God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood,
but saves Noah and his family.--- God
chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's
grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.---
The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites
escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and
take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the
Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ----
David is
Israel's greatest king. -- Israel divides into 2
parts: Israel and Judah.---
The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false
gods.--- God allows the
Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel
and Judah.--- The
Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia.
--- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to
Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.---
Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called
Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans
take control of Israel.---Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins
his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A
Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.---
Christianity spreads. ---►
This book of the Bible covers this time
Paul write letters to Christians in other
places.◄
In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed
again.
The Book of Romans was written by Paul. Paul had not yet been to Rome, but he wanted to go there. He wrote this letter from the
city of Corinth in 57 A.D. At that time in Rome, it was
calm. But later, the emperor, Nero, began to persecute
Christians in Rome.
For early Christians, the issue of circumcision was debated.
There was disagreement about it. Most of the early Christians were
Jews, and they followed Jewish law for males to be circumcised. But
Gentiles who became Christians were not circumcised. The question
was whether Gentiles who became Christians should be circumcised or
not.
The book of Romans was a clear, systematic outline of
Christian doctrine. Pauls explains the Gospel, explains why we need
the Gospel, and how we are saved.
Romans 1-4 Paul tells the people in
Rome that they are loved and that he wants to visit them. Paul's mission is to preach the gospel to all
people in the world. Paul is proud to preach the
gospel to the Jews and the Gentiles. He is not ashamed of the
gospel. God's anger against people who sin against Him. Paul writes about the Jews and
circumcision. How we become acceptable to God Abraham and his
faith
Romans 1
Paul is writing to the
Christians in Rome. He explains the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This letter is from Paul. I am a
servant of Jesus Christ. I was called to be an apostle to preach the
gospel of God. God promised the gospel a long time ago. In the
scripture, His prophets told that it would happen in the future.
[1] Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God, [2] (Which he had
promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
The gospel is
the good news about God's Son, Jesus Christ. He is a
descendant of the earthly family of King David. [3]
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed
of David according to the flesh;
Jesus became alive again
after He was dead. This proves that He is the Son of God. He has power and
holiness. [4] And declared to be
the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by
the resurrection from the dead:
We have
received grace from Him. We are His apostles. We are obeying Him and taking
His name to all the nations. That includes you. You are the called
people of Jesus Christ. [5] By whom we have
received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all
nations, for his name: [6] Among whom are ye also the
called of Jesus Christ:
To everyone in Rome: you are loved by God. You
are called to be saints and to work for God. I send you grace and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [7] To all that be in Rome,
beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God
our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank God
through Jesus Christ for all of you. I am thankful that people
talk about your faith all over the whole world. [8] First, I thank
my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken
of throughout the whole world. I always pray for you.
I serve God with my spirit without stopping. God can verify that I always
pray for you. [9] For God is my witness,
whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without
ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; When I pray, I ask God
if I can visit you. I really want to see you. I want to give you
spiritual gifts that will make you strong. [10]
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a
prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. [11]
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual
gift, to the end ye may be established; We can encourage each
other with our faith. [12] That is, that
I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you
and me. I want you to know that I have planned to come
to you many times. I want to help spread the gospel in Rome both to you and to
Gentiles. But, something always comes up. [13] Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren,
that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,)
that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other
Gentiles.
Paul's mission is to preach the gospel to all
the people in the world.
I am
obligated to preach to the Greeks, who are very educated, and the
Barbarians, who are not educated. I am obligated to preach to
people who are wise and to people who are not wise. [14] I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the
Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
I have much to share
with you. I am ready to preach the gospel to you in Rome. [15] So,
as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are
at Rome also.
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It
is God's power to save everyone who believes. It saves everyone - Jews
first and also Greeks. [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel is
where God's goodness is shown to people with faith. As the scripture
says, "The just (fair and good) people will live by faith." [17]
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
God's anger
with people who sin against Him.
God's
anger comes from heaven when people are sinning and not following His
law. God showed them His truth. They do not live in the truth.
They don't behave like they should. [18]
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in
them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
The Godhead
The Godhead refers to the Trintiy - God
the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit.
This can
be hard to understand. They are separate and do different work, but they are the
same.
God is the Creator. Jesus saved us. The Holy
Spirit is with us on earth now. But, they are all God.
God is invisible. We cannot see Him. We learn about Him from His creations. We learn
about His never-ending power. We learn about the Godhead. The people who
don't follow Him have no excuse. [20] For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: These people knew God,
but they don't follow Him. They were not thankful. They started
thinking of things that were not real. Their foolish hearts were
dark. [21]
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened.
They pretended to be
smart and wise, but they became foolish. They made false idols. They
changed God's perfect glory into sinful man, birds, animals that walk,
and animals that crawl. [22] Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed
the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things.
