,” invited immediate trust (Matthew 4:19), and Paul echoes that same summons: to abandon reliance on our own works and rest in God’s gracious gift.
From this foundation, Paul unpacks justification by faith. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but “we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). No human achievement can earn this status; it is credited to us when we trust in Jesus. In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, He declared that one must be born of the Spirit to see the kingdom (John 3:5), underlining that new birth, not observance, grounds our standing before God.
Being justified, we gain peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This peace flows into hope in sufferings, because suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, leading to hope that does not put us to shame (Romans 5:3–5). When the storm raged on Galilee, Jesus calmed both the wind and the disciples’ fear, leaving them—and us—with a glimpse of peace that transcends circumstances (Mark 4:39).
Paul also highlights the radical nature of grace in his metaphor of Abraham: “He believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Abraham’s faith preceded circumcision, making him “the father of all who believe without being circumcised” (Romans 4:11). This inclusion of Gentiles alongside Jews becomes a cornerstone of Paul’s message: the gospel dissolves ethnic barriers. When Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:33), He redefined neighbor beyond tribe or nation, illustrating that mercy knows no boundaries. Likewise, in Romans, faith pierces the wall that once separated Jew and Gentile.
Paul extends his teaching to the gift of the Spirit: “We were baptized into Christ Jesus and were baptized into his death…we walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). Baptism, like the Lord’s Supper, celebrates our union with Christ’s death and resurrection. This union empowers us to leave behind slavery to sin—no longer letting sin reign in our bodies—but to reign in life through Christ (Romans 6:4–5, 6:14). When Peter told Cornelius’ household that they had received the Holy Spirit as they believed (Acts 10:44–47), he demonstrated that this gift is the very engine of transformation, enabling love that crosses cultural divides.
Paul then addresses the Law, showing that it exposes sin but cannot save us. “Through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20); even righteous desires can be twisted by our fallen nature, leading us to do what we hate (Romans 7:15–20). Yet he declares, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25), exulting that freedom comes not from perfect legalism but from union with Christ. When Jesus challenged the Pharisees over Sabbath regulations—“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27)—He taught that the Law’s purpose is life, not death, laying the foundation for Paul’s emphasis on grace over legalism.
In Romans 8, Paul reaches a doxology of praise. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God…therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1-4). The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, even groaning with creation as it waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:16–19). This cosmic scope reminds us that neighbor-love extends beyond human relationships to all creation—caring for the earth, protecting species, and advocating for environmental justice as part of God’s redemption plan. When Jesus taught that “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1; Matthew 5:18 alludes indirectly), He affirmed creation’s value.
Paul then addresses election: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined” (Romans 8:29). Though debated, this doctrine underscores that salvation begins in God’s grace, and friendship with God shapes our identity and mission. In practical terms, knowing we are chosen frees us to love without fear—serving our neighbors confidently, not out of insecurity but out of rootedness in God’s eternal purpose.
Transitioning, Paul explores Israel’s place in salvation history. Though many have stumbled, their rejection became the means by which salvation reached the Gentiles, provoking Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11). Yet Paul holds out hope that, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26), and he bows in doxology to the mystery of God’s mercy that embraces both gentile and Jew. In our day, this teaches us to value every tradition, listening to the ongoing story of God’s people and celebrating how diverse streams converge in Christ. When Jesus ate with Pharisees and sinners (Luke 5:30), He modeled table fellowship that honored diversity and foreshadowed the unity Paul envisions.
Paul’s practical exhortations in chapters 12–15 translate theology into community life. He urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, to be transformed by renewing our minds (Romans 12:1–2). Love must be sincere—hating evil, clinging to good, outdoing one another in showing honor (Romans 12:9–10). Within our families and congregations, this means serving one another’s needs, bearing burdens, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Such shared emotions and mutual care create a body where neighbor-love thrives.
Further, we are to welcome one another, admonishing the idle, rejoicing in hope, enduring in tribulation, and seeking to do good to all, especially to the household of faith (Romans 12:13–16). This inclusive attitude extends beyond the church to the wider neighborhood: feeding the hungry, visiting the imprisoned, comforting the bereaved, and advocating for the lonely. When Jesus taught that whatever we did for the least of these, we did for Him (Matthew 25:40), He defined neighbor-love in concrete acts of compassion and justice.
In chapter 13, Paul addresses civic duty: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities…for there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). Taxes, respect, and submission to law are part of our neighborly duty to maintain order and protect the vulnerable. Yet Paul balances this with a higher command: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). Love becomes the fulfillment of every commandment. In contexts where governments fail or oppress, civil disobedience grounded in neighbor-love—advocating for justice, marching for equality—honors both the spirit of Paul’s teaching and the prophetic call to stand with the marginalized.
Paul’s final applications focus on pleasing one another for building up (Romans 15:2) and welcoming weaker brothers without quarreling over disputable matters (Romans 14:1–23; 15:1–7). This patience in minor disagreements models neighbor-love as unity amid diversity. We learn to bear one another’s failings, to bend in areas of freedom, and to pursue peace and mutual edification. When Jesus prayed for His disciples’ unity (John 17:20–23), He envisioned a community whose mutual love would testify to the world. Our unity in diversity shows that the gospel transcends preferences and that neighbor-love builds bridges rather than walls.
Paul concludes with personal greetings and final exhortations. He commends Phoebe, a servant of the church, encouraging us to receive her and help her in any matter she may need (Romans 16:1–2). He greets Priscilla and Aquila, Rufus and his mother, and many others, showing that the gospel thrives in relationships. In our own contexts, acknowledging and supporting missionaries, church workers, and neighbors in need reflects the same care. The final warning—“Watch out for those who cause divisions…avoid them” (Romans 16:17)—reminds us that neighbor-love can be betrayed by gossip, envy, and schism. We are to pursue harmony, honoring those who work for the good of the body.
Acts of friendship, communal meals, letters of greetings—through it all, Paul underscores that the gospel shapes not just beliefs but relationships. When we cross cultural lines, serve the poor, care for the sick, and build communities marked by mutual submission and sacrificial love, we embody the core message of Romans: that we are justified by faith, redeemed by love, and called to live out that love in every sphere. Our neighbor-love must be a reflection of the breadth of God’s mercy, drawing from the wellspring of grace that has first loved us. May our lives be living epistles, proclaiming in word and deed the gospel that has the power to transform hearts, communities, and the world.