They sinned sexually. They changed God's truth
into lies. They worshipped animals more than God. God is blessed
forever. Amen. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour
their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men
working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that
recompence of their error which was meet. They did not want to
remember God. They had evil thoughts. They commited many sins. They had
sexual relations outside of marriage, they were jealous, they murdered,
they talked bad about other people, they hated God, they were snobby,
they bragged on themselves, they did not obey their parents, and they did
many evil things. [28] And even as
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them
over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30]
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, They also broke
promises. They did not show mercy to others. They knew about God's laws
and His judgement, but they didn't care. They did what they wanted to do. [31] Without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2
God's judgment
If you
judge other people and criticize them, you are also guilty because you
do the same things. [1] Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art
that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest
thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we know that
God judges them in truth. [2]
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth
against them which commit such things.
Do you think that you
will escape God's judgement for doing the same things that you
criticize? [3] And thinkest
thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest
the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Do you hate His goodness and
patience? Don't you know that God's goodness will lead you to repent? [4]
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
Your sinning and hard hearts will make God
angry with you. He will judge you on the day of judgment. [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent
heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God; God will judge people
for what they did on earth. [6] Who will
render to every man according to his deeds: People who have
patiently lived good lives and done good things will live forever. [7] To them
who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour
and immortality, eternal life:
People who have not obeyed God's laws and have
behaved badly will be punished. They will have very bad things happen to
them. [8] But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath, There will be hard times for evil people. The
Jews will have hard times first, then the Gentiles. [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon
every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile; Every good person will have glory, honor, and
peace. The Jews will have good things first, then the Gentiles. [10] But glory, honour, and peace, to every man
that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: God treats
everyone the same. [11]
For there is no respect of persons with God. The sinful people who
don't know God's laws will still be punished. The sinful people who do
know God's laws will be punished according to the law. Just because some
people know God's laws doesn't mean they are clean to God. The
people who know God's laws and obey God's laws will be clean to God. [12] For as
many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and
as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13]
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers
of the law shall be justified.
Sometimes, Gentiles behave naturally and do
the same as God's laws. That shows that God's laws are written in their
hearts. They naturally know with their consciences if they are doing
right or wrong, They know if God will forgive them or not when God
judges their thoughts by Jesus Christ. [14] For when the Gentiles,
which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the
law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15]
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while
accusing or else excusing one another;) [16] In the day
when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to
my gospel.
Paul writes about the Jews, God's
laws, and
circumcision. You are called a Jew. You live according
to the law. You brag about following God. You say you know His will and
what He expects. [17] Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest
in the law, and makest thy boast of God, [18] And knowest
his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being
instructed out of the law;
You are sure that you can tell all other
people how to follow the law. [19] And art confident that
thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in
darkness, [20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of
babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Since
you can teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell other
people the law
that says no one should steal, but then you steal. [21] Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not
thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou
steal? You tell other people that no one should commit adultery,
but then you commit adultery. You tell other people that no one should hate idols,
but then you worship idols. [22] Thou that sayest a man should not commit
adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost
thou commit sacrilege?
If you brag about knowing the law and then
break the law, you are not honoring God. [23] Thou that makest thy boast of
the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? God's name is
blasphemed to the Gentiles when you do this. [24]
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as
it is written. Circumcision is good if you obey God's laws.
But if you don't obey the laws, your circumcision is worthless. [25] For circumcision verily profiteth, if
thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy
circumcision is made uncircumcision. A person who is
uncircumcised and obeys God's laws is as good as someone who is
circumcised. [26] Therefore if the
uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? Uncircumcised people
who obey God's laws will say you are bad if you are circumcised but
don't obey God's laws. [27] And shall
not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge
thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? A Jew who
is circumcised but does not obey God's laws is not truly a Jew. [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: A true Jew is
circumcised outside and also in his heart. He only worries about the praise of
God and not men. [29] But
he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God.
Romans 3
Is
there an advantage to being a Jew? Does it profit anyone to be
circumcised? Yes, because God gave all of His laws and prophecies
to the Jews. [1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there
of circumcision? [2] Much every way: chiefly, because that
unto them were committed the oracles of God.
All
Jews did not believe God. But that doesn't mean that faith in God is worthless. [3] For what
if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect?
God will punish the sinners.
Everything God says is true, but every man is a liar. This is what the
scripture says, "Your words will be proven true. You will overcome when
you are judged." [4] God forbid: yea, let God be true, but
every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified
in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Men may
say, "If our sins make God look good, is it right for God to punish us?" [5]
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what
shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a
man)
Absolutely! How would God judge
the world if He couldn't punish sin and evil? [6] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the
world?
You are thinking why you are judged as a
sinner. You think that should not be true if God's glory looks better
because you lie. [7] For if the truth of God hath more abounded
through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
Some think
they should do evil things so that some good will come from it. God will
judge them for thinking like that. [8] And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as
some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose
damnation is just.
What does all of this mean? Does it mean Jews
are better than Gentiles? No, it does not mean that. Everyone has
sinned. [9] What then? are we better than they?
No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles,
that they are all under sin;
The scriptures say,
"No one is
righteous with no sin. No one. [10] As it is written, There
is none righteous, no, not one:
No one understands,
and no one looks for God. [11] There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They have all gone the
wrong way. They don't do anything of any value. No one does good. No,
not one. [12]
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their
words are like an open cave. They have used their tongues to say false
things. The poison of snakes is under their lips. [13]
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used
deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Their mouths say curse
words and ugly words. [14] Whose
mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
They are quick to shed
blood of other people. [15] Their feet
are swift to shed blood:
They destroy and cause misery. [16] Destruction and misery are
in their ways:
They don't know how to have peace. [17] And the way of peace have they not
known:
They don't respect or worship God." [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.
How we become acceptable to God
We know this: everything in
the law is meant for the people under the law. That means the people who the laws
were given to. The purpose of the laws was for God to show that
everyone is a sinner. [19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it
saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. The people who
follow the law are still not acceptable to God. The law only shows
exactly what sin in. [20]
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now, we
can see God's goodness without the law. The only thing that makes us
acceptable to God is faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone who believes in
Jesus Christ is the same. [21]
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
No one is
perfect. Everyone has sinned and is not acceptable to God. But
believing in Jesus Christ makes everyone acceptable or justified. [23]
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24]
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus: Jesus Christ was sent by God to be the
sacrifice to take away sins. If we have faith in the blood of Jesus, God
will forgive our sins. [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; This proves God's goodness and fairness. He
forgives or justifies the people who believe in Jesus. [26] To declare, I say, at this time
his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him
which believeth in Jesus. There is nothing for us to brag about. We
don't do anything to be forgiven by God. We can't brag about how
good we are. It is only faith in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It
is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. So, we can
see that a man is justified or made acceptable because he has faith in
Jesus. It is not because he does good things. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law. Is God only for the
Jews? No, he also is for the Gentiles or people who are not Jewish. [29] Is he the God of the
Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
also: God justifies through faith in Jesus. Does
that take away the law? No, it makes the law stronger. [30] Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. [31]
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law.
Romans 4
Abraham and his faith What can
we say about our father, Abraham? Abraham did many good things. He could
be proud of the things he did. But that would not make him acceptable to
God. He was acceptable to God because of his faith. Abraham's
faith in God is why he did the good things. Abraham's faith made him
acceptbable to God. [1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham
were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before
God. [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
People who work
get paid for their work. But that is not grace. Grace is when God
accepts a person because of the person's faith. God accepts sinners who break
His laws because of their faith in Him. [4]
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on
him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.
In the scripture, David talks about the people
who are acceptable to God. David says that God forgives people who have faith
and not because they do good work. David said, "People are blessed when their sins are forgiven. Their sins are covered. People are blessed when
the Lord does not punish their sins." [6] Even as David also describeth the
blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without
works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the
man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Does this blessing
only come to men who have been circumcised? Or does it come to men who
are not circumcised? We said that Abraham was acceptable because of his
faith.When did that happen? When he was circumcised or when he was not
circumcised? It happened before he was circumcised. Then, he was circumcised to show his faith
that he already had. This made Abraham the father of everyone who is
circumcised and everyone who is not circumcised and has faith. [9] Cometh this
blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the
uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham
for righteousness. [10] How was it then reckoned? when he
was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but
in uncircumcision. [11] And he received the sign of
circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had
yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them
that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness
might be imputed unto them also: [12] And the father of
circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who
also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he
had being yet uncircumcised.
God promised Abraham
that he would be the father of many descendants. This promise wasn't
because he obeyed the law. The promise was because Abraham had faith. [13] For the promise, that he
should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed,
through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
If people were
acceptable because they only obeyed the law, there would be nothing
valuable about faith. [14]
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and
the promise made of none effect:
The law causes anger.
If there is no law, there is no sin. [15] Because the law
worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Faith
is everything. Grace comes from faith. God's promise is for all who have
faith like Abraham. God promised that Abraham would be the father of
many nations. He believed God when God told him about things that had
not
happened yet. He believed God could make dead people live again. [16]
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of
the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is
the father of us all, [17] (As it is written, I have made
thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even
God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not
as though they were.
Even though God's promise seemed impossible,
Abraham believed Him. God promised that Abraham would be the
father of many nations. [18] Who against hope believed in
hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to
that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Abraham thought about
him and Sara being old, but he believed God anyway. His faith was
strong, and he gave glory to God. [19] And
being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead,
when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of
Sara's womb: [20] He staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Abraham
had faith that God could do what He promised. That is why Abraham was
acceptable to God. [21]
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able
also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him
for righteousness. This scripture is not just to tell the story
of Abraham's faith. It is to show us that our faith can make us
acceptable, too. We have faith that our Lord Jesus was raised from
the dead. He was crucified to take away our sins. He was made alive again to
make us justified or acceptable to our Father God. [23] Now it was not written for his
sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us
also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered
for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
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